Passes & Canyons Blog

We might have parked a little tighter if we had realized this lot was going to soon be jammed with bikes.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pikes Peak more beautiful than it was on Saturday. Between the fresh coat of snow and the perfect light and clouds I couldn’t stop looking at it.

Which made it kind of nice that we were riding in that direction and it came into view repeatedly.

There were 11 of us on this RMMRC ride and while Saturday was not as warm as forecast it was an OK day to ride if you were geared for it. I wore my electric vest and was mighty glad I did, but I left my heated gloves at home, which was a mistake. Some day I’ll learn to put them in my bag so I’ll have them if I decide I want them. But I’m a slow learner.

I want to make the point to all of you who are involved with motorcycle groups that are struggling for membership: The RMMRC has recently gone from its own website to using Meet-Up for its site and its communications. This has been a huge success. We get more riders on the rides and while I don’t know how many, if any, have joined so far I have to believe that some of them will. Especially those who keep showing up on the rides.

Our destination was Monument, to a restaurant (La Casa Fiesta) I was not familiar with, but that grossly understates the situation. You know what I learned? Monument is a real town. All I had ever seen of it was the road down from Palmer Lake to the I-25 interchange. Guess what? If you go a few blocks west from the interstate there is a real town there, with downtown, shops, restaurants–the whole shebang. Who knew?

Getting there without riding all the same roads you’ve been on countless times could be an issue. However, leading the group was Tim, who I have to say is the one person I know who knows the roads south and east of Denver better than me. I’m sure for much of the group this was their first time on nearly all these roads. For me, I had been on most of them but there were at least a few that I have never been on. What fun!

We had quite a mixed contingent of bikes. There were three Hondas, two or three Beemers, a couple Kawasakis, one Spyder, and I’m not sure what else. On the way down I got behind a woman on a sportbike that had an obnoxious exhaust going “Bra-a-a-a-a-t, bra-a-a-a-a-t” the whole way. I made sure to put several people between us on the ride home.

When we got to the restaurant we wondered if it was open because the large parking lot was completely empty. It was open, and starting about 15 minutes later they started arriving. First there was a group of 30 bikes that pulled in. And more kept coming. By the time we were leaving the lot was completely full, with only a couple cars and probably 50 bikes.

We had a good meal (I do recommend La Casa Fiesta) and Roy did his thing, pitching the Meet-Up folks on the club and telling everyone about our upcoming rides. Then we headed north on CO 105 and everyone split off at their appropriate turns and we all went home. Heck, by the time I got home it was actually kind of warm.

Biker Quote for Today

You know you’re a biker if over half the pictures you take have your bike in it.

Just a generic motorcycle shot for an illustration.

I kissed my wallet the moment I laid hands on it. This was when I got back from a ride on Sunday. More on that as it comes.

The forecast called for a high of 70 or 71 on Sunday so of course the RMMRC had a ride planned. So what if the plans were a little confused.

The last message I had seen said meet at the Circle K at Hess and Parker Road, so that was where I went. When I got there I was the only motorcycle in sight so I pulled out my phone and opened the most recent email. How odd–this said to meet at Performance Cycles.

OK, no big deal, I know the objective is to head to Rosie’s diner in Monument for lunch. I’ll just go there.

Navigationally this was not my best day. I must have made three wrong turns on my way over there. Plus, there was construction work going on along I-25 north of Larkspur. I managed to get there OK but it persuaded me I ought to take a day this summer and just ride all over the area between I-25 and CO 105 from Castle Rock down to Monument, exploring every road. It’s on my list now.

I got there before the others so I was sitting outside waiting when a group of a dozen bikes pulled in. This can’t be them, I thought, I’ve never been on an RMMRC ride with that many bikes. But as helmets came off I recognized faces. Wow, everybody wants to ride today.

It was true. I had already seen several hundred motorcycles out on the road. I would see several hundred more before I got home. I decided to declare Sturgis rules and stop waving.

So we ate and headed out, this time going north on CO 105. But before leaving I experienced that sinking feeling many of you have experienced at least once: my wallet was missing. Back I went into the diner and looked around our table. I asked the cashier and she checked with the manager. No wallet had been turned in. They took my contact info in case it showed up.

I was a bit distressed as we headed out, but I told myself that worrying would accomplish nothing and as long as I was out on my bike on this beautiful February day I ought to enjoy it. That did actually help and I was reasonably successful in focusing my attention on more pleasant things than calling to cancel all my credit cards, getting new Medicare and Social Security and all those other cards.

The last time I was out with an RMMRC group we had gone to Daniels Park and gone a short way north and then turned south again. Robert said at the time that the road ahead to the north was unpaved but I assured him it was paved now. So on this next ride it was his intent to go that way. I cannot overstate my befuddlement when we came to where the road turned to gravel. I’ve been on this road numerous times. How could I think it was paved when clearly it is not? At least it has clearly been heavily treated with magnesium chloride and was almost as good as paved.

