Slowest Bike Week In Recent Memory....

WakeUp · 06-23-2008, 05:46 AM

I have visited Meredith/Gilford/Laconia/Wolfeboro religiously over the past number of years during bike week. I was shocked at the lack of activity this past Thurs/Friday at locations such as the NASWA, etc. Last year, I needed to wait to find a slip at the NASWA....this year there were 3 boats docked. (This was early afternoon.) Wolfeboro is normally lined with bikes. Friday morning there were only 8 along the street. The entire 'vibe' felt off this year. My theory is: Normally bike week ends on Father's Day...this year it started on Father's Day. I think people booked time in NH as early as last summer not realizing the date change. They were disappointed to find out they were 1 week early for the event. As far as the economy as a reason, not buying it. Bikes just don't drink that much gas. Plus, the difference of gas price this year vs last summer is roughly $1.50/gal. If a motorcycle uses 20 gallons, that's only $30.00. Not enough to keep someone away.

What are the results of this year? My prediction is it will go down as one of the slowest in history when factoring in all lake-shore communities.

dpg · 06-23-2008, 06:00 AM

The econmy and the price of gas WILL keep people home. People are busy trying to keep up with their rising bills at home let alone bringing up say $400.00-$600.00 for a week long bike rally who knows but that may be a conservative guess. How about the bike that maybe are not even working this year?

Yup, the time change probably did have a huge impact.

hockeypuck · 06-23-2008, 06:15 AM

I think you are correct about the time change for "Bike Week". I was up north fishing in Pittsburg NH on the days prior to Father's Day weekend and ran into quite a few bikers (no injuries) up there, some said they always go to NH on this week. So maybe the bike crowd was spread out over two weeks instead of just one. Many bikers don't go to Laconia but travel the northern parts of the state. Cheaper accommodations, different crowd, different experience. Some especially the not so hard core ones will trailer their bikes or throw them into the back of a pickup truck. Those vehicles suck down the gas. All in all it doesn't surprise me that the numbers might be down this year.

chipj29 · 06-23-2008, 07:18 AM

No doubt in my mind that it was a very slow bike week. I just did not see/hear the usual amount of traffic on any day in the last 2 weeks. Not even close IMO. Maybe the numbers will end up being ok, as they are spread out over almost 2 weeks. I dunno...

Cristen · 06-23-2008, 09:26 AM

Yes, Bike Week was not very crowded this year. I think it being the week after Father's Day had something to do with it. The first weekend was a lot more crowded than the second which is unusual.

I also noticed there were not as many vendors as in years past. I heard the cost for vendor space has gone up significantly, so maybe it's not worth it for them.

All in all, it was a great week and the weather was good, so no complaints!

vmartino26 · 06-23-2008, 01:27 PM

We were up for both weekends this year. It seems the weekends were okay, but from what I've heard and read Monday through Thursday was pretty quiet. It seems Bike Week has become Bike Weekend or even Bike Day for some people. That may have something to do with the economy. Rather than spending money over the week, a weekend or day trip was sufficient. And more cost effective. My wife also thinks being in NH on Father's Day is a tradition for some, so the first weekend was busy, but things slowed after that. Oh, well. And now -- bring on the summer!

RI Swamp Yankee · 06-23-2008, 08:39 PM

I think they were all in North Conway. The Mount Washington Valley C of C advertised their "Rally in the Valley"

The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and the MWV HOG Chapter invites "All Motorcyclists" to our Mountain Motorcycle Adventure located in beautiful Mount Washington Valley in the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/pg_mwv/pg_mwv_28.cfm

Thre was no shortage of bikes in the Valley. Some motels / hotels even had "parking tents" to keep them dry during the rains.

hazelnut · 06-23-2008, 11:24 PM

Not sure I would agree with that. I saw pretty huge BIKER crowds this year. I never ever waited in traffic on my bike as much as I did this year in the 10 past years of bike week. I sat in traffic Saturday morning from JB scoops all the way through Meredith for at least a half an hour. Never happened before as far as I can recall. Judging bike week by boat dock space at the Nasua isn't really an indication of "bike week" attendance. Personally I thought it was typical to crowded. Just my opinion.... others who were there, am I off?

TiltonBB · 06-24-2008, 07:06 AM

Judging by the traffic on Weirs Boulevard and route 11B there were substantially less people here this year. The first Saturday traffic backed up but that was the busiest day. Monday through Wednesday it looked like the same traffic you would see in April, not Bike Week. Thursday through the last weekend the traffic hardly backed up at all. In previous years the traffic has been stopped on Weirs Boulevard for a good part of both weekends and backed up for the last four days for sure. There seem to be less people here every year.

