| Author | Message | ||
     Jimidan |
Hey CO riders! My buddy and I are trailering out to CO this July for two weeks of riding in the mountains. We will be going on the cheap (camping mostly), since we are both poor dirt farmers from KY who are married to our cuzins  . What we are planning to do is to drive his truck to different locations and park it (like in a campground for security purposes), then take off on the bikes for day trip forays into the mountains, with maybe an over nighter thrown in where we camp off of the bikes. Has anyone ever done this? Can anyone give us the benefit of their experiences? What are the must see/do rides? Thanks for all of your help in advance! We would be glad to do the same for any of you who would like to come East to feel what your Buells ride like with an extra 20% HP when you get out of the altitude. We have trees! Jimi | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Well Jimi I grew up there and I must say that there are more great rides than you have time for...but to start a couple of my favorites are as follows, start in colorado springs or canon city..doesn't matter which one really, from colorado springs HWY 115 to HWY 50 past the Royal Gorge to HWY 9 to HWY 24 back to colorado springs, if you start in canon city you will end up taking HWY 24 to the springs then I-25 to Circle Drive west (aka toward the big blue mountains) to HWY 115. OK..Next Northern Colorado has so many roads it is crazy but I like the Poudre Canyon starting in Steamboat Springs and looping back through the Poudre...as follows Steamboat Springs South HWY 131 to HWY 134 East toward Denver to HWY 40 to I 70 To HWY 119 To HWY 72 to HWY 7 to HWY 66 to HWY 287 to to HWY 14 to HWY 40 and back to Steamboat....Leave early, don't dally and pack warm even in summer make sure you have some bad weather gear, Hail can come up in the mountains on a moments notice. Lots of great towns to see and stuff to explore...so if you have someone willing to move the truck around and explore those routes you will be much happier. The Mishawaka on HWY 14 has great live music and food and barley pop (beer for you southerners) and sometimes you can hear the Rams cracking heads on the mountain side. Also Fort Collins is where I attended college and has some of the best food and beer in the entire state boasting five or more microbrews, so if you love beer, get a room and walk around old town, on friday nights there is usually a free concert in the old town square in the summer. Colorado Springs...gotta have a Red Top Hamburger, used to be three locations in the Springs, Circle Drive, one off of Austin Bluffs Pkwy..and another I think by the Army Post...can't remember Biggest and Best Hamburger you will ever have in your life. Ok, be safe and have a good time. | ||
| Elf |
Jimi, Look at some of these: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/co.html#fr http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/local/rides.html http://www.motorcyclecolorado.com/ You've also gotta hit US 34 through Rocky Mountain N.P. and US 550 from Montrose to Durango (Million Dollar Highway)! Let us thin air people know dates when you'll be here! I'm sure we could arrange for a little meet-up! | ||
| Iamike |
We've left our tow vehicle at a motel for several days while we went out both in AZ & CO. You could park in the center and do loops out in all directions each day. | ||
| Jimidan |
Thanks to Liquorwhere, Elf and Iamike for you info!  I will certainly post the dates we are going to be there in a couple of days, when we firm it up. I would like to meet and ride with some of our CO brethren. Anybody else? jimi | ||
| Bartimus |
also check out the colorado thread in the storm fronts. You may get more info there. One of my favorites is hwy 149 up through Lake city. keep your dates posted, and some of us "locals" can try to meet you out there... | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
This is a good thread. I am leaning toward exploring CO this summer. Of course in my case "camping" is a scary word. I am thinking of BandB the whole way. Any ideas? | ||
| Crusty |
Do you want a GREAT ride in Colorado? Starting in Colorado Springs, head South on CO 115 to Florence. Then pick up Rt 67 to Wetmore where you turn onto Rt 96 to Westcliffe. In Westcliffe, go N on 69 to US 50. Take US 50 through Gunnison (keep your eyes open for an EMT named Lars - he's a Buell enthusiast), and then take CO 92 along the Black Canyon. BE CAREFUL! the scenery is so spectacular, and the road so nice and twisty, that a lot of bikers crash there.In Hotchkiss, take Rt 133 towards Carbondale.Then take Rt 82 through Aspen and over Independence Pass (12,095 Ft. at the summit)to US 24 which will take you back to Colorado Springs. It will take you 2 to 3 days, depending on how many stops you take (LOTS of photo opportunities). It's a ride you will talk about for years! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Crusty, That sounds like a great ride. Aspen is on my list of stops. | ||
| Elf |
Corporatemonkey, I take it you not going to be trailering when you come out? The reason for my asking is that there's a chance that I may be riding up to the beautiful PNW this Summer. No dates confirmed, but probably later in July (wife and kids driving up to see family in the Puget Sound area and will probably stay until early August). There's a couple of roads up there that I'm just itchin' to ride! If you're heading back from here (CO), we could ride together. Depending on your itinerary, of course... Crusty, Nice route there! Definitely scenic! | ||
| Interceptor |
I drove up the road at Estes park in a rental car once. It was so nice up there. Base temp in July was like 90 degrees and you can drive up the mountain the equivalent of one vertical mile and the snow is still up there! Great time in Colorado. - If I had a Uly, I would head south to the Great Sand Dunes. Awesome as well. | ||
| Jimidan |
This stuff is great...keep 'em coming! jimi | ||
| Madduck |
I would headquarter at Estes Park for one week and ride the canyons etc. The next week I would headquarter at Glenwood springs and see the sights down there. Utah 72, sweeper madness, is unreal as is US12 south of Torrey. | ||
| Snowscum |
If your talking about Estes Park for a headquarter, I would wait till Trail Ridge road is open. And when it is their supposed to repave it. Not sure how much their going to do. Maybe Buena Vista? http://www.google.com/maps?q=Buena+Vista,+CO,+USA& sa=X&oi=map&ct=title Never stayed in town before but have drivin through. Were going dirt bike riding up there in a couple of weeks. That and its almost in the middle of the state. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Elf, I am not sure when I will be down in CO, but I am thinking the end of july/first part of August. I really have no constraints on when I go, so if this is a hellish time in CO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I usually do my traveling in early september, but I figure with the high passes, it might get a little nippy. Sometime in the second half of July I will be heading out and back to MT. It will only be a short trip, so maybe we could work something out. | ||
| Elf |
It is entirely possible to be 80+ degrees in Denver, and be snowing over the mountain passes not 40 miles away in late August/September! A few years ago we had a snowstorm in early September that did a tremendous amount of damage to the trees in Denver. Heavy, wet snow and trees that are still fully leafed out don't mix well! I like to tell people that the four seasons in Colorado are: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Tourist/Construction. What's nice is that if you don't like the weather currently, just wait. It'll change quickly! You learn to dress in layers and bring rainsuits or waterproofs when doing extensive riding in the mountains. But it's fun! I've never lived anywhere else that allows you to experience "4 seasons" in one day! Oh, and bring some sunscreen! We're closer to the Sun!  The mountain roads can get crowded on holidays (Memorial, 4th, Labor) but not TOO bad. Just be aware of the "Exodus" back to the cities on Sundays, and avoid them if possible (mostly I-70, but US 34 from Estes Park to Loveland and Hwy. 24 to Colorado Springs can get pretty packed as well...) I'll keep you posted on my trip to Seattle. It's still pretty much up in the air right now... |