And then we got to a place where it was not obvious which way to go and I had no idea. So Robert led us into, and then out of, a neighborhood. I’m sure he was getting a bit disgusted with me at this point. I told you, this was a navigationally distressed day for me.

Anyway, we eventually reached University, which became Lincoln Avenue as we headed east, and we reached I-25, turned north and split up to go home. And when I came in the door I was hoping fervently that I would find my wallet on the kitchen table, but it wasn’t there. With sinking heart I checked the pocket of my regular jacket and it was there!!!

Now I will do what I know you should do periodically, which is to take everything out of my wallet and photograph it all, both sides, and then store those photos in the cloud. If you haven’t already done this I recommend you do it, too. That way you’ll know exactly what cards to cancel and all those other sad details that you are faced with if you do actually lose your wallet.

Meanwhile, I’m so glad I had a good ride and the day ended well.

Biker Quote for Today

Why bikes are better than women: If you say bad things to your motorcycle, you don’t have to apologize before you can ride it again.

An earlier RMMRC ride.

There were about 10 guys but only 4 motorcycles showing up Wednesday morning for the RMMRC‘s regularly scheduled breakfast and ride. I was on my V-Strom while the other bikes were two Goldwings and one Shadow. It was definitely cool but if you wore the right gear it was a very nice day to ride.

I sure wore the right gear. I had my electric vest and my heated gloves, plus my Rev-It riding pants with long underwear underneath. I’ve got to tell you, the more I wear those pants the more I fall in love with them. This was a really, really good purchase.

One of the four of us riders was Don, who got connected to the group via the Meet-Up site. Don came all the way down from Louisville. It was his birthday and he had taken the day off from work, so he wanted to ride. Welcome Don, I hope we see you again.

Having Don join us was indicative of a shift in RMMRC thinking. The group for years had maintained a standalone website but the member who was supposed to be tending to it managed to let the hosting contract lapse. We had already added the Meet-Up page and that has the advantage of exposing other people to the fact of the club’s existence and, at times at least, bringing them to the rides. After some discussion it was decided not to reestablish the old web site, just use Meet-Up. So if you have any old bookmarks for www.rmmrc.org you might as well delete those.

The ride was no big deal; we didn’t have anything great in the way of ideas–just let’s go ride. We wound our way, avoiding highways, to the underpass under I-25 just north of the Castle Pines exit and then over to Daniels Park, down to US 85, up through Sedalia to pick up C-470 and then went our separate ways where that road intersected US 285. Robert and I headed east and home from there while Don continued north toward home. Bob had split off for home back at Daniels Park.

The thing is, the route was not important. It was just a great January day to be out on the bikes. It was windy, especially along the foothills, so I had chosen the V-Strom. I really wanted to ride the Concours but with all its body work it acts like a sail in high winds. I still got blown around on the V, just not as much.

So, we’ve had a lot of cool but clear days so far this January. You don’t have to have electrics, although I strongly recommend them. Just dress with all the warmth you can and get out there. There’s a lot of good riding to be done.

Biker Quote for Today

Why bikes are better than women: When riding, you and your Motorcycle both arrive at the same time.

I’m so glad this was NOT what things looked like here on Saturday.

I knew Saturday, January 4, was supposed to be an extremely warm day, the kind that is perfect for motorcycle riding. There was just one problem. Our street was still iced in, especially in several spots where big trees shade the road and protect the ice. Would I be able to get out or would I be totally frustrated watching a terrific riding day slip by?

Thursday and Friday had been moderately warm, in the mid 40s. Saturday was projected to hit 58. By sundown on Friday there was still way too much ice on our street.

I checked it out. If there had been just a spot or two where I would have had to coast over, say, 5 feet of ice, I would have been inclined to do it. But those big trees were leaving areas where it was more like 25 feet of ice, and more than just one. Going out I might have been able to roll on over, with no throttle because it is downhill. But coming back would have meant higher speed or throttle to get back over those spots. I was leery.

So in the early part of the day I went about my normal routine. That includes walking to the gym, around the other side of our block. Coming home I saw that that side of the block was still unpassable. I showered and had lunch and then took a walk down our side of the block to check the ice there.

Holy smokes! The way was totally clear! And it wasn’t just a narrow pathway, a huge wide swath had just opened up. Thank you Mr. Sun! I headed home to gear up.

I chose the V-Strom for my first ride of the year. The ride was nothing of any particular note; I just headed south, and south, and south, until I turned east, and then turned north for home again. But it was a beautiful day. I wore my electric vest but had no need to turn it on. I kept my visor cracked the whole time and my face never came close to getting cold.

