Official 2017 SW-FOG meet-up, Aug 3-6, Loveland, CO

[blufjr]

Traffic is a big issue for both RMNP and Mt. Evans. Two years ago we left Idaho Springs in the morning at 7am and got to the gate of Mt. Evans before it was opened offficially. It was open and we went on up to the top along with a bunch of folks. The ranger came along and ticketed cars and MC in the parking lot. I came out of a toilet and saw him, so went over and talked to him. I was able to convinc him that I had a Golden Age Pass and so did 3 others. He didn't ticket any of our bikes that day.

Getting to the gates 15 min. early at either park would be a good idea, even if we have to leave at 6am (cooler weather too).

 

[blufjr]

BTW: A lot of NP allow a golden age pass holder to be accompanied by a companion. When going thru the check booth, we should line up in two, one with and one without. Just an idea. It makes it much faster.

 

[pegscraper]

BTW: A lot of NP allow a golden age pass holder to be accompanied by a companion. When going thru the check booth, we should line up in two, one with and one without. Just an idea. It makes it much faster.

You are correct about some NP allowing MC riders with Golden Age passes or Yearly passes to have others without these passes in, sometimes up to 4 other MC bikes are allowed a free pass and some NP will not allow other MC riders this free pass. It is a quirky system.

I have a Golden Age pass but we will figure it all out when it happens. Good point blufjr. I will make a copy of my pass to place on the bike with a note that the original is on my person to avoid being stolen if on the bike. But what about the other bikes that get a free pass. I see a can of worms being opened here.

 

[blufjr]

I just looked at leaving at 6am going south to Mt Evans. We wouldn't get there till 8-9am, so would have to pay at entrance gate. Nobody checks the cars in the parking lots during the day, as far as I know. Should not be a problem. I haven't ever had a problem, only that one time when we went thru the gate at 7:30am.

 

[blufjr]

The Walden loop ride blufjr posted is actually my favorite day ride, and I'll second his comments on doing it in a clockwise direction to go through the park in the morning. Less traffic, and much less chance of nasty weather up on top. Afternoon is thunderstorm time and you don't want to be up there on a bike when its happening. I do the ride in much less time too, but I live here and so don't feel a need to stop and look anywhere. I leave my house and don't get off the bike again before getting to Walden. Eat lunch and head home. Anyone planning on perhaps doing the ride needs to think about their likely time needed to look and photograph and plan accordingly. It's a lovely ride that encompasses a nice cross section of the type of riding we have in Colorado.

Oh, I also come back into town via Stove Prairie Rd instead of coming all the way in on Hwy 14. Much nicer.

I changed the Walden Ride, to have us coming back on Stove Prairie Rd., as I haven't done it before and would like to add it to my list of roads. It also cuts a few minutes off the ride and that is good if you want to do that. Thanks for the suggestion. Any other improvements would be appreciated. Local knowledge is wonderful. BTW; I lived in Longmont for a while, way back in the 70's, so a lot has changed and I feel like a new comer.

 

[Laverdaguy]

BTW: A lot of NP allow a golden age pass holder to be accompanied by a companion. When going thru the check booth, we should line up in two, one with and one without. Just an idea. It makes it much faster.

You are correct about some NP allowing MC riders with Golden Age passes or Yearly passes to have others without these passes in, sometimes up to 4 other MC bikes are allowed a free pass and some NP will not allow other MC riders this free pass. It is a quirky system.

I have a Golden Age pass but we will figure it all out when it happens. Good point blufjr. I will make a copy of my pass to place on the bike with a note that the original is on my person to avoid being stolen if on the bike. But what about the other bikes that get a free pass. I see a can of worms being opened here.

You shouldn't have to worry about a copy of your pass, or being asked for your pass once in the park Ed. I have a park pass and all they want is to see it at the gate. They don't give any receipts, and no one has ever asked for my pass once I'm in the park. I'm unsure if that's due to an official policy, or if its just they way they roll (most likely) but no one seems to care.

It could also be due to Trail Ridge Rd. being a public highway providing access to towns on the other side of the mountains. I've heard that if you can show residence over there they wont charge you to drive through. I don't know...

 

[pegscraper]

I am all set with my ride plans after booking a BnB north of Durango going and coming (Aug 2nd and 6th). This is my half way point of between 400-500 miles.

Most hotels and general lodging are already booked in the Durango area after checking last night and I was lucky to stumble upon this find this morning. So if you haven't already secured your travel plans, time is slipping fast finding availability.

Good luck, because this is turning out to be a busy vacation season.

 

[Laverdaguy]

The Walden loop ride blufjr posted is actually my favorite day ride, and I'll second his comments on doing it in a clockwise direction to go through the park in the morning. Less traffic, and much less chance of nasty weather up on top. Afternoon is thunderstorm time and you don't want to be up there on a bike when its happening. I do the ride in much less time too, but I live here and so don't feel a need to stop and look anywhere. I leave my house and don't get off the bike again before getting to Walden. Eat lunch and head home. Anyone planning on perhaps doing the ride needs to think about their likely time needed to look and photograph and plan accordingly. It's a lovely ride that encompasses a nice cross section of the type of riding we have in Colorado.

Oh, I also come back into town via Stove Prairie Rd instead of coming all the way in on Hwy 14. Much nicer.

