Possible NAFO Rides

[DaveT]

The NAFO Organizing Team and Webmaster are working on potential rides for the event, but living in this area and having ridden most of the roads nearby, I decided to go ahead and post some of the ones that I thought might get your juices flowing. Again, these may vary from what gets posted on the NAFO web, but these will give you a bit of the flavor and perhaps result in you deciding to attend if you are on the fence!

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #1: 100K Ride[/SIZE]

450 miles (550 miles with optional passes for a total of almost 140K)

SUMMARY: This ride is an excellent opportunity to discover what Colorado has to offer on a day ride, mind you, a long day. Only in Colorado can you accomplish such a challenge. Imagine, ten mountain passes, ascending over 100,000 feet total elevation in a single day on a motorcycle, all paved roads with some of the best scenery in the state. The ride is easily accomplished without excessive speeds. You just need to start early and keep moving. It’s not a Deals Gap or a Coronado Trail, but you’ll get your fill of twisties and sweepers, plus see some of Colorado's beautiful mountains and outstanding scenery! You'll also get a pretty good thrill!

Keep in mind, this will be a long day (8-12 hours, so get an early start) and about 450 miles (550 if you include all options such as Willow Creek Pass, Hoosier Pass, or Mt. Evans), but there are a couple of opportunities to reduce the overall distance and cut the ride short. Since most of the ride is above 8,000 feet elevation, remember to apply lots of sunscreen and drink lots of water to guard against high altitude headache. There are several locations along the route for gas, food and rest stops. Don’t forget your camera and bring your rain suit plus some warm clothing for extra layers to be safe--sometimes it can be rather chilly at these elevations. Another note of caution, watch for rocks and sand on the roads and many of the roads do not have guard rails and … let's just say, pay attention. There are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the view.

After the ride and over dinner, think about your accomplishment. Ten mountain passes with a combined total elevation of 104,128 feet, and if you included the optional jaunts it's 139,474 feet. That's something that few folks can boast about. Colorado: Life (and Riding) Is Good!!!!

Additional info, photos, and map at:

100K Ride Info

 

[DaveT]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #2 Ride: Taste of Colorado (aka The Butt-Kicker) Ride[/SIZE]

510 Miles

SUMMARY: Join your FJR friends for one heck of a "Taste of Colorado" Ride, or as many of us Colorado Riders also call it, the "Butt-Kicker" Ride. This will be a long day with lots of great views, twisties, sweepers, and spirited, but safe, riding. Those uncomfortable with taking lots of twisties and sweepers or long rides should skip this ride. However, for those up to the task this will be a great day of riding taking in some of Colorado's best roads and scenery. You will cross the Continental Divide four times on this ride: Eisenhower Tunnel, Fremont Pass, Independence Pass, and Monarch Pass. You will also travel via the beautiful spots of Twin Lakes, Aspen, Redstone, McClure Pass, North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and South Park -- this ride has a little bit of everything. The ride will be about 510 miles, so bring plenty of liquids to drink along the way, and be sure to bring the camera!!!!

Additional info, photos, and map at:

Taste of Colorado Ride

 

[DaveT]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #3 Ride: Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) Ride[/SIZE]

Version 1: 220 miles

Version 2: 270 miles

SUMMARY: Version 1 -- Prepare for a most awesome day if you do this ride to Rocky Mountain National Park and ride Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road (over 12,000 feet) in the Continental United States. You'll head north from Golden, taking Golden Gate Canyon (lots of twisties) west and up to the Peak-to-Peak Highway. The P2P Highway runs through the foothills with beautiful views of the high peaks to the west. Upon arriving in Estes Park you can take either US-36 or US-34 into RMNP (both are beautiful and US-36 joins US-34 in the Park -- if you are doing version 2, take US-34 on the way up), then taking US-34 Trail Ridge Road to the RMNP high-country. Soaring to an elevation of 12,183 feet, Trail Ridge Road seems to leave the earth behind. It slices through the heart of RMNP, entering a world of rare alpine beauty. Distant peaks loom in all directions, while fragrant wildflowers blanket the tundra. Sharp-eyed observers can usually spy elk, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife traversing the meadows and crags. Higher than any paved through-road in the country, this cliff-hugging highway is as impressive for its engineering as for its stunning vistas. You cannot find a road like this one anywhere outside of Colorado. A beautiful ride continues as you drop down into Grand Lake, always a great place for lunch. If you do this as a loop ride, you will then continue a nice ride along Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby, then mountain pass roads from Winter Park across Berthoud Pass to I-70; highway riding on the way back to Golden. At the end of the day you'll still be saying Wow, Wow, Wow!!!

