Harry,
It sounds like you didn't get much farther west of the front range of the
Rockies than 50 miles. If so, you don't know what you missed as far as CO
riding goes, whether we're talking dirt of asphalt. I don't know what roads
you rode on, but the scenic roads I've been on (Durango to Ouray, for
instance) don't have 20mph limits. Although its fun to ride off-road in the
Rampart Range, there is a lot more scenic variety as well as surface variety
going over Scofield pass a little south of Marble or in the Flattops just a
little north of Glenwood Springs or some of the Forest Service roads passes
a little west of Leadville.
Richard in Tucson
94 KLR650
86 VFR750
> Just got back from Colorado. The first 1000 miles took 22 hours 16
minutes, made 1500 miles in 31 hours 20 minutes, and Colorado Springs in 33
hours. Total riding time was 24 hours.
> Total mileage for the trip was 3994, averaged 45.1 MPG @ 5000 RPM/70 MPH.
No problems and used the stock headlight the whole trip.
> First two days there was record highs (95-100 degrees). The first day was
spent getting maps, seeing the tourist stuff (mines, museums, etc,), and
learning the live on very thin air. Second day I rode Rampart Range and
Pike's Peak (bring a sweater!).
> I camped on Rampart Range for a couple of days in perfect weather and then
took off for Gold Camp Road/Stagecoach Road. These were more fun to ride and
had easier side trails.
> It rained most of the day I was on Stagecoach Road until it started
snowing. I didn't bring much in the way of cold weather gear so I hit the
paved road near Victor and scooted down to 7500 feet to escape the snow.
> Started getting bored with the Springs area and headed to Nebraska to
visit an old war buddy. Spent a couple of days there and hurried home (24
hours 47 minutes). The Rockies are nice but I prefer the Appalachians.
> I hoped to hook up with some of the Colorado Dualsport riders but either
Punky and Lew had soured them of us east coast riders or they ride the Ken
Doll bikes and didn't want to associate with a GI Joe type.
> This trip would have been just as enjoyable if I had trailered an XR 250.
Middle America doesn't offer much biking excitement, long straight roads
with lots of wind.
> The scenic roads in Colorado have 20 MPH speed limits. A 50 MPH ride down
the shady Deal's Gap reminded me "There's No Place Like Home".