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Bikers on island tomorrow
#125659
03/29/2017 09:30 AM
03/29/2017 09:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I saw a story in the Daily Herald today that said that there are TWO ships that will be bringing cruise ship passengers with their motorcycles to SXM tomorrow. So, if you're on island, just be on the lookout for what could be some pretty large groups of bikers tomorrow.
Carol Hill
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: LBI2SXM]
#125662
03/29/2017 11:28 AM
03/29/2017 11:28 AM
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Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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LBI2SXM said: Cruise ships will do anything to get a buck!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" /> Like most businesses, that is how they stay afloat (no pun intended). Themed cruises such as this are pretty popular and this is not the first time a cruise such as this has stopped in SXM. First time probably for 2 ships to be in carrying bikes though.
J.D.
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#125663
03/29/2017 12:01 PM
03/29/2017 12:01 PM
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Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I think the bikers cruise is at least a yearly event for a couple of different cruise lines, and as JD says, theme cruises in general are very popular. I see nothing wrong with the cruise at all, just a heads up for people to be aware that they might see some pretty large groups of bikers tomorrow.
Carol Hill
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#125664
03/29/2017 12:05 PM
03/29/2017 12:05 PM
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I wouldn't ride there unless very early in the morning but yes, these cruises are very popular. Just like selling a trip to Sunset, anything to make $$.
J.D.
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: Maria_and_Steve]
#125667
03/29/2017 12:29 PM
03/29/2017 12:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,677 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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In honesty, while I understand that some of us might take umbrage with the 'bikers cruise' or perhaps just the idea of more 'bikers', we've been on the island when one of these cruises was in port in the past and judging by what we observed, they are definitely NOT like the 'suicyclists' who live there and who many of us want no part of while we're on the Island. These are serious bikers who have booked the cruise and are bringing their very expensive bikes for their personal enjoyment of both the Island and their sport of riding. No different from the bicycle themed cruise bringing road bicyclists or the nude cruise bringing more nudists...... no harm, no foul. And these visitors do actually get out and around the Island, and from what we saw, they drop some very serious dollars adding to the Island coffers. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125668
03/29/2017 12:43 PM
03/29/2017 12:43 PM
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Posts: 4,347 Vancouver, WA
Todd
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I had no idea that a cruise like that existed, but now I do. While cruises do not float my boat and it has never interested me to rent a bike on island I think bringing down my Harley for a couple cruise stops to ride with other bikers would be a blast. I might just do that in a couple years! I bet there are some awesome bikes and the rumble of them going by would be music to my ears.
Cheers! T
I prefer the Isle seat
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125669
03/29/2017 12:46 PM
03/29/2017 12:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,709 United States of America
bdeeley
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pat said: These are serious bikers who have booked the cruise and are bringing their very expensive bikes for their personal enjoyment of both the Island and their sport of riding. No different from the bicycle themed cruise bringing road bikers or the nude cruise bringing more nudists...... no harm, no foul. And these visitors do actually get out and around the Island, and from what we saw, they drop some very serious dollars adding to the Island coffers. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Very well said! They are mostly there to ride their bikes around the island (enjoying the views) and spend money on food and trinkets and less likely to be inundating the beaches. I hope the have perfect weather for riding around the island.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125670
03/29/2017 12:56 PM
03/29/2017 12:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Thank you, Pat and others. I've been a motorcyclist for nearly half a century and have never thought of myself as some sort of outlaw. My fellow riders and I always respect others on the road (wish I could say the same about some of them). I have a European sportbike (Triumph) which makes no more noise than the average car, and hate being stereotyped.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125671
03/29/2017 01:04 PM
03/29/2017 01:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Pat--yes, these folks are very seriously bikers, bringing very expensive bikes and not the standard 'suicyclists' that are a danger to themselves and everyone else. Have you actually seen a cruise for bicycle enthusiasts? I've not seen that. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I haven't heard of it.
Carol Hill
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125675
03/29/2017 01:55 PM
03/29/2017 01:55 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,677 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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To clarify a bit - my number one thought is that while I've never been on a motorcycle in my life, and in fact, I'm absolutely terrified of them, I have many friends who love their Sunday motorcycle rides and live for the joy of exploring on their bikes. They pay a fortune for their "Hawgs" and all their accompanying gear and they would never act the way some of the suicyclists on the island do.
My next thought is to clarify my own fears of motorcycles - as a child of about ten or less years old, I witnessed a horrendous accident in NYS between two young people and one of the old-fashioned open soda/beer delivery trucks. The driver of the truck walked away while the two young people (who, btw, were 100% in the right) didn't live to talk about it. It left a very lasting impression and a total fear of cycles to this day. I have the utmost respect for bikers on the highway and give them wide berth because I've seen, up close and personally, how little protection they have.
And Carol, I assumed there was a bicycle cruise because we got caught up in what appeared to be a road race through the French lowlands one year and when we asked our server about it at dinner that night, we were told they were off a cruise ship. There were probably about 75 to a hundred cyclists and it made sense that, had they been from the Island in that number, it would have been publicized on the Island and we might have heard about it. Beyond that, I honestly don't know if it was a cruise group or not but was just going on what we were told.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#125676
03/29/2017 02:01 PM
03/29/2017 02:01 PM
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We have been there when one of these cruises was in port. I would say 30+ motorcycles (mostly Harley with a few GoldWings and others) and it was interesting to see.
This past trip there was a large bicycle contingent and I thought it may have been a bicycle-type themed cruise as it was probably 50+ riding and they were not locals.
J.D.
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: pat]
#125677
03/29/2017 02:06 PM
03/29/2017 02:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Pat--I have no idea if your server was correct or not, but I guess they would know what they were talking about. I do know that there have been some pretty large bicycle races on island in recent times, as I remember seeing something about one in the Daily Herald recently and the particular one that I saw was not affiliated with a cruise.
Carol Hill
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#125678
03/29/2017 05:15 PM
03/29/2017 05:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 36 Neebing, ON
ApeBro
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In 2014, we met a group of bikers off a cruise. Turns out they were a law enforcement group from Atlanta raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics! Great group of people, whom we supported by purchasing a t shirt. Event was called the Torch Run. They had police escorts to guide traffic at the roundabouts.
Last edited by ApeBro; 03/29/2017 05:56 PM.
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: tmsxmsails]
#125682
03/29/2017 06:37 PM
03/29/2017 06:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Without knowing, I assume that they have the riders ride the bikes off the ship, as compared to unloading them by ship personnel. When the ship is docked, no reason why that can't happen, and would be easier, frankly.
Regarding noise ordinances, we are talking about one day...
Carol Hill
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#125683
03/29/2017 09:01 PM
03/29/2017 09:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 508 BF, New Mexico
dave
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"Regarding noise ordinances, we are talking about one day..."
AND we are talking about St. Maarten. Pretty sure it's not going to be an enforcement priority. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
[b][color:"green"]dave[/color]
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Re: Bikers on island tomorrow
[Re: tmsxmsails]
#125684
03/30/2017 06:08 AM
03/30/2017 06:08 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
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I have no idea if SXM has noise laws - or if anyone enforces them if they do - and I'm not trying to start a debate and get this thread shut down. I just wanted to offer another viewpoint. I think if one looks at the proximity of the airport and runway to residential areas and how close a person can actually be to an active runway....I think you can answer your own question on the noise issue you raised regarding SXM.
J.D.
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