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"I hope the outlaw bikers beat up the wannabe Harley-riding lawyers."

The gangs seldom interact with civilians. In 36 years of attend biker events, I've never had a problem with a gang member. Leave them alone and you won't have a problem.

That said, I never initiate a conversations with members, especially the pledges (Only two parts to the patch on their back).

For those who have not been there, Sturgis is a little town in the middle of a fabulously beautiful riding area that includes the SD badlands, Devil's Tower, Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore/Keystone, Crazy Horse Mountain, Iron Mountain Road and a bunch of other state parks. Route 90 goes right through town and the town has two 4-lane roads as well.

If you have seen the movie, Dances With Wolves, the place with the buffalo, is Buffalo Chip Campground on the north side of town.

Daytona bike week is about drinking. Sturgis is about riding the Black Hills. It is a mild-mannered event with almost no nudity or violence. There are a couple of private campgrounds with a bit of debauchery, but but the police keep that stuff out of town and in private areas.

If you are looking for serious debauchery and naked women, that can be found at an event called the Rendezvous (formerly Harley Rendezvous) held in Duanesburg, NY on the weekend after Father's Day every year. It makes Sturgis and Daytona look like Cub Scout meetings.

Thank you for your positive report about our Rally. I've lived in the Black Hills for nearly forty years. The shooting at Legion Lake near Custer is the first serious violent event that I can remember in all those years of Rally watching. I think we do a rather remarkable job accomodating over half a million bikers for the week/10 days. Years ago, it was smaller and seemed to have a wilder crowd. In recent years, it has turned into a more "family friendly" event. Now the Rally covers the whole Black Hills, not just Sturgis. Each small town in the Hills tries to have events to draw the bikers (and their dollars). We own a sizable amount of forested acres in the Hills and each year our group of biker friends and family grows. Some of them don't even ride.....they just enjoy the reunion. They all bring their tents and just camp out on our property. I offer a buffet breakfast each morning and clean bathrooms. We have never had a problem and, in fact, look forward to it each year.

We are all upset over the incident last week and hate to see that one tragedy with some really bad dudes, ruin a great event.

My biggest complaint is what I consider price gouging by the gas stations and motels. I guess that is just capitalism at work, but I don't like it.