Too many Police officers tripping over each other while intimidating people, not enough entertainment or interesting things for people to do. After all, how many times do you want to go to the beer tent and get drunk, or look at the same leather goods, tatoos and t shirts that have been here for the last fourty years. Something needs to be done to spark up the event, to add some interesting things to do or different activities and entertainment, or it will soon be gone. Changing the week was a big mistake too. I hope that they go back to the correct week next year.

jrc · 06-24-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

...After all, how many times do you want to go to the beer tent and get drunk, or look at the same leather goods, tatoos and t shirts that have been here for the last fourty years. Something needs to be done to spark up the event, to add some interesting things to do or different activities and entertainment, or it will soon be gone...

That's why I gave up on it, just boredom.

VitaBene · 06-24-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

That's why I gave up on it, just boredom.

That is certainly a factor for me- not much has changed, but I have. So we go for great rides but with few exceptions don't go to the Weirs or surrounding much. I was there for 1st weekend, worked Mon and Tuesday and did the rest of bikeweek from my house in Moultonborough (running the gauntlet!!)

Also as was noted above, bike week has spread out from the Weirs and has become a more statewide event. Conway, Meredith HD, etc never had much going on in the past at bike week, now they are destinations. I remember sitting in 2-3 hours of traffic to get from B. Maes to the Weirs on a friday or sat night.

It was kind of nice getting a parking spot Sat at 7 at the Naswa and then easily riding to the Spoke at 8 (also parked right outside the gate), but I am concerned that the event is losing steam and there will be pressure to shorten it.

The PD presence is overwhelming- I am not looking for it to be lawless, but if people don't think they can have a little fun without a hassle, they will vote with their feet!

hazelnut · 06-24-2008, 10:10 AM

Guess I was off??

Seemed crowded where I was. I guess it's all in your perception. I'm basing my opinion on one traffic jam. I guess I'll have to rethink the time I was there and figure out if it was really that slow.

Overall I do agree with some of the sentiments on the forum here. Things are stagnant with the event and some creativity may be in order to spice it up.

SIKSUKR · 06-24-2008, 01:06 PM

I've been to most of the last 20 years.No doubt this was the slowest.I am always on Weirs Blvd on Paugus Bay so it's a good indicator the amount of traffic.The early reports I've seen say this is now the 4th or 5th year in a row with declining attendence.

fatnoah · 06-24-2008, 02:50 PM

I never realized that the date was set as the second week of June. I grew up in LA (as I like to call Laconia) and have always associated "Motorcycle Weekend" with Father's Day.

Formula260SS · 06-24-2008, 08:48 PM

Crowd seemed OK to me, Thursday we rode north but Friday we were kind of hung around. Wiers was busy and the traffic to get to harley a mile past fun spot made us turn around.

I'm sure it was slower than years past but what isn't right now ? Let's see if the lake perks up, last year I thought it was quiet overall, we'll see how it works out this year

redc5 · 06-24-2008, 09:07 PM

It's not just Laconia, attendance at Daytona was down almost 40% this year too

ishoot308 · 06-24-2008, 08:59 AM

[QUOTE=Personally I thought it was typical to crowded. Just my opinion.... others who were there, am I off?[/QUOTE]

I think your off...This was the lowest attended rally I have ever been to, and I have been to MANY. Yes the first weekend (especially the first Saturday) was extremely busy, but it completely died after that. The following Thursday and Friday, which are normally the biggest days were dead. There were many camp sites available at the seasonal place I am at and that is a 1/4 mile from Silver Sands!! All the local store owners I talked to said sales were way down compared to years past.

I have to agree with TiltonBB, something has to change. How many T-shirt vendors does the Rally really need. It's the same old stuff year after year. The Rally needs to bring in something new to keep people interested and coming.

I have a bike and I enjoy the rally but after a day or two I am all set. I do enjoy going over by boat, docking at the weirs and meeting up with friends for lunch.

Take care;

Dan

froggy · 06-23-2008, 06:04 AM

You may be only partially correct.
However, several people who rent very sizable vendor space said their vendors had sales way ahead of last year!
One even said the best $$$ ever on a first Saturday!

Many many many said people do not necessarily consider Fathers Day; the calendar's dates were well-known in the bike traveling world.

The count of people were down, yes, but who cares; it's the $$$ spent, with businesses directly related.

Paugusbaby · 06-24-2008, 07:43 AM

Just to clarify - Bike week dates were not changed this year. Bike week starts the second Saturday of June - and Father's Day is the third Sunday of June, so in the normal couse, Bike Week ends on Father's Day. Because June 1st fell on a Sunday this year, the second Saturday and third Sunday fell on the same weekend. As for crowds, there is no doubt that attendance was down. I was up on both weekends. The first weekend was busy, but by Friday, you could pretty much ride anywhere without worrying about traffic. Not sure why - I think the reasons are many - but I enjoyed my time.

fatlazyless · 06-24-2008, 08:26 AM

Anyone think its time to downshift from a nine-day to say, a four or five day event? Isn't the Harley Davidson factory tour that sets up in the Laconia City Hall parking lot a four-day event?