I changed the Walden Ride, to have us coming back on Stove Prairie Rd., as I haven't done it before and would like to add it to my list of roads. It also cuts a few minutes off the ride and that is good if you want to do that. Thanks for the suggestion. Any other improvements would be appreciated. Local knowledge is wonderful. BTW; I lived in Longmont for a while, way back in the 70's, so a lot has changed and I feel like a new comer.

A lot has changed, especially if you've not been back since moving away. It's much much busier, and gets busier still by the day. Which brings me to another change I would suggest to one of your suggested rides....

On the Mt. Evans ride, I would drop the leg through Longmont and Boulder. That's mostly just city riding now and not much fun, especially on a hot summer day. If in a hurry to get to Idaho Springs I'd probably check the interstate traffic and if ok take I25-I76-I70 and on to Idaho Springs. If I wasn't in a hurry then I'd take the peak to peak Hwy. both ways, or make a loop of it and use your Fraser/RMNP loop with a side trip to Mt.Evans. Of course that turns that loop into almost 340 miles which may or may not be acceptable to some people.

Remember that my suggestions are coming from a guy with a near pathological dislike for city riding and traffic, but the above is what I'd be doing....

 

[blufjr]

On the Mt. Evans ride, I would drop the leg through Longmont and Boulder. That's mostly just city riding now and not much fun, especially on a hot summer day. If in a hurry to get to Idaho Springs I'd probably check the interstate traffic and if ok take I25-I76-I70 and on to Idaho Springs. If I wasn't in a hurry then I'd take the peak to peak Hwy. both ways, or make a loop of it and use your Fraser/RMNP loop with a side trip to Mt.Evans. Of course that turns that loop into almost 340 miles which may or may not be acceptable to some people.

Remember that my suggestions are coming from a guy with a near pathological dislike for city riding and traffic, but the above is what I'd be doing....

Agree with the ride through these towns. Boulder is way worse than it was in 1970. I revised the Mt. Evans ride per your suggestions.

 

[Laverdaguy]

On the Mt. Evans ride, I would drop the leg through Longmont and Boulder. That's mostly just city riding now and not much fun, especially on a hot summer day. If in a hurry to get to Idaho Springs I'd probably check the interstate traffic and if ok take I25-I76-I70 and on to Idaho Springs. If I wasn't in a hurry then I'd take the peak to peak Hwy. both ways, or make a loop of it and use your Fraser/RMNP loop with a side trip to Mt.Evans. Of course that turns that loop into almost 340 miles which may or may not be acceptable to some people.

Remember that my suggestions are coming from a guy with a near pathological dislike for city riding and traffic, but the above is what I'd be doing....

Agree with the ride through these towns. Boulder is way worse than it was in 1970. I revised the Mt. Evans ride per your suggestions.

I like your addition of Left Hand Cyn. Nice touch, that's a really fun road.

 

[Silver Streak]

Silver Streak booked a room and have my friend Dan O coming, he said not to throw rocks because he got a 2017 Concourse.

 

[pegscraper]

Silver Streak booked a room and have my friend Dan O coming, he said not to throw rocks because he got a 2017 Concourse.

Welcome aboard Silver Streak. Tell Dan O I promise no rocks will be thrown from my direction on one condition. He lets me take the Connie for a spin. I had a '87 Connie, to which I understand they have improved much since then.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Silver Streak booked a room and have my friend Dan O coming, he said not to throw rocks because he got a 2017 Concourse.

Did Dan get rid of the Tenere?

 

[festar]

Bugger bugger bugger,

I would so want to join you guys.

I am over then but I am committed at Sturgis that week before returning home. If only it was the week earlier.

Pissed

Festar

 

[Silver Streak]

Yes he did, you scared him last year

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Bugger bugger bugger, I would so want to join you guys. I am over then but I am committed at Sturgis that week before returning home. If only it was the week earlier. Pissed Festar

What are you committed to? Did John set you up with a job with Memphis Shades? I guess I'll have to swing through Sturgis on the way home from Colorado and tell you and John about everything you missed. This will be the first time I will actually be in Sturgis during the rally although I will probably just be shooting through Sunday or Monday.

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

Yes he did, you scared him last year

Well now I'll have to find someone else to ride over sized dirt bikes on dirt trails over mountains. That was one of the most memorable days I've ever had on a bike.

 

[festar]

Bugger bugger bugger, I would so want to join you guys. I am over then but I am committed at Sturgis that week before returning home. If only it was the week earlier. Pissed Festar

What are you committed to? Did John set you up with a job with Memphis Shades? I guess I'll have to swing through Sturgis on the way home from Colorado and tell you and John about everything you missed. This will be the first time I will actually be in Sturgis during the rally although I will probably just be shooting through Sunday or Monday.

I'll be there, do drop in.

 

[pegscraper]

Only 59 days left to go to the meetup in Loveland, CO for the Rocky Mountain NP rides.

I will be leaving a day earlier, arriving in Durango, CO on Aug 2, staying at a BNB.

Maybe I will ride 550 in the morning.

A no brainer.

 

[blufjr]

Attending SW-FOG 2017:HotRodZilla (AJ) + maybe wife

Abercrombie FJR

weluvbikn (Phil) + Charlene

zzzzip (booked Trump Tower)

russperry

pegscraper (Ed)

FJRay

Linc and Wifey of Linc

FJRfarrier

Laverdaguy (Ed)

Omnimo (John)

Silver Streak

Dan O (on Connie)

On the Fence:

Spud

Highlanders

Oface

Zbear

Might want to put me on the list since I'm rooming with you Ed.