Colorado Riders Thread

[Misfit]

I talked to Phil today. He is going to check out HT res for us. Hoping to get an area where we can all set up fairly close to each other. May be tough to get hookups for you and Phil right next to tent sites but he is looking into it. Drew said that he would like to come along also. Another place that would work well is Monument lake near Trinidad. Possibly Twin Lakes between Bv and Leadvile. Are we looking to do this next month? 

[Brewer]

I am interested in the camping trips but am a maybe based on dates and other commitments.

[MarkT]

We used to camp at Bear Lake W of the Spanish Peaks SW of Cuchara.  Excellent camping, has water (or they were putting it in 18 years ago when we camped there over 2 years.)  Bear  lake is stocked with brookies or rainbows forget which.  Always caught my limit. Bait OK need ultralite spincasting equip with casting floats no flyrod backcasting from shore. Took family up there had Dad giggling with success and great trout feasts over the campfire.  Site at 10,000 ft up 5 miles of easy dirt road - RVs make it up there.  Need reservations it's popular with Texans.

[DarkSideR]

We used to camp at Bear Lake W of the Spanish Peaks SW of Cuchara.  Excellent camping, has water (or they were putting it in 18 years ago when we camped there over 2 years.)  Bear  lake is stocked with brookies or rainbows forget which.  Always caught my limit. Bait OK need ultralite spincasting equip with casting floats no flyrod backcasting from shore. Took family up there had Dad giggling with success and great trout feasts over the campfire.  Site at 10,000 ft up 5 miles of easy dirt road - RVs make it up there.  Need reservations it's popular with Texans.

I've had the Valkyrie up to Bear Lake. The dirt road up to the lake/campsites can get steep in sections and rutted, but I made it up there just fine.

[MarkT]

I think it was more like 27 years ago, when I was hang gliding.  Always a good time; we would camp for several days.  It was truck camping - would take the 4-by with the glider rack back into the back roads with the ax and bring back several deadfalls.  Have wood fires; great for the evenings and adding a nice taste to the meats. Of course we couldn't have all the equip we had truck camping and I'll bet we might need to bring in wood if we want such fires - all depends on the area fire status too.  We can haul some equip on the trailer but it's already heavy and firewood might be over the top.  I doubt if this site has electric - it would be quite a ways to run power up there from the road below.  But maybe - they were putting in showers so they have some infrastructure.  If camping there - I'd like it to be at least 2 nights and prefer 3. Gotta catch some trout for dinner & breakfast - I still remember those fabulous woods meals 27 years ago.  Would make some great pics too.  I don't have the Hasselblads anymore but we can get by with digitals...

[_Sheffjs_]

Question: Cottonwood pass. Sounds doable on Valks?  But some chatter about it being closed this summer, is this true?

[baird4444]

Question: Cottonwood pass. Sounds doable on Valks?  But some chatter about it being closed this summer, is this true?

not sure of any closings, I called the BV chamber of commerce 2 years ago for info on it.
NOT Paved so we took the cage, glad we did. lots of wash boards but doable...
           - Mike

[DarkSideR]

To clarify Cottonwood Pass is paved to the top on the east side, and maintained gravel road on the west.

[DenverDave]

From the

The Crested Butte News

Cottonwood Pass to close for construction summer 2017

November 12, 2015   4,345 Views

Traffic mitigation cited as costly and inefficient

By Adam Broderick

The west side of Cottonwood Pass (County Road 209) will be closed for 2017 while the road gets its first-ever coat of asphalt, in addition to safety improvements to accommodate increasing traffic.

The road will also be closed as far into 2018 as necessary to complete the project.

According to Gunnison County public works director Marlene Crosby, the work will include medium to heavy construction widening to create a uniform 24-foot roadway width and will include laying back banks and rockery walls, establishing drainage, and including visibility, all which will enhance safety and improve the user experience.

The road will be widened to two 11-foot-wide paved lanes with one-foot-wide paved shoulders, and some of the more technical switchbacks toward the top of the pass will be realigned. Crosby says the realignment sections will reduce the road distance from 13.9 miles to 12.5 miles.

