HUNTINGTON -- The Tri-State has long been known for its connection to nature with many beautiful mountains and rivers abounding in a 100-mile radius.

And with the strong connection to nature has also come a strong bond with motorcycles, which are known for bringing their riders closer to the environment.

"It truly is freedom. It is you and the motorcycle and everything around you -- the wind in your face, the smells of fresh grass," said Lynn Rist, marketing specialist for Charlie's Harley- Davidson of Huntington. "It is a feeling of you and the machine -- the ultimate freedom. You are so much more in touch with your surroundings."

It has been a long-standing tradition for bikers in the area to become part of a club to share in the love of the ride.

Whether a person rides a Honda, a Harley or any of the various models of motorcycles, Rist said that chances are there is a club for everyone. In fact, most clubs derive from common interests outside of riding a motorcycle.

There are more than 80 motorcycle clubs in West Virginia with 15 to 20 being located in the Huntington area. The Huntington Motorcycle Club, founded in 1910, is West Virginia's oldest active motorcycle club.

In addition to just loving the thrill of the ride, bikers tend to have a definite love for the area and those in it. One of the urban legends is that bikers are hard-nosed, ready to brawl and that they only associate with other bikers in their clubs, but Rist said that there couldn't be anything further from the truth.

"You will find that motorcyclists have very deep hearts and they will support causes," Rist said. "They are very generous with their time, their money and trying to provide for the less fortunate. It's a great thing about the motorcycle community."

The various clubs in Huntington host several events each month to promote the club and raise money and awareness for a variety of charities and programs throughout the area.

Rist said the River Cities H.O.G. (Harley Owner's Group) will have five "Bike Nights" this summer starting May 30, while the next big event is the Best Dam Poker Run II, which will take place June 7.

The Best Dam Poker Run II is a ride in which the bikers start at Charlie's and make their way to the area's dams. The first stop is at Beech Fork State Park, the second at East Lynn Lake and the third at Yatesville Lake before the club ventures back to Charlie's by 5 p.m.

For those not familiar with a poker run, the club sets up five stops and bikers draw a card from a deck at each stop. At the end of the run, prizes are given for the highest and lowest 5-card poker hand. It is an interactive way to have fun while raising money for a good cause. The Best Dam Poker Run II will raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Rist said that the love of motorcycles is rampant in the area and that business is picking up now that warmer weather is around. However, it is hard to pinpoint one aspect that draws people to motorcycles.

"Harley has some T-shirts and patches that say 'If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand' and that's pretty accurate," Rist said. "You can't really explain what it is like to get on, fire the motorcycle up and roar down the road. It is something you just have to experience."