Archive for the ‘Day Rides’ Category

Show Our Strength. Ride to Work.

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

I know this is a little early but I just want to remind everyone that in 2007 Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day is set for July 18.

You are familiar with Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day, aren’t you? If not you should be. Here’s your chance.

On one day each year all motorcyclists are encouraged to ride their bikes to work. The idea is to get as many of us out there at the same time in order to make everyone else aware of how many of us there are. Also to make it clear that we are there and folks in cars and trucks need to drive as if we are there. Because we are. I don’t need to go into a discussion of the bazillion times every one of us has had to dodge someone who didn’t realize we were there.

So anyway, I’ll be mentioning this again several times as the day draws closer. In the meantime, you can find out all about this national event at the website: www.ridetowork.org.

Ride safely. Ride.

Mudslides Close CO 67 South of Deckers

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006

If you’re thinking of riding in the Deckers area you need to be aware that CO 67 south of Deckers to Woodland Park has been closed and will remain closed for several months. This is an area that was hit hard by forest fires a couple years ago, so when we had heavy rains a couple weeks ago the denuded hillsides just slid. The road was totally washed out in several places and will need to be completely rebuilt.

You can still get to Deckers, however–just not from the south. You can come in on CO 67 from Sedalia or along CO 126 from Pine Junction. As a day ride from Denver that loop is not a bad ride at all.

I’ll put up another posting once the road reopens.

I’m Missing This Rally And I Hate It

Thursday, June 29th, 2006

I had been tentative all along but always felt it would work out. But it didn’t. Today is the first day of the ADVRider West Fest 2006, a three day bike rally in Buena Vista. And I’m not there. And though I still hope I might make it there for at least part of a day it’s not looking good.

I’m bummed. There are several other rallies I’m hoping to make it to this summer but this is the only camping motorcycle rally I know of and there are hundreds of people coming from all over. I wanted to be one of them. Rats. I hope you guys all have a great time. Send me some photos, OK?

Took a Ride Up Boulder Canyon and Down Coal Creek Canyon

Thursday, April 13th, 2006

I knew I didn’t have photos from Boulder Canyon yet but when I realized I didn’t have any from Coal Creek Canyon either that made it clear what I was going to do today. Headed up to Boulder on US 36 and then up Boulder Canyon on Colorado 119 to Nederland. Along the way, if you’re in the mood for a stop, you can pull over at Boulder Falls and hike up to the falls. Nearing Nederland you come upon Barker Dam, which forms the reservoir that is just downstream from the town.

A quick jaunt south on combined Colorado 119 and 72 and then they split. Highway 119 continues as the Peak-to-Peak Highway and 72 cuts back east toward Rocky Flats, down on the prairie. But first you pass through Pinecliffe and then climb steeply, with lots of tight switchbacks, to the crest at Wondervue. Over the top and then down you go through Coal Creek Canyon. Finally, bursting suddenly onto the flatlands, you see all of Denver laid out before you.

Of course I shot pictures. You can check them out on the Peak-to-Peak and Canyons page.

By the way, on the run I turned over 77,000 miles on my Honda. She just keeps on running.

Gorgeous Day for a Ride

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

I rode my Kawasaki today, its first trip for April. I own two bikes — a 1980 Honda CB750 Custom and a 1999 Kawasaki Conours — and I make it a point to ride both of them at least once a month every single month. I’ve had the Honda since 1989 and the Kawi since 1999 and haven’t missed a month with either. Of course there have been plenty of months when I’ve ridden each numerous times but even in the coldest part of winter I manage to get out on each of them at least once. I already rode the Honda about a week ago so today was the Kawi’s turn.

Of course this is one of the joys of living in Colorado. I read about how people in Wisconsin or Ohio or so many other places put their bikes up for the winter. You read articles about “do I drain the gas or should I just use stabilizer” and those things just don’t mean anything here. Sure there are plenty of days in winter when you couldn’t ride if you wanted to, thanks to deep snow, icy roads, etc., but it never lasts. You just have to be opportunistic. Maybe it’s only 30 degrees out but the roads are clear — let’s ride! Sure, tomorrow may be 40 but it may snow tonight. You never know, so don’t hesitate, do it now! You may not get a chance tomorrow. It’s a dirty job but you’re the one who gets to do it. How lucky can you get?