[_Sheffjs_]

Thanks, oh well Monarch it is when going from CB to BV.   I suppose we could ride up to the divide from the BV side if we wanted on the stay days in BV.  

[baird4444]

Cottonwood Pass to close for construction summer 2017

November 12, 2015   4,348 Views

Traffic mitigation cited as costly and inefficient

By Adam Broderick

The west side of Cottonwood Pass (County Road 209) will be closed for 2017 while the road gets its first-ever coat of asphalt, in addition to safety improvements to accommodate increasing traffic.

The road will also be closed as far into 2018 as necessary to complete the project.

According to Gunnison County public works director Marlene Crosby, the work will include medium to heavy construction widening to create a uniform 24-foot roadway width and will include laying back banks and rockery walls, establishing drainage, and including visibility, all which will enhance safety and improve the user experience.

The road will be widened to two 11-foot-wide paved lanes with one-foot-wide paved shoulders, and some of the more technical switchbacks toward the top of the pass will be realigned. Crosby says the realignment sections will reduce the road distance from 13.9 miles to 12.5 miles.

At a November 3 board meeting, Gunnison County commissioners discussed whether it would be best to break roadwork into portions and keep traffic flowing through the summer or to close the road completely.

The idea to work around traffic would have included closing the pass from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays, with three weekly night shifts.

This plan would have meant there would be delays of up to 20 minutes at construction sites along the road. Closing the road periodically and hiring traffic control crews would be expensive for the county and inconvenient for drivers. Commissioners also noted how difficult it would be to spread the word about open and closed hours to visitors.

Both of the options would have impacts, but the consensus was it would be best to simply keep the road closed. Seen as an added benefit to Gunnison County, this would also force drivers coming to Crested Butte to drive around, via Highway 50 over Monarch Pass, and encourage them to spend money on gas or food in Gunnison along the way.

“People would have a longer delay waiting for construction than if they went around, through Gunnison,” said commissioner Paula Swenson. She also cited the potential hassle of closing the pass one day, then opening it the next, and so on, concluding that it would be more confusing than just saying, “This is closed this year.”

[deadpan]

Are you thinking a day trip or spend the night?


Should be a day ride no overnight, how does 22nd sound or the 29th? open to suggestions.
My calendars open.

Meet in Limon, kickstand up at 9.45 

  Cancelled till further notice  or better weather 

[Tailgate Tommy]

Gives me a chance to get my LED tail lights back from BonS 

[MarkT]

Anybody want to do a local ride this weekend - forecast is excellent.  Ideas?  Or even a camp overnight Sat.  We just got in the very best camping bed there is, anxious to check it out.  It's an Exped Megamat Duo, spendy but as comfy as your premium home bed.

[Misfit]

Camping with Dean on Friday night at Trinidad state park. Dean can't go on Saturday as he has preaching to do on Sunday am. Gonna head out Friday after work so he can go. He gets left out a lot of times because of his post. I 25 Friday and mountain roads home on Saturday. 

[DarkSideR]

Camping with Dean on Friday night at Trinidad state park. Dean can't go on Saturday as he has preaching to do on Sunday am. Gonna head out Friday after work so he can go. He gets left out a lot of times because of his post. I 25 Friday and mountain roads home on Saturday. 

Is that an invite, or an statement of good fortune for Dean?

[MarkT]

My question as well.  June has an appointment for car maint at the Mazda dealer in the springs at 3:00.  Says not sure she wants to rush out at the end of the day Fri but it might actually be easy if we converge at your place and she rides bitch on Jade.  She wants to go camping so might be up for it.  If you are.  I can haul a good bit of cookout stuff with the camper - not to mention refreshments.  Do they have hookups?  Reservations? We can camp with or w/o hookups - just the electric adds convenience. Have gas & battery lanterns and stove so either works.  I won't ride at the speed you do pulling this heavy trailer so no need to wait. Trinidad is not so far anyway.

