Arizona Bike Week explodes in Scottsdale around the end of each March. In 2009, the event was held between March 27 and April 5. The epicenter for the annual biker bash is WestWorld in North Scottsdale, but the 10-days of raucous festivities span much of the Scottsdale/Phoenix Sonoran Desert and beyond.

Cyclefest begins with “Pre-rally Days,” which are 5 days of events leading up to the main event, which is 5 more days of parties, rides and entertainment. Pre-rally Days offer bikers a tad of "spring training" to get in shape for the main event — hard-core partying. Attractions include live music from top national acts and regional bands, bike shows, charity rides, poker runs, a silent auction, the Miss Arizona Bike Week Contest, and lots of partying and socializing.

I dropped by a popular watering hole in downtown Scottsdale for an up-close and personal look at some of the awesome blinged-out Harleys and outrageous ladies. The celebrated hot spot, located in heart of Old Town Scottsdale, is popular throughout the year but becomes particularly entertaining during the two weekends spanning Bike Week. The weather in the lower Sonoran is usually perfect this time of the year, and these two afternoons of shooting were no exception.

As expected, the biker hot spot was packed when I arrived, bristling with high-energy activity everywhere. While packs of bikers were arriving “in style,” other groups were departing under the throaty rumble of pure V-twin horsepower and the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber. Still, other bikers were scurrying around like busy bees, some enjoying the live music and a game of pool inside while others were packing the curbside front bar and people watching. One common thread screamed out from the patrons inside, on the front patio and in the parking lot: laughter, funning around, and partyin’ hardy.

As in recent years, the name of the game was radical wide-tire customs, old school choppers and blinged-out baggers blended with a mix of colorful bandannas, sensuous tank tops, rhinestone-studded belts and splashes of artistic ink. And most of the small talk focused on faster horses, stronger whiskey and lovely ladies.

Unquestionably, the drinks were chilling, the rad bikes were awesome, and the senoritas were outrageous. I’d call it “biker heaven” on a beautiful day in the Valley of the Sun.

The following candids were shot with a Canon 5D MkI and EF 24-105/f4 IS lens, using Av mode, hand-held, ambient light. I chose the EF 24-105 lens instead of the EF 16-35/f2.8 or EF 24-70/f2.8 due to its longer focal length and IS. Image Stabilization is especially helpful for hand-held shooting during twilight hours. I intended shooting portraits wide open. For still shots, I planned to use One Shot mode. For action bike and people candids, AI Servo was the choice. However, shooting didn’t always go as planned since the setting was dynamic, fluid and fast-paced.

For those interested, the Arizona Bike Week 2010 gallery can be found here:
https://pbase.com/denny_d/arizona_bike_week_2010

Ride safely and have fun,

Denny_D