By LISA BRITTON

Baker City Herald

Steve Folkestad says it only takes one motorcycle ride on Eastern Oregon roads to fall in love with this place.

It happened to him when, in 2000, he traded a friend for rooms at the Geiser Grand Hotel.

andquot;Never been to Baker in my life. Didn’t know what the Geiser Grand was,andquot; he said.

He convinced 11 others to climb on their motorcycles and head to Baker City from Portland.

andquot;It was late, dark, and we found our way downtown,andquot; he said of their Friday-night arrival.

He still remembers their meal that night: flatiron steak and beer at Barley Brown’s Brewpub.

The next day they rode the 250-mile Hells Canyon Byway.

andquot;We experienced the whole thing,andquot; he said.

Saturday night they discovered The Main Event.

andquot;If ever a biker bar was made, it was The Main Event,andquot; Folkestad said with a laugh.

They rode home Sunday.

andquot;The next year my phone rings. It was one of my buddies ‘Are we going to Baker City again?’ andquot; he said.

Twelve bikers came the next year, and they kept coming back again and again.

In 2004 Steve convinced his brother, Eric, to ride along.

andquot;I had to torture him to come,andquot; Steve said with a chuckle. andquot;Then he fell in love with the place. He said, ‘You know, we ought to make this a motorcycle rally.’ andquot;

They named it the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally because andquot;that’s where we always go,andquot; Steve said.

This marks the third official rally, and participant numbers have climbed every year. Steve anticipates at least 6,000 riders this weekend.

andquot;We have them coming from all over the place,andquot; he said. andquot;We invite them to discover the real Oregon the Oregon east of the Cascades.andquot;

A majority come from the Willamette Valley.

andquot;Every biker’s dream in Portland is how to get out,andquot; he said.

These riders are known as RUBs Rich Urban Bikers.

andquot;These guys are doctors, lawyers, businessmen, car mechanics,andquot; Steve said.

Riding a motorcycle lends a sort of anonymity from the daily grind and labels business owner, dentist, young, old that define everyone.

andquot;When you put the helmet on, nobody knows how old you are,andquot; he said.

And this rally isn’t just for the riders the community is especially invited to the gathering on Main Street Saturday night when riders park their bikes and visit with passersby.

andquot;My brother and I have this vision that this isn’t a regular motorcycle rally. We want to keep it family-friendly come down and bring the kids.andquot;

The rally riders head home Monday.

andquot;Less traffic, less chance of accidents. Plus, it keeps them here on Sunday,andquot; Steve said.

The Folkestads’ goal is to share the roads and sights that captured their own hearts.

andquot;Once I get them on these roads down here, then they’re hooked,andquot; Steve said. andquot;It’s too much to do in one weekend, and a lot of them don’t wait for the next year.andquot;

This rally, he said, is scheduled during the second weekend of June andquot;forever.andquot;

andquot;Eric and I’ll be dead and gone and bikers will still be coming,andquot; he said. andquot;You couldn’t stop it now it’ll happen no matter what.andquot;

He hopes to eventually expand the rally into a 10-day event that includes two weekends and the week in between.

And maybe it will someday rival Sturgis.

andquot;There are more hotel rooms here than in Sturgis,andquot; he said with a smile.

Bikers can choose from several different routes, including the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, the Hells Canyon Dam, Strawberry Mountain and the Ghost Town loop (partly closed due to snow on Forest Road 73, the Elkhorn Drive, between Anthony Lakes and the lower Crawfish trail).

Officials also warn riders to be careful on a 2.3-mile section of the Elkhorn Drive between the North Powder River bridge and Gorham Butte road. Crews are rebuilding that section of the highway, and the road is rough in places, with loose gravel.

Folkestad said the price of gas isn’t likely to deter riders.

andquot;People are very reluctant to give up their recreation,andquot; he said.