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June 12-20, 2010 -
The
countdown till the 87th annual Laconia Bike Week has begun! Bike week 2010
takes place from June 12th through the 20th, 2010. It's never too early to
start planning, and we'll be updating these pages as new information and event schedules
become available. Laconia bike week is one of the big three
motorcycle rallys, and it also has the distinction of being the longest running
rally. With good weather, attendance has been as high as 400,000 in the
past. It's an incredible event, one you won't forget. Our rally has
it all: countless events, hundreds of vendors selling everything you can
imagine, thousands of bikes, and great scenic riding around the lakes and
mountains. If you haven't been to Laconia already, isn't it time to
find out what you've been missing?
Finding a
Place to Stay
With so many people trying to stay in a small
area, finding lodging establishments with vacancy is going to be your biggest
challenge. Your best bet is to start calling around in February to April,
but keep in mind many places are seasonal and may not even have someone
dependably answering the phones during this time. The internet is your
best friend in this case, as everyone still checks email!
The Laconia Bike Week Insider maintains a page
with links to area hotels and campgrounds that have websites, organized by
distance from the center of the action at Weirs Beach. We've reprinted
places within one mile of Weirs Beach. Be sure to check the full list of bike
week lodging.
- The
Summit Resort, Bay
Top Motel, Paugus
Bay Campground, Half
Moon Motel & Cottages, Cozy
Inn-Lakeview House & Cottages, Weirs
Beach Motel & Cottages, Lake
Winnipesaukee Motel, Birch
Knoll Motel, Naswa
Resort, 1848
Inn & Resort, Proctors
Lakehouse Cottage, and the Lighthouse
Inn.
Tip:
The Laconia chamber of commerce maintains a listing of hotels and motels in the
area that currently have openings for bike week. Not all members
participate in submitting information, and some don't update it daily, so it's
not perfect but it's a good start. Click
here to access the latest information.
Event
Schedule for 2010
The preliminary schedule for 2010 has not yet
been published. Once available, we'll post it here.
Bike
Week Photos & Video
Check back during bike week for lots of HD
video clips. In the meantime, we have lots of user submitted photos from
years past, and we'd love to have you send
us some more recent photos from this years rally.
View photo gallery page: 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
8 9
10
Tips
on Getting Around
If you've been to the Weirs, you know it's a
small area, and it's the place everyone wants to be to enjoy the action and the
people-watching. Even with centerline parking and years of tweaking traffic management
plans, the end result is of course congestion. For the past several
years, the city of Laconia makes several changes to the flow of traffic, the
main points of which are included below. The first weekend is now often
busier than the second, as more non-biker spectators bring their families to
sightsee.
- The main strip is Lakeside ave.
Parking meters are suspended and the road is one-way, open to bikes
only. No parking from 2-6am.
- The bridge between Lakeside Ave and
Centenary Ave will be closed.
- Warner street will be one way from Route 3
to Tower Street.
- You can not make a left turn from Tower
Street onto Route 3, and Tower Street is closed approximately 100 feet west
of Maple Street.
- Doe Avenue and Warner Street north of its
intersection with Tower Street will be closed to all through traffic.
- There will be no parking allowed on the
following roads: Ashley Drive, Colonial Rd, Woodvale Drive, Plantation
Drive, Rolling Lane, Pine Notch Circle, Summit Avenue, Wentworth Cove Road,
Regis Road, McKinley Road and Rollercoaster Road.
During the final few days of bike week a few
more changes are made. Starting on Thursday, you can't turn left onto
route 3 from 11b, and the Weirs Bridge is closed to 4-wheel vehicles.
Don't worry about trying to memorize all these changes, plenty of signage will
get you where you need to go.
Tip:
If you're going to be in Meredith or Lakeport, you can take the
shuttle train to get to and from the Weirs during the busier parts of the week. Details
about the shuttle train.
Vendor
Information
Hundreds of
vendors show up at bike week to sell and show off their wares. Most are located
at the Drive-In Theater and along Lakeside Ave. Others are scattered along route
three around Funspot and the Broken Spoke, and as far north at Laconia Harley
Davidson in Meredith. Some past vendors include Bear Hollow Boots, Fat Boys,
Show Off Ink, Above All Leather, House of Sheesha, Spider’s Promotions, Art
Attack, Jim’s French Fries, Ryder Sports, Simply Silver, and Icicles Eyewear.
