Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Aug 03/98) - Daniel Coulombe says motorcycles, and Harley Davidson's in particular, are in his blood.

So when he's finished charting the weather and following El Nino for the day, the district officer of Environment Canada straps on his helmet, climbs onto his Soft Tail Custom and rides it around the streets of Iqaluit.

"Ever since I was a small kid, I've been crazy about motorcycles. It's in my veins, you feel it," says Coulombe, 38.

Currently on his fourth Harley Davidson and into his 22nd year of riding, Coulombe says he purchased his first Harley in 1976, a CH 1960. He then proceeded to join a gang as a rookie member.

"I don't want to say which group, but I was involved with biker gangs," says Coulombe. He adds that he got out after three years and now only wears the colors of Harley Davidson.

Coulombe explains that a real sense of camaraderie exists between people who own and ride Harleys and belong to the Harley Owner's Group (HOG).

"There's a lot of respect and also that brotherhood. I'm proud to be a member of HOG and wear the colors," says Coulombe.

He figures that given the economic opportunity, anyone who rides a motorcycle would own a Harley, but because of their price tags -- his bike rings in at $35,000 --it's not something many people can afford to do.

Membership does however, come with its perks.

"Because I'm a member of HOG, I can get a motorcycle down south and rent it. That's only available to members," says Coulombe, referring to the option he and his wife have of renting a bike from a Harley dealer anywhere in the world.

The perk saves Coulombe the price of a crate and the $3,000 in shipping charges it costs him to transport his bike down south.

Regardless of the freight fees though, Coulombe says he is thinking about attending the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson in Milwaukee in 2003.

While he ponders the trip, Coulombe remains happy to ride the streets of Iqaluit on his almost maintenance free machine with his four year old son and wife, also a former Harley owner.

"It's a family thing," says Coulombe, who expects that his son will want to learn how to ride the Harley as soon as he can.

"He's not scared of anything and he's in the environment. I'm open to that."

With the end of the riding season drawing near, Coulombe says he has no regrets about owning a Harley in Iqaluit and is always anxious to get back on his bike in June.

"Last year I was waiting for the snowbank in front of the garage to melt."