Forget the movies The Wild Ones and Easy Rider with their stereotypical portrayal of a motorcycle culture of gang violence, alternative life styles, and rampant drug usage.
Also disregard previous notions that motorcycle enthusiasts are only young men. Nationally, the average age of riders had increased from 40, in 2001, to 49 less than a decade later. Likewise, from 1988 to 2014, the percentage of women motorcycle owners jumped from eight to 14 percent.
And in The Villages: all bets are off. Just ask the 370 members of its Nomads Motorcycle Club. Their numbers are even more startling. Typical of their Villages neighbors, their members’ age range from 55 to 82, while 13 women “ride single.”
“Another 20 women ride ‘second seat’ with the husbands or significant others,” said Paige Udell, of the Village of Winifred, a seven-year member of the Club and motorcycle rider since 1988. “I ride a Harley Davidson Power Glide Special, while other women prefer smaller bikes or ‘three-wheelers called trikes’ that provide better balance.”
Throughout the year, Club conducts a wide variety of activities – from local and long-distance group rides to participating in philanthropic initiatives.
“Last year, we raised $1,813 through our 50/50 raffles that was donated to the Lake County Christian Food Bank,” reported Village of Mallory resident Barbara Deibel, who has been the Club’s treasurer for the past seven years. “We also support the Village’s Honor Flight. Four times a year, some 40 Nomads provide a motorcycle escort, from Leesburg to the American Legion, to the returning veterans.”
“The Club’s presence also is felt at the National Ceremony at Bushnell. “On Dec. 16, we brought Christmas wreaths, and before Memorial Day we donated 500 American flags and placed them at gravesites as part of Flags for Fallen Vets,” Deibel continued.
But, the Club also touts its ‘enjoyment of the sport of motorcycling’ and the bonds of new friendships
“Some of our members just returned from a two-day trip to St. Augustine. Previously, we took a 15-day trip to the Sturgis (S.D.) Motorcycle Rally,” said Bob Kerfin, Club president. “We now are planning trips to destinations such as Rolling Thunder in Washington, D.C. and Biketoberfest in Daytona, in addition to our routine, tri-weekly breakfast and lunch rides to local restaurants,” the Villages of Pine Hills resident continued.
“While the Nomads ‘enjoy having fun,’ the emphasis always is on safety. “We conduct monthly safety instruction classes focusing on ‘group riding’ and ‘slow maneuver’ skills,” said Rebecca Chianese, the Club’s secretary.
More information about the Nomads can be found on its website, thevillagenomads.com, or by contacting Bob Kerfin at (847) 366-7888 or kerfinbob@gmail.com.
