NPR Interview from Waco Texas.

NPR Here and Now story and interview from Waco Texas:

Texas Bikers Arrested After Waco Shootout Say They Are Innocent

shake down brake down

Had a blast at Chopper Fest, just check #smokeymountainchopperfest

Chopper Fest 2.

Police Shootout at Confederation of Clubs Meeting in Waco, TX.

Information about this past weekends "shootout" in Waco, Texas, is starting to flow. Currently 170 people from various clubs from all over Texas have been arrested and are being held on $1 million bond.  It would appear merely being at the scene of a crime or heading toward a scene of a crime has become a criminal act.  People have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity (Title 11. Chapter 21. Organized Crime.) in connection with capital murder.  Conspiracy and organized crime charges are complicated enough but now we are to believe that 170 individuals conspired to kill nine men?  The current story tells of simple altercation that escalated to gun play, hardly the elements of conspiracy to commit murder.

The police press conferences and entertainment news coverage has referred to a meeting of the Confederation of Clubs of Texas as a "gang recruitment event", and as in Baltimore, once again, the police reference the mysterious "credible threats to law enforcement" as if to justify expanding the net of probable cause across all of Texas.  

Those among the arrested runs the gambit from known MC club members, to  former San Antonio vice cop, and pre-1970 builder club, Vise Grip MC from Austin, Texas (Vise Grip MC blog).  The Confederation of Clubs Texas and Bandidos MC President  statements contradict the claim by police of a mysterious "credible threat" towards law enforcement.  Nine people have been killed.  News sources report, as many as, four men were shot by the state (CNN claims four men were shot by police), whereas the police have only stated that four officers fired at the crowd.   Various police agencies ranging from local police to ATF were already at the scene prior to any altercation based on intelligence about a "gang recruiting event.".  Apparently the Waco police believe the management at Twin Peaks restaurant are to blame for the shooting.  

The New York Times article is a fairly good article concerning this past weekend and the write successfully humanizes those involved.  Having to humanize people is an unfortunate reality.

And as always, stayed tuned into the Aging Rebel.

AMCA Southern Swap Meet, Denton, NC, May, 2015.

Spring Charlotte Swap March 28 - 29

its funny & great all at the same time, everytime...

2014 CBA Fall Charlotte Swap.

Great time, saw some friends, kind of solds and bought some parts, meet new people, and as always meet some of the old chopper guard! It always feels like an affirmation that we are doing something right when the unsung heroes of the 70s glance at your parts and exclaim, "man haven't seen that shit in awhile." And then they preceded to tell an off the cuff story that deserves to be an intro to a great chapter in some book. The stories seem to always end the same, "my back hurts way to much to ride those rigids anymore"...but not this time. Yesterday, we had the privilege to hear stories from an awesome dude that has been riding the same rigid ironhead since the day he threw it into a rigid. Hope to see him again. The parts were slim-pickin but the stories and meeting new people and the hang time was well worth it.  Hope the guy that went down on i77 northbound is OK.

Ironhead Kicker

Brooklyn Invitational 6

new shovel project...winter is coming.

Just in time for fall, winter, and the upcoming CBA Charlotte Swap!

CBA Charlotte Swap November 8-9, 2014.

Born Free 6, Cook's Corner, and outside TriCo.

NC to BF6

CT Co. Swap & Bike Show, June 14, Winston-Salem, NC.

Smokey Mountain Chopper Fest I , Franklin, NC.

Smokey Mtn. Chopper Fest was a blast.  Chill mood, good music, good camping, great spot, great friends, some rain, good breakfast, great riding, waterfalls, and other stuff. Oh ya, the Smokey Mtn. Chopper Fest Fight Night 1 was pretty awesome.  Warrior fighter of the night, brothers rumble fight of the night.  Can't wait for next year.

The Wheels Through Time Museum was amazing.

Check out Twin City Cycle Parts.

"Twin City Cycle Parts is a small operation based out of Winston-Salem, NC. Our parts are made right here in North Carolina by a small family owned machine shop, which has been in business for over 40 years. We pride ourselves on quality, reliability and consistency."