Tub thunder: Motorcyclists take over rural village

By TED SULLIVAN   Sunday, June 20, 2010
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— In this little burg surrounded by cornfields and dairies, motorcycles ruled Saturday.

The “sweetest little village on the Sugar River” is known for its lazy float trips and bicycle trails, but an estimated 2,000 bikers overtook the town during the 16th annual Tub Run.

Motorcyclists dominated the village of 1,191 residents, turning the small-town atmosphere into a hotbed for Harley-Davidsons, rock music and beer.

“I’ve never been to anything like this. This blows my mind,” La Crosse resident Ricky Sanwick said. “We’ve got runs in La Crosse, but nothing like this. Nothing where they shut a town down and shut the road down.”

Bikers from all corners of the state stopped in Albany for lunch during the charity ride that raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

They crowded sidewalks, bars and restaurants along Water Street.

Parked motorcycles lined the streets of downtown, blocking roads. Local police directed traffic. Volunteers helped people cross the street.

Music blared from several head-high speakers at the corner of Water Street and Highway 59.

Joy Richardson and Craig Torphy of Madison called the scene a mini Sturgis, N.D., which is famous for its annual motorcycle rally. They said Albany was maybe “a 10th of Sturgis.”

“I think it’s cool,” Richardson said.

Motorcyclists had great camaraderie and were friendly with one another, Richardson said. It didn’t matter how old the bikers were or what type of motorcycle they rode.

Bikers filled up on beer, water or soda on the stop. They had their choice of several restaurants for food and dessert.

Scott Stamsta and Brian Louis of Pound in northern Wisconsin said Albany was the perfect stop for a rib eye sandwich and hamburger.

“You couldn’t ask for anything better,” Louis said.

Diana Blumer, owner of The Pitstop, was busy serving a packed house. She said the day was among the busiest of the year.

Bikers kept coming in for food and drinks, she said. They were friendly.

The scene was a nice change from the daily routine, Blumer said.

“You see people downtown you usually don’t see at all,” she said. “This is awesome. It’s just so many people.”

reader COMMENTS
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(54)
FootballFan
Jun 22, 2010 at 8:15 p.m.
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Dear Sandman, I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Be careful though, there are some who define 'troll' as anybody who disagrees with them.

browntown96
Jun 22, 2010 at 7:38 p.m.
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knigettes hospitaller- WOW. Did you really join in June just to add your off base scriptures?? There are alot of places you can go with like minded people who might appreciate it. I haven't seen one blogger hop on your rants and appreciate them. jmo

dillinger_1934
Jun 22, 2010 at 4:56 p.m.
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man I cannot believe how nosey, and messed up people are!! Pointing out how you do not approve of other people's life style choices, how they choose to dress ect. I have Tattoos all over my body,and I a member of the PTA. This IS MY LIFE, and it is ending one min. at a time. As for people who have loud bikes, and tans, and tattoos>>>> Thats who they are, who THEY choose to be, let them live how they want, and get of your high horse!! How are you any better than anyone else?? I can't even go to the store for grocerys without you types giving faces and pointing fingers, once a women took to swearing at me in front of my 2 yr old>>> I suppose this makes her better than me right?? Perfect is not a reality, it's an idea that does not exist.

Zoom
Jun 22, 2010 at 3:48 p.m.
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I think you need to read up on the First Amendment.

Purrmaid
Jun 22, 2010 at 2:02 p.m.
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LOL Gazettefan! And kudos to Albany, Kutter and all those who donated.

etown
Jun 22, 2010 at 1:09 p.m.
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albany evidently didnt care about the noise or they wouldnt of had the stop there.

Zoom
Jun 22, 2010 at 10:15 a.m.
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Is a noice test painful?

Goodboy
Jun 22, 2010 at 9:38 a.m.
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I got no problem with bikers having fun, just as long as they submit their bikes to a noice test as they enter town and pay their fines if they are too loud.

gazettefan
Jun 22, 2010 at 9:02 a.m.
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Town girl: Whadaya rebellin' against?

Brando: Whadaya got?

Sandman
Jun 21, 2010 at 10:45 p.m.
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"Marlon Brando! Driven Too Far By His Own Hot Blood!" A bunch of "rugged" conformists and noisy poseurs who want pretend to be extras in a B-remake of "The Wild One"!
"There's currently no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy. Research into gene therapy may eventually provide treatment to stop the progression of some types of muscular dystrophy" From:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/muscula...
As long as Jerry's been talkin' about "his kids" (and he comes off just about as sincere), the only "cure" for muscular dystrophy is genetic testing and not passing on the genes (duh). Don't drink and drive? Don't drink and dive on down!
The reality of this ride is using the old "it's for charity" excuse for wanna-be, work-a-day adults to play Johnny Strabler for a few hours. Nothing against the event--well, except for the self-indulgent farce of backing up traffic for half an hour at intersections all over the county to facilitate this yahoo convoy, and of course the noise, pollution, bad tribal/skull/reaper tattoos, dye/perm jobs, boob implants, and fake tans, of course--but let's just call it what it is, eh?
Jus' tryin' to keep it real, bros--don't shoot the messenger (or back seat passenger)!

warpo123
Jun 21, 2010 at 9:19 p.m.
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I am a committee member, and for the most part, our MDA committee is comprised of very dedicated folks and business people to make this a safe and rewarding ride for all those involved. The efforts put forward in 9 months of planning, show the rewards of our goodwill ambassador's smile, while he is in a wheelchair, as all the flagbikes went past him a Thresherman's Park. For the inconvenienced people, that had to wait, think about Dylan in the chair, and that this enjoyment is limited as is his life span.

