Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008

Bikers roll into Lakewood Ranch

It was heavy metal thunder meets Main Street on Friday night.

Chrome, leather and the color black were the order of the night as hundreds of bikers and their motorcycles took over Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

The opening of the 3rd Annual West Coast Bike Rally, with hard-rocking live music and flamboyant men and women, many with tattoos, seemed right at home alongside the chic shops and trendy restaurants.

"We're going to terrorize Main Street until 10 o'clock, then we're going to the fairgrounds in Palmetto," J. W. Wyatt of Bradenton said, before quickly adding, "just kidding."

His comrade in mischief, Sam Barnwell, of Sarasota, looked around Main Street and said, "I think it's nice, really nice."

Asked if he thought the motorcycles fit in at Lakewood Ranch, Barnwell didn't hesitate: "Sure, bikes fit anywhere."

Among those parked near the Polo Grill was Robert Patton, 57, of Bradenton, a veteran of both the Vietnam and Iraq Wars.

Patton, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant, nicknamed "the general" by other bikers, said he has been riding motorcycles since he was 15.

"It's great," he said of the three-day bike rally in Manatee County.

The rally continues today and concludes Sunday. The two final days will be at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto.

For more information, call 313-6520.