Group Ride Plans GOING TO ST.N 2011 in SD?

[zer0netgain]

Here is a map of my route from home to ST.N 2011.  I plan to get there on Saturday evening (2 day trip, Friday stop point in Davenport, Iowa...lots to see in the Black Hills of South Dakota).

Anyone along this route want to plan on connecting up with me on the way into SD?  I know it's a year out, but you might as well start thinking about it.  

[mxvet57]

 when you get to the Quad city's concider taking US18 or US20 west through Iowa and South Dakota(18) or Nebraska(20) and ride up from the south. I have done 90 through Minnesota and south Dakota and all i can say it is BORING as hell.

[falconati]

I'm from the Quad Cities, so I could potentially ride down, stay with my parents, and then head out with you.

That said, I'd have to agree with the above - we should try and find something other than I-90 to ride out on  

[Scoop]

There are a lot of good ways to get to the Rapid City area.  Hwy 85 south through North and South Dakota is nice, but straight.  23 through MN is also nice, sort of gentle sweepers through grassland.  14 across SD is long and straight, but goes through nice little towns and such and is WAY better than the damn interstate.
That being said, I have had more than my fill of SD and am not going back there for a long time.  Same thing for Wyoming

[swimmer]

Here is a map of my route from home to ST.N 2011.  I plan to get there on Saturday evening ......

DAMN! A bitch likes to plan his shit out in advance!

[maddjack]

Heck  I was working routes the day I came home from this years national.  

[Cablebandit]

Yeah I've been eyeballing Google maps as well.

[Corbeau]

+1 on US 14... This is what mine looked like, a few years back:


576 miles on US 14 (and a bit on I90, west of Wall, because I didn't have much choice) at an average moving speed of 68.3 mph. (You do the math)

[Mr Sunshine]

Why would you get there Saturday evening?  Its my understanding the National is either on a Wednesday or Thursday.

[zer0netgain]

Why would you get there Saturday evening?  Its my understanding the National is either on a Wednesday or Thursday.

If you've ever been in that area (especially during Summer), you'd know two days aren't enough to do everything.  I'd tool about some of the roads I passed by the last time I was there.  Got heat exhaustion last time and dropped my bike in front of a cop because I was too whipped from the heat (and yes, I was drinking lots of water).

[Guy]

Another option is Nebraska hwy 2. Runs from the southeastern corner all the way to the northwestern corner, with a small stretch along I-80 (90 miles). Once north of Grand Island, the highway takes you through the Nebraska Sand Hills. While not exciting riding, the scenery is nice.

[Mr Sunshine]

(and yes, I was drinking lots of water).

maybe too much water?  seriously...

[zer0netgain]

maybe too much water?  seriously...

No.  My problem was this jackwagon in an RV who insisted on going 25 and never letting me pass.  Ever try to manage a 600+ lb. XX at 25 mph for over a half hour in 90+ degree heat?  

I was cooking by the time I got to the nearest town.

[Mr Sunshine]

No.  My problem was this jackwagon in an RV who insisted on going 25 and never letting me pass.  Ever try to manage a 600+ lb. XX at 25 mph for over a half hour in 90+ degree heat?  

I was cooking by the time I got to the nearest town.

Why were you following the RV for so long with that bike?  

[zer0netgain]

Why were you following the RV for so long with that bike?  

Roads barely wide enough for one vehicle.  

[zilla]

I took a similar ride last year. I rode Rt. 20 from Freeport, Il to O'neill, NE. Then I rode north till I hit RT. 18 in S.D. Then 385 the rest of the way.

[shil]

Right now I’m planning on making my way to Milwaukee on Saturday, June 11th. I’ll take the ferry from Muskegon.
Sunday morning I’ll check out the Harley Museum, then take off for Custer, arriving sometime on Monday.
Other than that I have no itinerary.

Anyone else working on a similar schedule?

[Oxblood]

I hope to leave Vancouver on the 10th. Any other Pac NW riders wanna rip through SR 20, then to Sandpoint, down MT 200, and such and so forth. Arrive in Custer early Tuesday and relax, get drunk, what have you?

[Mr Sunshine]

I hope to leave Vancouver on the 10th. Any other Pac NW riders wanna rip through SR 20, then to Sandpoint, down MT 200, and such and so forth. Arrive in Custer early Tuesday and relax, get drunk, what have you?

Hey Greench440 and I are leaving Seattle on the 10th too.  We should find a place to meet up with so we can continue the ride to the National.  Perhaps in western Idaho.

[Oxblood]

Could do. I plan on hitting Kettle Falls on the first day, then down into Lolo Nat'l Forest and head along US 12 towards Lolo on the 11th, camp in one of the US Forest Service Campgrounds along 12. Then from there drop down into Wyoming, through Yellowstone and amble twoards Cody, WY on the 12th.