Join us as we take an in depth look at the Laconia and Americade motorcycle touring rallies and thier differences. Two Wheels 2 Anywhere host Pete Akbar interviews locals and travelers from afar including Honda Goldwing and Harley Davidson riders. Pete decides to get his first tattoo at Asylum Tattoo Studios while visiting Laconia.
Both rallies had humble beginnings. Americade, which is held at Lake George, NY, first started in 1983 and drew 2000 people for the first "cade". Motorcycles gathered at the Roaring Brook Ranch headquarters, where manufacturers offer numerous demo rides and still do to this day! Americade takes place in the first week of June and primarly caters to the touring motorcycle community. In 1986 numbers grew to about 10,000 in attendance, making it the largest touring rally in the motorcycle world at that time. Now the rally brings about 50,000 to 60,000 motorcyclists from all over the United States.. Still largely catering to the touring community, there are now a greater number of cruisers and sports bikes in attendence.
Laconia bike week attracts more of a raucous and spirited crowd then the americade rally and attracts some 400,000 visitors.
Although it has tamed considerably in recent years, it has had a colorful history. Laconia originally began way back in 1923
when motorcycle racing was held annually at the nearby race track, Louden and the Gypsy tour which included many
motorcyclists passing through Laconia. The Laconia rally originally had its roots in June 1916, when a few hundred
motorcyclists gathered at Weirs Beach in Laconia. Weirs Beach, or "The Weirs" as it is referred to by locals, is named for a
wide, sandy, public beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Adjacent to the beach and comprising the center of the village are a
boulevard and boardwalk that run along a quarter mile stretch of Lakeside Ave. This is where the action takes place during
bike week.
29 дек 2009