And there were a lot of other bikes out. Plenty. Heck, who wouldn’t want to go out on a day like this? I even saw a convertible with the top down.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love living in Colorado? This is why.

Biker Quote for Today

Why motorcycles are better than men: If your motorcycle doesn’t look good, you can paint it or get better parts.

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view–this is Skyline Drive.

Saturday: “If it’s gonna be a beautiful day I’m gonna have to ride.”

It was, so I did.

Of course I had no idea where to. As so often, I headed across Cherry Creek Dam to Parker Road and then decided to go east on Hampden. Heading that direction I thought of how I have followed streets like Colorado and Quebec south to see where they go. What about the streets further east? I turned south on Buckley.

Buckley through here is a major thoroughfare–six lanes. What I didn’t know is that it ends at Arapahoe. You come to that intersection and on the south of Arapahoe the six lanes goes down to two, with no sidewalks. There’s a sign that says Foxfield. OK, this is somewhere I’ve never been before.

The street on this side of Arapahoe is Richfield. Foxfield appears to be an area of large, somewhat older homes with large lots. Horse properties. Richfield passes on through the development until it hits a T at Jamison. Now it’s looking familiar. I think I came through here once before, following Broncos Parkway after it crossed Parker Road into the Chenango development.

Sure enough, Jamison bends around until it hits Long and you have to east or west on Long. I went east. If I’m correct about all of this, I’m going to come out at a point where some road crosses C-470. Sure enough, I come over a rise and there’s C-470. The road that crosses it is Ireland Way.

Ireland becomes Travois Trail, winding through an Indian-name-themed older development, also with large lots but looking more middle class than the upscale Foxfield. Streets with names like Warbonnet, Bowstring, and Arrowshaft. Then it hits a T at Inspiration Drive. Now I really know where I am.

I go east on Inspiration and at some point reach an intersection that makes me wonder if this is a road I was on just a few weeks ago. Turn right and let’s see. Nope. About half a mile later the road, that is clearly intended to be extended at some point, dead ends. Head back the other way.

Not really sure where I am now, the road bends around and runs into Aurora Parkway. OK, I’ve been getting more and more acquainted with Aurora Parkway lately. Head north and I should hit Smokey Hill. Correct. On north to what becomes Gun Club Road and I’m following a pick-up with a load of trash that doesn’t look any too securely strapped on. He must be headed for the Waste Management landfill on Gun Club.

Sure enough, he turns east toward the landfill–having not lost anything while I was cautiously behind him–while I turn west, back once again on Hampden. And on home.

Not an eventful ride, but an exploration. Have I ever told you I love to explore?

Biker Quote for Today

That biker guy was passed out on the floor. We took his wallet and the keys to his Harley and now we doesn’t have them anymore. — Bowling for Soup

Bikes coming down from Squaw Pass.

The roads are clear and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all really nice days. So I rode my motorcycles on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Friday was a little cool but I wore all my winter gear and was perfectly warm. I did run into one problem, and that was with my heated gloves. These are battery powered and while one came on immediately when I hit the button, the other did not. So I got to see how much it mattered on this particular day. Not much. The gloves themselves are very good and warm even when they’re not turned on.

Later I plugged them both in to charge and once I knew both were fully charged I tried again. The one that didn’t work before didn’t work again. Dang! What’s wrong? But I kept pressing the button, holding it, not holding it, and finally it did come on. Not sure what to make of this. I’ll have to see what happens next time.

I didn’t see any other bikes out on Friday and was not surprised. Definitely saw other bikes on Saturday and Sunday. If you weren’t out you should have been.

Saturday was decidedly warmer so while I wore all the rest of the warm gear I did not wear the heated gloves and did not need them. In fact, there were times when I was almost too warm. What a great day in December to ride.

At one point I was on the Concours and I noticed that my front brake was a bit squishy. The bike was stopping OK but it just didn’t feel right. If I pumped it, it would firm up and that’s generally an indication you have a problem. I checked the sight gauge and sure enough, the fluid level was low. Now the question is, is there a leak in the brakeline somewhere? I would just fill it but all I’ve ever heard, and it states it plainly in the shop manual, says do not mix different brake fluids. If you have to add more and don’t know what kind/brand is in there, drain it all and replace it all with one consistent fluid. So I guess I have something to add to my to-do list.

Sunday was a bit cooler but I wore less warm gear and was still perfectly comfortable. I didn’t go for any long rides, just was out running some errands. And just like clockwork, I encountered my Sunday problem. It was no big deal but I noticed one of the zip ties keeping my bag attached to the rear of my sissy bar backrest on the CB750 had broken and the bag was hanging half loose. I have extra zip ties; I fixed it.

