Riding In The Shadow Of Mount Evans
Entry posted by HispanicSlammer
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Well this is really two rides, an ill fated ride I put together for Adam30 and the same ride the next weekend (of sorts) - Adam30 put out feelers on the forum to take a ride in Colorado to which I responded to and set up a ride on Memorial Day to show him some good local twisties. I got some vfrs, a Bandit and a K1200 beemer together to go riding. Unfortunatly Adam called me from a 100 miles away and wasnt gonna make it. It was already 8am and the guys where ready to meet with kickstands up by 9:30 I had to go.
Ride one - brief version
The weather was not cold but not warm either, we took off for Woodland Park - Deckers where we were supposed to meet more riders but they were not there, finnally after riding most of the Pine Loop hwy 67 we found Sfarson waiting for us at Pine Juction on hwy 285, we hemmed and hawed about the weather a bit and decided to take an abbreivated trip into the foothills around Denver, hopefully to see some views of the city from on high. It did not work out since the fog had gotten so thick any views where obsucured, and surprizingly there were a lot of bicyclists out riding in the thick fog, we had to tip toe around them on the gravely roads near Turkey Creek. Sfarson was leading and he schooled me a bit pulling away from me on Turkey Creek Road on the good part down at the bottom. I was 10 yards behind him at first, then 20, then 50, he was at the next turn, then gone! I looked at my tires (brand new Road 2's) and I wasnt even leaning over. I guess I am a cold blooded rider, not warm blooded I need a little heat to come alive. Mr Dude and LDSRIDER had to get home for domestic duties so they headed into Denver and went home to southern colorado from where this picture was taken below. Reddog, Sfarson and I took a look up on top of Connifer Mountain where the fog was so thick I couldnt see Steve for the Forest or the Trees. A least I had his brake lights to guide me I dont know how he could see where he was going, and at one point he turne off on sombodies driveway thinking it was the road, only to stop and turn around. We said enough of this "lets go get some lunch" and off we went to Pine Junction for 2 hours of stories and a good lunch. Then the fog turned to rain and I followed Reddog Home as he smoothly guided us back down the mountain to Woodland Park and home. Steve I havent ridden with him for over a year, Mr "I have been Everywhere" check out the video section for some of his famous videos Sfarson.com (not much there but his videos - no website I think) I got the good ones in the video section.
Ill fated Adam 30 ride L to R - LDSRIDER - Mr Dude - SFarson - Reddog
Ride 2
Mr Dude - Colosprvfr and I all work together and Mark (Mr Dude) said he wanted to try the ride again - this time when it was clear out and warm. Last ride he had on mesh gear and was visibly shivering, I loaned him a jacket to get him through without going into hypothermia, hes a vetran and wouldnt ask so I just handed it to him - no worries I know where you work!! Anyway this time I got Craig to come along too, or Mark did I think I was the one who was going to dual sport instead but it doesnt take much to get me off of that.
Craig looks over the Continental Divide
Top of Squaw Pass overlooking the Continental Divide
He finally turned around so I could get his picture
Thumbs up
This ride we would trace the route we were supposed to take on Memorial day but sort of play it by ear since we did not leave till 11am, mostly the same stuff, but this time staying off Connifer mountain where there was a lot of gravel on the road. We headed up to Woodland Park, into Deckers over Horsepower Hill where Mr Dude was going to smoke us (dude those vfrs just dont have the power my bandit does) OK we pretty much opened it up there and well............not like predicted. So we waited on the long strait and then headed down the Hill into Buffalo Creek and the town of Pine. We wanted to go hit up the Bucksnort Saloon for lunch - did the mile long dirt road into the mountains to get there only to find it is closed on Mondays now. OK what now?? Up to Pine Junction back to the Crossroads Diner where Steve took us last week, I had a meatball sandwitch that was awsome, and we had the same good looking waitress again, good looking Irish girl.
I then took the guys into the hills around Evergreen - criss crossing over a few times to avoid the actual mess around Evergreen - up and over Brook Forest into Little cub and High Drive, back the other way over Parmalee Gultch Into Kittridge and a mile or so of shitty road on Kerr Gulch and up onto Squaw Pass road to Mount Evans. It was a lot of good twisties and the guys enjoyed it I think. Mr Dude and I switch bikes and I rode his a bit on hwy 285 I found it to be stretched out a bit and the steel frame seemed to flex alot with road shock, it fights you at slow speed like it doesnt want to turn but at speed it was stable, soft brakes I did not like but it had plenty of power. Another hour or so and I think I could get used to it! I had to reaclimate to my bike after that, tottally different. My bike bends you over a bit and puts your hands out wider, knees not so far back and the shifter and brake are different. Wierd having to get used to my own bike again so soon.
The Route
if map is blank right click it and "refresh"
Mr Dude On his Bandit
My Baby loves it up here
Mr Dude whips out his camera Kingston Peak I think in the background
Mount Evans just behind Craig
Perry Peak
The Continental Divide Colorado Style
Berthod pass just behind those mountains
Most of these pictures where taken on the western side of the road then these next where looking east or south at Mount Evans
Haystack Canyon Brookvale - Elephant park - Buffalo Park and Evergreen below
Craig on his VTEC
Mr Dude and His Bandit
looks like somthing out of the Sound of Music
Mount Evans from Echo Lake 14,264'
We rode down the mountain into Idaho springs I was flyin and got around a few cars quickly which the other guys could not get around so I just decided to take off and meet them at the bottom soon enough - the road was sort of bumpy but sweet I enjoyed taking the turns quick - much quicker than usual I really trust these new tires (road 2's).
Small waterfall in Idaho Springs
At Idaho Springs we stopped for gas and took a long break, and decided on a path home, back down Kerr Gultch and down Bear Creek Canyon and into the Denver foothills Hwy 105 south and home.
The Video
:media: Shadow of Mount Evans Video - high resolution wmv - music by cold play.
You tube low res
all in all it was a good day of riding 260 miles most of it tight and twisty. Attached is the GPX tracks from my zumo
Vertical Profile from my Zumo
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