Version 2 -- For this version you do not do this ride as a loop, but instead reverse your track after lunch in Grand Lake, riding back east over Trail Ridge Road, taking US-34 or US-36 (whichever one you did not do earlier in the day), back to Estes Park. If you did US-34 in the morning and do US-36 in the afternoon, you may have time to take the side leg off US-36 up to Bear Lake (included in the 270 miles), a very beautiful spot. You will then continue reversing the route that you took in the morning, riding south on the P2P Highway; however, about 1 mile south of Nederland you will take CO-72 east down Coal Creek Canyon to CO-93 south and return to the Marriott. If you are doing the 100K Ride or another ride that includes Berthoud Pass, then you will undoubtedly want to do your RNMP ride as Version 2.

For additional info, photos, and map:

Rocky Mountain National Park

 

[DaveT]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #4 Ride: Poudre Canyon Run[/SIZE]

315 miles

SUMMARY: The primary ride for today is "Poudre Canyon," but you'll have a nice ride to and from the canyon also. Riding north along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, you'll pass the beautiful "Flatirons" and then through the beautiful town of Boulder (home of the University of Colorado; often considered so liberal that some call it the "51st state") and on to Lyons. From Lyons you wind up US-36 and the Little Thompson River Canyon to Estes Park, then travel via a backroad in Devils Gulch, winding down to US-34 and the Big Thompson River Canyon. Powderhorn and Stove Prairie Roads with little traffic and nice twisties lead to CO-14 and Poudre Canyon. There are more direct routes to get to CO-14 and Poudre Canyon, but this route avoids traffic and adds some additional great canyon riding.

Wild waters froth as they roar through sheer-walled Poudre Canyon. Beyond a range of craggy peaks, moose nibble wetland willows and songbirds trill. Along the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic and Historic Byway, sights and sounds vary from wild to serene. As the byway heads westward, the canyon walls squeeze the river valley into a tight corridor, the Narrows. Sides of sheer granite soar 3,000 feet above, dwarfing all below. The river growls as it scours bedrock and careens around sharp bends. Then the canyon widens. Designated a National Wild and Scenic River for its outstanding scenery, recreation and water quality, the Cache la Poudre River lures rafters, kayakers and anglers.

The canyon floor broadens at Big Bend, known for its bighorn sheep viewing area. Travelers often spot them on the steep northern slope. As the byway climbs in elevation, stands of pines and aspen cover the hillsides. Spray spews above the river where Poudre Falls cascades. Its turbulent tumble awes those who descend the slope for better viewing. Near Chambers Lake, the Cache la Poudre River veers south while the byway continues west to North Park. The jagged silhouette of Nokhu Crags heralds the ascent up Cameron Pass. Cresting at 10,276 feet, the road descends into the thick lodgepole woodlands of Colorado State Forest, the state’s largest park. About five miles beyond the pass, Moose Visitor Center educates travelers about the park’s wildlife, especially its prized animal, the moose. The byway parallels Michigan River which meanders through bogs, wet meadows and willow thickets — prime moose habitat.

As the road enters North Park, the terrain transforms from thick forest to low rolling hills carpeted with sagebrush. Towering ranges rim the expansive basin. During the time when large herds of wild buffalo grazed here, Ute Indians called it “Bull Pen.” Cattle and hay fields now accent the landscape.

After a good lunch in Walden, the journey continues as you head south over Willow Creek Pass, and then head back to Golden via Winter Park and Berthoud Pass. Another day of riding the awesome mountains and canyons of Colorado!!

For additional info, photos, and map:

Poudre Canyon

 

[DaveT]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #5 Ride: Pikes Peak Run[/SIZE]

216 miles

SUMMARY: "Pikes Peak or Bust" -- this is the goal of gold-miners in the 1850s and now the goal for many FJR riders visiting Colorado in 2008. Wow, some difference in the transportation methods, that's for sure. Lt Zebulon Pike never made it to the top, but now you can do what Zebulon could not! The view from the top inspired the writing of "America the Beautiful" -- so do this ride and you'll enjoy the view that inspired this great song.



O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,


For purple mountain majesties


Above the fruited plain!

 


America! America!


God shed His grace on thee,


And crown thy good with brotherhood


From sea to shining sea!



The most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. At an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak is the 31st highest peak out of 54 Colorado peaks. It is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and immigrants.

