Speed and Glory: The Black Hills

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Hell in the Hills

Sturgis, 2010.

The day started off great, sun was out, beautiful morning. We hit the Silverado, in Deadwood, like usual for the $6.99 all you can eat prime rib buffet. After eating, clouds started rolling in, fast... bad ones. Next thing we know, heavy hail and rain is dropping like hell. Usually a storm in the hills like this rips through in ten, maybe twenty minutes. Not this one, this went on for more than forty-five minutes. As soon as it started I ran for my bike to cover it, at least most of it due to the thick hail, I got a block running and I was drenched, bailing into a casino to dry my clothes with the bathroom hand dryers. Any attempt at reaching my chop was senseless.

When it was all said and done, they had plows on the streets and businesses were shoveling the sidewalks.... 70 degrees in the morning, 40 in the afternoon. You could see your breath.

If you've ever ridden in the Black Hills, typical day, heaven one moment, hell the next.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Hills -

In just over 5 months I'll be riding out of the Denver area for my first round of what is the Annual Sturgis Rally and Races. The week before shit hits the fan is one of the most anticipated weeks of the year for me.

That week would be the one leading up to the Rally. All the hoopla about too many people being there and cops cracking down on anything with a dick is nonexistent during this time. The cops haven't showed up yet and neither have the crowds. It's the calm before the storm.

Don't feel that this is an advertisement aimed at enticing you to visit during this time, as the roads are left to me, a group I call my second family, and the few others who get to the hills early.

You can feel what's coming, but the roads have a way of washing that away...

It rivals any other riding I've come across.

Funk at the campsite. We get there early and tape off the same large area each year, enough to fit 80+ people, bikes, and gear.