Breakfast with the Bikers!

Bikers’ Breakfast:  What in heaven’s name is a Bikers’ Breakfast?  Well I found out a few weeks ago at St. John the Evangelist Church in Strathroy.  Let me assure you it is not a case of a bike gang such as the Hell’s Angels arriving in town raising hell in the local hang out during the breakfast hour.  It is not even the modern Christian version of Daniel in the Lions’ Den with the bikers on the menu. Let me assure you, this Bikers’ Breakfast was a most civilized and enjoyable experience that the most sedate Anglican would approve of (and that is saying a lot).  No bikers or even non-bikers were harmed in the event.

I found my introduction to the Bikers’ Breakfast at St. John’s to be a most entertaining and educational event.  This version of a Bikers’ Breakfast (I don’t know of any other version) is a monthly actual breakfast which is held by St. John’s. The Bikers’ Breakfast is the brain child of Greg McNair, one of the Lay Readers at St. John’s. You wouldn’t known it by looking at Greg but he is a biker (or perhaps I should say, a rider of motor cycles).

In addition to a great breakfast put on by some of the St. John’s parishioners, it was, as I noted, also educational.  Each month there is a guest speaker on the general theme of motor cycles.  This edition had a speaker who covered the topic of group riding.  The speaker (I neglected to note his name) was from the Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers (CMC) who covered the protocols for riding in groups.  Now this is something that the motor cycle gangs e.g. Hell’s Angels, probably don’t worry about as I think they assume thy have the right of way at all times but that may be prejudice on my part.  However, group riding, when done properly and safely, is much more involved than the non-biker realizes.  There are rules and lots of do’s and don’ts and even a whole series of hand signals that are a match for even a high Anglican worship service.  There are designated positions (perhaps the equivalent to the presider and sub-deacon) including Road Captains who are in charge of the route and leading the way and tail-gunners who bring up the rear an insure no lamb goes astray.

There are rules as you would expect in any group event.  In all there are 12 general rules which you could say are the group bikers’ version of the Ten Commandments.  The procession of bikers in the group are every bit as formal as any Anglican procession (and we Anglicans are known for their processions).  The organized groups must be 100% alcohol free (rule #3) unlike Anglicans who believe that Jesus was using actual wine at the Last Supper unlike some other Christian denominations.  There are also some very sensible rules for comfort as well as safety such as #12; Please ensure you have a full tank (of gas) and an empty bladder when you show up for group rides. 

Finally, there are a series of hand signals which are used to communicate to all the bikers on the group ride.  You have the usual ones that you might remember from riding the other kind of bikes (those with peddles) such as left turn i.e. the left arm extended sight out to the left.  There are also ones I have never encountered before such as Emergency Stop i.e. Tap top of the helmet with closed fist. 

All in all, I was very impressed with the planning and organization that goes into a group ride when done properly to ensure the safety of those involved and the motoring public in general.  The Bikers’ Breakfast is a great way to engage the church with the broader community and Greg and the other parishioners of St. John’s are to be commended on a great idea well executed.

Blessings on your journey whether it is by bike are any other means of travel.