Pleasant Valley Road Shortcut : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Tycho124 · 07-12-2007, 06:30 PM

One of the shortcuts from Rapid City to the Bear Butte area (where the Chip and Glencoe are) that gets recommended is getting off I-90 at Exit 34 and taking Pleasant Valley Road until it connects to Highway 34. Here's the concern...Pleasant Valley Road is supposed to be gravel the entire length. Has anyone taken this "short-cut"? Are we talking lose, dangerous, accident-waiting-to-happen gravel or just...unpaved road. If I take this road will I regret it?

I ride a Softail Deluxe and have been riding for 16 years but gravel is gravel and it doesn't care how long you've been riding.

Thanks all!

95 FXST · 07-12-2007, 09:40 PM

When I lived in RC I'd driven that road several times in my truck. Part of the Centinial trail is there, awesome mountain biking. Anyway, I wouldn't ride my bike on that road. Too loose, to many sharp, blind curves. Sure it's a short cut, but it is more of a pain. It comes out right beside the VA hospital on 34.

Fxsts103ci · 07-13-2007, 01:42 PM

all depends on you're comfort level . We have roads around here that are much worse. Specially after a rain

curlyd · 07-13-2007, 08:30 PM

We rode it last year no problem, just dusty and a few washboards. no big thang.

M-16Pilot · 07-13-2007, 10:27 PM

I would agree that if it is like most of the dirt roads in Western South dakota, I wouldn't want to take my bike on them. I spent 9 years driving them while in the air force stationed there. Plus when they get soggy they are greasy slick too.

Tim

Ride · 07-28-2007, 08:05 PM

Tried to take my buddies to The Chip two years ago via that route and they balked. I'd have done it but thats just me. I'd rather be going 15mph on gravel than meltin down my motor and sweatin my nads off standin still in stop and go traffic around town. Yeah...it's loose gravel and dusty but I hate the traffic in Sturgis during the rally. You can be assured that there are no traffic issues if you go that route.

Tycho124 · 08-13-2007, 06:51 PM

Okay...I went for it and road one of the gravel roads. Very scenic but the bike gets squirly on that lose gravel. That wasn't too bad. But the DUST! Most of what my bike kicked up ended up behind me but trucks use the road quite a bit and when they scream past you going the opposite direction you, your bike and all your gear get CAKED in dust. Normally...that's par for the course but it sucks to show up at the Chip or Glencoe for a concert looking like crud.

berserker · 01-02-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tycho124

your bike and all your gear get CAKED in dust. Normally...that's par for the course but it sucks to show up at the Chip or Glencoe for a concert looking like crud.

Sorry you didn't look all pretty, did you still get to blow a roadie?

I have wondered about this road too. Be nice if they had another paved road in. Maybe some of the damn trailers would use it. Get rid of the RVs and trailers and traffic in Sturgis would be alot better.

I have though they should ban them from certain routes. They don't care how much they slow traffic up, there in an air conditioned cage, looking at the bikes,

I quit going to the east side of Sturgis, cause of the traffic.