By Joe Olvera ©, 2012
Tony Jimenez considers himself just a weekend biker, even though he repairs, rebuilds, and even fabricates them from scratch. It’s no easy job, but it’s a great way to earn a living. “It all depends, of course, on what the customer wants. If he wants a custom-built bike, we manufacture it to order. Riding a bike is a pleasure, it helps you forget about everything. However, I’m not a hard-core rider. I mostly take my bike out on weekends when the weather is nice. I’m not like other guys, who ride their bikes in 30-degree, freezing weather, with the elements working against them. Maybe they want to prove something to themselves. But, then, to each his own.”
Jimenez, a Tigua Indian, says that his shop, TJ Kustoms, Cycle is on the reservation, but he gets business from all over the city. He says some of his customers come from as far away as Albuquerque, with very specific instructions on how they want their bikes rebuilt, or repaired. Weekend bikers abound all over the United States. They are like golfers, who choose weekends to up their game. Riding bikes is no different. Evelyn Shih writes in her article, “Weekend bikers are a far cry from Hell’s Angels,” that weekend bikers can be vice presidents of a company, lawyers, doctors, or any of several professionals who prefer riding bikes on weekends.
“Gone are the days when motorcycle riding was equated with skull-and-wings insignias or long hair,” Shih writes. “Today, motorcycle enthusiasts rarely fit the traditional stereotype of the bikers – they range from single moms to Wall Street traders to computer programmers. Many are baby boomers who choose biking as a lifestyle or hobby – not for a identify or a gang affiliation.”
Jimenez says that there is a new breed of bikers who take to the road for the pure pleasure and to master a throbbing machine. Even more popular are group rides, in which several bikers get together to take trips of up to 80 miles and more. “I’ve been riding since I was a kid,” Jimenez said. “Once you’re on your bike, you get comfortable you tend to forget about everything, about all your troubles. Riding your bike helps you think, it opens and clears your mind.” And the fear factor?
“Some people fear a bike, but, that has a lot to do with the area where they live,” Jimenez said. “It all depends on how you drive, how you ride. In El Paso, there are few speeders, they are more moderate. In California, however, drivers of automobiles go at excessive speeds. For example, I would never drive my bike in Juarez. Once a person gets over the idea of crashing, it’s a sexy thing to do. I’m 48 years old, and riding my bike does make me feel younger. Even though I’m a weekend biker, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Category Featured |
This Saturday stop by the new Sierra Providence Emergency Room for their Grand Opening!
2400 Trawood
Saturday Feb 25th 11am-3pm
FREE! Hot Dogs, Drinks, Cotton Candy, Bounce House.
Blood and Cholesterol Screenings
Category Lifestyles |
The German Air Defense Center has been in existence in El Paso since 1966, working in conjunction with Ft. Bliss and Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. For about 25 of those years, the German MC has been riding in El Paso, and helping its people along the way.
Volker Vogel has been the German MC President for the last couple of years and he sees the club as a way of giving back and being a part of the community where he feels like a special guest. When asked why it is that he feels such a drive to be part of El Paso, he answered very frankly, “For me, the treatment from the people to the military is perfect. The people stand behind the military. Since we are ourselves military, most people treat us with equal respect. The people here in El Paso are very nice, very friendly. Most people here do not know exactly how well we have it, especially in the biker community. Each month, we and the other 47 clubs meet and talk with one another. We eat together, we drink together. We get together and we discuss how we as bikers can serve the community. It’s great!
“Honestly, this (his tour in El Paso) is the first time that I have been able to HELP. If we need help or we want to help a particular organization or area, there is very little paperwork or permission or red tape that we have to go through. No politics, just simply help!”
In fact, when Andreas Hauke, father of Noel Hauke who was diagnosed with leukemia right before Christmas in 2011, asked to see if Vogel could help in some way, he didn’t hesitate to throw himself and the rest of the German MC into the battle. Andreas works with the German Air Force out of Holloman, but he did not have many contacts or friends in the area. He started to ask for help on Facebook, but “we didn’t have time to really organize something for Noel and stay with him in the hospital.” Vogel works as a public media officer, and he knew that he did have enough contacts and people who could help.
Vogel adds: “When Andreas spoke with me as to whether we could help, I told him I was a father of a perfectly healthy 12 year old girl. Of course, I’ll help! When DKMS, a leukemia advocacy group told Vogel that they would need about 40 volunteers to make a bone marrow drive happen, “40 people? There’s at least 20 people in my club, we will start there.”
The German MC has grown from two members to currently more than 24, both here and in Germany. “Members have to get there patch here in El Paso, but they are allowed to fly the colors when they go back to Germany.” The roots to Germany run deep, but some don’t go back to Germany.
Hines Alexander, a German MC member, has been in El Paso for the last 6 years, been married here and has now retired from the German Air Force here in El Paso. He is so invested in the El Paso community, he says many of his friends just call him ‘Alejandro’. The German MC is a way to keep in touch with his homeland friends and culture. “We are aware of our situation, that we are guests of this country and this community. We want to give back to this place that has given to us and we wish to integrate into the community.”
As for Volker Vogel, he says to this date, hasn’t even met Noel Hauke, the reason this day’s bone marrow drive was put together. “For me, meeting Noel was not truly important. His father came to us for help and we will help in whatever way we can. We have already made a monetary donation to the family and for me, this (the organizing of the drive) is my business and the business of this club. I have to run it as perfectly as possible to get the best results for Noel before I get to meet him.”
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If you wish to help, you may contact Noel Hauke and his parents through Facebook. His parents, Andreas and Ramona Hauke, ask that you “friend” Noel through his Facebook page and send him good wishes and prayers. He and his parents read the posts to try to lift his spirits as he fights his illness. If you wish to help others like Noel, you can also give blood, red blood cells, or platelets that help in the recuperation process of cancer patients.
Category Lifestyles |