So yeah, maintenance. Entropy is a universal law. Everything breaks down eventually. Every fix is a temporary fix but temporary works.

Biker Quote for Today

The older I get the more I understand how important it is to live a life most people don’t understand.

An aerial shot from Google Maps showing Chambers Reservoir.

There was a Wednesday morning RMMRC ride scheduled last week so I climbed on the V-Strom and rode on over to the breakfast place. Although I learned later that there were several folks inside, none of them had come on their bikes. I intended to ride and with no bikes in the parking lot I saw no reason to go inside. I headed out.

It was a cool, crisp morning but I was wearing warm gear so it wasn’t uncomfortable; rather, it was invigorating. But I was darn glad to have my electric vest.

Where to go? It gets harder and harder to go places I haven’t been before. I headed out Parker Road. As I approached E-470 I thought about the road that crosses Parker just south of the highway, Pine Lane. I had been east on Pine but never west. Where does that go?

I turned right to find out. Passing Jordan Road, Pine Lane becomes Aventerra Parkway and starts winding around through a housing development, eventually hitting a T intersection at Chambers. Turning right would have been to head back toward town; I turned left, south.

Right there along the west side of Chambers there is a huge hole in the ground. It looks like a reservoir, maybe, but maybe it’s just a flood control collection pond. It’s long and narrow and really deep, and was completely dry. It also looked like freshly turned earth, as if it’s still being dug, although in a satellite image I see water in it.

(OK, some research shows me it is the Chambers Reservoir, which is undergoing rehabilitation, involving grading, installation of drainage improvements, and construction. Ain’t the internet great!)

Heading south I soon passed Lincoln Avenue. Now I was on totally familiar ground once again. Reaching Hess Road I turned west.

Hess Road runs past the Rueter-Hess Reservoir up into the highlands around the dam that made the reservoir feasible. Cruising through here you have an uncommon–and probably doomed–opportunity to see a section of the Colorado plains that as it was before the city arrived. It’s amazingly pretty. Too bad this whole area will presumably be covered in subdivisions and shopping plazas in about 10 years.

Hess winds around and then terminates at I-25. Continuing on the other side of the interstate the road becomes Castle Pines Parkway. But just before I-25 I turned north on Havana, which parallels the interstate for maybe four miles up to Ridgegate Parkway. I jogged east on Ridgegate and then continued north on Peoria.

This brought me up to County Line Road and the south side of Arapahoe County Airport, which I jogged east to get around. From there it was Potomac north and on back home. Just a one hour or so ride but really nice on this cool, very nice morning.

Biker Quote for Today

100 Reasons not to date a motorcyclist: The way we look at our bike reminds you of the way we used to look at you.

Parked across the street from Patty Ann’s.

I went for a ride with the RMMRC Friday and leading the group was Tim. Now, I’m terrible with names, and after being a member of the group for about three years I still probably only know about six or seven peoples’ names. But I think I’ll remember Tim because he is really short, so my mnemonic device to remember his is “Tiny Tim.” You don’t have to mention that to him.

It was supposed to be a beautiful November day but starting out it was overcast and cooler than expected. I dressed warmly and was glad I did. Love that electric vest.

The intent was just a simple ride out to Kiowa to have a late breakfast at Patty Ann’s. I’ve eaten at Patty Ann’s several times and they have great food. If you’re out that way–or if you want to head that way just to eat there–Patty Ann’s gets my hearty recommendation. They have terrific green chile and with everything else smothered in green chile it probably really doesn’t matter what that everything else is.

So the discussion was on the route to get there. The easy and direct–and boringly familiar–route would be to go out Parker Road to Franktown and turn east. That was suggested but Tim didn’t like that idea. He took the lead.

We worked our way southeast, zigging and zagging as you have to do with straight roads on a grid, but we came to a spot where I think everyone expected to go east and Tim headed west. That tipped me off. A couple years ago Roy had staged a mystery ride and we ended up out in these parts. Tim had helped Roy plan that ride. I suspected we were about to take a portion of that ride again.

When we made a left turn at a particular spot I knew I was right. From that point on all the way to Elizabeth we followed the mystery ride route. And it was a lot more interesting than just Parker to Franktown and east.

Kiowa, Patty Ann’s, and the food did its job and we were ready to leave. What route? Again, Tim had no intention of retracing our steps. So he led us along some other roads out here.

What this all told me was Tim must be a kindred soul to me because while I would guess most of the guys had little idea exactly where they were, I pretty much knew every bit of it. You see, I go out there and ride around on these roads exploring quite a bit. And I had just been out here in the past week. These were several of the same roads I was on just days before.

I guess I’m not the only one who loves to explore.

Biker Quote for Today

I got my own reasons why I do what I do. I like to ride motorcycles. She likes it too. — Alan Jackson