Thanks for explaining this scenario. Drove by Sunday morning and seeing all those bikers at a bar at 10 a.m. was rather disconcerting and seemed very odd and out of place.

Disconcerting? Why? Again the stereotype of motorcycle enthusiasts in full swing. Motorcycle enthusiasts raise a lot of money for good causes and are some of the most patriotic people in the nation. Sadly, misunderstandings are responsible for most of the discrimination in this country.

I agree with Mike, i believe it was a very positive scenario, rally together for a cause, could not be more american and positive, need more involvement in the community, not negativity!! Great job RODZ and RIDZ, and ABATE-you guys rock!!!

Valerie, I echo Mike. Were your feathers and sensibilities ruffled? Were you intimidated by so many leathered clad folks gathered on one place? Did you hear the roar of the bike and become frightened? Disconcerting, how and why? Let me ask you... How do you feel when someone makes a "Blonde" joke? About you specifically? Isn't that stereotyping? Wouldn't we all be better off without stereotypes and rash judgements? --Deborah Diehlmann, Proud member of ABATE of Maryland

Thanks for a good, and for a pleasant change, unbiased article about ABATE of Maryland and what they represent. We face the stereotype all the time and it is just one more battle. If more people took the time to be politically active, like the ABATE members, and fight for what they believe in the politicians would be more responsive to us, the citizens, instead of the money. While we do have some good representatives in Annapolis more need to hear from their constituents. This is one more thing ABATE promotes.

Thanks again for the article.

You all TOTALLY MISSED MY POINT. A bike rally at a BAR was my point! Wow, you all jump to your own conclusions that I am biker-phobic. I AM DRINK-AND-DRIVE PHOBIC. There was no advance information for me to go on about a large gathering at a BAR at 10 a.m. And YES, IT'S A BAR.. It's not Panera Bread. WOW - talk about missing the POINT & OVER-REACTING. These people were going inside a BAR. No tent was set up w/ rally info; no signs up to say what was going on; no advance info for passers-by telling us this was a gathering of like-minded people for a good cause. It looked like a bunch of people WHO HAPPENED TO BE BIKERS going to a BAR at 10 a.m. BARS + 10 A.M + MOTORCYCLES to ride off on = scary to me. SCARY - no matter who you are. GETTING ON BIKES after ostensibly going to a BAR, possibly having had TOO MANY DRINKS AT A BAR. Get it? ANY GROUP going to a bar en masse like that at 10 a.m. would've caught my eye -- the thought that they might be DRINKING & DRIVING was what concerned me. They did not have on running attire as tho they were headed for a competition on the bike trail; they were not wearing t-shirts emblazoned w/ I AM RAISING MONEY FOR CISCO. The way to get community support for a cause is to get coverage of events BEFORE THEY OCCUR. You may have garnered more support this way, raising $ instead of eyebrows at what looked like an outing w/a pitstop at a BAR at 10 a.m. on a Sunday. Don't jump on me & stereotype me as BIKER-PHOBIC. You missed my point, ENTIRELY.

As one of the riders on this ride I want to extend my thanks to rodz and ridz for there hospitality. The people were awesome and the food was great!! The only thing is that I wish there were more participants to help ABATE fight for the rights of all of us who ride.