A jewellery dealer might not be the most obvious candidate for the ringleader of a biker gang, but when the weekend rolls around, Sharif Bergemi exchanges his diamond rings and pearl necklaces for leather overalls and a shiny Harley Davidson. From there it's wherever the open road takes him. Usually he is accompanied by his fellow gang-members from the Harley Owner's Group, or HOG, which was established in Cairo five years ago to unite Egypt's Harley Davidson Owners in biking brotherhood. At the initiation only eight men were sworn in, but the numbers have since swelled to over 150. On that day, the rebellious biker counterculture that swept across America in the 1950s, and was immortalized in films like "Easy Rider and songs like "Born to be wild , arrived on Egypt's shores. Kind of. HOG have recently returned from their latest cross-country trip, which started in Cairo and took in Hurghada, Qena, Luxor and El-Gouna, before returning to Cairo. In total they traversed over 1,000 miles of road, or 1,700 "clicks in biking terminology. "It's the ultimate freedom, man, Sharif tells me in a throaty Californian accent, while puffing shisha in the lavish surrounds of one of Cairo's five-star hotels. Donning a smart suit and tie, Sharif could hardly look less like the stereotypical, greased-up biker. His fellow gang-members don't exactly fit the bill either. HOG membership is generally the preserve of high-ranking businessmen, investment bankers and diplomats, able to fork out the $20-50,000 needed to purchase a Harley. "Hell, the manager of this hotel is part of the gang, he laughs. Egypt's version of the Hell's Angels? Maybe not. But the love of the road, the freedom, and the element of danger that have for decades attracted man to biking, are all strong among Sharif and his buddies. "When you're on the bike you become part of the road, part of nature. After working all week, you get out of your suit, onto the bike, and there is nothing like it. Egypt, with its vast landscapes and warm climate, is a biker's paradise, says Sharif, but the many checkpoints along its highways can be a hassle. For that reason HOG travels with police escort on long journeys. And obviously, the gang attracts a lot of attention in the places they pass through: on the roads from other cars and buses; in the villages from locals; and in the tourist areas like Hurghada and Luxor from foreigners. "People get a big kick out of it here. You're treated like a celebrity. Cars drive up alongside us to take pictures, and the tourists go nuts. Despite the fuss surrounding the group, there has yet to be a single incidence of trouble. First and foremost, Sharif insists, HOG is a gentleman's organization. When he and his cohorts unsheathe their Harleys and take to Egypt's open roads, the boozing and brawling many biker gangs are notorious for is not part of their itinerary. HOG members prefer lunches by the sea and sightseeing tours of Egypt's many historical locations. "You gotta be reasonable, you gotta be responsible. If there is time to party, then hell yeah! But we never drink and ride. We're just nice guys that look scary. So is HOG just a bunch of middle-aged men looking for a novel way to take a break from the wife and kids come the weekend? Not really. Many of them take their wives with them. "My wife loves it, smiles Sharif. "Lots of the guys take their wives with them. My mother isn't happy about [the biking] at all though; she thinks I'm crazy. No matter, Sharif and HOG's next trip will be to Sharm El-Sheikh in January to mark the opening of a new Harley dealership there, Egypt's second after the one based in Zamalek. The dealer, says Sharif, can't keep up with demand, and HOG, he feels, is partly responsible. "All the publicity surrounding us attracts more people. We were at a biker's convention in America and everyone there wanted HOG t-shirts. They all wanted to know about the bikers from Egypt. "HOG is growing so fast now. We might have to become more selective about who we let in.
