australian letters This is a weekly newsletter published by the Australian bureau. This week's issue is written by Northern Territory-based reporter Julia Bergin.
Lon Nol rides his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the desert heat of central Australia wearing flip-flops, or thongs, preferring the breathability and hassle-free comfort of footwear. It was known for.
But on Sunday morning, he pulled on his sturdy boots and rolled into an Alice Springs petrol station. Knoll reluctantly admitted in front of amused riders that he had made “necessary changes” for safety.
The four riders, Knoll, Richard Blom, Daniel Bowman and Marcia Fells, are part of a local Harley owners group with a total membership of about 25 people. Everyone wore denim, leather, and of course boots. This loose-fitting uniform was completed with an outer leather vest emblazoned with Harley's eagle and wheel insignia.
Their attire may have implied the stereotype of a menacing motorcycle gang. But their preference for tea and apple strudel showed the club's unwillingness to flout the law.
Two patches on the back of the Harley vest confirm this. One more patch would have indicated they belonged to an outlaw gang like the Hells Angels, Bandidos, or Comancheros. In Australia these are known as MCs or Motorcycle Clubs. Knoll and his fellow riders belong to a different category: SMCs (Social Motorcycle Clubs). In short, they are just bike enthusiasts.
After covering approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) in one hour, the Alice Springs HOG stopped at the Kata Anga Tea Room in the indigenous community of Ntaria, also known as Hermansburg, southwest of Alice Springs. Over drinks, they discussed the dangers that await social clubs that don't stay in their own lane and respect the unspoken rules of local biker culture.
Noll said with a wry smile that the best way to avoid trouble is to “do as little as possible.”
Although there are no outlaw MCs based in Central Australia, they can still exert influence in the region.
Alice Springs riders say another social club recently tried to move into South Australia, trespassing into the famous MC's territory. The result, they say, was a forced shutdown, or “patchover” in biker slang.
“If you're in their territory, they'll come and go to your clubhouse and say, 'Give me the keys.'” There's one option. Just walk out the door, leave your bike here, and we'll take you there,'' Mr. Blom said, taking a bite of apple strudel.
Shannon Althouse, a former leader of the Darwin Rebels club who served seven years in prison for attempted murder, said this was an example of a social club wanting to “give gangster a try”. (Mr Althaus is no longer at the tea shop, but is now a youth coach at the Arrernte Community Boxing Academy in Alice Springs.)
Blom said too many riders are influenced by movies that encourage violence, class society, general gang culture and poor riding habits.
“In 'Wild Hogs,' as you often see in these biker movies, there are four bikes riding together, two and two together,” he said. “You should never ride on such flat ground, because crows, eagles and birds will react if you punch them in the face.” That could lead to carnage, he said. It was a veer off the road, a collision, someone being hit off the road.
Bowman agreed. “It's dangerous, but they're doing it,” he said. “Two years ago, there was a Mongolian MC group that came through Alice, and they were all riding side by side.''
The Alice Springs HOG runs in a staggered formation. The person riding in front, or the 'road captain', chosen entirely based on which bike has cruise control, sits on the right side of the road, followed a short distance behind by someone on the left. . This gives everyone an unobstructed view and gives you space to react quickly if needed.
The group has rules against “disrespectful behavior” on the roads, and Mr Blom said the group takes penalties very seriously, with a fine of up to A$5 for anyone who tries to overtake a road captain. It said it was imposing a fine of approximately $3.25.
“Ron always pays $100 upfront at the beginning of the year,” Blom, the ride's road captain, said of Noll, a flip-flop rider.
Mr. Knoll had his reasons. “I can't keep waiting for you at the end of the ride,” he said quietly.
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