[MarkT]

Hmm.  Now June is talking about rescheduling her appoint & taking Fri aft off.  If that happens we could leave much earlier, set up and be ready to burn some road kill on the barbie before dark.  Maybe with my famous smoked beans, some chips and refreshments... Love camp cooking it always tastes better. oops getting ahead of myself haven't been invited...

[Misfit]

All are welcome. This was going to be a quick trip just to make sure l was set up for a more extensive camp out on the bike. Not sure what time I can get loose from work. Looks like Ron and Dick are going as well. Plan is to ride out as soon as I as well as Ron can get away. Blast down the freeway, set up camp, run into town, eat supper, (keeping it simple) grab some firewood, roll back to camp and hang out for awhile, hit the sack, break camp early and try to bust out 350-400 miles on Saturday through the mountains. If this works for you come ahead on. Trying to get in a quick camp for me, keep it simple for Ron( he didn't want to cook at camp) and get some mountain miles in for Dean and Dick. If all works well I was planning on heading over to Moab the next Friday and check out Arches NP on Saturday returning on Sunday to continue the grind. Who' in for this weekend and or next?  

[Misfit]

I have not camped off of my motorcycle since I was just out of high school. So this little excursion was set up so I could figure out what I need to be semi comfortable without dragging along a lot of excess crap. It's not like the old days when all we cared to pack was beer. I want to travel light, quick, and be comfortable. We will see how it works on this quick trip. I have not made any reservations or checked anything out at the park. I just figured we will show and and see what happens. I doubt that they will be full this early in the season. Part of the adventure is not knowing. 

[deadpan]

I like adventures  I'm  in

[Valkorado]

Maybe on Moab...

[MarkT]

I expect we can join for the camping part.  Especially the comfortable part, and the campfire.  Expect we can even go to town to eat. The move fast, break camp early and make 350-400 miles - we'll pass on that. Riding speed pulling the heavy camper has to be slower than just bikes if you're not pulling a trailer, to be safe.  The camper takes more time to break down and fold up at least until we get more practiced at it so maybe we'll just wave you off if we're up - then proceed to cook some breakfast in camp before we head back. Or maybe stay another night and do some fishing. Expect we'll come back on Hwy 12 then maybe E on 10 to Rocky Ford & N on 71. Haven't been that way in awhile.

The Moab thing sounds good - if we can ride near the speed limits. We are pretty much, slow down, take it easy mode when camping - not hurry hurry hurry. Our styles might not be compatible if you have to be quick. Our camping experience in the past was truck camping.  And as we get older, pretty sure we like even more comfort. We just acquired the best bed for truck camping there is, at considerable expense as sleeping comfort is tops on my scale. But we are limited in how much weight we can haul with a bike rather than a truck.  So might not bring the cast iron skillet.  Unless we are fish camping. Then it's worth it.  Nothing like a cast iron pan-fried trout over a camp fire. Some of the best meals of my life were those.

[Tailgate Tommy]

I'm stuck in North Carolina at least through next Friday, and maybe longer for work. Time to retire...

[Valkorado]

No joy, both bikes are down.  Tried to chem tool Bertha's slow jets back to life, 3 cans of B-12 and 3 tanks of ethanol free later and she's running worse, to the point sputtering out on me twice today.  Guess it's 38s for her, too.    She runs great over 3000 RPM.  Still have a mystery clutch noise going on with the Bullet.  Frigid damn six month winters are taking a toll on my girls.   

[MarkT]

June's taking the day off.  We're gonna set up in the Carpios Ridge campground on the N side of the lake - all sites there have power and the better amenities are there - showers, laundry etc.  We have A/C and electric heat in the camper - should get pretty cool at night. All sites are "walk-ins" - no reservations possible until Sun. Looking at reservations, there won't be any problem getting sites.  Tent sites on the S side are $18 - sites with power are $24. Plus admission charge to the state park - $7. I have annual geezer passes - doesn't save much but also discounts the camping fees.  Saved a ton more on the Natl parks lifetime geezer pass.  Not to mention - fishing license is FREE!

