VFR Discussion Group -> Mount evans loop

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New Video

The ride started lazily around 9am in Colorado Springs at the Starbucks in Old Colorado City. �Not everybody was there but rather some would meet us along the way. �All in all I believe I counted 16 bikes when we made Decker's. �It was another large group ride from the Colorado Springs Sport-rides Group, �With 4 members from VFRd in tow, myself, Reddog, LDSRIDER, and VFRRRED99 �Anyway it was his first ride with the group and he turned back at Decker's. �There were a lot of familiar guys this time, Jason, Willy, and Steve. �I met a bunch of guys I only knew from the net as well Torquenut, Ira, Gohar, usmcusafbiker, Jason, Tom, names I am sure mean nothing to the vast VFRd network heh.. but I was pleased to ride with such a fine group of fellas.

The Route:

CS to Woodland Park, Decker's, Pine (where half the guys headed back), Evergreen, Squaw Pass (our destination), Idaho Springs, Loveland Pass, Breckenridge, Hartsel, and home.

The Map:

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Full sized map here �MS Streets & Trips File


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It was a glorious day when I woke up, just a few clouds in the sky, and a large half moon looming in the sky.

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Willy looking to back it up out of Starbucks, and our ride Sponsor Tom on the right.

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Gohar in his well used and well scuffed in leathers, with Jason behind him hiding from the Camera and Mooney looming up above Pikes Peak

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We all gathered in Woodland Park for Ira to join us at the Farm Crest, I really don't know why I posted took a picture of a gas station?

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Heading north on 67 out of Woodland Park Big Scraggy is in the back ground.

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Somewhere near Manitou Park Lake

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Torqunut on his KLR shaking a leg to get that 650 past the group, pumping his head back and forth to get those 2 squirrels to run a bit faster in that little motor

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Deckers

The Crossroad at Decker's we all stopped to pick up 4 more riders, Bill (Reddog) was there on his VTEC. One of the VFR's peeled off to get back home though VFRRRED99

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Deckers the confluence of the South Platte River and Trout Creek

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Reddog and Willy fill the 2 spots in front of me, Ira is up there somewhere on his ancient Sabre, and boy he can really ride the hell out that thing. �I didn't catch him till we had topped Horsepower hill. �I can only imagine how fast he is on his YZF600?

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Up on top of the roadway near Cheeseman Mountain

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Slowly riding through the grand metropolis of Pine Colorado, an old railway stop for the mining community in the 19th century

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Riding up Squaw Pass on the bumpy part, its also the most foliage in the lower section but man it is in bad shape.

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It was a pleasure to see these folks pull out and let us bike go on by without any hassle

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I pulled off at the top of the pass, its really sort of flattens out a bit and goes downhill after this. �You can see the Continental Divide in the background - which is where Loveland Pass is - another stop on our loop through the high country.

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An amazing view looking east

Full sized here

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Echo Lake with Mt Evans in Snow Capped shape

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Idaho Springs where we had lunch at the Tommy Knockers Brewery

It was clear to me that I was just not riding as fast as the guys in front of me so there was about 100 yards between me and the lead guys, Brian, Bill, and Tom. �I was in the middle with a few more strung out behind me. �I just rolled off a bit and did not push it..not my day I guess. �Its in the video the fast guys just pull away and I catch up a bit later. �Playing catchup pretty much all day.

I did have a boatload of fun though, don't get me wrong, I could care less if I am slower than, its just that I was not in good form today. �I ride for my own pleasure, and I know I can ride better. �

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Tom and Scott

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Somewhere near Georgetown on I-70

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Pulling off to Loveland Pass you can see the road going up the mountain.

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Loveland pass above treeline

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A bit blurry going down the pass

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Trying to pace with Tom

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Buffalo Mountain near Dillon Lake

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Heading down the hill adjacent to Dillon Lake

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Riding into Breckenridge

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We pulled off to use the head in Breckenridge and put on the rain gear, which means the camera went into the tank bag. �I found the aspen leaves flowing off the trees with each gust of wind.

We sort of flew down Hoosier pass and rode pretty tame all the way to Hartsel, I just had to get the cold layers off and get comfy again, I felt stuffed in that suit. �We said goodbye to Brian and Tom who went south to Guffy and Pueblo at the turn off in Hartsel, then just as I was about to get back on the highway........here came a parade! �Freaking in the middle of nowhere-ville comes a train of 10 cars, trailers and RV's. �That always gets me frustrated so I took off after them like a bat out of hell and passed them all, and rather enjoyed it a bit too much cause I just kept going. �I was in triple digits in the flat part and Scott was not too far behind me. �Once I got to the top of Wilkerson Pass I realized I was supposed to be home at 5pm and so I just kept it pinned looked back and could not find any of the guys behind me. �All the way to Colorado Springs, I almost got caught by a Trooper in the twisty part of UTE pass but I had an idea there might be one of them there - its no secret where they patrol so I pulled in behind a cage until I got by the LEO. �I guess this same guy stopped Willy earlier that day and let them go, Willy used the Jedi Mind trick on him >>>> "you don't need to see our ID, these are not the sport bikes your looking for...move along."

After taking off all that stuff in Hartsel I felt so much better and much looser I was riding like a madman all by myself, I took the big turn at the top of Wilkerson at 90mph and thought "why the hell did you wait till now to ride like that - Rides just about over damn it"?

Video:
:media:

Mt Evans Loop Video

This video is in WMV format, 8 minutes long and is somewhat compressed more than usual to keep the file size reasonably down-loadable. �It is 48mb and you might want to right click the link and choose "save target as" instead of just clicking to stream in your player. It might hang up and become choppy. �Just download it and then play it.

Miguel,

You could be the next Warren Miller of making motorcycle videos.  I see an "on Any Sunday III" in your future.

They are all fricking great!!!! :bow:

:beer:

I wonder how many of you will be at work tommorow with the words "Dividing Canaan"  repeting over and over in your heads?  LOL  

The song has every thing you ever wanted to know about gardening by a fiery red head named Tori Amos.

The song is "Datura" from the CD "To Venus And Back" on the Atlantic label

I have some pretty good pictures too. �It was a great day. �I lost you somewhere behind one of those RVs on the flat before Wilkerson pass. �I couldn't pass him. �I did hit a new high for my bike though, 140!.. �I think that is fast enough for me. �

I was getting pretty tired by the end of the day and didn't want to push my luck but I did feel a lot better toward the end with my riding. �I was having an off day as well.

When I almost low-sided in Pine I think I got the jitters. �It took me a while to get a grip.

I will send you some pictures if I can get my home computer working. �Otherwise I will put the software on the laptop and do it that way.


Scott

P.S.  If that was an off day for you, I'd really like to see a good one then.  You rock man!

Almost lowsided? You didnt mention that at lunch?  Was it just a slip or did the bike really step out?  A slip now and then is not a problem if you keep it smooth on the throttle and dont chop it in a knee jerk reaction.  They do make your heart jump when your not used to it.  These tires I have on slip at least once on every ride I have been on.  I slipped too on some of that sand on Squaw Pass.

Boy its 3am this working nights has me all flipped around with my sleep patterns?  I get tired at the strangest times now?

yeah, Brandon (USMCUSAF) on the other site caught a peg and wobbled in front of me and then I slid out right after that.  I just stayed even on the throttle and stood right up.  good thing there weren't any cars coming.

i have downloaded my pictures on the laptop because the home computer needs shot! I resized them to smaller pics.  how do you want me to get them on?

Scott

another one at the shop.  VFRRRED99 getting ready

Aprilia Falco,  ready to go

Slammer's Ride

a rowdy, pumped up group in deckers

Now, their bikes

For Bill, We'd see alot more Aspens today...

An FJR and a KLR, All these acronyms!!!

we got snowed on here!

Ok, backtracking but I just liked the picture

the VFR guys

After lunch I put my camera away as well.  I do have a lot of scenery shots, thought they would be too boring.  I will try and burn you a CD Slammer.

Scott

Lunch,

Just wanted to thank Miguel and the group for letting me join in with the ride.  Good group of talented riders.  Generally, I would be a bit "sceptical" riding with such a large group.  This worked out just fine.  Miguel, your pics and vids are grrrrrrreat !! Don't stop. I send them back East to show them what they are missing  :D .  

Two clarifications: 1) I ride a '85 Sabre not a Magna and, 2) a '94 YZF600 not a R6 (wish).  I believe in thrashing older bikes  :goof: Gives them younger whippersnappers something to think about. Bahahahahaa !!

Again, thanks guys for letting me join in the fun.

ira

Quote (V65 Sparky @ Oct. 05 2004)

Good group of talented riders. �Generally, I would be a bit "sceptical" riding with such a large group. �This worked out just fine. ira

I dont think there was anyone there who would be considered a "squid" - really I think the whole group was over 30?

Great pic's and vid,and as always a great write up HS.
Seeing the snow covered mountains and the snow that was falling on ya'll,has me thinking it's getting to be time start planning a ski trip. :idea:
I'm very envious of the roads and scenery you have up there,just don't know if I could live there year round.

Colorado actually gets on average 300 days of sunshine a year, although this year has been rather wet on the front range.  

It rarely gets below freezing except in the dead of winter, and yes it does snow a lot.  Colorado is well known for its Indian Summers which is a boon for motorcycling but bad for the ski industry.