How about scheduling a five day, Wednesday - Sunday, motorcycle educational experience that is not just a family event. Let's put the buzz back into MC Week!

06-23-2008, 05:46 AM	#1
WakeUp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 83 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Slowest Bike Week In Recent Memory.... I have visited Meredith/Gilford/Laconia/Wolfeboro religiously over the past number of years during bike week. I was shocked at the lack of activity this past Thurs/Friday at locations such as the NASWA, etc. Last year, I needed to wait to find a slip at the NASWA....this year there were 3 boats docked. (This was early afternoon.) Wolfeboro is normally lined with bikes. Friday morning there were only 8 along the street. The entire 'vibe' felt off this year. My theory is: Normally bike week ends on Father's Day...this year it started on Father's Day. I think people booked time in NH as early as last summer not realizing the date change. They were disappointed to find out they were 1 week early for the event. As far as the economy as a reason, not buying it. Bikes just don't drink that much gas. Plus, the difference of gas price this year vs last summer is roughly $1.50/gal. If a motorcycle uses 20 gallons, that's only $30.00. Not enough to keep someone away. What are the results of this year? My prediction is it will go down as one of the slowest in history when factoring in all lake-shore communities.

06-23-2008, 08:39 PM	#7
RI Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Kingstown RI Posts: 688 Thanks: 143 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts	I think they were all in North Conway. The Mount Washington Valley C of C advertised their "Rally in the Valley" The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and the MWV HOG Chapter invites "All Motorcyclists" to our Mountain Motorcycle Adventure located in beautiful Mount Washington Valley in the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/pg_mwv/pg_mwv_28.cfm Thre was no shortage of bikes in the Valley. Some motels / hotels even had "parking tents" to keep them dry during the rains. __________________ Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"

06-23-2008, 11:24 PM	#8
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	Hmmmm Not sure I would agree with that. I saw pretty huge BIKER crowds this year. I never ever waited in traffic on my bike as much as I did this year in the 10 past years of bike week. I sat in traffic Saturday morning from JB scoops all the way through Meredith for at least a half an hour. Never happened before as far as I can recall. Judging bike week by boat dock space at the Nasua isn't really an indication of "bike week" attendance. Personally I thought it was typical to crowded. Just my opinion.... others who were there, am I off?

06-24-2008, 07:06 AM	#9
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 2,903 Thanks: 644 Thanked 2,156 Times in 903 Posts	Not many people here Judging by the traffic on Weirs Boulevard and route 11B there were substantially less people here this year. The first Saturday traffic backed up but that was the busiest day. Monday through Wednesday it looked like the same traffic you would see in April, not Bike Week. Thursday through the last weekend the traffic hardly backed up at all. In previous years the traffic has been stopped on Weirs Boulevard for a good part of both weekends and backed up for the last four days for sure. There seem to be less people here every year. Too many Police officers tripping over each other while intimidating people, not enough entertainment or interesting things for people to do. After all, how many times do you want to go to the beer tent and get drunk, or look at the same leather goods, tatoos and t shirts that have been here for the last fourty years. Something needs to be done to spark up the event, to add some interesting things to do or different activities and entertainment, or it will soon be gone. Changing the week was a big mistake too. I hope that they go back to the correct week next year.

06-24-2008, 01:06 PM	#13
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I've been to most of the last 20 years.No doubt this was the slowest.I am always on Weirs Blvd on Paugus Bay so it's a good indicator the amount of traffic.The early reports I've seen say this is now the 4th or 5th year in a row with declining attendence. __________________ SIKSUKR

06-23-2008, 06:00 AM	#2
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	The econmy and the price of gas WILL keep people home. People are busy trying to keep up with their rising bills at home let alone bringing up say $400.00-$600.00 for a week long bike rally who knows but that may be a conservative guess. How about the bike that maybe are not even working this year? Yup, the time change probably did have a huge impact.

06-23-2008, 06:15 AM	#3
hockeypuck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern CT Posts: 169 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I think you are correct about the time change for "Bike Week". I was up north fishing in Pittsburg NH on the days prior to Father's Day weekend and ran into quite a few bikers (no injuries) up there, some said they always go to NH on this week. So maybe the bike crowd was spread out over two weeks instead of just one. Many bikers don't go to Laconia but travel the northern parts of the state. Cheaper accommodations, different crowd, different experience. Some especially the not so hard core ones will trailer their bikes or throw them into the back of a pickup truck. Those vehicles suck down the gas. All in all it doesn't surprise me that the numbers might be down this year.

