Ogle County is a beautiful place. On that I’m sure we can all agree.
It made sense to me when Oregon began pushing the idea of the city, and the county, becoming a go-to destination for bicycle enthusiasts. It is clearly a great place to get out and ride.
Oregon has worked to attract riders, and has even dressed the city up to make it bike friendly and bike promoting.
I think this should be applauded, but I also think the city and county should not stop there.
What about motorcycles?
Hear me out, before you start having visions of Hell’s Angels overrunning Polo and doing burnouts at the Courthouse in Oregon.
I have a friend who is an avid bicycle rider. He is an athlete who has completed five Iron Man competitions, so he knows a thing or two about riding – and running and swimming. He rides thousands of miles a year, often out of town.
A nice bike can cost $2,000 or more. Not bad. All the other gear can add up too. But most cyclists aren’t riding into town to stop and eat or buy from local merchants. There are here to ride – burning miles and calories. Sure, they might stop for a Gatorade or occasional meal, but they probably won’t spend a ton.
Motorcyclists spend up to $40,000 on a bike. Gear, from helmets to gloves to riding jackets, and bike upgrades can add thousands more. And most riders are professionals or retired. They have money and time to burn, and spend every weekend doing just that.
Have you ever seen the motorcycles in Ogle County on summer weekends? The highways, streets and country roads are full of them. I know because I am one of them. Ogle County is a lovely place to ride.
It is also on the way to Poopy’s, a destination for motorcycle riders in Savannah, Ill. There are hundreds of riders going right through Oregon and Mount Morris on their way to Poopy’s all the time. And those people will spend money.
Take a look at most riders – we aren’t talking about a bunch of health nuts here. Put out a sign welcoming bikers passing through the area, and you can expect to sell a few more burgers or pizzas or whatever else you have.
And most touring bikes have plenty of space for souvenirs.
I have brought this up to people in the county and gotten a lot of blank stares. Bicycle riders, with their tight bright shorts and water bottles, seem to be the preferred target for folks. Motorcyclists, with their loud machines, black clothes and tattoos, not as much.
But, honestly, how many bicyclists do you run into in Ogle County during the week, or on weekends in the warm months? Please, take a count when you are out and about.
Then count the motorcycles. You will realize there is no comparison.
Again, I think making the county a destination for cyclists is a great idea. But I also think motorcyclists would be a great target audience too. Most of us don’t drink when we ride, so this is not about filling up bars.
Regardless, motorcycles will continue to ride the roads of Ogle County, if only to pass through it to get to a destination. I just think that taking advantage of that is smart business.
