Topic: Continental divide ride?

[Soos]

Anyone up for a ride either to/around, or even along(if thats possible) the continental divide?

Nearby people might be able to meet somewhere mabey?


Any interest?

l8r

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Soos,

I've been hoping we could get a Ride the Rockies cruise together with members &/or friends hooking up along the way. I think for most of the guys it could be a once in a lifetime event. I've done MANY miles throughout the US and Canadian Rockies. What sights to behold!

Where are you located?

Jerry

[seaweb11]

Keep me posted on itinerary ideas.

I may just want a scoot out on my own for a couple weeks this summer.

[ofreen]

I'd like to see this happen.  I'd join in as time allows.

[gregk]

Friends and I are planning a ride through BC this summer.  Got 2 buddies from OZ comming so we want to show them the real mountain experience.  Probably ride through Kootenay Park and up to jasper then bend into northern alberta , cross into bc and back down the interior.

This is planned for July 24th to Aug 3 approx.

Greg

[Soos]

I'm in Provo, Utah.


I've driven across the continental divide, but never along it.
I thought there are enough riders in utah/idaho/colorado and wyoming a few might be able to make it.
I LOVE riding in the rockies.

I used to ride my bicycle everywhere from laramie wyoming, to denver, to boulder, vail and about everywhere in between.
But a 24-48 hour trek was a norm for me in those days.

Anyways...The views you can find are absolutely unique and beautiful to say the least up in the rockies.



WOW... 3 replies in one day.
I though I had somehow missed a post or 2.(and another while I am typing this one!)




I was kinda waiting to see if there was any interest in a ride before picking a itinerary.
And the ride might have to just cross the continental divide.
Or something like that.


I just finished reading on riding the trail.... off road or dual sports are the only bikes recommended.
But there really is a trail that runs from up in canada to mexico!


I'd love to hit a few places I haven't been before in colorado.



I think I could work out 3-4 day trip.
I was thinking around near the end of july? The weekend of the 25th sounds like a good weekend mabey a couple day before, and end on the weekend?
Or start on the weekend and eat into the next week a few days?

A good time to go up in the mountains and avoid the heat.
 

Anyone feel that they might be able to do anything then?


I was thinking of making a stop by denver at some point, mabey we could meet somewhere over there? Ft. Collins, boulder, anywhere in the vicinity of Denver is good for me.
Any suggestions?


http://www.colorado.com/Events.aspx?eid=1221932
here is a festival in Greeley the 25th and 26th.
Mabey meet here?

This sounds a bit better, meet up in Estes?
http://www.colorado.com/Events.aspx?eid=1221768

I was thinking have the trip wander around in the mountains....
No real destination in mind offhand.

Any ideas?


l8r

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Soos,

Click the notify tab at the top if you haven't already. This will give you email alerts to any updates on this thread.

No way you can really skirt the divide, only cross it, cross it and cross it again.

I need to make plans/dates at least 1 month out due to the nature of my work and my wife. I do temp/relief work and make my own schedule. It's likely that my big yearly ride this year will take us through the Sturgis Rally for 2 weeks. That would take precedence but it is still unplanned. Probably head out 8/1. If you could plan around the weekends of 7/11 or 7/18 that would work out better for me. I could do 4-5 days no problem.

I like to look at my time frame then pick out interesting over night stops based on riding distances and sights along the way. When you're with someone other than a usual riding partner you need to take into consideration things such as experience, riding styles, bikes, finances, etc. For instance, my road bike can run 80-85 mph all day long. I can cover 700 miles in a day without any issues. Of course that kind of mileage is not condusive of sight seeing either. I have gotten to the point where I camp in motels but a tent isn't out of the question, just more stuff to pack, no real bed or shower.

