For over 20 years, Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach has pulled sportbiking sun seekers from all over the country in a largely attended, but scarcely publicized, event. The rally has gone by several names including Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Festival, Myrtle Beach Bike Week, Sportbike Week and most commonly, Black Bike Week.
The venue basically is a largely unorganized gathering of bikers from all over the country that flock to a 60-mile stretch of beach along South Carolina's northern coast. For four solid days, the flat roads of the surrounding states are filled with bike-loaded trailers all headed to the sportbiking mecca of the East (sorry Daytona, Myrtle's got ya).
For miles in any direction of the city thousands of fat-tired rides appear from all points. Bikes from all years, makes and models are seen rolling low, long and shiny-and frequently with a near-naked lady on the rear.
The hot and humid coastal weather had the women dressed in little more than high heels and a smile, but that's OK because in Myrtle a fat tire usually has a phatter ass parked just above it. Observers could literally stand on any street corner for hours and never see the same bike (or set of cheeks) twice.
While other bike weeks are little more than commercialized drinking excursions littered with fights and trouble, Black Bike Week is more about camaraderie among the thousands of clubs in attendance. The weekend revolves around the bikes, and rolling in style counts. Loud choppers don't get nearly the respect or attention of a long and low sportbike.
As the annual event gets ever more mainstream support from manufactures and custom bike builders, it will continue to grow. But if success is measured by making good memories under the sun with fellow riders and friends over commercialism, BBW has it nailed.