Início Sem categoria This is Beach Bikefest: One of the biggest motorcycle events in Egypt

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This is Beach Bikefest: One of the biggest motorcycle events in Egypt

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cteditora

22 de novembro de 2017

This meeting brought a lot of action around the land of Pyramids. The organizers promise even more attractions for upcoming editions

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Texto: Cláudia Terra
Fotos: Alex Cruisers
Translate: Rosa Freitag

Beach Bikefest

One of the largest motorcycle events in Egypt took place in August this year: the 2nd Beach Bikefest, in Alexandria, along the beautiful Mediterranean coast. The former Egyptian capital has welcomed over 400 riders and 15 moto clubs, as well as various Jeep clubs, at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel, on the San Stefano coast. One of the highlights of the meeting was the parade on the city streets, when riders on their super machines followed a 15 km route along the San Stefano seashore. Everything was very well organized.

“Usually we have a meeting point outside the city center on a large empty area. So we try to organized the parking place, defining each group’s flag in a specific area. When they arrive, they know where to park. And we usually have officials at the parking places to help organize that. After the arrival of the groups, we spend some time together and take pictures, and at a specific time we start a parade on the city streets, all previously agreed with the traffic authorities. We have patrols and cars with us. Most of the route is along the ocean, then we return to the event venue. When the Beach Bikefest ends, the group leave the venue as and when they wish. We have a professional agency to register everything in pictures. We want to keep all memories and share them with many people across the social networks”, says Mohamed Farouk, one of the founders of Alex Cruisers, representative of the group in Saudi Arabia and a rider with many kilometers and good stories on motorcycles.

Mohamed speaks about his riding routine. “I usually ride to Dubay on my vacation. It ia a 1.000 km ride. I like long distance riding. The main destinations around here are: Dubai (1.000 km), Doha (600 km), Kuwait (800), Muscat (1.500) and Salalah (2.500 km). I once traveled from here to Egypt on a 2 day trip, doing 1.500 km to Dubai city and another 700 km to Alexandria, where I live in Egypt. I’ve already ridden 45.000 km in the 2 years I am here, throughout the region. Riding a motorcycle is my live, I cannot live without this”, he affirms.

Planning the future

Officially, this Bikefest edition, like the previous one, was a single day event. For the 2018 edition, which is already being planned, changes will happen. According to Sherif Hamouda, President and one of the founders of Alex Cruisers moto group, the third edition will bring many news, among which the expansion of the event, which will last two days, and there will be beach camping, as well as welcoming groups from other countries interested in attending. The date is yet to be defined; the event will be held in July or August. For beach camping, guest won’t need to bring their camping gear. According to Ahmed Magdy Amer, member of the group since 2014 and counsel member, everything is being planned so that riders won’t need to bring tents to the event, and Alex Cruisers will offer the tents. The next will also bring live music of many styles, including rock bands. In the group there are many fans of country and rock, among other styles. In the previous editions only DJs played.

The organizers will define the date according to the guests’ availability for vacation and time off from work, so they can join the event and have fun without hassle. “The event dates are always defined according to our brothers in the groups that are invited, considering their work commitments. We always wish to spend more time with our brothers and with our machines, everyone together”, remembers Ahmed Magdy Amer, a soul rider, like all riders who really live the “rider way of life”. “Getting to know and then joining Alex Cruisers was one of the best things that happened in my life. It goes beyond riding. It is a brotherhood, it is family”, says Ahmed, who also loves rock, country and dance music.

Guests only

Only guests can join this super event. “We don’t have plans to promote an open event, with free access. We will only organize closed meetings, with invitations, says the AC President. The invitations for Beach Bikefest are sent a month before the event date and guests can confirm their presence up tp 10 days before the official date. According to Sherif, the invitation is free of charge. “We offer welcome drinks and activities on the beach and music throughout the day. The event includes running, jetski, beach volleyball and weight lifting competitions and sale of motorcycle accessories; And only motorcycle groups and lone bikers, friends of the groups, are invited. There is only one type of invitation and everything is funded by the Alex Cruisers motorcycle group. Only food and accommodation must be paid by guests”.

The Alex Cruisers motorcycle group was founded in 2010 and the slogan is “let freedom ride”. It is the first organized group in Alexandria and one of the founders of TUBE (The United Bikers of Egypt), an important NGO for the Egyptian motorcycle scene. “This is an union for the biggest and most respectable Egyptian groups, and currently there are 14 motorcycle group members, says Sherif Hamouda.

