On any given Wednesday evening from April through October, St. Croix Valley diners might visit their favorite eatery to discover dozens of motorcycles crowding the parking lot. Chances are those bikes belong to members of the St. Croix Valley Harley Owners Group (SCVHOG). A portion of the chapter’s several hundred members comes from as far as North Branch, the Twin Cities and Cottage Grove, Minn., for a weekly dinner and ride, right here in the Valley.
Established in 1984, the chapter offers area Harley Davidson owners opportunities to enjoy riding motorcycles while getting to know fellow Harley enthusiasts. Among its current members are mechanics, doctors, a flight attendant, business executives and a grocery store owner. Some members are retired and others depart from work with barely enough time to attend the Wednesday-evening ride.
“It’s really a mix of people, and that’s what makes it so much fun,” says Steve Oanes, chapter director, who has been riding a motorcycle for more than 50 years. “What we do is try to create an environment where everybody has a nice time. There’s no pressure, no egos.”
Despite their differences, and whether they’ve owned a Harley for three decades or three days, every rider discovers they fit right in to this eclectic group. In addition to the Wednesday dinner ride, SCVHOG holds meetings in the off-season and organizes a variety of activities. The group also volunteers at St. Croix Harley Davidson events and fundraisers.
“There are so many other opportunities of fun things we do with our HOG family. For instance, we celebrate Christmas in October by taking a cruise along the St. Croix,” member Linda Semi says. She and her husband share a deep love of motorcycles. For their honeymoon, they traveled from Wisconsin to California on a bike.
“We traded the motorcycle when the children started coming and took to a minivan,” she says. “When our oldest daughter got her motorcycle license in 2007, we realized we needed to get back into it.”
Assistant director Linda McCann explains a large draw of the group: Members across ages, experience levels and backgrounds forge lifetime friendships. In fact, her 23-year-old son most enjoys chatting with the retirement-age riders during the weekly dinners. “I think when people see us, they see a group that enjoys being together,” McCann says. “There’s that common bond of loving riding motorcycles that brings us all together.”
The members share a passion for riding and a commitment to safety that’s crucial to the ongoing success of the chapter, apparent in the motto “Ride safe and have fun.”
“We have to think of the safety of all the people who are riding. Everybody’s experience is at a different level,” McCann says. “We have to make sure that everyone is feeling safe and that they’re all enjoying the ride.” Throughout the season, the chapter visits 26 different restaurants along the St. Croix corridor. “Our rides are usually centered around food,” Oanes says. “I always tell people, if you’re trying to join the HOG chapter and lose weight, it’s going to be tough. We love to eat.”
Some favorite Hudson establishments include Azul Tequila Bar and the Postmark Grille. The group embraces a variety of cuisines throughout the season and doesn’t frequent the same place twice. “One of the most memorable nights was going to a sushi bar with a bunch of bikers,” Oanes says. “You don’t see 30 Harleys parked outside a sushi bar very often.”
Become a Member
The St. Croix Valley Harley Owners Group is made possible thanks to the support of St. Croix Harley Davidson owners Dell and Ginger Zehm. The chapter is open to anyone who purchases a motorcycle from St. Croix Harley Davidson or currently owns a Harley Davidson. Riders of other brands of motorcycles are welcome to come as guests.
