What is the Sturgis of Cycling?
01-12-20, 02:39 PM
#1
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What is the Sturgis of Cycling?
I'm sure many of you have heard about the Motor Cycle Rally which has occurred for many years now, if not have a look: https://sturgismotorcyclerally.com
While I am not a motor cyclist, I know people who ride motor cycles who have been to it and say they have a great time.
Just wondering if there is anything equivalent in North America for Cyclists? If not, should there be one? And if there was one, where should it be?
While I am not a motor cyclist, I know people who ride motor cycles who have been to it and say they have a great time.
Just wondering if there is anything equivalent in North America for Cyclists? If not, should there be one? And if there was one, where should it be?
01-12-20, 02:49 PM
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There is a local organized ride here in So Cal called Tour de Palm Springs. Pretty big event, at times 10,000 registered riders. Biggest event I have experienced. Did the century 3 times over the years. Pretty boring flat course but a fashion show for top of the line, trick, fancy, sweet bikes!
Boring flat course now, but the wife and I did it on a tandem the first year it was held. Much tougher then, far more climbing.
Boring flat course now, but the wife and I did it on a tandem the first year it was held. Much tougher then, far more climbing.
01-12-20, 02:58 PM
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Key components of Sturgis are going to the middle of nowhere, dressing like a pirate on your very custom bike, and getting and riding drunk. I can't think of anything similar that's cycling specific. Maybe PBP but that's a stretch.
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01-12-20, 03:04 PM
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01-12-20, 03:22 PM
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RAGBRAI for sure as it's a multi-day and has a reputation for it's "fun" factor. Lot of people on it as well, WiKi says 8,500
Largest - or at least most participants for any US event as far as I can determine, is 5 Borough Bike Tour in NYC which has 30,000+. There's an event in Cape Town called the Cape Town Cycling Tour, has 35,000 participants from what I'm reading.
My wife and I made the "mistake" of visiting Mt. Rushmore the first weekend in Aug. one year, on our annual return trip home to NY from her summer job in Santa Fe. We had never heard of the Sturgis Rally. Saw the monument, snapped a lot of hurried photo's and then had to drive all the way across SD to get a motel room that night. All the bikers we encountered were really friendly, changed my opinion of them as I had the Hell's Angels image in mind.
Largest - or at least most participants for any US event as far as I can determine, is 5 Borough Bike Tour in NYC which has 30,000+. There's an event in Cape Town called the Cape Town Cycling Tour, has 35,000 participants from what I'm reading.
My wife and I made the "mistake" of visiting Mt. Rushmore the first weekend in Aug. one year, on our annual return trip home to NY from her summer job in Santa Fe. We had never heard of the Sturgis Rally. Saw the monument, snapped a lot of hurried photo's and then had to drive all the way across SD to get a motel room that night. All the bikers we encountered were really friendly, changed my opinion of them as I had the Hell's Angels image in mind.
Last edited by Steve B.; 01-12-20 at 03:31 PM.
01-12-20, 03:22 PM
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I have a buddy that keeps asking me to go to Sturgis. It's pretty much a big sausage fest, isn't it?
01-12-20, 03:36 PM
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01-12-20, 03:38 PM
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Oh, yeah, don't overlook Rosarito-Ensenada and Mexicali-San Felipe rides in Baja. Those were always fun ride/party events.
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01-12-20, 06:53 PM
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RAGBRAI for sure as it's a multi-day and has a reputation for it's "fun" factor. Lot of people on it as well, WiKi says 8,500
Largest - or at least most participants for any US event as far as I can determine, is 5 Borough Bike Tour in NYC which has 30,000+. There's an event in Cape Town called the Cape Town Cycling Tour, has 35,000 participants from what I'm reading.
My wife and I made the "mistake" of visiting Mt. Rushmore the first weekend in Aug. one year, on our annual return trip home to NY from her summer job in Santa Fe. We had never heard of the Sturgis Rally. Saw the monument, snapped a lot of hurried photo's and then had to drive all the way across SD to get a motel room that night. All the bikers we encountered were really friendly, changed my opinion of them as I had the Hell's Angels image in mind.
