Passes & Canyons Blog

I joined with other members of the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Riders Club (RMMRC) Saturday on the Pie Ride. For those motorcyclists who live by the slogan, “Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride,” this is the perfect event.

We met at a bakery where the first pie of the day was quiche. I’m not sure very many of us actually got quiche but that was the theme setter. There were eight bikes plus we picked up another rider who just happened to be there having breakfast.

Getting underway, we ran up Bear Creek from Morrison to Evergreen but this was not a good thing. Evergreen was holding its annual rodeo and they had a parade through town and all traffic was shunted to the north around downtown. Then, when we came out on Evergreen Parkway, the road into town there was also blocked so we could not get to the road that runs from Evergreen to Conifer as we had intended.

Thank you Evergreen, I guess it wouldn’t have been possible to have posted a sign coming up the canyon that the road ahead was closed. We ended up taking Evergreen Parkway to I-70 back down to C-470 and finally took U.S. 285 into the hills toward Conifer.

At Pine Junction we turned south and made our first pit stop at Deckers. By this point we had lost three bikes so the group was smaller. The barest sprinkling of rain cooled us down nicely and it started coming down harder just as we pulled into Woodland Park, where we were stopping for lunch. The second pie of the day: pizza.

I’m sure not one of us needed to eat more after lunch but just 25 miles further heading west from Woodland Park we came to Florissant, to a very nicely converted old house that is now a restaurant. We had been pumped up by stories of how good the forest berry pie was, and Sara had called ahead to let them know we were coming so they would not have run out by the time we got there. Sadly, the lady said she had just pulled the latest pie out of the oven and it would need time to cool, so no forest berry pie for us.

I got the peach instead and the peaches were clearly fresh but not quite ripe and the pie had not been baked long enough to soften them up. So I was disappointed.

We continued west to Lake George where we turned up Highway 77 which runs up to Jefferson, in South Park. There we caught U.S. 285 and turned east back to town. I hadn’t expected it to be an all-day ride but it was nearly 6 o’clock by the time I was home. Ah well, a good ride. And more pie than you can shake a stick at.

Biker Quote for Today

The best way for guys to communicate is just don’t talk to each other for nine hours. That’s why I like long motorcycle rides. It’s a great way for guys to socialize and not socialize. — Justin Theroux

For my third ride since I won the Battle Back to the Bike, I headed out to Morrison, up 93 to I-70 and then got on old U.S. 40 going up Mount Vernon Canyon, right alongside I-70, at least for awhile. I had been up this way earlier this year but wanted to explore more.

For starters, once you get up to the buffalo overlook exit from I-70, it appears U.S. 40 merges at least for a few miles with I-70. But where does the road go on either side at that exit? I figured I’d find out.

First I went to the south side. The road to the left seemed to go into a housing development; I turned right. Right away there was a sign announcing Genesee Mountain Park, one of Denver’s mountain parks. Have I ever been here before? And does this road go anywhere beyond the park? Time to find out.

Things started looking familiar very quickly and I concluded I had indeed been here before, but it was either 40 years ago or perhaps only 30 years ago. So it was like a first visit.

The road climbed its way up Genesee Mountain to picnic areas, with signs for a trail, but then came to an end. Second question answered. Gonna have to backtrack. Heading back down I was surprised to look off to my right, to the east, and there was the Sleeper house. In case you’re unacquainted, this is a futuristic-looking house that was featured in an old Woody Allen movie, titled not surprisingly, “Sleeper.” But there it was, down below me, over on the crest of the next ridge. I’ve only ever seen it from I-70.

So back down to I-70 and across. Where does the road go over there? Does it go through to somewhere? I only remembered that I had been that way once before, also around 40 years ago, when my friends Jerry and Diane got married up there.

It didn’t take long. In about a tenth of a mile the road curved around to the left and there was the church they were married in. And beyond that there was a dirt road going to the left, a road into another housing development to the right, and a gate into a private property straight ahead. No choice but the interstate.

I passed the first exit on the slab, the Chief Hosa exit, and got off at the Evergreen Parkway exit. Crossing the interstate, I took the first right and was back on old U.S. 40. Now the highway curved far away from I-70 through some really pretty country. And I encountered a surprising number of bikers who also know of this road. It does come back to I-70 going up the east side of Floyd Hill and then loops down to meet U.S. 6 at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon. I turned left, with 6 feeding onto I-70 and took that up to Idaho Springs.

At Idaho Springs I turned up Chicago Creek on CO 103 to go over Squaw Pass. It wasn’t long, however, when I smelled smoke and then noticed that the air around me was filled with a blue haze. Clearly there was a forest fire somewhere. Was it ahead of me on my route? I continued, assuming that they would have the road blocked if that were the case. As the road climbed toward Echo Lake I got a more expansive view and could see there was smoke filling the air for miles around. I learned later it was a fire over by Silverthorne.

