Wow. Blogging For 20 Years!?

April 30th, 2026


I got a lot of blog posts from my trip to Arizona Bike Week.

I was just scrolling down the home page for this blog to get to the Login link and noticed that I launched this blog in April of 2006. It has been 20 years that I’ve been doing this. Wow.

I didn’t do it regularly back then. Looking at that first month I published on April 8, 11, 12, 13, 18, and 25. Then I read that to be well regarded you needed to publish regularly and the best was three times a week. So I did that for a while but I was also posting then to Examiner.com at least three times a week as well as twice a week to RumBum.com. It was a bit much and I cut back to twice a week and that is what I have done ever since, posting on Monday and Thursday.

You might wonder how many posts that comes out to. I have the answer. This post will be number 1,973. Which means I will soon be celebrating number 2,000. In about 14 weeks to be exact. Of course, that is not as exact as it seems. There have been just a very few posts I have removed for whatever reason. But that’s close enough.

People ask me “How in the world do you keep coming up with ideas of things to write about?” Sometimes it’s really easy and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes I really scrape to find something. My wife has suggested at times that I just skip it and she thinks it’s a little silly that I take posting twice a week, every single week, so seriously. And yeah, I have missed a few. Like when I got hit head-on on my Honda CB750 Custom last year. I was still in the emergency room on Monday.

Most of the time, though, blog topics come easily. I go for a ride and I constantly observe. Many, many times I make an observation that ends up being a post, in addition to a post about the ride itself. When I go on long rides, multi-day rides, I get so many blog post ideas I have to write them down at my first opportunity to keep from forgetting them. And then there are the times, especially in winter, when I fall back on a few standards, such as the thread on Adventure Rider that asks what crazy things you have hit or almost hit while riding.

So what was the first post about back on April 8, 2006? The title was “Passes and Canyons Enters the Blogosphere” and it was pretty much an introduction. I had launched the main website in November 2005 and it had been well received so I was expanding the reach. And I ended it saying, “Thanks for visiting. Come again. Tell your friends. And ride, ride, ride.” That’s just as good an ending now as it was back then. So hey, thanks for visiting. Come again. Tell your friends. And ride, ride, ride.

Biker Quote for Today

I have rarely taken a direct path or a shortcut. Instead, I methodically wander. I explore with enthusiasm. — Eric Trow

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Posted in Honda motorcycles, Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »

This Is What We Face Out There

April 27th, 2026


You know, if you really have to go super fast they have racetracks for that kind of thing.

I’ve heard from a number of sources that the situation out on the streets took a definite turn during Covid. People–especially younger men–decided that with the streets nearly empty they could race at very high speeds and commit all sorts of other violations that would have been unthinkable before. The big problem is that they apparently didn’t give up these new practices when the traffic came back.

Just a week ago I was headed out Parker Road on my bike and this guy came scorching along in the merge lane on the right. It’s a more or less continuous lane, serving as an acceleration lane past intersections and deceleration lane approaching intersections. Only this guy was blasting past all the much slower traffic in the actual traffic lanes and not even slowing down approaching intersections. Imagine if you had been just pulling onto the road as he came along.

In fact, when I told Judy about this later she told me that some friends of our had been hit in exactly that situation just a few weeks ago. Though their car was badly damaged they were unhurt, which is probably why I had not heard of it sooner. But what a jerk!

On Thursday a few days ago I decided to go up to the north side of town to visit my friend John. On this one trip I witnessed a whole series of these sorts of stupid acts. Getting onto I-25 some buffoon in a hot car floored it and blasted past every other car he possibly could on the on ramp. Then a short while later, in heavy traffic moving about 30 miles an hour, some guy on a motorcycle came lane-splitting right up alongside me and whole lot of other people. Yes, Colorado allows lane filtering, when the traffic around you is at a complete stop. This was not that situation. And yes, I know this sort of lane-splitting is permitted in some places, and presumably can be done safely.

But it’s not legal here and after we worked so hard to get filtering approved it would be an incredible shame if the legislators, reviewing the results in a couple years as mandated, decide to rescind that OK because a few riders pull stunts like this guy.

Later on my trip north I spotted another guy on a bike behind me and I watched him to see what he would do but he just cruised along behind me for a pretty good ways. That was smart because, while he didn’t know it, I had his front and kept him in mind the whole way.

On my trip home I was going west on 136th to get to I-25 and was stopped at a light. Again to my surprise, a guy on a bike came right up the middle beside me to take his place at the front. A totally legal, well-executed filtering move. Good for you, fella.

Then as I went south on I-25 there were at least three different cars in three different instances that went screaming by everyone, weaving in and out of traffic with inches to spare. What is with these people? I was glad I was at least in my car, not on my bike so I would have had some protection if these antics had led to disaster.