redder
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:26 p.m.
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crafty....i am not a thief.......i dont like you toan...LOL

redder
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:22 p.m.
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I was told by the PD the city really doesnt have a noise ordinance...sorry you are such a poor sport what a great event

crafty
Jun 21, 2010 at 3:53 p.m.
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Don't you all know? All bikers are drunken murderous thieving perverts and must be dealt with! We must take their fuel efficient cycles away and replace them with nice quiet cars.
Get a life you biker bashing losers.

grandmaofeight
Jun 21, 2010 at 2:08 p.m.
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I just want to say Thank you to everyone who rode in this ride to help raise money for a cure. We have 9 gemerations in our family with Muscular Dystrophy. Without people like you to help raise money for this it would not be possible for research to help find a cure, or help provide wheelchairs for these kids when they can't walk anymore.
My husband and I also rode in the Tub Run and it was an awesome ride. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and god bless everyone of you that rode Saturday to raise money for this cause.

brightjade
Jun 21, 2010 at 12:43 p.m.
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HURRAY FOR ALBANY THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR CHARITY ...YOU GOOOOOO YOU GOOOO

knigettes_hospitaller
Jun 21, 2010 at 10:42 a.m.
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Ride, and the Lord rides with you. He sees your good hearts, and is glad, and beckons you to flock to his feast.

maxdetail
Jun 21, 2010 at 9:58 a.m.
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Did ya'll see that big guy with the shaved head and goatee riding a Harley? I thought he was in jail. It scared me. In fact, I kept seeing him, almost like he could be in several places at once. Weird.

norseman
Jun 21, 2010 at 9:02 a.m.
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Hamb?

hdonlybob
Jun 21, 2010 at 8:23 a.m.
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I had the pleasure of serving hot dogs, pork sandwiches and water for donations at Kutter from 8-12 O'clock before the ride began.....
Couple of facts.
* NO BEER WAS SERVED at Kutter. That trailer was used to hold ice and cold water.
* Wonderful crowd. I have been to Sturgis many many times.....these folks here were awesome!
* ~$1700 was DONATED to this stand in that four hours, 100% going to MDA.
* This happens once a year, and the route is published ahead of time. It is wonderful when you ride to see the THOUSANDS of people (young and old) along the route waiving American Flags, and posting signs sayning Thank You. Uhhhh...not exactly what you would expect from Criminals....
* Lastly.....check the records...How many arrests were made or connected to this wonderful event??
Not everyones cup of tea, but who in their right mind would complain about a (40) minute delay, or some loud noise passing by that results in an amount of ~$1.4 MILLION raised by this group, and 100% of it given to this awesome cause.
The complainers here remind me of folks who were given a 15# Hamb for Easter FREE and complained because it had a bone in it....go figure.
MDA is awesome.

scubaviolin
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:43 a.m.
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Or the usual routine of commeraderie, fund raising (breast cancer research, animal rescue clubs, humane society, etc), and enjoying Wisconsin in a way you can't do in a car!

FootballFan
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:39 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
scubaviolin
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:20 a.m.
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I volunteered as a road guard on both legs of the ride-thank you to the radio club that volunteered their time to keep all informed on the status of the ride. For the most part, I saw responsible riders out having a good time for a good cause. Thank you to the SCW HOG chapter members who put in thousands of volunteer hours and to Kutter for sponsoring this amazing event!

etown
Jun 21, 2010 at 7:07 a.m.
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no napalm what they were allowed to do was raise hundred s of thousands of dollar s for a great cause , you should go sometimes and see the people sitting with signs saying thank you for helping me or thank you for helping my family its amazing . not to mention the clubs and business that are helped at the place they arrive at. we only wish one year they would choose edgerton in this economy everyone could use a little help .

etown
Jun 20, 2010 at 11:44 p.m.
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i didnt see any beer served at kutter at all the beer trailer was there. the only thing i seen taken from that trailer, water and food supplies for the hot dog and pull pork donation s only stand.

Biscuit5
Jun 20, 2010 at 11:06 p.m.
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and the sound was like endless thunder what a ride

Bond
Jun 20, 2010 at 10:57 p.m.
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Whats wrong with drinking beer? Beer makes you smart, It made Bud wiser! Drink while you drive, face the traffic with confidence!

kangaroojack
Jun 20, 2010 at 10:41 p.m.
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Worst sentance ever isnt the half of it displaced. They had a BEER TRAILER right at Kutter before the ride. Sorry, but alcohol and bikes dont mix.

Guys I was riding with on the way to Albany were fine. No screwing around (pet peeve of mine on large group rides with riders you dont know). After leaving Albany I ended up behind a couple of bikes with passengers that started screwing around. Passengers throwing things at eachother, weaving all over the road & purposely kicking up gravel on the sides of the road. I bailed after we went through Evansville with the bike having issues and wanted to get it home.

gazettefan
Jun 20, 2010 at 10:33 p.m.
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They chose the restaurant with the bidet.

gmaof3
Jun 20, 2010 at 7:06 p.m.
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What's your point? It was a great ride, and for a cause...

ljs64
Jun 20, 2010 at 4:28 p.m.
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"Joy Richardson and Craig Torphy of Madison called the scene a mini Sturgis, N.D., which is famous for its annual motorcycle rally."
********
Ah.....Sturgis is in SOUTH DAKOTA....Hello.....??

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