Ted Skowron ordered the usual.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Motorcyclist gather at Ed and Jean's ice cream shop in Port Byron. The Star Society, a group made up entirely of local bikers, rides to different ice cream shops each Thursday.
Motorcyclist gather at Ed and Jean's ice cream shop in Port Byron. The Star Society, a group made up entirely of local bikers, rides to different ice cream shops each Thursday.
“I always get the hot fudge sundae,” Skowron said with a huge smile at Ed & Jean's Ice Cream Stand in Port Byron.
The secretary of the Star Society riding club's Finger Lakes chapter said once a week during the riding season - May to the end of September or early October (depending on weather) - about 20 to 30 motorcycles will head out on a ride in pursuit of ice cream.
The Star Society began in 1999 as a way for motorcycle enthusiasts to get together and ride. A number of outings are scheduled throughout the season, including benefits like Bikers for Babies, dinners, overnight camping trips, even a ride to the Biker Museum in Buffalo, but the Thursday night ice cream rides throughout the Finger Lakes might be the sweetest tasting.
“There are so many people who don't have anyone to ride with,” vice president Charlie Mayer said. “This is a way for everyone to meet, and it's family oriented.”
Every Thursday like clockwork, riders begin showing up at Coffee to Go on Grant Avenue at 6 p.m. where they are able to socialize for about a half hour before the ride begins.
Members of the group stood around in the parking lot at the coffee shop, many wearing matching black leather Star Society vests with their names or nicknames (Skowron is apparently also known as “Baldy Jr.”), discussing rides they had taken the last weekend, or those they are planning in the coming weeks. A group ride to Piggy Pat's in Utica was in the making on Thursday. It's all about the camaraderie, said Barbara Bacon, wife of road captain Lyle Bacon.
Lyle said he maps out the routes ahead of time to ensure they are safe for 20-some bikes to ride. He runs the trip himself checking for road condition, vision when turning and that it would be OK if the large group would happen to get separated at a traffic light along the way. He also led the pack out to Port Byron.
About 6:25 p.m. everyone gathered in a circle and the weekly 50/50 raffle is drawn. Chaplain Kathy Evans led the group in a brief prayer for safe driving before departure.
Twenty-four bikes rode to Ed & Jean's Thursday. There were anywhere from vintage to modern sport bikes. Anyone can join the Star Society, as long as they are 18 years old, Skowron said.
The Thursday night ice cream rides began in April and they haven't missed a ride yet, Barbara said.
“We've even gone in the rain,” she said. “Sometimes other (Star Society) chapters will go on each other's rides.”
They've been everywhere from Oswego and Waterloo to Moravia, Seneca Falls and King Ferry, for ice cream, Mayer said.
When the bikers rode to King Ferry, Barbara said they took a meandering ride to Route 90 and followed it along Cayuga Lake the entire way.
“That's another perk of doing this,” she said. “The scenery - it's beautiful. That's why I don't drive. I ride and leave it up to (Lyle). I'm too busy looking at the scenery.”
On the ride to Ed & Jean's they were lucky enough to not get separated, even at the lights. The group continued socializing as they ordered up dessert and discussed the beautiful weather they were having for the evening's ride.
“We'll hang out here for awhile and go our separate ways,” Skowron said. “A couple of us will ride back together.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 236 or at laura.boyce@lee.net
Learn more
For more information on
joining the Star Society, visit www.starsociety.net; click on
the Finger Lakes chapter
The secretary of the Star Society riding club's Finger Lakes chapter said once a week during the riding season - May to the end of September or early October (depending on weather) - about 20 to 30 motorcycles will head out on a ride in pursuit of ice cream.
The Star Society began in 1999 as a way for motorcycle enthusiasts to get together and ride. A number of outings are scheduled throughout the season, including benefits like Bikers for Babies, dinners, overnight camping trips, even a ride to the Biker Museum in Buffalo, but the Thursday night ice cream rides throughout the Finger Lakes might be the sweetest tasting.
“There are so many people who don't have anyone to ride with,” vice president Charlie Mayer said. “This is a way for everyone to meet, and it's family oriented.”
Every Thursday like clockwork, riders begin showing up at Coffee to Go on Grant Avenue at 6 p.m. where they are able to socialize for about a half hour before the ride begins.
Members of the group stood around in the parking lot at the coffee shop, many wearing matching black leather Star Society vests with their names or nicknames (Skowron is apparently also known as “Baldy Jr.”), discussing rides they had taken the last weekend, or those they are planning in the coming weeks. A group ride to Piggy Pat's in Utica was in the making on Thursday. It's all about the camaraderie, said Barbara Bacon, wife of road captain Lyle Bacon.
Lyle said he maps out the routes ahead of time to ensure they are safe for 20-some bikes to ride. He runs the trip himself checking for road condition, vision when turning and that it would be OK if the large group would happen to get separated at a traffic light along the way. He also led the pack out to Port Byron.
About 6:25 p.m. everyone gathered in a circle and the weekly 50/50 raffle is drawn. Chaplain Kathy Evans led the group in a brief prayer for safe driving before departure.
Twenty-four bikes rode to Ed & Jean's Thursday. There were anywhere from vintage to modern sport bikes. Anyone can join the Star Society, as long as they are 18 years old, Skowron said.
The Thursday night ice cream rides began in April and they haven't missed a ride yet, Barbara said.
“We've even gone in the rain,” she said. “Sometimes other (Star Society) chapters will go on each other's rides.”
They've been everywhere from Oswego and Waterloo to Moravia, Seneca Falls and King Ferry, for ice cream, Mayer said.
When the bikers rode to King Ferry, Barbara said they took a meandering ride to Route 90 and followed it along Cayuga Lake the entire way.
“That's another perk of doing this,” she said. “The scenery - it's beautiful. That's why I don't drive. I ride and leave it up to (Lyle). I'm too busy looking at the scenery.”
On the ride to Ed & Jean's they were lucky enough to not get separated, even at the lights. The group continued socializing as they ordered up dessert and discussed the beautiful weather they were having for the evening's ride.
“We'll hang out here for awhile and go our separate ways,” Skowron said. “A couple of us will ride back together.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 236 or at laura.boyce@lee.net
Learn more
For more information on
joining the Star Society, visit www.starsociety.net; click on
the Finger Lakes chapter
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