Some examples of my style of routing - Let's say if I was leaving from Provo I'd go 1 of 2 quicker routes into Colorado Springs. Just depends on how much time you can afford. Great rides! I've been on most of these routes. (1) 6S, I-70E, 82S/E at Glenwood Springs through Aspen across Independence Pass, 24E to Colorado Springs. Now if I wanted to take 2 days and go more scenic I'd head through Moab, take 46E (awesome once you cross the state line), take the gravel road (helluva ride) up to the top of the Mesa then pick up 50E.  OR, better for you, take 40E (mostly wide open 2 lane), stop at Dinosaur Nat Park, through Steamboat Springs (lunch and beer) & Rabbit Ears Pass and into Rocky Mountain Park across Trail Ridge road (wow) into Estes. Estes Park is always good! Meet there. Might get some of the CO guys to hook up for a few miles.

From Estes I'd head to Tetons and Yellowstone. Through RMNP across Trail Ridge Road, 125N, 230NW, I-80W, 287N, night in Jackson, ride through Tetons and Yellowstone, definitely ride Bear Tooth Hwy to Red Lodge and turn around. You'd probably peel off here and take 89S. I'd head S on 120 through Wind River area. OR head to Glacier from Yellowstone. 3 more days added to the schedule.

OR simply spend 4 days touring the Colorado mountains.

This is a big ass open country. We can eat up 4 - 5 days in a hurry.

Now, along our ways, other riders can meet up like we did in Estes Park and ride along with us until they peel off and head their way. My ride through Estes to Red Lodge and back can easily eat up 2000 miles of wide open road and great scenery.   

   

[Soos]

I need to make plans/dates at least 1 month out due to the nature of my work and my wife. I do temp/relief work and make my own schedule. It's likely that my big yearly ride this year will take us through the Sturgis Rally for 2 weeks. That would take precedence but it is still unplanned. Probably head out 8/1. If you could plan around the weekends of 7/11 or 7/18 that would work out better for me. I could do 4-5 days no problem.

I like to look at my time frame then pick out interesting over night stops based on riding distances and sights along the way. When you're with someone other than a usual riding partner you need to take into consideration things such as experience, riding styles, bikes, finances, etc.

I have gotten to the point where I camp in motels but a tent isn't out of the question, just more stuff to pack, no real bed or shower.

Some examples of my style of routing - Let's say if I was leaving from Provo I'd go 1 of 2 quicker routes into Colorado Springs.
 (1) 6S, I-70E, 82S/E at Glenwood Springs through Aspen across Independence Pass, 24E to Colorado Springs.


OR simply spend 4 days touring the Colorado mountains.

This is a big ass open country. We can eat up 4 - 5 days in a hurry.

Now, along our ways, other riders can meet up like we did in Estes Park and ride along with us until they peel off and head their way. My ride through Estes to Red Lodge and back can easily eat up 2000 miles of wide open road and great scenery.   

   

oops... forgot to add what I wanted to say before I posted this.
Yeah 6 to I-70  straight to denver is probably the route I will end up on....
Not the best scenery route by any means... But it is the fastest.
I am going to visit a friend in Denver before I stop up in Estes.


I really like the idea of meeting up in Estes Park and cruising around for a few days.

As for destinations.... Anywhere I can see spectacular sunrises or sunsets!
I have been looking into finding ghost towns in the area near Estes Park.
I want to keep the riding distances down to reasonable limits to easily accommodate just about anyone.
I would like to keep it under 400 a day(yeah I am a sissy...), but it depends on the riders I am with, and how bad I want to see something I guess!
More after scenery, beer, and a good ride more than anything.




As for the 11th, or the 18th weekends....
The weekend on the 11th is out.
My mother and older sister will be at my house from the 1st through the 11th.
(WHY nearly 2 weeks?? Dunno. Isn't it fish and family stink when left on the couch over 3 days? Or is that just the limit before you want to throw them out? hahahah...)


I mainly chose the weekend of the 25th because I have the 24th off.....
"Pioneer day" the calender says,  but I get the day paid off from work for it, one more day to burn for a good trip.
Timing this to the weekend of the 18th might be a possibility though!




