| Author | Message | ||
     Terrafirma |
A few weeks back, my old college buddy stopped by my place with his wonderful spouse. He was heading back to Montana form Oklahoma. As usual, we talked about "old times" but our conversation always turns to what are we gonna do next! On Sunday, we left my house at around 8 AM and headed southwest, into the hills. From Highlands Ranch, we rode to Sedalia, Colorado, and turned west on Hwy 67. The early morning twisties were highly enjoyable, particularly since the cage traffic was practically non-existent. At the fork in the road, where the pavement ends we took the right turn. Now for those folks not familiar with this stretch of the road, the right fork, heads quickly down to the Platte River. There is a section with a 15% grade that will pucker the back-side (15% down hill grade isn't so bad, except for the tight turns and the loose, marble like pebbles). Once on the pavement, Mike and I unleashed the beasts and we quickly ate up the few miles along the Platte River and pulled into Deckers. Staying on Hwy 67, we headed for West Creek. Our plan was to ride the dirt road to Divide, without hitting Woodland Park. Once in West Creek, Mike and I looked at the fire damaged trees from the 2002 Hayman Fire. We talked to a few locals and they told us that the road to Divide was impassable to anything that wasn't a dirt bike or an ATV  . We headed to Trout Creek Road.....They said that we shouldn't attempt to ride our Ulys on that road... well acting like responsible adults we did the only thing that we could do, we rode that road. As we rode passed the myriads of ATV and Dirt Bikes being rolled off the backs of pickup trucks, the folks just stared at us, riding our bikes by. After five water crossings and managing the loose dirt, ruts, potholes and rocks the Ulys emerged on the other-side unscathed. Mike and I then head south to Victor and hung out at that great mining town. After Lunch, we rode through Tarryall and back to the house, riding back through some roads that only a dirt bike should tread. Overall it was a great 7 hours and 270 miles of riding on a variety of terrain. All I can say is WOW! These bikes are just Awesome, they handled the slab with ease and the washed out dirt road with dignity. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Scheeez, the state I live in SUCKS!  | ||
| F_skinner |
Gunut75, get out here before they pave the road up to Pikes Peak. It is a fun road (for now). | ||
| Terrafirma |
Yea, Were are blessed here in Colorado. There are a huge variety of roads that will satisfy any desire. From hard core single track dirt trails to wide sweeping twisties that you can let the bike "unwind". The one thing that hit me the hardest on that trip, was the performance of the Syncs, they tore through the dirt without to much spin. However, now that the bike has right at 5,000 miles on it, I will be buying the Trails. My buddy will be posting some photos of the trip. I tend to get to engrossed on the ride to take many photos. | ||
| Tootal |
Ahhh, Colorado. I just love that state. In 2007 I rode out there from St. Louis on nothing but back roads. Got to Colorado Springs with my wore out Dunflops and had them slap on some new Syncs. I broke them in early the next morning on Pike's Peak. Nobody but me there and the sync's do dig in pretty well in the dry dirt! Did several Jeep trails and dirt roads from there to Durango/Telluride. Two weeks of great roads, trails and micro breweries!! I went up Old Monarch Pass off of 50. The beginning is pretty steep straight up and I was a little nervous with my fully loaded Uly but I gave it a shot and it flew up it with ease. The more I road the more confident I became in my machine. I rode down to Ouray and jumped off on the jeep trail to Lake City. Just as you said, people were unloading dirt bikes, atv's and jeeps. They all stared as I came out of the twisties and headed right up the trail. Hey buddy, you missed the turn!! | ||
| Mtuly |
Here's the pictures Mike was mentioning. He'll have to say where everything is as I was just along for the ride and was clueless as to where we were other than in front of the bakery in Victor. What a great stop. Very fine coffee and fantastic pastries! Just what the doctor ordered!      Terrafirma outside of Victor. | ||
| Hooper |
Blue Uly's beak got chopped! | ||
| Crusty |
I lived in Colorado Springs from 1973 to 1977. God made Colorado so that motorcyclists would know what Heaven is like. | ||
| Mtuly |
