69th vs 70th Sturgis Rally: David & Goliath?
Marking a Decade..
Plenty of bikers think that being at the 50th 60th or 70th marks a milestone, not just another year. It's our guess quite a few will hold out for big number 70, choosing next year as a way to spend more time crawling through intersections than blasting around the Badlands. It's all good.
The Crush of Humanity..
Vendors, the biz people who travel coast to coast, their trucks, vans & trailers stuffed full of biker impulse items, are harboring feelings of slight optimism, to outright dread. The more optimistic are seasoned veterans, having sold through past recessions. Newer sellers, with little equity, are worried their shoestring will break under the weight of expenses outweighing scant biker dollars. Some describe their biz as being down 50% over the glory years. ABM's noticed fewer bikers each year as the unemployment rate rose, but by the first of August, the hills will be far from empty. Don't believe it? Try booking a room.
Should any of this matter?
Not if you came out to RIDE the Black Hills. The glory days were great for vendors, towns, businesses, & renters, but frankly, popping your clutch just to advance 10 feet, & stop again, no matter how hot, cold, or wet, sucks. Those who come to the hills for the thrills, and not to make money will be pleasantly suprised with e-z riding access to Rushmore, Custer, & some of the best scenery anywhere, beginning in a week or so. If it's the crush of humanity you seek, see ya next year!
Plenty of bikers think that being at the 50th 60th or 70th marks a milestone, not just another year. It's our guess quite a few will hold out for big number 70, choosing next year as a way to spend more time crawling through intersections than blasting around the Badlands. It's all good.
The Crush of Humanity..
Vendors, the biz people who travel coast to coast, their trucks, vans & trailers stuffed full of biker impulse items, are harboring feelings of slight optimism, to outright dread. The more optimistic are seasoned veterans, having sold through past recessions. Newer sellers, with little equity, are worried their shoestring will break under the weight of expenses outweighing scant biker dollars. Some describe their biz as being down 50% over the glory years. ABM's noticed fewer bikers each year as the unemployment rate rose, but by the first of August, the hills will be far from empty. Don't believe it? Try booking a room.
Should any of this matter?
Not if you came out to RIDE the Black Hills. The glory days were great for vendors, towns, businesses, & renters, but frankly, popping your clutch just to advance 10 feet, & stop again, no matter how hot, cold, or wet, sucks. Those who come to the hills for the thrills, and not to make money will be pleasantly suprised with e-z riding access to Rushmore, Custer, & some of the best scenery anywhere, beginning in a week or so. If it's the crush of humanity you seek, see ya next year!
posted by americanbikerminute at 2:37 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home