NEW LONDON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 

MAKES STRONG SHOWING AT 

PLAINVILLE PREMIERE 

OF “WHY WE RIDE”

Blue and Yellow patches were conspicuously noticed throughout the theater and the Plainville area. Typical theater goers were aghast to see their local movie house over run with bikers of all types.

Comments like “What are all these bikers doing here?” and “See Jane, that’s the type of boy to stay away from” could be heard as common folk rubbed elbows with leather-clad motorcyclists. 

OK these shots were taken when we first arrived and do not do justice to how busy the place got later on.

Another common refrain was “Where did they hide their bikes?” as only two hearty souls braved the elements to ride to the show.

Arriving 40 minutes prior to show time, I was surprised to find a couple of dozen bikers already seated. The seats filled quickly until there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Many of those seats were filled with Rockers; an unofficial club who espouse the British motorcycle esthetic of the 1960’s. 

While they were probably equal in number; the New London Motorcycle Club was the most visible, wearing black leather cuts with the bright blue and gold patch prominently displayed on the back and the front.

All of the bikers lived up to their reputation as a boisterous and fun-loving lot as they kept the party going through the previews. The chatter quickly fell to a low murmur with the start of the main feature.

The documentary made a valiant attempt to cover all aspects of motorcycling. Included were its beginnings in the United States as motorized bicycles, and its evolution via Indian, Harley Davidson and many lesser known defunct manufacturers.

The “Bad Boy” image personified by Marlon Bando in “The Wild One” and its counter image, Honda’s “The Nicest People” public relations campaign were briefly explored.

It covered the many different forms of racing such as road racing, motocross, hill climbs and land speed records.

The film did a very good job of portraying motorcycling as a family activity whether that be the typical family unit of Mom, Dad and the kids, or the more lineal application of family in which the love of motorcycling has been handed down by each of many generations; and finally, as the extended family of motorcycle clubs.

There were segments regarding women riders including the founder of the Merry Maids and a Mother-Daughter trio of land speed racers, Laura, Erika and Karlee of Team Klock Werks.

Motorcycle rallies such as Sturgis and Laconia were briefly covered. The film delved into long distance motorcycle travel including circumnavigation of the globe by Dave Barr, the paraplegic rider recently featured in an issue of the AMA magazine Click Here for AMA Article , and Ted Simon of “Jupiter’s Travels” fame http://jupitalia.com/.

I’m sure the documentary covered topics that I have failed to mention. The cinematography of the film is top notch. The slow motion shots of the ballet-like movement of MotoGP riders racing through a chicane will forever stay embedded in my mind.

This still shot doesn't do it justice.

The cast included both well-known and obscure individuals in the motorcycling world. All of whom are given credit and a moment to state their connection to motorcycling at the end of the film.

There was some applause as the film concluded and the chatter resumed. The exit into the lobby of the theater was smooth and orderly as these bikers respected one another and felt a renewed sense of common purpose. Many groups congregated in the lobby where greetings and lively conversations continued for quite some time.

Each biker to a man lamenting the fact that Winter is here and wishing they could jump on a bike at that very moment. But heading outdoors the last rays of twilight were already diminishing and the temperature dropping at 4:00 PM.

“Why We Ride” tried very hard to answer its title question through interviews, stories and beautiful images, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed in its ability to capture the true feeling of motorcycling. Perhaps that is something that no film can ever truly hope to attain. You just have to get out there and do it.