Some other members, like Mohamed Farouk, kindly told us a bit of their history in motorcycling and the group creation, which started after 6 years of friendship. “Riding entered my life 10 years ago. I was 30 at the time and by coincidence a friend of mine bought a motorcycle and came to show me. At that moment I found out what I wanted for me: become a rider! And this has transformed my life. I bought my first motorcycle, the same model I saw with my friend, and started riding. I rode alone for a few years, then I met some bikers and we started Alex Cruisers as a group. Since then we are always together. Alex Cruisers means family, loyalty and fun. It is life! Even now that I am living in another country, I always return to Egypt to ride with them”, says Mohamed Farouk.

The founders of Alex Cruisers are: Sherif Hamouda, Haytham Elsayed, Karim Amrawy, Ahmed Shawky, Ziad Younis, Mohamed Sallam e Mohamed Farouk. Currently the group has 25 members. The major inspiration for the creatiomn of this group is the achievement of a respectable brotherhood. The origin of the group’s name is due to the fact that the friends are from Alexandria. “Alex represents the city of Alexandria and since we, the founders, always ride together on the roads of that region, we had this idea of Alex Cruisers. The board of Directors includes the Administration Counsel, formed through voting, and I am the current President. We have a Vice-President, Treasurer, Public Relations Manager, Founders Representative and an Events Manager”, explains Sherif.

Diversity of profiles

The group brings together members with different professional profiles, such as engineers, officials, bankers and many other professions. Most of the motorcycles in the group are Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Harley-Davidson. Members don’t have tattoos, they like rock’n’roll and country music and meet many times a week. Alex Cruisers accepts requests to join the group from any person who is interested in cruisers and roadster bikes. The group accepts women and there used to be a female member. “We had a female member, she has been with us for years, but then stopped riding”, remembers Mohamed. Those interested in becoming members must meet the selection criteria of the AC. Currently the group has representatives in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Among the Alex Cruisers rules there is a minimum age requirement of 25 years of age to become a member; the member must own a cruiser motorcycle with engine capacity above 750 cc; the member must hold a valid driver’s license and a valid registration for his motorcycle, and must send copies of these documents. Only customized cruiser and touring bikes are allowed on the AC group. In order to apply, a guest must participate in one or two long rides; must be committed to obey the AC group rules and codes of conduct. A request must be sent to one of the group’s administrators in order to be appraised.

A bit of history

Bikefest started as a simple idea from the Alex Cruisers to promote some fun and social activities, with summer meetings of the group. “We wanted to organize a summer meeting for all riders groups in Egypt, and since our city has excellent beaches and the weather during summer is very nice, why not add some fun to the meeting, with beach, music, good meals and sports competitions?, says Mohamed.

This idea worked out fine and grows bigger every year, for the joy of all bikers and pride of Alex Cruisers. “The main difference between Bikefest Egypt and other local events is that Bikefest is all about Passion & Fun. We organize the event with love and passion, all our guests are coming with this motivation, to celebrate friendship”, says Khaled Hassan, member of Alex Cruisers for 4 years and group representative in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

Motorcycle tourism in Egypt is growing, and many groups and well organized events are popping up, attracting riders from many countries. Egypt has many beautiful places to visit on motorcycle rides besides the classic monuments, which have turned the country into a great tourist destination on the planet. The upcoming edition promises to turn Beach Bikefest into an international event, but there isn’t yet a motorcycle rental service available for those flying into Egypt who are willing to ride a motorcycle to enjoy the country. However, according to Sherif, President of Alex Cruisers, this issue will be sorted out. “In case we receive international groups, we will have some motorcycles available for rent, upon an advance reservation”.

Regardless of the country of origin, riders in general share the same spirit. “We are free, happy people, with friends around the planet. A big family with no borders, with the same vibe, lots of love and respect in a big brotherhood. We are one! Motorcycling in Egypt in an example of that. So let’s hit the road and ride with happiness, love, respect, style and freedom. Egypy: another great riding destination for true adventure lovers”, says Mohamed.

Special thanks to Sherif Hamouda for allowing us to do this report and to the following members: Mohamed Farouk, Ahmed Magdy Amer and Khaled Hassan. You are all invited to enjoy the motorcycle scene in Brazil whenever you like.