Western Canada to Sturgis - August 2-9

[allytay1]

Please post the following if you're interested in participating:
M109Riders.com Username: allytay1
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
# of bikers in your group: 1 (I know some of you ride with spouses or other friends that might be interested but aren't on this forum)

This topic started informally on another thread, but it seemed there was some interest in possibly doing a run to Sturgis Bike Week (August 2nd - 9th ... event officially starts on the 4th). There are potentially a few of us in the Edmonton area, not all 9ers, who are looking to do this, and I just want to gauge the interest out there in making it a bit of a bigger trip than just Northern Albertans. The very first conversation started between my neighbour and I ... he rides an HD Sportster ... so I couldn't possibly make it an exclusive 9er event at this point ;)

The tentative plan right now would be to leave Edmonton area the morning of Saturday, August 2nd, head south down Highway #2 and take 2 - 3 days to get there by way of the Coutts border crossing into Montana. Meeting points would need to be arranged along the way based on where people are coming from. Prairiedawg is in Saskatchewan and proposed one meet-up spot could be in Hobson, Montana ... which is almost straight south of Medicine Hat & Speedy Creek (Swift Current).

It would also be cool, once we have our plan together, to have a meet-up spot at Sturgis itself, and post a date and time on the main board for all the others 9ers who may be in the area.

Let's use this thread as a staging area to first figure out how many people may be interested ... we can figure out meeting points around May, once we have a decent idea of the interested riders. Accomodation wise, I don't have the organizational skills to plan for everyone, but I wasn't going to worry about it till a little further into Spring. If anyone has been there and has ideas on accomodations ... here's an ideal place to post those as well. (camping? motels?)

For info on the event itself, check these links or post other ones you come across:
http://www.sturgis-rally.com/
http://www.sturgis.com/dates.html
http://www.sturgisbikeweek.com/

[daywalker]

I am without a doubt in for this trip!

[BTL]

Maybe next year for me...currently training to do the DeathRace in Grande Cache Aug 4th. Soloist.

[allytay1]

Maybe next year for me...currently training to do the DeathRace in Grande Cache Aug 4th. Soloist.

:o Let me see ... train for months to do a cross country run that advertises the prospect of death in the mountains, or at least hang out with sweaty/dirty athletes ... or train for mere minutes to ride a cross country road trip into the Black Hills Mountains to hang out with sweaty/dirty bikers. :dontknow:

Best of luck, Brian ... you must have done a ton of training to prepare for this event, I have a friend who did it 2 years ago and still found the altitude and terrain pretty gruelling even with his triathlon experience. Stay safe!

[BTL]

This is round 2 for me in the solo attempt...I crashed 2 years ago at km 93 at the 18 hour mark and really thrashed my knee...I really, really want to get this DeathRace monkey off my back..wish me luck.

[thuder]

good luck BTL

[allytay1]

good luck BTL

:agree: You've got an interesting spring ahead of you ... lot's of training, I'm sure. Best of luck!!!

[Prariedawg]

Tentatively planning on going right now. I'll be riding solo, but my wife/duaghter will likely follow in the truck with the enclosed trailer, sounds like accomodations are pretty scarce and steep, so it my be the "rv" for a few days. We just launched a new business here so we'll see how scheduling goes when we get closer to the date.

[thuder]

what exactly is the death race ? just wondering

[Prariedawg]

http://www.canadiandeathrace.com/

[Canuk]

Ow.
Looks painful. Can you do that race on a 109??? If so I'm in.

[allytay1]

bump

Just want people to keep these dates in mind and consider joining in. Have 1 other "Yes", a "Maybe", and a "No" (with a good excuse) so far. My wife and other boss :dontknow: have approved the time off, so I am now good to go myself.

Not an Edmonton event whatsoever, hope to see interest from all over in meeting up along the way Red Deer ... Calgary ... Lethbridge ... Montana ... Wyoming ... South Dakota.

Here's a proposed route, courtesy of Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=edmonton,+alberta&daddr=sturgis,+SD&sll=47.635784,-103.491211&sspn=8.632342,23.950195&ie=UTF8&z=5 Depending on who is joining, the route is totally open to change. There's no reason why we couldn't cut East prior to hitting Great Falls, in order to meet up sooner with PrairieDawg or anyone else that might want to join in from Saskabush.

For anyone coming from BC, we'd need to know a preferred meet-up spot ... maybe Lethbridge (if you come through the Crowsnest) or maybe Great Falls (if you come by way of Couer D'Alene).

[Prariedawg]

I'm about 99% sure that I'll make it now, where were you thinking of the first overnight? I have no problem accommodating 5-6 guys here for the night? Would be about a 7 hour iron butt from the chuck. :dontknow:

[Bluecruzer]

Hmmm

I did 7500 Km in 9 days last year - 2 of which were sitting in Vegas.