Largest - or at least most participants for any US event as far as I can determine, is 5 Borough Bike Tour in NYC which has 30,000+. There's an event in Cape Town called the Cape Town Cycling Tour, has 35,000 participants from what I'm reading.
My wife and I made the "mistake" of visiting Mt. Rushmore the first weekend in Aug. one year, on our annual return trip home to NY from her summer job in Santa Fe. We had never heard of the Sturgis Rally. Saw the monument, snapped a lot of hurried photo's and then had to drive all the way across SD to get a motel room that night. All the bikers we encountered were really friendly, changed my opinion of them as I had the Hell's Angels image in mind.
theres been days on RAGBRAI with over 20,000 riders (many unofficial). Anyone who considers bicycling dear needs to try at least a day of RAGBRAI.
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01-12-20, 09:12 PM
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Its 10,000 registered riders and thousands more unregistered. Large days due to metro proximity mean up to 20,000.
01-12-20, 10:30 PM
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While I haven't ridden it since the '80s, TOSRV in Ohio on Mother's Day Weekend was one of the original biggies. I rode it from '77 through '83 or so, and it was at least 6000 'official' riders. 105 miles on Saturday from Columbus following the Scioto River south to Portsmouth on the Ohio River, overnight there, then 105 miles back to Columbus on Sunday. It used to attract riders from across the country.
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01-13-20, 01:02 AM
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+1 on RAGBRAI. It's a big silly rally for bicycles. Weird getups and bikes, people come from all over the world to participate. Six more months! 
01-13-20, 08:08 AM
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Cycle Oregon if you want great scenery, challenging terrain and post-ride party opportunities without as many or helmet decorations (and likely less heat and humidity) than RAGBRAI. One week. 2,000+ people. Fully supported.
01-13-20, 09:02 AM
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Having been to Sturgis a number of times, I don't know that there is anything comparable in the bicycle world.
Sturgis isn't a "ride", isn't one thing, isn't one place, attracts all genres of MC and rider, riders from all over the country and world. I don't know that you will see all those things on a bicycle event and certainly not in the number of participants.
Sturgis isn't a "ride", isn't one thing, isn't one place, attracts all genres of MC and rider, riders from all over the country and world. I don't know that you will see all those things on a bicycle event and certainly not in the number of participants.
01-13-20, 11:05 AM
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Sturgis is (was?) primarily a Harley thing. Never interested me. Probably because I'm a Ducati guy. Many years ago there was the Aspencade in CO which expanded to the Americade in Lake George, NY. Went to that a few times and enjoyed it but I'm not really a crowd/rally guy. The closest thing we have in CT is the Steeple Chase in the Mansfield/Windham area. All done to raise money for soup kitchens, no-freeze shelter, etc.
https://steeplechasebiketour.org/
https://steeplechasebiketour.org/
01-13-20, 02:37 PM
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Personally, I am no longer a fan of large events. Cycle Oregon, even with only about 2,200 riders last time I did it (2012) was even a bit much.
01-13-20, 03:14 PM
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Sturgis. A place where old rich dudes trailer their expensive custom bikes (that rarely get ridden) to so they can hang out, buy a lot of cheezy merchandise, drink beer, and look like bad-asses.
I hope to God there is no such equivalent in the bicycle world.
I hope to God there is no such equivalent in the bicycle world.
01-13-20, 03:27 PM
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I'd have to agree that RAGBRAI is the event that's closest to the flavor of the Sturgis rally. Some are bigger than others but I don't know of any that are bigger than RAGBRAI. That said, I hope the recent management change and subsequent competitor ride, Iowa's Ride, don't affect the party too much. I've seen more than a few comments that now people can party for two weeks instead of just one.
01-14-20, 11:42 PM
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