Tip:
If you're looking for a specific vendor, check out these vendor
maps. The graphics are from 2000, but things haven’t changed that
much. Drive-In
Theater area, Beachview
Bazaar, Half Moon
area, Waterslide
Area, Winnipesaukee
Marketplace area. The city of Laconia maintains this vendor
site location map which shows all places that have received permits to have
vendors.
Tip:
If you're a vendor, this
page from the city will explain the process of getting a permit and finding
a location.
Future
Dates
Like to plan way ahead? No problem. In
2011, bike week runs from June 11th through the 19th. For 2012, the dates
are June 9th through the 17th.
Links
to More Info
Laconia Bike Week: The Top 5 List
Author: Byron
Mackelroy
Born from the “Loudon Classic”, a
motorcycle race that started in 1923 Laconia Motorcycle Week is one of the
largest motorcycle rallies in the United States with attendance of up to 400,000
visitors in some years. Every year the nine days leading up to father’s day
brings in a groundswell of bikers and bikes of all
different varieties. From
souped-up super customs to rip-roaring race bikes, Bike Week is sure to tickle
the fancy of any motorcycle enthusiast. Here are the top 5 things to ensure you
have the time of your life during the festivities.
The Loudon Races and the Gunstock
Hill Climbs
Laconia Motorcycle Week started as a rally
to watch the local bike races. The Loudon Classic Race, the original event, is
the longest continually running motorcycle race in America. If you enjoy racing,
make it a point to visit the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon. For
those of you looking for something a bit more unorthodox, the Gunstock Hill
Climbs are the event for you. Watch from the base of the local ski resort as
daredevils on supercharged hill climb bikes race up the slopes for the best
time. This event always has a few close calls that will leave you with a few
stories to tell your friends when you get back home.
Cruising the lake
There is no other way to say it, Lake
Winnipesaukee is one of the most scenic lakes in the world. Covering almost 69
square miles, Lake Winnipesaukee’s stretch of pristine water harbors hundreds
of islands and numerous towns and villages. During your Bike Week Adventure,
either by car or Harley, make it a point to cruise the circuit running the
perimeter of the lake. Your trip will take you through quaint harbor towns like
Meredith and Wolfeboro. Each village and town has its own character as well as
numerous restaurants and stores to visit. The scenic stretches of road running
higher up the mountainside will open up panoramic views of dark blue lakes and
rolling green mountain spanning out as far as the eye can see.
The Weirs
Everyone knows that the Weirs Beach area
in Laconia is the heart and soul of Bike Week. This boardwalk and beach area
offers host to many of the vendors and drinking establishments that make Bike
Week such a crazy event. While it may not be “kid friendly”, the Weirs
offers some of the best people watching in the world during the rally. Throw on
your leathers, show off your tattoos and add some extra time to find a parking
spot, a visit to the Weirs is like stepping into one of the Mad Max movies.
The Train
For those of you who want to take in the
festivities, tip back a few drinks and avoid the parking problems, be sure to
check out the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. This vintage railroad offers
transportation directly to the train station on the Weirs Boardwalk from the
more Quiet towns of Meredith and Lakeport. With tickets pricing in at only
$12.50 for a round trip, this ride is well worth the investment.
Lodging
With all the opportunities for a goodtime
during Laconia Motorcycle Week one thing is for certain, at the end of the day
you are going to be exhausted. Planning for this fact ahead of time can make the
difference between a good trip and a great trip. For those attendees looking to
be in the thick of the action, make sure to get your reservations early and look
for a New Hampshire hotel like the Summit Resort (http://www.summitresortnh.com/)
near the Weirs that fits your needs. The Summit Resort, just walking distance
from Weirs Beach, offers fantastic amenities from indoor pools and roman spas to
saunas and a weight room. If you are looking for a bit more peace and quiet
after a long day, check out Steele Hill Resorts (http://www.steelehillresorts.com/)
right outside of Laconia. Steele Hill Resorts, the largest resort in central New
Hampshire, offer close proximity to the rally with killer views and a list of
amenities that will make your head spin.
Bike Week is a unique New Hampshire
tradition. The Lakes Region is proud to host such a colorful event. If you are a
hardcore bike, someone looking to experience something new or just a fan of the
races, make it a point to plan out your trip and get ready for a goodtime. Don’t
forget your bandana.
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/laconia-bike-week-the-top-5-list--781403.html
About the Author:
I am an aspiring travel writer. My goal is to provide helpful travel tips and
highlight exciting destinations.