But anyways....accommodations(for me at least) are probably going to consist of a sleeping bag and a rain tarp.
Not that it will stop me by any means there are plenty of camping areas, wooded areas.
 



I will post what I can confirm a month or more in advance for anyone interested.


l8r

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Sounds like, time wise, we'd be better off hanging in Colorado. Bunch of guys around but getting everyone together is difficult.

If you want to "start" in Denver we can work a plan around that. Anyone that wants to ride can cruise along as far as they want. Such as Denver to Estes Park then cruise Rocky Mountain National Park, Peak to Peak Highway, I-70 W to 91 S, 24 S/E to 82 W, across Independence Pass into Aspen, 133 S , 92 S/E to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, 50 W to Montrose, (at this point you could head north to Provo and I'd head east), 550 S to Durango on the Million Dollar Highway, or 550 S to 62 S/W to 145 W to Telluride and into Cortez then you could peel back into Utah on 666 and I'd head east. I'd guesstimate this as 3 days minimum to Cortez/Durango. Knock off the route to Telluride/Durango/Cortez and save 1 day minimum.

Plenty of options. Take a look at the map with some of my routing. All excellent riding except for the brief stretch of I-70. 400 a day in the mountains will definitely be stretching it and pushing too hard. I can take a look at actual mileage later. We need to enjoy the beauty AND the ride. See what you can do over the 18th and I'll see if the locals are interested.

Jerry

[Shenanigans]

I want in! I just hope I have a in shape bike around then 

[Soos]

Cool, I'll do what I can to plan for the weekend of the 18th.

So for everyone interested so far, what days are better for you all.
I'm open to going either way on this.
Start on the 15th and end on the 19th , or start on the 18th and end around the 22nd?


Ahhhh Jerry, you sound like you are VERY familiar with the back roads around the mountains!



As for locations... I'm open for whatever!
I'd rather spend more time enjoying the ride, and company that packing the miles and locations in.





l8r

[super pasty white guy]

I'm taking a long trip this summer.  I'm leaving DC and arriving in Jackson, wy by july 10th.  My rough plan was to take a northern route to wy then back across through canada.

If this comes together with a route that leaves colorado and goes north in the first half of july, I'd be very interested.

spwg

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

SPWG,

It'd be great to have you. The more the merrier. It will be tough to make the dates work for all.

[super pasty white guy]

Yeah, that's why I left the big if in there.  And my plans right now are still a bit squishy so don't no one go making changes to your schedules on account of me.  I'll try to make it if I can, if not, I'll post my schedule and see if I get any takers.

spwg

[salvatore13]

Wow...

Any spare bike to let?  I am from Spain and I suppose taking my bike with me would be very expensive...

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Expensive but fun. Just buy one here for far less than round trip shipping, leave it with one of us and put it up for sale and get your money back.

Visited Malaga about 5 years ago. Nice area.   

Fired it up yesterday for the first time this season. Hit on the second brief push of the starter button. #4 bowl needs to be reseated or the gasket replaced. Pretty good leak. Thought that I might have a sticky float valve but it ran fine without richness/flooding on any of the carbs. Did a 5 mile loop and headed back due to the gas leak situation. Replaced my brake light switch in about 5 minutes. I'd like to replace the starter clutch pieces but that'll wait for the restore/engine rebuild. It's been bad for many years so a little longer won't hurt.

Let's ride!

Oh yeah Soos, I failed to mention Mt Evans. Thats on the route from Estes at the tail end of the Peak to Peak. Riding to the top of a 14,000 ft mountain is awesome riding. Plus it's paved all the way. I'll probably drop a jet size or 2 for that.

[Soos]

Wow... that went south quick.




Got laid off tonight.
Plans for this ride (on my end) are as of now permanently on hold as of right now.







l8r

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Soos,

That bites. Keep us up to date.