But after a serious crash in my car in 2024, a serious crash on my bike in 2025–both totally the other guys’ fault–I really don’t want a three-peat now in 2026.

Biker Quote for Today

If it were illegal to kill insects, I’d be in the clink for three million years. — Foster Kinn

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Posted in Motorcycle legislation, motorcycle racing, Motorcycle Safety | No Comments »

Impressing Babes With Your Bike–Or Not

April 24th, 2026


I don’t have to try to impress Judy. And no, she does not ride her own.

I’m digging back in my memory now because Judy and I have been married for 30 years. Before that, however, one tool in my kit that I used to try to win the attentions of a fair young lass was my motorcycle. You never did that, did you? Or course not.

Yeah, how cool to suggest you take a ride on the motorcycle. Only, sometimes it doesn’t work out the way you planned.

Early on I had designs on Donna, a friend I had wanted to be more than friends with for a long time. I thought I might finally get my chance. She was going to be at some camp for a few days up in the Red Feather Lakes area, northwest from Fort Collins. We arranged that rather than coming back with whoever she rode up there with, I would come up on my bike–the CB750 Custom being my only bike at that time–and we would go for a ride and just generally have a nice time. And hopefully more.

I figured how long I thought it should take to get there and headed up her way. It took longer than I expected, though. By the time I reached the camp there was not a soul around. Certainly no Donna. Rats! So I headed on back ended up at the intersection where the road up the Poudre Canyon meets US 287, Ted’s Place. I paused for a minute before turning south on 287.

If I had looked in my mirror–I learned later–I might have seen Donna running toward me. She had gotten a ride to there but now was waiting for someone she called to pick her up. With me being late to the camp she had feared being stuck there alone and me not showing up, so she had not taken the chance of assuming I was just late, but definitely coming. And now there I was but I didn’t see her and I went on alone. Rats.

Then there was the time I was riding with Shelley. It was our first–and only–time on the bike. We were just out cruising around when the bike sputtered to a stop. I reached to flip the petcock to go to Reserve only to find it was already in that position. Oops. We ended up walking a mile and a half to a station and then that same mile and a half back. Shelley was not all bent out of shape about it but suffice it to say we never rode again and nothing ever happened between us.

And then there was that time when I was riding with a different Donna down by Deckers. Also our first time riding–and also our last.

I didn’t know the roads up there as well as I do now so it was unexpected when we found ourselves on gravel. No problem, I’ll just take it slow.

Good thing. We were passing a couple parked cars on the left side of the road, going maybe 5 miles an hour, when a big dog walked out from between them right into our path. I hit the brakes hard and instantly we went down. (This is the only time I have ever gone down while in motion; I have dropped the bike in parking lots and such numerous times.)

The dog was unhurt, we never touched him. And fortunately, other than some small bruises, neither were we. But we were both shaken and the fact that we had no recourse but to run several more miles on gravel didn’t give either of us a lot of confidence. And Donna never rode with me again, though we did connect romantically for a period. At least there was that.

Oh, and by the way, the owner of the dog, who was totally apologetic, promised to pay for any damage and proceeded to give me completely fake contact information. Nice guy.

Later on there have been a couple times I ran out of gas with Judy riding with me but we were married by then so it was OK. Besides, by then I wasn’t trying to impress her, we were just out having a good time. She tolerates me making mistakes now and then.

Biker Quote for Today

“It’s the ride of life the journey from here to there living and loving every moment like we have none to spare.” — Jess “Chief” Brynjulson

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Posted in Day Rides, Honda motorcycles, motorcycle humor, motorcycle memories | No Comments »

Utah Ride In May

April 20th, 2026


The OFMC going down a canyon in Utah.

Riding season is getting into full swing–are you ready for your first long ride of the year?

I am. I’ll be joining other members of the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club (RMMRC) in late May for what the organizer, Tom, has dubbed the Utah Scenic Ride. You’re welcome to join us and I hope you do. Here’s the itinerary.

We’ll be leaving on Tuesday, May 26, from the Phillips 66 station at Morrison at 9 a.m. That’s kick stands up at 9 a.m. In this group we really do leave at the appointed time.

The first day is going to be the longest ride, 343 miles, to Green River, Utah, but that’s all interstate so it’s totally doable without too much stress. I know I hate really long days, but this is a ride I’ve done several times.

While as far as interstate goes, there’s not much nicer slab than going through Colorado, but the fun really starts on the second day. We’ll take Utah 24 down through Hanksville, to Torrey, passing through Capitol Reef National Park. Then down Utah 12 to Escalante and through Bryce Canyon National Park to US 89, then up to Panguitch.

On Thursday we’ll take 89 north to Utah 62 to Loa, then to I-70 and east to US 191, and south to Moab. The next day will be further south on 191, to La Sal Junction, then east on Utah 46/Colorado 90 to Ridgway, US 550 north to Delta, east on Colorado 133 over McClure Pass and on to Carbondale.

