Fire, ice & water
Monsoonal rain doesn't dampen bikers' spirits

A flood of patrons walk up and down Santa Fe Avenue in Grants checking out bikes and booths at the Seventh annual Fire and Ice Bike Rally on Saturday afternoon. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The bikes took Grants by storm during the three-day Fire and Ice Bike Rally. Along with an army of Harley-Davidsons, there were Gold Wings and other tricked out motorcycles as thousands of easy riders assembled for the bike fiesta of the year in Cibola County.

Portions of Santa Fe Avenue and some side streets near the park were blocked off to allow for an easy traffic flow and the safety of foot traffic. People walked the streets admiring bikes, many of them highly decorated and works of art, and took advantage of food booths and vendors who had set up camp early Friday morning to prepare for the onslaught of visitors.

The bike rally publicizes the city of Grants and generates money for local projects. Donald Jaramillo of the Mainstreet Program is excited about the festival.

"This event helps us at the Mainstreet Program to generate money and funds to reinvest in the Grants community. A lot of the projects involve beautification that helps make the city attractive to not only locals but also to visitors in hopes they will come back for other events too," Jaramillo said.

Brian Conklin of Pueblo, Colo., made his way to the rally for the second year in a row.

"I go to Sturgis and have been for a lot of years, but the show they put on here is much more friendly and there is kind of a family atmosphere that my wife and myself appreciate," he said.

Robert Lark was in town from Traverse City, Mich., and didn't quite fit the biker image. "A lot of people have the misconception that these bike rallies attract motorcycle gangs like in the movies with Brando, but that isn't the case. Look, I'm a 56-year-old accountant and enjoy riding and being with other riders to talk motorcycles and have a good time. Twenty years ago I couldn't afford a bike like I have, but now I can. I don't ride with gangs or anything like that," he said.

While many arrived early on Thursday, more came on Friday to kick off the weekend. The roar of machines up and down the streets was impressive as bikers proudly displayed their vehicles, and by Friday night it was clear there was a party. The smells of different foods filled the air along with the sounds of conversation as old friends met up again.

"We all seem to run into each other at other motorcycle rallies, so it's kind of like a traveling club. We like to show off our bikes and catch up on latest bike gossip," Charlie Mankus, a marketing rep from Utah, said.

Saturday and Sunday mornings saw the early arrival of the 4-H club cleaning up around the park and other crews emptying the port-a-potties and trash containers. Even by 8 a.m., bikes were parked on streets and vendors were ready to open for business as others walked around enjoying the cooler temperatures of the early morning hours. By midday the streets were packed and the bikes looked like an art gallery on wheels. Everyone was enjoying the weather and getting ready for the evenings entertainment.

A couple of stray thunderstorms made their way through the area on Saturday, one that began at 3 p.m. with a heavy downpour that had festival goers heading for cover as they did again around 6 p.m. as another storm hit the area. Eventually skies cleared enough for the party to continue without dampening spirits.

The Fire and Ice Bike Rally ended on Sunday and by all accounts was a success as thousands came to Grants.