Now the riding got really nice, and considering the hot weather down on the plains, it was very nice to find myself chilly.

Eventually, of course, I ended up down at Evergreen Parkway, took that to Evergreen and down to Morrison and back home. About 130 miles and a really nice down out on the bike. I love when that happens.

Biker Quote for Today

Do not look back. You’re not going that way.

On Thursday last week I took my first ride after more than two months, thanks to bypass surgery, and it was not without its very own moment of excitement.

My timing (bad timing) was such that I was homeward bound up I-25 in the middle of rush hour. There was a bit of stop and go but mostly we were moving pretty well. Of course, you know how it is in that kind of traffic. If you want to change lanes you need to act quickly when the opportunity presents itself. And a woman in a Nissan Altima did just that.

I’m sure she looked in her mirror and saw an opening and jumped on it. What I’m also sure she did not do was to do a head check–turn her head to see for sure that the lane was clear and nobody was in her blind spot. And guess who, at that particular instant, was indeed in her blind spot.

So I’m cruising along trying to maintain a distance between myself and the car in front of me so I’m not constantly braking and accelerating and with no warning whatsoever this car next to me starts moving decisively into my lane . . . which is where I am. We were probably going between 30 and 40 miles an hour and I had to brake hard to let her get ahead of me. I braked hard enough that I nearly stalled the bike and with no speed the bike started to lay down, such that I put my left foot out to hold us up. Plus, this meant I was veering into the adjacent lane to my left.

I got it all stabilized and got moving again and I could hear the guy behind me blowing his horn long and loud. I knew he wasn’t blowing it at me, but at the woman who cut in on me. After a moment I was able to move into the right lane and I sped up to pull alongside her. I shook my fist at her and blew my horn, and meanwhile the guy who had been behind me–a guy in a CDOT tow truck–was right behind her blowing his horn. She just stared straight ahead: I see nothing. I hear nothing.

Then a minute later the tow truck guy pulled up alongside me and rolled his window down, yelling to ask if I was OK. I gave him a thumbs up and a nod of thanks.

So yeah, first ride after being off the bike awhile and already some excitement. I only wonder if I would have been more alert to the intention of this driver if I hadn’t been away from riding for so long. I’ll never know, but that’s all the more reason I want to get in a good 1,000 miles this month before we take off on this Canada trip. I always want to be at the top of my game when I’ve got Judy on behind me.

Biker Quote for Today

Don’t fear dying, fear not living.

About 8:30 this morning I got the word from my doctor that it was OK to ride motorcycles again, so at about 1 this afternoon I was headed out on the Honda. Yahoo!! Of course, first off, it was blazing hot in the city, especially with my jacket, gloves, and helmet on, so I did the only thing I could do: I headed for the hills.

Out to Morrison, up that road to Evergreen, took the turn toward Conifer but turned east again on Turkey Creek Road. Then picked up Deer Creek Canyon Road, out onto the plains over by Chatfield State Park, then C-470 to I-25 and home. About 71 miles. Pretty OK for a first ride after more than two months off the bikes because of bypass surgery. And the Battle Back to the Bike has been won! Today is one day shy of 12 weeks since surgery.

Early on during recovery, when I had no stamina and was very weak, I had concerns over my first few rides once I could do so again and I had asked Alan if he would come on my first ride with me so I’d have back-up in case there were problems. I’m feeling so completely back to normal now, however, that I really didn’t feel a need for back-up but I figured I’d still call him about joining me. He wasn’t able to today, however, and I was not able–had no desire whatsoever–to wait another day. He and I will go ride another day soon.

And it was somewhat of a surprise to me that when I got on and took off it all felt absolutely normal. I might have just been riding yesterday. There was no apparent rustiness or needing to re-familiarize myself with the bike. And this was after the longest non-riding period I have gone through in 30 years. Now, that’s only two months off the bike and I know lots of people put their bikes away for the entire winter. But for me, two months is a long time.

The ride was fun and felt really good. Now I have exactly one month to really, really get back into top form because then we are off on a ride to Canada with some friends. And immediately after we get back from that I’m off again with the OFMC on the annual ride. So just to make sure I’m totally back at my peak, I’m setting the objective of riding 1,000 miles this month. I figure if there is rustiness I’m unaware of, that 1,000 miles will clean that up.

Hot diggety! I’m back on the bike!

Biker Quote for Today

I never really questioned why I ride, because for me it is as basic as breathing.

This could be interesting. It’s coming up really soon so this is pretty late but I’m passing it along. I did something similar some years ago, riding motorcycle lead for a bicycle race out in Deer Trail.

