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What is the Sturgis of Cycling?

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What is the Sturgis of Cycling?

Old 01-12-20, 02:39 PM
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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?
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Old 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.
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Old 01-12-20, 02:50 PM
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Old 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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Old 01-12-20, 03:04 PM
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Old 01-12-20, 03:15 PM
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Ragbrai
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Old 01-12-20, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by rydabent
Ragbrai
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.

Last edited by Steve B.; 01-12-20 at 03:31 PM.
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Old 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?
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Old 01-12-20, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by friday1970
I have a buddy that keeps asking me to go to Sturgis. It's pretty much a big sausage fest, isn't it?
Sausage and muffin top scooter trash fest, as my friend said. She's self-described scooter trash, and sometime model for an infamous outlaw biker magazine.
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Old 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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Old 01-12-20, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Sausage and muffin top scooter trash fest, as my friend said. She's self-described scooter trash, and sometime model for an infamous outlaw biker magazine.
That is actually pretty funny!
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Old 01-12-20, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Oh, yeah, don't overlook Rosarito-Ensenada and Mexicali-San Felipe rides in Baja. Those were always fun ride/party events.
Did it 7 times, once on the tandem with the wife. Good times!
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Old 01-12-20, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve B.
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.
came here to post RAGBRAI.

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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Old 01-12-20, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by speyfitter
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?
yup- RAGBRAI in the state just to the east of the Sturgis rally.
Its 10,000 registered riders and thousands more unregistered. Large days due to metro proximity mean up to 20,000.
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Old 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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Old 01-12-20, 10:40 PM
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Ragbrai 100%
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Old 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!
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Old 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.
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Old 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.
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Old 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/
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Old 01-13-20, 01:52 PM
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+1 for RAGBRAI.
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Old 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.
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Old 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.
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Old 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.
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Old 01-14-20, 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
How is she just floating in the air like that???
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