OK, it’s time to get your bikes out for good this week. I’m no Cody Brown, but I predict that the weather has turned the corner and it will continue to get warmer and warmer until we’re in prime riding weather. It happens every year.

All I can say is, “IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!!!”

Perhaps one of the cruelest things about winter weather in Missouri is that we always get a peek at spring sometime during January or February and our spirits soar. We start looking forward to riding motorcycles, playing softball and barbequing in the backyard.

Then of course winter throws several weeks of cold, snow and ice at us and dashes any hopes we have that spring is nearby.

Yeah, it’s cruel.

But I’m optimistic this week. The temperature is slowly rising and it’s already riding weather for some hardy souls. The rest of us thin-blooded blokes will wait a little longer, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now that spring has sprung (finally), a look ahead says this riding year should be a good one.

Although there are plenty of bike rallies and shows within riding distance of St. Joseph, the big event this year will be the 2007 Missouri Harley Owners Group Rally, scheduled for early September. I’m predicting this year’s HOG rally will be one of the biggest events in HOG rally history.

News-Press Opinion Page Editor Mark Sheehan and his Coleman Hawkins gang are trying to stage a blues festival downtown to coincide with the HOG rally. Each year, the group puts on a Mardi Gras parade in February and the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival in June. With hundreds of bikes descending on St. Joseph this summer, Mark is trying to put together an event that will be fun for bikers and celebrate St. Joseph’s musical heritage.

As of right now, Mark is talking about blocking off some downtown streets and holding a street party. Expect to hear more details from Mark and local HOG president Travis Caw as they get the event set up and I’ll try to pass on details in this blog.

The state HOG rally itself should be huge. I attended last year’s festival in St. Charles, Mo., and though it was nice event, bikers from the Kansas City area stayed away. One big reason is the festival was held the same weekend as Johnny Dare’s March of Dimes Bikers for Babies ride, one of the largest ride events in Kansas City. Many bikers stayed on this side of the state to ride in that event.

But, with the rally in St. Joseph, Harley riders can do both which should make St. Joseph’s turnout huge.

Stayed tuned… it’s gonna be a great riding season… and it’s only just starting.