They’re coming to town in packs, and leaving just the same.

They ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles and wear leather jackets and jeans.

“We’re off to Sturgis,” explained Tom Lynch, of Chicago. Lynch and a group friends rode to Albert Lea straight through on Friday. &uot;Albert Lea is always a place to stop for us.&uot;

This year is the 63rd annual Sturgis motorcycle festival in Sturgis, S.D. The event draws a half million motorcycle riders from across the country. With I-90 heading straight into South Dakota

Albert Lea is a stopping point for many.

If they stop anywhere in town, it’s usually along Plaza Street. Why? Because Bergdale Harley-Davidson. Bergdale is

somewhat of a Mecca for riders because it has everything they need for their bikes and their wardrobe.

“Our business increases about five to ten fold over the two days

before (Sturgis),” Duane Bergdale, owner of Bergdale Harley-Davidson,

said.

His store was packed all day Friday with gruff, bearded riders in tattered Harley shirts and leather vests covered with biker group patches. Many walked out of the store with a new T-shirt.

The new location for the store, Bergdale said, pulls in more off the

highway than his old store, which was downtown.

For many riders, the Harley sign sticking out next to Interstate 90

acts as a rest stop sign for wary family vacationers.

“We stopped at the Harley store in Lacrosse earlier today,” Ken

Lapinski, of suburban Chicago, said. “They seem to be popping up all along 90.”

Lapinski and friend Pat Dumarci stepped off their bike and stopped for a bratwurst, which Bergdale was giving away to riders Friday.

Lapinski, who has been going to Sturgis annually for the last 10

years said he didn’t like the fact that the event has become so marketed.

&uot;It used to be just bikers and their bikes,&uot; he said.&uot;Now you get people with their choppers sitting in the back of their trucks driving out there. I’d much rather be out on the road with the wind in my hair.&uot;

Bergdale admits that the clientele has changed, but though they might not be of the old school of bikers, they still make good customers.

&uot;A truck can sure hold a lot more T-shirts than a bike can,&uot; he said laughing.

Across the street early Friday morning eight Harley riders zoomed out of the Community Foot Clinic parking lot.

They are a part of a group of 19 from Albert Lea who are taking a round about way to Sturgis, traveling as far south as Nebraska and as far west as Montana.

&uot;We make this trip every year,&uot; Jim Thom said.

As the group rode out of the parking lot, the wives of two of the riders waved good-bye.

&uot;You can’t believe how excited these guys get,&uot; Becky Tennishanson said. &uot;Jim called up my husband at 7 a.m. today to see of he was ready. They’re just like kids.&uot;

&uot;Jim was just a solid ear to ear smile,&uot; added Liz Enger.

Three women from Touchworks Massage set up shop on the lawn of the foot clinic. They had massage chairs under a tent ready for road weary riders.

So do they make more money than they would in their office?

“No,” Janette Phillips said. “But it’s a lot more fun to be outside.”

They said that most of the clientele puts on a stereotypical

“motorcycle attitude,” but it doesn’t last long.

“They strut over here all tough,” Megan Kuth said. “But then they sit down and just melt into the chair. They’re not that tough.”

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox @albertleatribune.com or 379-3439)