Bike Week

September 24, 2007







Bike Week

One of the most interesting of the myriad of annual events held in Key West is the annual Poker Run for bikers, otherwise known as Bike Week. Held in the otherwise slow month of September, Bike Week features thousands of riders making their way down the Keys, collecting cards at five stops along the way to accumulate a poker hand, whoever has the best hand wins a cash prize.
It’s all to benefit charities such as the Diabetes Research Foundation and it also brings a ton of money to Key West during a traditionally slow time.







Organizers estimate the total number of bikers to be somewhere between 10-15 thousand and though I have my doubts there are actually that many, there is no question that the town is overrun with motorcycles during bike week. Some locals can’t stand it; the noise alone from all those bikes can be annoying at best and at times downright obnoxious, but I really do not mind it. I know the bikers have a reputation of being great tippers and they seem to spend a lot of money, have a lot of fun and mostly stay out of trouble.

The city blocks off 8 blocks of lower Duval Street and allow only motorcycle and pedestrian travel and the bars in the area set up a stage for entertainment and all sorts of vendors and food and stuff line the street. We usually take at least on evening to venture down and check out all the bikes and the scene of the organized chaos. It rained pretty heavily earlier in the evening, but it did not seem to dampen the spirits of the assembled leather clad throng.







http://www.petersonskeywestpokerrun.com/