Here's a trip idea - (I HATE interstates) - to throw around.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2116469857457582711,53.017940,-112.880960%3B8077847545682950819,51.154180,-113.261040%3B17077256349831412816,49.787020,-113.049750%3B2428226517457829906,44.430390,-110.750450%3B7267044318063324592,44.917090,-110.419410%3B6337686879837759457,45.183470,-109.236550%3B15650562372271739510,47.568430,-111.256910&saddr=edmonton,+alberta&daddr=HWY-13+%4053.017940,+-112.880960+to:HWY-21%2FHWY-564%2FRange+Rd+24+%4051.154180,+-113.261040+to:Crowsnest+Hwy+E%2FHWY-3+E%2FRed+Coat+Trail+E+%4049.787020,+-113.049750+to:sturgis,+SD+to:denver+to:Grand+Loop+ Rd%2FUS-191%2FUS-287+%4044.430390,+-110.750450+to:Grand+Loop+Rd+%4044.917090,+-110.419410+to:MT-308+%4045.183470,+-109.236550+to:US-87+%4047.568430,+-111.256910+to:53.409532,-113.466797&mra=mi&mrcr=5&mrsp=10&sz=5&via=1,2,3,7&dirflg=h&sll=50.958427,-106.962891&sspn=14.214239,40.869141&ie=UTF8&ll=44.590467,-109.467773&spn=16.048174,40.869141&z=5

Just for an idea is all - (Sturgis, Denver, Bear Tooth, Yellowstone)

(I avoid itineraries - weather, sites, making time can really change things up)

But if just a trip to Sturgis and back, I suggest it should be a two day scream - I won't ride at night

[allytay1]

Here's a trip idea - (I HATE interstates) - to throw around.
Just for an idea is all - (Sturgis, Denver, Bear Tooth, Yellowstone)


I like the way you're thinkin'. My only limits are I have just that one week to do the round trip, so could be some longer riding days ( :D ). I've been through Wyoming before and had my car pummelled in the side by 20 minutes of tumbleweeds (it was like a bad western that didn't have and end) ... so I agree trip has to be flexible for everything from weather to unforeseen mechanical stuff, whatever..

Blue - does this idea mean you're in?? That would be great to have another confirmation.

I think I've just had my Harley buddy back out. His wife and kids have been planning a trip to Northern California (youngest is 14, so not many trips like this left for him ... I have to understand), so at most, he may try to meet up with us at Sturgis (if he bails on them a day early) or meet up on the way home. He takes his bike with him everywhere in a trailer, so is scheming to fit both trips into one ... let him sort that out with the boss :confused:

Also, what do people think of stopping off near Swift Current on the way down? PrairieDawg made a pretty generous offer there. Could mean we do a straight East out of Edmonton, or still start south and veer East at Calgary. Honestly, I've been on a number of trips to Oyen area of Alberta, and none of them are stellar, they're good roads, just poker straight and a good time to break in some muscle relaxants and the new cruise control :o

Final note ... I'm just starting to look for saddle bags or other ways to haul cargo (tent? sleeping bag? at least one clean pair of underwear :o ). What are you folks doing for cargo?? I know it's a cruiser, but I still want my bike to keep a bit of that sporty back end while I'm on the highway. These are a few options:
FirstGear: http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/20070308/f/7/f/f7f07a8b8cf01264e82a8a0677ae78ce0_large.jpg
Cortech: http://www.tourmaster.com/images/products/h_ra_black.jpg
Nelson Riggs: http://a910.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01245/90/95/1245675909_l.jpg

Any thoughts, or other ideas?

[Prariedawg]

I have a set of Nelson Riggs, haven't tried them for fit yet. Never thought about going under the cowl like your pic shows. :bigthumbsup:

[allytay1]

I have a set of Nelson Riggs, haven't tried them for fit yet. Never thought about going under the cowl like your pic shows. :bigthumbsup:


I thought that under-cowl looked pretty cool myself ... doesn't hide the back end completely. Pics are stolen from another part of the forum. My 9 is snow-white ... and unfortunately is blending into our late winter snow blast a little too well this morning ... I think Sherwood Park is sitting around 4 inches this morning.

There were a number of threads last summer/fall about saddlebags, and have been watching for some decent pricing on E-Bay or wherever. I think I like the Nelson Rigg the best ... seems to have the best build quality and reputation and seems the pads would be very protective of the paint.

[allytay1]

Sorry for all the messages ... had a thought about the accomodations in or near Sturgis. I think we can already agree to play lots of things by ear while on the road, but given the sheer numbers of bikers descending on the Black Hills, I was leaning towards having some clarity on where we stay down there.

My wife and I have a timeshare which entitles us to some deals on condos and cabins around the country. I'd probably have to get on it quickly if we were to do this, but I found there are some cabins just outside of Rapid City, South Dakota that I can get for around $30 to $40 a night (that's a per night for the unit, not per person).
http://www.hartranchresort.com/cabin_floor_plan.html. Let me know if this is of interest to people. I'd need to know how many would be interested in this, because I'm sure none of us wants to play 'Planes, Trains, & Automobiles' in double beds with each other too badly (remember Steve Martin "THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!!!")

Prairiedawg - if you folks are RVing it down, this might also be an option for parking your unit for a few days ... just a thought?

Just FYI - Rapid City is south of Sturgis by about 30 miles. It's actually closer to Mount Rushmore, but easy access to all the top rides in the Black Hills.

Thoughts?