I have to agree Crusty. The twisties were fantastic. You don't know how bad I wanted to be making the ride with the 1125R! The Uly was a blast but give me those same twisties with the 1125R and I'd be ready for another rear tire in no time! | ||
| Terrafirma |
Hooper, I had to, It was damaged in a wreck this summer. The beak was shredded and I chopped as little as I could. I now have a new one on, it now looks normal. Tootal, Old Monarch Pass should be a blast to ride on a bike. I want to take Mtuly on a multiday ride through that pass, then over cinnamon pass to Ouray, Riding Red Mountain Pass then back through Owl Creek pass to Gunnison, finishing the trip riding over Cottonwood pass. +1 Crusty on Gods plan when he made Colorado! | ||
| Terrafirma |
The first photo that Mtuly posted is taken at the coffee shop in Victor. I prefer Victor, Colorado over Cripple Creek. It still has its old/legit charm. Cripple Creek used to be that way a number of years back. The second photo, is the little school house in Tarryall. We stopped because of all the coffee that we drank, well nature called. The old school house has a working outhouse in the back, I tested it. Number three is along Trout Creek Road, between West Creek and Divide. Number four: Tarryall reservoir. Number Five: The two ulys, outside Victor. | ||
| Sfarson |
Great tale and images TF!... Jarre Canyon, Pine Creek, 67, Trout Creek, Victor/Cripple, Tarryall, etc. They happen to be chapters (of 170+) in a massive motorcycling Colorado book now at the publisher. Victor is the real thing isn't it! Authentic it is. I noticed your Victor image above, and it comes close to one of the set of images in the Victor chapter. Many of the roads/rides (on and off road) contain historical images, and then/now, including Victor... 110 years ago...   The project also includes 250+ onboard videos. Today I happened to record that 15% grade on the Pine Creek Road between Sprucewood and the Platte River Road! But I haven't processed/rendered the vid yet. The Uly handled it no prob. Anyway, to re-ride that fantastic four miles between Victor and Cripple Creek... http://www.farson.com/video/viccrip.wmv | ||
| Tootal |
I just topped the peak before the bridge to Victor when the rain started. As I approached the bridge I saw the little "garage" on the right side of the road. It had a concrete landing so I rode down and parked. I ran for cover under the bridge and spent the next 45 minutes watching one helluva storm. It rained so hard that the water from the bridge drains was pouring out. The wind made it dance as it fell into the canyon. Wish I had a video of it! Anyway, you can see the "garage" in the video at the very beginning look to the left and you'll see it as you near the end of the bridge. I rode it the opposite way. I agree, Victor was much more real and Phantom canyon was fun too! | ||
| Terrafirma |
Great Old Photo of Victor, That is why I love that old town, it hasn't changed in over 110 Years. The building speak of the days of yore! Thanks for posting the photo! I love riding the Colorado High Country, the only draw back is all the auto traffic. This summer, I rode with 12 other bikers over Monarch, Slumgullion, Wolf Creek, Red Mountain Pass and Lizardhead pass. One of my favorite rides! I think that Dallas Divide, between Ridgeway and Placerville is also a great scenic ride with incredible Scenery! the Kudos for the photos should go to Mtuly, he is the photographer on the trip. Tootal, the weather in the high country is unpredictable. I have camped with my boys in July, only to have the skies open up and snow 6 to 8 inches. Thank god we were in a camper! My youngest was only 3, and it would have been a bear to be in a tent with him during that snow storm. | ||
| Sfarson |
Tootal... I remember noting at ADVRider the image of your Alpine Loop ascent on the Uly. Outstanding. And yes... can see that small structure at the beginning of the vid. Never would have noticed it until you pointed it out. I once bailed out of an enormous storm in the Ozarks, finding shelter under an awning of an-of-business canoe rental place. Terrafirma... Yes, with only so many roads thanks to those things called mountains, traffic can be a hassle. What can help is a combination of... riding on a weekday, riding early in the morning, or making trip plans for May or September after the vacationers with their kids have returned home. Fantastic roads/rides/scenery the 12 of you rode. And yes, the view of the Sneffels Range from the Dallas Divide can certainly distract. |