We still need many more motos for the Boulder Ironman Triathlon on June 10th. Please Please Please if you are available or know another moto who is interested please let me know. As of now, you need to be able to carry a passenger, I am checking to see if there are any positions that don’t require a passenger. If you have already said you are available I also sent an email with some signup info. If you have any questions please let me know. I’m currently travelling back to CO from CA over the next few days so might be a bit slow responding.

For those of you who have also responded about being available for other tris, I am working through the process and will notify you if you are needed for a particular event. I can definitively say that I will use anyone who can also do the 70.3 tri on Saturday 8/4/2018.

Date: Sunday 6/10/2018
Event: Ironman Boulder Triathlon
Location: Boulder Reservoir
ShowUp Time: 5:30a
Moto Reimbursement: $130
Info: http://ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/boulder.aspx
# Motos: 19 – officials, pro spotters, media, sweep

Thanks,

DaleE@daleeva.com
303-499-5437

Biker Quote for Today

Sell your bike she said. Rode away I did.

“I think Dave is just gonna put a major piece of whoop-ass on John, mainly because of his experience and the loose gravel on that top section. Dave is an old MX sidecar racer with a lot of dirt skills. John is a street racer without dirt skills. Plus, Dave’s bike is more powerful.”

That’s the pre-race prognostication from Key Kyler, the mechanic supporting both sidecar racing teams competing in the 2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which runs tomorrow.

The veterans
Dave Hennessy, running a 1000cc Suzuki “motard style” rig with his passenger, Jeremiah Owsley, is a veteran of the course. John Wood, running a Wasp rig with a 750cc Yamaha engine with his passenger, Giorgina Gottlieb, is in the rider’s seat for the first time on this bike. He was the passenger on the rig last year.

With such uneven competitors, beating the other guy is nobody’s main focus.

“We’re going against the records of previous sidecars,” says Dave. “We hope to improve so we’re in the hunt for the record. John and Giorgina are in a slightly different class. If they beat me, good for them. Still, I hope they don’t. We have an advantage over them.”

In Jeremiah’s mind there is no question who will come in first tomorrow, and he is focused on the record.

“I think we’ll beat last year no problem,” he says.

The rookies
For John and Giorgina the challenge is simply to finish the race. They didn’t do so well in the first day of practice.

“Somebody put a ditch in the raceline,” says John. “I’m a roadracer and tried to use a roadracing line, dive to outside to apex, but there was no traction out there. Still, I thought I had it till the last 30 feet.”

It was a bit of a rough landing but the bike was back together for the next day’s practice.

“The passenger was back together, too,” adds Giorgina.

Practice on the mountain is divided into three sections, with each group of racers working a different section each day. Some parts of the road are paved and some are not. On the second day it was a paved section.

“I was back in my element, and we were able to work on technique,” says John. “Every time we went out we got faster. I was trying to ride smooth and let the fast come, and that had tremendous results.”

This is Giorgina’s first race ever so for her there is a great deal to learn.

“Every time we go out I’m learning a lot. It’s fun. Now it’s a matter of making transitions smoother. You lean left for left, right for right. It makes more sense the more I do it. When you turn left you want weight on the left side, either the back for traction or the front for steering. Turning right you want to keep the chair down for traction. My job is traction control.”

In sidecar racing, the job of the passenger, or monkey, is to shift their weight to add traction to whichever tire needs it at the moment. Rough movement from one position to another can make it harder on the driver to maintain control, thus the need for smooth transitions.

The race
On Sunday the sidecars are scheduled to run second in the back half of the program. The first half is the vintage cars, stock cars, open wheel, unlimited and others. The second half is exhibition powersports, sidecars, quads, and motorcycles. Racing starts at 9 a.m., which means everyone will be up by 3 a.m. to get to the mountain and settled in. Once racing starts there is no traffic on the road except for the racers. As racers reach the top they remain up there until racing is completed and they come back down in three groups.

Why do they do it?

“I ask myself that each morning at 3 a.m.,” says Dave. “When you get to the top it feels pretty amazing.”

Rick Litt, a friend of Dave’s for more than 30 years, adds, “His main motivation is he just loves racing.”

For John, this year is all about learning the track so he’ll be ready to come back with his roadracing sidecar when the road to the top is fully paved, in 2012. This year, “As long as I don’t make a fool of myself it’s OK. I just want to see the top.”

And then there is the coming down. In a somewhat new tradition at the Pikes Peak, as the racers come down the mountain, spectators all along the route stand with their hands outstretched to high-five them. For the racers it’s a pretty emotional affair.

“From what I hear, it’s moving,” says Giorgina. “The fandom for this race is amazing. The people who actually watch are passionate about it.”

Many of those fans camp on the mountain the night before in order to get a great view of the race. It is the only night each year when camping is allowed on Pikes Peak.

Today, Saturday, is a day of rest for the racers. Tomorrow is the big day.

Biker Quote for Today

If I could marry my motorcycle, I’d roll her right up to the altar. — Flip Wilson