What is the Sturgis of Cycling?
01-12-20, 02:39 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
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
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 467
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 187 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times
in
161 Posts
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
#4
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,737
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3098 Post(s)
Liked 2,074 Times
in
1,351 Posts
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.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
01-12-20, 03:04 PM
#5
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,490
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4542 Post(s)
Liked 2,770 Times
in
1,783 Posts
Likes For canklecat:
Likes For rydabent:
01-12-20, 03:22 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,559
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3037 Post(s)
Liked 1,800 Times
in
1,033 Posts
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
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 644
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times
in
101 Posts
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
#9
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,490
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4542 Post(s)
Liked 2,770 Times
in
1,783 Posts
01-12-20, 03:38 PM
#10
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,490
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4542 Post(s)
Liked 2,770 Times
in
1,783 Posts
Oh, yeah, don't overlook Rosarito-Ensenada and Mexicali-San Felipe rides in Baja. Those were always fun ride/party events.
Likes For canklecat:
01-12-20, 06:53 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Iowa
Posts: 668
Bikes: 2021 Salsa Fargo 1x12, 2019 Jamis Renegade Exploit 1x11. Motobacne NX Fat Tire
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 197 Post(s)
Liked 324 Times
in
165 Posts
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.
Likes For Toadmeister:
01-12-20, 09:12 PM
#14
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,148
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 121 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10504 Post(s)
Liked 6,948 Times
in
3,919 Posts
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
#15
Senior Member
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.
Likes For Cougrrcj:
01-13-20, 01:02 AM
#17
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,577
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3856 Post(s)
Liked 2,526 Times
in
1,555 Posts
+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
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 38,117
Mentioned: 209 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17755 Post(s)
Liked 14,099 Times
in
6,693 Posts
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
#19
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,282
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2620 Post(s)
Liked 3,158 Times
in
1,923 Posts
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
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,449
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1717 Post(s)
Liked 1,267 Times
in
731 Posts
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
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 38,117
Mentioned: 209 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17755 Post(s)
Liked 14,099 Times
in
6,693 Posts
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
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,685
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 622 Post(s)
Liked 1,385 Times
in
517 Posts
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
#24
Senior Member
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
#25
Full Member
