(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider14.JPG) Seven Mountain Passes, Seventh Month, Seven Hundred Bicyclist, Seven Stops, and Nine Bikes.
Meeting Place: Rose's Restaurant Next to the Buffalo Rose 1117 Washington Avenue Golden, Colorado 80401
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/7passmeet.jpg) Meet Here
When: Sat July 3rd 8:30am Kickstands up at 9am Come early if you want the breakfast buffet
Riding Lookout Mountain, Squaw Pass, Empire Pass, Loveland Pass, Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Gore Pass, and split up in Kremlin -> I am going to Breckenridge Hoosier and home on 24.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/7pass.jpg) The Route
Streets & Trips File
************ Ride Report
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider02.JPG) I left at 6:30 am to a spectacular sun rise, there where Hot Air Balloons all over the Colorado Springs Area. �You can see 2 off in the distance.
The sunrise had a strange orange glow that seemed to reflect off the pavement, the grasses, and it painted the whole city behind a purple mountain background. �There must have been at least 12 Hot-air Balloons floating around in the sky, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day.
I pulled into Matt's Driveway at 7am to find him getting his bike warmed up, he did a few things and soon we were off to the Black Forest to make the ride to Golden. �I took him on a few front Range Back roads he had never been on, its fun to find new roads. �We were in Golden around 8:40am.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider03.JPG) We met most everybody there on time
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider04.JPG) You cant miss the Buffalo Rose its right under the big welcome sign!
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider05.JPG) The Group
Left To Right Chris - chorning (CBRXX) Mark - Moose76 (VFR800) Bill - Reddog (VFR VTEC) Mike - BoulderGeek (VFR 750) Miguel - HispanicSlammer (VFR800) Matt - Jarhead (VFR VTEC) Larry - Colorado (GS1200) Steve - Sfarson (RS1200) Brandon - VFR800A Brandon (VFR VTEC) Claudia - CameraWoman (Larry's wife)
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider06.JPG) Echo Lake - Squaw Pass
We all gassed up and admired each others bikes. The RS looks so sleek Steve has some really great bikes, Mikes Pearl White 93 was so nice. �The ride started out with the usual explanation of hand signals, we decided to just stay as one group, if we got split up we would wait at the top of each pass or turn off. �Right away we were on Lookout Mountain a very tight 5 mile road to the top of the foothills. �There must have been at least 2 bicyclist on each turn. �We just took it slow, most of the cars were great about pulling off for us.
We would ride a pass, then get on I-70 for a few miles and turn off and do another. �I-70 was full of cars, all going incredibly slow, if I was alone I would have been weaving past them but a group this large it was better just to settle in and keep us all together.
Mount Evans was so nice, the ride up Squaw Pass was a bit crazy, there must have been a bike race or something there cause the Bicyclist where everywhere. �Some were riding 3 abreast and practically in the opposite lane. �I must have beeped my horn at least 40 times, the cars were not pulling over either, I just about burned out my horn.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider08.JPG) We pulled into Echo Lake and took a few minutes to enjoy the view.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider09.JPG) Empire pass on I-70 just west of Georgetown, the road is just chock full of slow moving cars
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider10.JPG) The Top of Loveland Pass
I sort of juiced it coming down Squaw Pass and then again going up Loveland Pass, Mark was pretty much on my wheel the whole way, it was a fun set of curves, and not many bikes on the shoulder this time. �At the top of Loveland we all stopped and enjoyed that too 11.5k elevation. �
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider12.JPG) Bill looks so funny in this picture
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider13.JPG) Steve and I are dueling pictures, Mark had no idea who to pose for.
The ride took us up Fremont pass, a rather boring ride to Leadville since its been expanded to accommodate Rv's and surfaced with rough chip seal, there was maybe only 2 decent turns, �the real treat was Tennessee Pass on the way back down! �Here I started having problems with my camera, it would not go into video mode the selection wheel was frozen. �I managed to only get 3 minutes of video the whole trip and it was not exactly the best footage, mostly me up front in the lead, boring. �I did manage to get a few clips up Loveland and a few down Tennessee Pass. But the pace quickened and I was getting dropped fooling with the camera so I just gave up and decided to enjoy the turns without it. ___ Video - 3 minutes run time WMV format :media:
Ride Video Link Here
Tennessee Pass takes you into Minturn where there was some kind of People's Fair going on, there were people all over the streets, we sort of got stuck behind some cars near the Red Cliff Bridge so the twisty fun was cut short, what can I say, it was a holiday weekend. �Most of the cars would pull out when I gave a few beeps on the horn.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider23.JPG) Bill leading us into Minturn on some great twisties.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider24.JPG) The Three of us up front really had some fun leaning it over in the tighter turns.
:squid:
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider14.JPG) This is the last switchback I got a lucky shot
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider15.JPG) Heading North from Wolcott to Gore Pass
We stopped at the Wolcott Yacht club for lunch - the place was packed on the outdoor patio, some ho hum band was playing some rather loud and lousy music. Our waitress was Missing In Action and so we waited much too long for our food, and I had to hunt her down for the check. �The company was great though, we had a chance to relax a bit for the last leg of our ride.
The road From Wolcott was great - just newly paved it was so nice and much less traveled than the other roads we were on. �We were practically the only ones on that stretch save one Saturn sedan that wanted to race us. �He was making the turns at 80 but just not fast enough to stay in front, considering we were doing 90 before we caught him. �I ended up passing him in a sweeper and then he slowed down to let the chain of motorcycles get by. �Gore pass was pretty bumpy on the way down. �I let Bill take over the lead and just cruised down the bumpy parts. �I couldn't figure out why my bike felt squirrelly in the turns. �Until late in the ride at one of our stops my tires were over inflated - no wonder it felt like I losing traction.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider16.JPG) Our last stop in Kremmling here we split up north and south.