The final day will be Colorado 82 over Independence Pass to Buena Vista, then home on US 285. A total of approximately 1,318 miles arriving home on Saturday, May 30.

Should be a really good ride. Utah in May is great. I’m ready.

Biker Quote for Today

Speeding along an open road on my motorcycle, flanked by the great outdoors, the engine hums and the noise in my mind disappears. — Judith Roberts

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Motorcycle Fatalities Down In Latest Statistics

April 16th, 2026


A particularly sweet motorcycle road in Utah.

Bringing news of 2024 statistics may seem a bit old but that’s the way it is with statistics of this sort. Once a year ends it takes time to pull it all together and make sense of it all, so the norm is that we see today what happened not last year, but the year before.

So the good news is that motorcycle fatalities declines by 2.2 percent in 2024. That is 138 fewer deaths. This data come from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, “Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes In 2024.”

On the other hand, injuries to motorcyclists increased from 2023 by 4,320, which is a 5.2 percent rise. Not so good. And I guess I’ll be one of those statistics when the report for 2025 comes out next year. Glad I’m in this group and not the first group.

The actual fatality numbers are not good even if they are lower. There were 6,228 people killed on bikes in 2024. And there were 144,050 injured. That last figure seems high enough that each of us should probably know at least one of those people. I know when the 2025 numbers come out I will have known one of those killed. It was a member of the RMMRC and he had only been part of the club a short time. We were glad to have him and really hate having lost him.

Another positive statistic has to do with alcohol impairment. The report shows that alcohol-impaired motorcyclist involved in fatal crashes declined in 2024 by 3 percent. That’s 1,606 compared to 1,656.

Urban areas have the larger proportions of motorcyclist fatalities vs. rural areas (18 percent vs. 13 percent). Interestingly, urban areas have a higher percentage of fatalities in cars and trucks and buses.

Colorado had 689 motorcyclist deaths in 2024, which is a decrease from 2023 of 4.3 percent.

That about covers the motorcycle-related stats in this report. Let’s all be careful out there. I’m going to be a number in next year’s report. Don’t you be a number in the following year’s report.

Biker Quote for Today

If there’s a there there, there’s a road that’ll take you there.

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Posted in Biker Issues, Motorcycle Safety | No Comments »

Watching The City Grow

April 13th, 2026


Yeah, that’s the bike but it’s not the setting it was supposed to be.

When I go for a ride I generally head out of town. The thing is, as the years pass it takes longer and longer to get out of town. What that means, though, is that I see it happening as the city grows.

I went out Sunday (funny how I never have to specify what bike I was on any more) and headed out to the southeast. My only destination starting out was Tagawa Gardens where I wanted to see if they had something I wanted to wrap up some landscaping we just had done out front. Might as well make this ride productive as well an enjoyable. They didn’t have what I was looking for but a lady there suggested a way I could handle the situation with materials on hand. Good suggestion–thanks.

Now where to? I was on Parker Road so I just kept going to Parker. Through Parker and then I took a right onto Hess Road, heading west. Hess is far enough south that it’s still largely undeveloped along there, particularly on the south side of the road. That won’t last. Check back in two years, unless we have a recession and the housing industry tanks. Then maybe three or four years.

Oh, and I might mention, it was a beautiful, sunny, warm spring day. Great day to be out riding. As usual I was over-dressed but never felt too warm except once when I was stuck going slow. Certainly never turned the electric vest on. But I was wearing it.

As I was approaching I-25 I came upon some huge earth-moving operation. This is new. The road is rising to meet the interstate and along the north side there was this large retaining wall. Hmm?

I got a little higher and there was a completely flat, broad expanse, with another retaining wall rising up at the other end. The cut the hill away at the high end, used that dirt as fill at the low end, with the two walls to hold it all in place. What the heck are they doing here? You could fit a high school onto that flat.

They are also realigning the road that I intended to go north on, just before reaching I-25. So I missed it and had to do a U-turn to get back to the new turn. Crossed the area being altered on a temporary bit of pavement and a really interesting perspective. I stopped and got off and shot a couple photos.

It was a good shot. The bike parked in the middle of what had been the road, with barriers behind it, asphalt suspended in midair behind the barriers, and off behind that a good bit of the construction project visible. The sun was so bright I had a hard time seeing the image on the screen but I trusted the camera would do its work just fine. Except that when I got home and tried to take a look they were not there. How did I screw that up?

From there it was the usual roads home. But they’re nice roads, basically frontage roads along I-25 and pretty, with the mass and mess of the interstate in clear view right over there.

So–a good ride.

Biker Quote for Today

Riding a motorcycle is like tasting freedom with every breath.

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Posted in Colorado motorcycle rides | No Comments »

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