[deadpan]

For interested in a ride to st Francis motorcycle museum and camping at
Scott lake campground this Saturday, departure time pending
Make reservations online.

[Misfit]

Count me in! 

[Valkorado]

No joy, both bikes are down.  Tried to chem tool Bertha's slow jets back to life, 3 cans of B-12 and 3 tanks of ethanol free later and she's running worse, to the point sputtering out on me twice today.  Guess it's 38s for her, too.    She runs great over 3000 RPM.  Still have a mystery clutch noise going on with the Bullet.  Frigid damn six month winters are taking a toll on my girls.   :'(

Woo-Hoo!  The Chem Tooler rides again!



Now, if this rain would go away.

[Misfit]

No rain Saturday/Sunday for sale be antique motorcycle ride. 

[deadpan]

Plan on departing from Limon  at 9:45  Saturday morning 
to St Francis motorcycle  museum then to Scott City /Scott lake state Park for a night of camping.
Hey Tailgate it looks like they have cabins there.

[baird4444]

     "Woo-Hoo!  The Chem Tooler rides again!"

YO Seth, does this mean back in the saddle??

[MarkT]

The car appointment we put off last Sat for the Trinidad trip was resched for this Sat.  Too bad sounds like a good ride - I hit the Nat'l Motorcycle Museum in Iowa on a ride a cpl years ago - just stumbled on it but found a motel nearby then checked out the museum next day.  Took several hundred pics.  The last Captain America chopper and the Billy Bike are there, an Evel Kneivel jump bike, Steve McQueen's Indian Chief, along with Road Dog and a lot of other interesting bikes - Salt Flats streamliners, all kinds of racers, the earliest bikes, all makes. Examples of all significant or vanguard bikes like the Honda CB750, the 75 Gold Wing, the Vespa, the Triumph Bonneville, the KLR, the Indian Chief, the Vincent Black Shadow, the Brough Superior. Well done.  Check out this video: http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/plan-a-visit/

[Valkorado]

     "Woo-Hoo!  The Chem Tooler rides again!"

YO Seth, does this mean back in the saddle??

WARNING: Beautiful "scenery"
https://youtu.be/G_BtiJ8RNg0

[baird4444]

well I guess this means YES!

      Good fer you, time to thaw out over there.....

[MarkT]

I'm coming back as a horse.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Sorry I had to miss the ride. Just got back from a business trip to Durham NC.

[deadpan]

Hey tailgate
You haven't missed the ride yet, we're not leaving till tomorrow morning .
Leaving limon at 9:45 gives you plenty of time.

[MarkT]

Hey Damon - after the Trinidad ride, then checking out Gander Mountain's bogus "sale", I went and refreshed our camping gear at the Coleman factory outlet.  That is, a nice 10X12 standard tent with 6' center that sets up quickly, more chairs, warmer range sleeping bags, more battery lanterns.  They are selling what are usually around $40 battery LED lanterns for $5 - they were mispackaged w/o the charger & LI-O batteries - use D cells in them instead.  Good value & they have a lot of them at the factory outlet, Castle Rock. I have Jade set up with a swivel hitch and the cargo trailer (last year at the Darby ride) pulls really well.  The reason for all this, is the heavy Timeout camper is not really compatible with your camping & riding style - it's slow to setup / takedown, and it can't be pulled at a good clip safely, so I didn't think camping with y'all would work very well.  In fact over the highway of legends I had to slow down considerably on the twisties because of it's weight, it caused bad behavior on the bike.  Not so on the cargo trailer - weighs much less and it tows really well at speed.  So now we are looking to continue the adventure when you are. 

[Misfit]

Cool. I have really been digging the Moto camping. Headed to Dublin TX with Dick on Friday to TJ519's cheesy (cheese factory) ride. Cheap motel this trip though. Last weekend in KS was great. We had the whole  campgtound at Scott Lake state park to ourselves. The moto museum was really good and a bonus town square car show was happening. Great ride. We need to plan a camping trip soon.