I took the lead for most of the ride but we rotated, Me, Mark, Bill, Steve, it was a nice ride. �I really enjoyed the day, the riding was spirited and fast for the most part, the group stayed pretty close the whole way, very good for such a large group. �Mark, Mike, Brandon, and went east from Kremmling and rode over Rocky Mountain National Park into Estes Park. �Chris pulled out much earlier around after Loveland Pass and went home. �Bill, myself, Steve, Matt and Larry all went south from Kremmling.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider18.JPG) South from Kremmling
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider19.JPG) The road is pretty quick and not many turns
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider20.JPG) Steve was running around 80mph and we sort of lost Larry and Matt.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider21.JPG) We lost track of Larry and Matt so we decided to wait at the top of Hoosier Pass for them, Matt came rolling up the pass about five minutes after, �Larry and his wife decided it was too late and went home on I-70 instead of coming with us.
(IMG:http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/uploads/7pass/9rider22.JPG) Just after I took this Matt came rolling up the hill, he said he lost all his gear out of his tank bag and then got lost around Dillon, he had to ask for directions to get to Hoosier Pass, but he found us.
Steve peeled off at 285 so Bill, Matt and I continued on HWY 24 to Woodland Park where Bill lives, it was late so we took it easy. �After Bill turned home Matt and I were heading down UTE pass and I saw a State Patrol rolling up the pass, I let off the gas and checked my radar detector, it never came on but the Trooper turned around anyway and pulled me over. I stopped and waited for my ticket, he came up to the side and told me I was going too fast. �He looked down at my camera and all of a sudden he smiled and said "did you hook that camera up yourself"? �The we started talking about motorcycles, and he let me off with a warning - I knew he didn't have the radar on me, just thought I was going too fast. �I had passed a few Harleys comming down just a minute before I was pulled over by the cop, they probably got a snicker seeing me pulled over.
Matt was waiting up ahead and I told him I should follow him cause I was already in trouble, but as soon as the twisty part of Ute Pass came up I just couldn't help myself I just HAVE to lean it over in those sweepers! �
What a great day of riding, �For Matt and I? we ended up doing 10 passes and 500 miles, 6:AM to 8pm, we stopped a lot but it was worth it!
Matt says next time we are going to go to the Spanish Peaks!! � Stay tuned!
I am in! It will be nice to FINALLY get a ride in. I have been doing nothing but short trips. Let me know where you want to meet Miguel. I can come down to your place or you could meet me at mine. Let me know.
Matt I will come to your house, be ready around 7am!! Looks like an afternoon shower but nothing like we have been seeing the last three weeks. Bill if you come you remember where Matt lives right?? Lets all meet there, then we can head up through Black Forest, I know some cool back roads to Golden.
Yea I will leave here at 6:30am Get to your house around 7am, we should gas up the night before, if we do need to stop for gas then we should will get to Golden around 8:20am. Eat meet and BS about bikes. I am thinking around 45 minutes in Golden, But generally leave around 9am. Do the ride to Wolcott - have lunch - about an hour and be home no later than 6pm, my map says five but I always add an hour. If times a problem we can drop a pass here and there. Its exactly 500 miles from my house and back.
Cool! The time is not a big factor it's just that Bernie likes to know an approximate time I am going to be home so she knows when to start worrying. I will gas and be ready when you get to my house. :wheel:
Yea it was a great ride, too bad I lost my bar end wieght!! �I might look at a throttle mister now. �BTW your suggestion to spray a bit of wd40 on the camera wheel worked. �I sprayed in the gap and that it fixed it. �
Not everyday you see a goat herder on the road either!! �I think I counted 6 deer roadkills, 3 large hawks, buffalos, and various deer and Prong Horns. �It was nice and warm all day for me, the coldest part was at 6:30 am on my way to Matts.
It is really somthing to see a line of 9 bikes falling into the corners down Loveland pass all in a line!
Sorry I missed it. I rode to central Ks. for a car show. 473 miles round trip. With the recent rains, it's the greenest I've ever seen it. Sure was pretty.
I saw the same artistic formation going through McCoy on 131 north of Wolcott. Everyone spaced out perfectly, tipping over then leaning into the sweet left hander.
yea that was it Mark, but it hit me in the left boot so I wasnt looking on the right side. �I didnt notice it until we stopped for lunch in Wolcott. �Thats the second time this year we have stopped there for lunch and had to wait too long for service. �I guess I will have to find another lunch spot. Glad you showed up Mark, it was a pleasure.
It felt like my bike was falling into the corners rather than leaning, I just wasnt as comfortable with the bike as I have been. �We stopped at the top of Hooser and I thought maybe I put too much air in the tires and thats whats making it feel strange. �Sure enough I let out some air and the bike had traction again!! Shoot I wish I would have done that at the Buffalo Rose!
All you guys who filled up your pilot roads from the stamp (42 psi) on the tire, back off the pressure about 3 or 4 psi to around 38 psi the tires feel completely different! Much better traction no chattering on the bumpy stuff and they lean instead of fall into corners.
I just wanted to say thanks to all! It was a great ride! Sorry for holding you back there Mark. I just have not had many chances to ride since the track day in April other than the daily commute which I try not make too much fun :p I really enjoyed it a lot and the company we kept made it that much more enjoyable.
Big Thanks to Miguel for setting the whole thing up! :wheel:
Makes peeps from other places wish they lived here.
I have done most of these passes. They are great. I have seen a couple of you guys in the stopping points while riding. Looking forward to meeting and riding sometime.