So what would lead a bunch of those bikers to run the opposite direction?
We've got nothing against Sturgis, per se... at least not in theory. But, over the years, the pursuit of the almighty dollar and it's own success have changed what was once a biker rally into a sort of something more like a tourist trap.
You see, there was a time when people would ride their bikes from where ever they lived to Sturgis, South Dakota to get together and party for a week in August. It was an adults-only shindig in the upper midwest full of laughter, boozin' and half-naked babes. Sounds like the perfect party and it was.
Leather Disneyland
What started out as a biker rally began to change several years ago. With the availability of cheap cruiser bikes and the wild popularity of chopper shop reality shows on cable tv, a new sort of visitor started showing up at Sturgis.
Gradually the real bikers were outnumbered by the tourists who came to look at us like it was some sort of open-air zoo. And these new arrivals trailered their bikes to Sturgis, if they had a bike at all. Many of them came in RVs and many even brought their kids for a family vacation!
Where crowds gather there's money to be made and it didn't take long for corporate America to figure out how to use the rally as a marketing tool. Nowadays Sturgis is less of a rally than it is a trade show, with people pushing strollers and clamoring for freebies from the vendors that seem to be shoehorned into every corner of town (and well beyond).
Fuck Sturgis
Sometime in early 1999, a couple bikers from the twin cities of Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN were setting up their plans for summer rides. As it usually does in biker circles, the conversation finally came to the ultimate question - "Are we going to Sturgis this year?"
After giving it a bit of thought, they agreed that they'd had enough of the corporate bullshit, the trailer queens and the wanna-be preppie bikers. It was time to move on and the phrase that would eventually become the name of the run was uttered - "Fuck Sturgis!"
The Fuck Sturgis Run was born, at least in concept. Eventually dates were nailed down, a biker-friendly destination found and the plans were made. No 'official' sponsors, no bullshit, no reason - just a good ride to a great place to end the summer.
Now, over a decade later, the run has grown into a true rally in it's own right. Many a story, some unpublishable, will be told about past runs. The first years success has only led to more fun and friendship each and every year - come join us on this year's run and make some stories of your own. You only get one chance to be part of a legend!
