Escape to Americade
If you’re someone who enjoys an open road, surrounded by natural beauty and yet also seeing a huge collection of the latest and greatest the motorcycle industry has to offer, then Americade may be your next event. It’s viewed as a true “rider’s rally” catering to young and old motorcyclists who want to dive deeply into the world of motorcycling. This weeklong event is located in prime riding territory. It’s nestled on the southern tip of Lake George, which was recently voted the “Most Beautiful Lake in the U.S.,” and happens to be within the Adirondack Park’s 8 million acres of lush, mountainous forest. Great riding roads abound, allowing you to quickly escape on twisty scenic roads in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, or in neighboring Vermont’s Green Mountains. Whether on a guided ride, or riding solo, set at least 2 days aside to escape into valleys, over ridges, through covered bridges, and along endless lakeshore riding. Americade is one of the very few events where you can park your bike for several days and completely immerse yourself in all-things motorcycling. There are more factory demo rigs at Americade than any other event in North America. The factories learned early-on that the type of rider attending Americade is often a more committed motorcyclist than elsewhere (read: they buy more bikes). There is no better way to determine your next bike’s suitability than riding it, so this is a rare chance to do back-to-back comparisons. Arrive early, because they fill up quickly. One of the best kept secrets at the event is “Americade University.” It’s four days of seminars and clinics from numerous knowledgeable motorcyclists. Want to learn how to pack for a round-the-world trip? Fix a flat? Brake better? You name it, and there’s likely a class offered for your interests. (Rider Magazine’s editors have been “Featured Speakers” at Americade for many years, so keep an eye out for us.)
Kicking off the entire Americade Week is the Rider Opening Celebration, where over $5,000 in prizes is awarded. You and several thousand of your friends stand a good chance of winning. A highlight of Saturday is the “Americade Ride For Kids Parade.” Americade is the only major rally in the nation that Ride For Kids has partnered with, making it a featured event for the weekend crowd. This parade is an hourlong, scenic ride into the heart of Lake George, and is predicted to generate tens of thousands of dollars for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in 2019. In 2018, a 6 year old boy who is one of the foundations beneficiaries climbed the stage and thanked all who contributed, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. They say, “Four wheels moves the body, and two wheels moves the soul,” which couldn’t be any more true during this charity ride. Regardless of your riding style, or your motorcycling interests, Americade likely offers a lot for you, all while maintaining a different and more welcoming environment than virtually any other large rally. And, if you opt to sign up for one of their packages, remember that their most popular events sell out months before the event happens. Set aside a week in June, and escape to Americade.
Americade’s Expo is big, and worthwhile. Hundreds of vendors are onsite displaying, selling and installing all sorts of gear. Importantly, in this era of internet shopping, this expo gives you an opportunity to touch and test the gear before you buy it. Vendors range from Klim to Kuryakyn and everything in between. Pro tip: Find the section of the expo called “The Hub.” There you’ll see fascinating displays, including a collection of antique, custom and retromodded motorcycles, and the famous artist Makoto Endo creating large, highly detailed motorcycle illustrations using a jar of ink and a chopstick. Nighttime at Americade ranges from boustrous main street cruising to quiet walks on the pedestrian boulevard overlooking the lake, as well as several special events offered by Americade. Their events feature famous comedians, famous motorcyclists, music and stunt shows.
Ready to be a part of the action? Visit our website for more information & to sign up! www. Americade.com Follow Us: