Ride planning yet?

[GIBBY]

Hey Sally, how you guys doing out in the sticks? Mt. Evans is 14,265 ft. while Mt. Mitchell is a bump in comparison at 6,684 ft. From what I have been told it is a great ride, but I am sure there are some members that live in Colorado that can tell us more. Turn that frown upside down and look at it as an adventure. See you guys in June.

[dmac]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Hey Sally, how you guys doing out in the sticks? Mt. Evans is 14,265 ft. while Mt. Mitchell is a bump in comparison at 6,684 ft. From what I have been told it is a great ride, but I am sure there are some members that live in Colorado that can tell us more. Turn that frown upside down and look at it as an adventure. See you guys in June.

Okay Yah, I see our map shows CO has at least 54 "14ers"!

[glwilson]

That is definitely a long ride. It would be the entire day of riding from early to late; but that is fine with me -- weather permitting that day.

Most all of that ride is on some of the many roads recommended by Butler Maps. I have all of their material for the Rocky Mountains (book and maps).

They show an almost endless choice of pre-planned routes. There are so many you can choose a theme for a route. (i.e., Ghost-towns; Mining Towns, Canyon Runs, Mountain Peak Runs, River Runs, and etc.)

I expect to be tired after this trip...

Here the map-link to the Mt. Evans route from Estes. Let me know if it doesn't work:

http://goo.gl/maps/D9U2a

EDIT: Looks like there is a problem with Google Maps skipping sections of this route. I believe you can get the idea though.

[GIBBY]

I figured it would be an all dayer and not for the faint of heart. That is pretty much the route that I was looking at. I have been studying yahoo maps of the area since Trip announced the National would be in CO. The way you are talking Greg you sound like Estes Park is a sure thing, I hope so. I am off to Las Vegas on Thursday to satisfy my craving to go for a ride. I am pumped and really looking forward to the Estes Park trip.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by dmac

Okay Yah, I see our map shows CO has at least 54 "14ers"!

It is going to be EPIC

[cbutteris]

Originally Posted by dmac

Is that highest paved road higher than Mt. Mitchell was? That was plenty high for me (Sally).

Yep, like you already heard it is a LOT higher. I wanted to ride up there in 2010 but it's a little SW of Denver and was out of the way for me.

Besides, after getting blasted by cold and high winds thru Rocky Mtn Park (at about 12,500') I was less enthused about testing 14K!

Don't let me discourage you though, but send a picture!

You can also ride the steepest paved road in North America, Lickskillet Rd just west of Boulder. About a 1,000' vertical, I think.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by cbutteris

Yep, like you already heard it is a LOT higher. I wanted to ride up there in 2010 but it's a little SW of Denver and was out of the way for me.

Besides, after getting blasted by cold and high winds thru Rocky Mtn Park (at about 12,500') I was less enthused about testing 14K!

Don't let me discourage you though, but send a picture!

You can also ride the steepest paved road in North America, Lickskillet Rd just west of Boulder. About a 1,000' vertical, I think.

What month of the year were you riding that the RMNP froze you? I suspect in June we could easily have cold weather at the highest elevations. It always seemed to be like that for me when ever I would go out there.

That's okay though... we'll find out who are the men and who are the boys! (I hope I make it on the right list! )

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

I figured it would be an all dayer and not for the faint of heart. That is pretty much the route that I was looking at. I have been studying yahoo maps of the area since Trip announced the National would be in CO. The way you are talking Greg you sound like Estes Park is a sure thing, I hope so. I am off to Las Vegas on Thursday to satisfy my craving to go for a ride. I am pumped and really looking forward to the Estes Park trip.

Yeah... at this point I am putting all my bets on making it. The room is reserved, the time-off is scheduled. I'll just need to come up with another plan to make-up for it though.

I am also heading down to Missouri in late April for about a week long ride. There is a large group meeting down there that invited me. I used to ride in Missouri's hills many years ago and remember them being really great to ride.

I plan on trying to make-up some riding I missed the last two-years with my ailing back before I become permanently crippled and give-up riding (as the doctors have told me will happen). I hope that is a few years down the road yet though -- but not sure.

Have fun in Vegas with your MC and helicopter rides!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cbutteris

Yep, like you already heard it is a LOT higher. I wanted to ride up there in 2010 but it's a little SW of Denver and was out of the way for me.

Besides, after getting blasted by cold and high winds thru Rocky Mtn Park (at about 12,500') I was less enthused about testing 14K!

Don't let me discourage you though, but send a picture!

You can also ride the steepest paved road in North America, Lickskillet Rd just west of Boulder. About a 1,000' vertical, I think.

Roads aren't vertical. That said, the steepest grades for major roads are probably Atigun Pass in Alaska, followed by Loveland Pass in CO and then Wolf Creek Pass in CO. I have been on Wolf Creek and it will make you a believer. Lick Skillet RD is the steepest County road and could be steeper than the others, but not for as long.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Yeah... at this point I am putting all my bets on making it. The room is reserved, the time-off is scheduled. I'll just need to come up with another plan to make-up for it though.

I am also heading down to Missouri in late April for about a week long ride. There is a large group meeting down there that invited me. I used to ride in Missouri's hills many years ago and remember them being really great to ride.

I plan on trying to make-up some riding I missed the last two-years with my ailing back before I become permanently crippled and give-up riding (as the doctors have told me will happen). I hope that is a few years down the road yet though -- but not sure.

Have fun in Vegas with your MC and helicopter rides!

Diamonds, BIG Diamonds Thanks, I am looking forward to spending a whole day on an Ultra Classic.

[ponch]

http://blip.tv/tflcarcom/range-rover...t-road-4354245

[ponch]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Diamonds, BIG Diamonds Thanks, I am looking forward to spending a whole day on an Ultra Classic.

I just read an article in Motorcycle Cruiser that was about Valley of Fire Road in Nevada near LV. It's SR169. They said it was a blast. You might want to check it out.

[GIBBY]

That road was already on my planned rides and then I got the latest edition of Motorcycle Cruiser and I also read that article. Thanks for the tip, I am an ardent map reader and have mapped what I believe to be a fun and scenic route.

[jestephens]

Looks like all of the North Central Zone is headed across Nebraska. I'll be trekking across MO and Kansas to Colorado Springs, where my dad and I will stay with a cousin of mine a day or two before the rally.

Other than booking our room, we haven't made any more detailed plans than that. Originally, my mom and wife were going to be joining us by car, but that's most likely not the case now, so I'm sure Dad and I can hasten the trip across Kansas.

I have my bike in the middle of a couple winter projects, and I'm anxious to get riding again!

[GIBBY]

Hey Jay, looking forward to seeing you and your dad again. Colorado Springs looks to be almost straight west of you, should be an easy ride. See you guys in Estes Park.