Cavaliers prowl the Dome at Louisiana Bike Expo

While Mike and Doug were off at the AIDA run in Tennessee, those of us who stayed behind had an opportunity to attend the fantastic display of custom bikes at the Louisiana Bike Expo in the Superdome on Sunday, May 4.

We started off the morning with a rendezvous for brunch at Bywater Barbecue. Ten of us met there including Guy, Mark, Collin, Tedd, Tom, David and Michael. We also were pleased to have Doc and BJ join us for the first time. BJ even rode down from Jackson to be with us for the event. This marks the first time women have attended a Cavaliers event, and we did our best to welcome them.

We unfortunately had a very, very ... VERY long wait for our food at the restaurant, but the owner graciously acknowledged the poor service by comping all 10 of us our meals.

Six of us then headed off for the Louisana Superdome and the Bike Expo, including Mark, Collin, Doc, BJ, David, and Michael. There was lots and lots to see on the floor of the Dome.

The stars of the show were Paul Teutul Sr. and Jr. from the Discovery Channel's "American Chopper" TV show. The Teutuls were on hand, signing autographs for a long line of fans. The weren't fighting the way they do on their TV show, but as this was the third day of the expo and who knows how many nights on Bourbon Street, they were probably too exhausted.

They brought their wonderful collection of fabulous custom motorcycles, which sell for upwards of $150,000. They had the Black Widow, the NY Fire Department, and the Jet Bike on display along with other dazzling examples of rolling art. The show was worth it just to see these incredible machines in person.

But these weren't the only bikes on display. Most of the floor was filled with dozens and dozens of local show bikes, from outrageous cruisers, to trikes, to fantastic sportbikes, to classic Harleys. It was a dazzling array of bikes, each showing the owner's individuality.

There was also the Team Extreme Trials Showcase, with an array of motorcycle stunt riders, and the Ball of Steel Stunts Show, with three teenage daredevils riding around the inside of a large steel ball cage at very high speeds. It was amazing to watch, but got even more amazing when the announcer got a volunteer from the audience to go and stand on the inside of the cage as the three bikes raced around her. (The whole time this was going on, Michael W. was shouting, "Me! Me! I wanna do it! That is SO COOL!!!")

There was plenty of shopping to be done at vendor booths throughout the Dome, and of course lots of hot biker dudes and biker babes wandering around in the crowd. All in all it was a really fun show and a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon.