Things to Avoid at Sturgis

🚫 1. Getting Drunk and Riding

• DUI checkpoints are everywhere.
  
• You will get stopped, especially late at night or leaving bars.
  
• It’s not just a ticket—people get seriously hurt or killed every year doing this.
  

What to do instead: Camp close to bars, walk, or use the Buffalo Chip shuttle or group rides with sober buddies.

🚫 2. Riding Without Gear

• It’s hot—so people ride shirtless or in shorts.
  
• But every year, people lay down their bikes in gravel or twisty roads. Road rash or worse.
  

Minimum gear: Helmet (even if not required), gloves, boots, jeans.

🚫 3. Riding During Peak Midday Hea

• 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. = boiling blacktop, heavy traffic, exhausted riders.
  
• Dehydration + traffic = miserable or even dangerous riding.
  

Better plan: Ride early morning or after 5 p.m. and rest mid-day under shade or at camp.

🚫 4. Overpacking for Day Rides

• You don’t need to carry your whole camp setup when heading out for a few hours.
  
• Extra weight = more fatigue and less fun.
  

Pack light: Water, ID, phone, cash, bandana, rain shell. That’s it.

🚫 5. Leaving Gear Unattended

• Most people are cool, but bike parts, bags, and coolers disappear if left unattended downtown or even at some campgrounds.
  

Lock it or lose it: Use cable locks, stash valuables, or buddy up.

🚫 6. Being “That Guy” at Camp

• Too loud, too drunk, too messy—it wears out your welcome fast.
  
• Remember: People are trying to sleep, and Sturgis lasts over a week.
  

Best rule: Respect your neighbors = good stories, not bad blood.

🚫 7. Ignoring Weather Reports

• South Dakota storms can roll in fast with hail, lightning, and high winds.
  
• Tents get shredded and bikes blown over almost every year.
  

Check daily: Radar apps like Windy or RadarScope. Always stake your tent and cover your bike.

🚫 8. Taking Only One Key

• Bikes get locked with alarms, and… people lose keys, especially after a few drinks.
  

Bring a spare key, hide it in camp or give it to a trusted friend.