Gleanings From Sturgis

[kentuck]

Tens of thousands of bikers descended on Sturgis, SD, a few days ago. They were expecting as many as 250,000 bikers but the virus may have cut the number down somewhat? Nevertheless, it was a huge number of people from all over the country. They came from almost every state in the union.

In four to six weeks, we should know a lot more about this virus. That will be enough time for the virus to spread all over the country. We should keep a close watch on the number of cases and deaths.

Coupled with school openings, we should get a general idea of just where this Covid-19 is in our country? Speaking for myself, if the numbers go down in the next few weeks, we should feel somewhat safer in opening up restaurants and businesses.

By the end of September, we should be doing much better or much worse.

This is just my opinion.

[beachbumbob]

1. I see NO chance of "better" by end of septemeber as all school and college reopenings

crash and burn all over.

[samnsara]

2. i drove through Sturgis once as I was storm chasing..its was after dark but not late..

Last edited Wed Aug 12, 2020, 09:32 AM - Edit history (1)

..it was all closed up and empty. We found a place to eat but that was about all that was open. Being there when it was just Sturgis makes me appreciate the mayhem of 250,000 bikers amid a pandemic. Hope y'all stay safe...

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. That's because for 11 months of the year.....

Sturgis, South Dakota is a sleepy, fuel and hotel stop sort of town on Interstate 90 with a population of around 6600 people who couldn't give two shits about anyone else.

The Rally is to them like Christmas is to a mom and pop toy store. Make all the money you can during the season, cause the rest of the year, no one gives a fuck about you.

[HotTeaBag]

10. Sturgis and the Black Hills area in general are one of the most beautiful parts of this country

and lots of people give a fuck about the area - rally or not.

Like all Summer tourist places, the towns dotting the area are packed from May to September.

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. I didn't say they don't give a fuck about the AREA

But allow me to clarify;

The Rally is obviously the biggest event for the area for the entire year. Sure, the Black Hills attracts tourists. They come to see Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument and Deadwood and all the rest, but it isn't like the week of the Rally is indicative of the same sort of traffic all summer.

I'm sure you have heard that the city sent out a poll to each household in Sturgis and 60% of the city residents voted to cancel the bloody thing.

My response to the point made by samnsara above was meant to say that Sturgis is like many hundreds or even thousand of towns across this country that have one major event a year, and the rest of the time, they really don't seem to give two shits. As was noted, it isn't like there is a saloon with live music open till 3 AM on a Wednesday, outside of Rally Week.

Better?

FWIW, I've been through that area several times in the past, so I am well aware of its scenic appeal.

[HotTeaBag]

12. Yeah, better.

.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

3. My daughter and her husband skipped Sturgis this year for the first time in twenty some years.

They will lose thousands of dollars of income as a result. They design and manufacture high end denim, leather, and jewelry and he custom builds bikes and accessories. The risk wasn’t worth it.

[renate]

15. I'm sorry they had to do that, but I bet you would have been frantic with worry if they'd gone

It must have been a really hard decision for them; I'm glad they were smart.

[bigtree]

5. we see a smaller number than are actually infected in the reported cases

...closures were meant to provide time for hospitals, medical supplies, medicine, and vaccines to take root and establish a reasonable base of defense and care against what are certain infections resulting from close quarter contact.

The virus and the threat is proportional to the response. Re-opening without medication, vaccines, and adequate protections in place with all the resources available will allow the virus to begin making gains in the population again.

Numbers going down isn't a signal or a marker bidding us to resume life as usual. Universal availability of vaccines, treatments, and adequate protective gear will usher that eventual certaintly into our communities and allow us to resume activities without unnecessary risk.

[Johnny2X2X]

6. Last week numbers were going down, this week they are rising

Already trending badly and the South has already opened some schools, so September should start seeing the spike in deaths from that. Sturgis more mid September. The Northern schools open later so the spike from them will be more towards October.

We could see mass shutdowns in October.

[mitch96]

7. I wonder if there is a way to track the attendees. nt

[Karma13612]

8. Voluntary would have been nice

But not consistent with the demographic in question, I am assuming.

They COULD do it via license plates on the bikes assuming the bikes are ridden by their owners.

But, that wouldn’t catch the “plus 1” riders.

At least it would be a start.

[Tbear]

13. What's a Plus 1 Rider?

OP makes a good point. Big Tree makes a lot of sense.
Karma, did you mean 1%er?

[kentuck]

14. Someone on the backseat of the bike?

Would be my guess ?

[Karma13612]

17. Yup, exactly. n/t

[Karma13612]

18. No, just a passenger on the bike. n/t

[OnDoutside]

9. They should rename it to Jonestown for the few days.

[GoneOffShore]

16. Probably be a lot of used bikes for sale fairly soon.