Biker Truth And Myth How The Original Cowboy Of The Road Became The Easy Rider Of The Silver Screen

We all know the image: a big, burly guy on a motorcycle, clad in black leather and dark shades, with a red bandana knotted tightly around his head. His long hair whips around in the wind. It's just him and his Harley as he coasts down an open road on some deserted highway. But the so-called biker bad boys have come a long way from that typecast, tough-guy image, and cultural historian Bill Osgerby dispels these stereotypes--as seen in classic films likeThe Wild One, Wild Angels, andMad Max--inBiker. Osgerby proves that biker groups are no longer limited to gangs of hell-raisers. For one thing, a lot more women now ride with the wind in their hair as well, and thousands of bikers ride across the country for special charity events. But don't be fooled; the rebellious riders do still exist, andBikergives equal time to the darker side of being a biker, exploring connections with the criminal underworld and the increasingly violent reality of rival motorcycle gangs. Loaded with a mix of vintage and contemporary illustrations, old movie stills, posters, and magazine shots,Bikeroffers a clever breakdown of motorcycle culture, both in real life and popular cultural myth. With a wealth of information--including chapters on "The Last American Hero," "The Making of the Myth," "The Biker Movie," "Bikes and the Counterculture," "Women and Motorcycle Culture," "Global Brotherhood," "Bikers at War," and "The Iron Horse Corral"--Bikeris surely a book everyone will get revved up about.Osgerby, Bill is the author of 'Biker Truth And Myth How The Original Cowboy Of The Road Became The Easy Rider Of The Silver Screen' with ISBN 9781592288410 and ISBN 1592288413.