06-23-2008, 07:18 AM	#4
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	No doubt in my mind that it was a very slow bike week. I just did not see/hear the usual amount of traffic on any day in the last 2 weeks. Not even close IMO. Maybe the numbers will end up being ok, as they are spread out over almost 2 weeks. I dunno...

06-23-2008, 09:26 AM	#5
Cristen Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 143 Thanks: 25 Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Yes, Bike Week was not very crowded this year. I think it being the week after Father's Day had something to do with it. The first weekend was a lot more crowded than the second which is unusual. I also noticed there were not as many vendors as in years past. I heard the cost for vendor space has gone up significantly, so maybe it's not worth it for them. All in all, it was a great week and the weather was good, so no complaints!

06-23-2008, 01:27 PM	#6
vmartino26 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 73 Thanks: 0 Thanked 30 Times in 5 Posts	We were up for both weekends this year. It seems the weekends were okay, but from what I've heard and read Monday through Thursday was pretty quiet. It seems Bike Week has become Bike Weekend or even Bike Day for some people. That may have something to do with the economy. Rather than spending money over the week, a weekend or day trip was sufficient. And more cost effective. My wife also thinks being in NH on Father's Day is a tradition for some, so the first weekend was busy, but things slowed after that. Oh, well. And now -- bring on the summer!

06-24-2008, 10:10 AM	#12
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	Guess I was off?? Seemed crowded where I was. I guess it's all in your perception. I'm basing my opinion on one traffic jam. I guess I'll have to rethink the time I was there and figure out if it was really that slow. Overall I do agree with some of the sentiments on the forum here. Things are stagnant with the event and some creativity may be in order to spice it up.

06-24-2008, 02:50 PM	#14
fatnoah Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I never realized that the date was set as the second week of June. I grew up in LA (as I like to call Laconia) and have always associated "Motorcycle Weekend" with Father's Day.

06-24-2008, 08:48 PM	#15
Formula260SS Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NH Posts: 384 Thanks: 11 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Crowd seemed OK to me, Thursday we rode north but Friday we were kind of hung around. Wiers was busy and the traffic to get to harley a mile past fun spot made us turn around. I'm sure it was slower than years past but what isn't right now ? Let's see if the lake perks up, last year I thought it was quiet overall, we'll see how it works out this year

06-24-2008, 09:07 PM	#16
redc5 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gilford NH Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	It's not just Laconia, attendance at Daytona was down almost 40% this year too

06-24-2008, 08:59 AM	#17
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,936 Thanks: 2,291 Thanked 4,943 Times in 1,918 Posts	[QUOTE=Personally I thought it was typical to crowded. Just my opinion.... others who were there, am I off?[/QUOTE] I think your off...This was the lowest attended rally I have ever been to, and I have been to MANY. Yes the first weekend (especially the first Saturday) was extremely busy, but it completely died after that. The following Thursday and Friday, which are normally the biggest days were dead. There were many camp sites available at the seasonal place I am at and that is a 1/4 mile from Silver Sands!! All the local store owners I talked to said sales were way down compared to years past. I have to agree with TiltonBB, something has to change. How many T-shirt vendors does the Rally really need. It's the same old stuff year after year. The Rally needs to bring in something new to keep people interested and coming. I have a bike and I enjoy the rally but after a day or two I am all set. I do enjoy going over by boat, docking at the weirs and meeting up with friends for lunch. Take care; Dan

06-23-2008, 06:04 AM	#18
froggy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Viewing Winnipesaukee Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	You may be only partially correct. However, several people who rent very sizable vendor space said their vendors had sales way ahead of last year! One even said the best $$$ ever on a first Saturday! Many many many said people do not necessarily consider Fathers Day; the calendar's dates were well-known in the bike traveling world. The count of people were down, yes, but who cares; it's the $$$ spent, with businesses directly related.

06-24-2008, 07:43 AM	#19
Paugusbaby Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 15 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Just to clarify - Bike week dates were not changed this year. Bike week starts the second Saturday of June - and Father's Day is the third Sunday of June, so in the normal couse, Bike Week ends on Father's Day. Because June 1st fell on a Sunday this year, the second Saturday and third Sunday fell on the same weekend. As for crowds, there is no doubt that attendance was down. I was up on both weekends. The first weekend was busy, but by Friday, you could pretty much ride anywhere without worrying about traffic. Not sure why - I think the reasons are many - but I enjoyed my time.

06-24-2008, 08:26 AM	#20
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,532 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Anyone think its time to downshift from a nine-day to say, a four or five day event? Isn't the Harley Davidson factory tour that sets up in the Laconia City Hall parking lot a four-day event? How about scheduling a five day, Wednesday - Sunday, motorcycle educational experience that is not just a family event. Let's put the buzz back into MC Week! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!