Sturgis in Sept?

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Jan 26, 2010 | 08:03 PM

#11

tenn.vol.

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 537

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From: Chesapeake, VA.

How many will be making the trip, what ages are they? How many miles each day?
What happens to the itinerary when someone has a flat, food poison, bad weather?
Seems awful ambitious to me and I could not keep up.....but I am older than dirt!
I say strap it on, but be flexible......LUCKY B@$*@*#$! We wanta hear when
you get back.......Tenn.Vol.

Jan 26, 2010 | 09:30 PM

#12

vanman59

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Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 234

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From: Midland NC

We have 6 motorcycles, one motorhome with an 18 ft trailer, a jeep Wrangler, and a Chevy pickup. Three (maybe four) women and eight men, all in the late 30s, mid 40s and me and one other in the low 50s. I'm the oldest one at 50, 51 on the trip. We are taking a motorhome and my 18ft trailer just in case we have someone who can't take it. We joke about looking out the window and waving at the rest of the crew. If someone gets sick we'll just toss em in the MH and keep rolling. We have two EMTs so we are covered on the medical part. Any repairs can be dealt with or the MC put on the trailer and strapped down until it can be fixed or just stay on the trailer, plenty of space for riders in the MH, jeep or truck. We will eat in teh MH and in the campsite most of the time. I love to ride and so do the rest of the riders. We typically ride 400 miles a day when we ride. Admittedly it is usually only one or two days. In Oct I rode 4200 miles in 10 days, did two iron butts CLT NC to Dallas TX and Houston TX to CLT NC. For me a 500 mile day is easy. The long boring ones on the interstate aren't the funnest but I can tool right along. We are looking at campgrounds with RV spot and cabins or tents. We can take the roughing it for a little while. I think we have a good plan with a couple of built in extra days at the end of the trip in case of delays so if there is a problem that takes a day to resolve we are okay. If it takes longer someone will have to stay back with the jeep and lend assistance. Any mechanical problems with MCs will be put on teh trailer and the MH, truck and jeep are new enough to not be worried about. I worry about weather getting in the way of riding... I have heated gear I made last year and it works well, gloves and vest with temperature adjustments.

Jan 26, 2010 | 09:36 PM

#13

vanman59

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Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 234

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From: Midland NC

I almost forgot, we had originally planned on leaving the week after the rally because we would all be back then but things never seem to work out good and we were notified that we probably wouldn't be able to have everyone back and ready to go before mid Sept. We are just crazy enough to try it and see what happens. I may try to plan a complete alternate trip somewhere in the southwest like New Mexico, Az, and Utah. I would hope the Rockies in NM wouldn't be too bad in mid Sept.

Jan 27, 2010 | 07:48 AM

#14

twodollarbill

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 1,342

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From: Western Wisconsin

I have cycled in the Black Hills in June, July, Aug & Sept.
Just before and after the rally are always good times.
You find out that everything is quite close and your time scheldule may speed up.
Seems like you have a great plan with a great group of friends.

Jan 27, 2010 | 08:51 AM

#15

panheadache

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Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 1,235

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From:

Wife & I did the Black Hills about that same time a few years back, I think it was 2003 or 4. Work overlapped with the rally - but I wanted to return anyway, so we went late. Can't remember the exact day in Sept we got there (gettin' old sucks for memory), but I do remember it was the day after they closed the railroad ride at Hill City/Keystone, which p.o.'d me to no end because I'm a steam train freak and still have not been able to ride that freaking one - it's something every year dammit. Man, they were rolling up the sidewalks all over - Deadwood, Sturgis, etc, but you know that was the BEST trip to the Black Hills we ever made! NO lines or crowds. Weather was 70's and sunny every day. Cruising through Spearfish Canyon was AWESOME - we were all by ourselves any where we pulled over. The aspen trees were - omigod how can I describe the beautiful yellowness - they were uniformly at their peak every where we went - whole valleys of bright lemon yellow against lush green firs and pines - we're talking chill bump beauty. We pulled into that little restaurant at Blue Bell down in the park and had the best buffalo steaks I've ever had and no waiting for a table. OK I'll stop rambling, but I think you are making the right decision - Sept in the Black Hills ROCKS.

Last edited by panheadache; Jan 27, 2010 at 08:57 AM.

Jan 27, 2010 | 12:28 PM

#16

mnskip

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Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 272

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From: coon rapids,mn

The gf and I did the black hills trip the 3rd week in September last year. The only crowd we ran into was at Wall. Sturgis, Deadwood, ect; was a ghost town. Worked for me. Went over to Devils Tower, on up to Billings to hook up with friends and over to Red Lodge. Don't remember them saying anything about Beartooth being closed, but the weather at the time was above average our whole trip. Had to beat it home from there, no rain for 9 days. Hope you have the same luck we did. Have a great trip and ride safe.

Jan 27, 2010 | 01:08 PM

#17

nvsteve

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Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 5,977

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From: Nevada

If you do the south east entrance to Yellowstone you could include Chief Josephs Highway which is worth it. You might have to do a little back tracking inside the park to head to the Tetons and Jackson.

Jan 27, 2010 | 07:24 PM

#18

vanman59

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Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 234

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From: Midland NC

I appreciate all the info. I never thought about doing the trip backwards but it may be a good idea. We'll take pics and vids and post them somewhere. We are all excited and going with a group of friends makes it eeven better to share...