This will be a pretty easy and very enjoyable day, with a great ride to and from Pikes Peak. You can do the ride in either direction, but plan to arrive early at the beginning of the Pikes Peak Highway, avoiding afternoon thunderstorms and also dust on the dirt sections (and traffic coming down). Yes, there are still a couple of significant unpaved sections (one below timberline is about 2 miles and one above timberline is about 3 miles) -- the sharp and steep switchback section above timberline is now paved, so this ride is very doable on the FJR; just be cautious on the unpaved sections. If the weather forecast is for afternoon thunderstorms, then ensure that you get up and down the Peak before the storms arrive -- if there are low clouds in the morning, save the trip for another day. However, you can probably plan for Colorado Summer Forecast #1 (clear blue skies in the morning with scattered afternoon thunderstorms). It will also be cool/cold near the top, so dress in layers.

The trip south to Pikes Peak will include a nice ride through sweepers on CO-105 through some beautiful ranches along the base of the Rampart Range, through the small town of Palmer Lake, on to Monument, then down I-25 to Colorado Springs. Our route also includes a stop at the Garden of the Gods view point (look for the Kissing Camels) and then a beautiful ride through the Garden of the Gods Park -- awesome in the early morning. You'll then ride through the town of Manitou Springs to US-24W, ride the beautiful curvy section (referred by post of the locals as "The Pass," whereas the actual Ute Pass is some 20 miles west) to Cascade and the turn for the Pikes Peak Highway. The Highway (they use this turn loosely) is operated by the City of Colorado Springs and there is a charge of $10 per adult. It is suggested that you ride directly to the top (it is much nicer if you get to the top before the hundreds of people arrive on the cog railway) and then make enjoyable stops on the way down. For anyone who would like to go to the top but do not want to ride their bike, they can take the Cog Railway which departs from Manitou Springs -- you do want to ride to the top if you are up to it!!

After exiting the Pikes Peak Highway you'll then continue west on US-24 to Woodland Park for perhaps a bite of lunch. From Woodland Park you'll head north on CO-67, paralleling I-25, but on the west side of the Rampart Range and several thousand feet higher. After about 10 miles of sweepers at altitude, you'll hit lots of twisties as you drop down to Deckers and the South Platte River. To avoid a dirt section, take the left road in Deckers for more tight twisties followed by a climb with lots of big sweepers (stop at the Long Scraggy VU overlook on the right just past the top of the climb). Dropping down into Buffalo Creek you'll get a good view of Mt. Evans in the distance, hook-up with the South Platte River once again, ride through the historic town of Pine (if you did not eat in Woodland Park Zoka's is a good restaurant on the right as you enter Pine), and then continue on to Pine Junction and US-285 east/north. Our trek leaves US-285 in Conifer for a nice ride over to Evergreen, then down Bear Creek Canyon to Morrison, Red Rocks Park, and back to the Marriott. This will be a truly awesome day!!

For additional info, photos, and map:

Pikes Peak

 

[DaveT]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #6 Ride: Front Range Canyons Run[/SIZE]

335 miles (if you do them all)

SUMMARY: Canyons, Canyons, Canyons! Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down! Around and Around, Around and Around, Around and Around! That just about sums up this ride up and down the canyons of the Front Range of the Rockies west of Denver. Deer Creek, Turkey Creek, Bear Creek, Clear Creek, Golden Gate, Coal Creek, Boulder Creek, Left Hand, St. Vrain, Devils Gulch, Big Thompson, and Little Thompson -- this is truly some great riding. Can you do them all? Do you want to do them all? That is your choice as it is easy to run the canyons until you are ready to stop at the end of the day. It is easy to stop at the east end of any canyon and head back to the Marriott--that is your big decision. You will be tired, but it will have been a great day of riding. Awesome riding in Colorado!!!

For additional information, photos, and map:

Front Range Canyons Run

 

[gypsy]

Thanks Dave,

I look forward to virtually riding these online and actually riding them in July.

gypsy

 

[Sully1300]

Dave,

Is it July yet? These are great - thanks for putting in the time. I look forward to potentially catching up with you on one or two of these rides.

 

[Badcat]

Dave,

Thanks for the great write-ups, pictures and gps files. I now have to choose which ones to do. Decisions, decisions.....too many roads not enough time.

 

[SockMonkey]

Awesome looking rides, Dave! It's going to be tough picking which 2 (or 3) to do while I'm there..!!

 

[Silver Penguin]

Thanks for putting the work in, Dave. We're spending an extra week in the area, so some if not all of these rides will be on the agenda.

Jill

 

[bikerskier]

Mr. Dave

Thank you.... Thank you.... Thank you... Thank you.........

 

[Duff]

Muchas gracias señor! :clapping:

 

[DaveT]

Less than four months now!!!!

 

[user 3870]

[SIZE=12pt]DaveT's #4 Ride: Poudre Canyon Run[/SIZE]
315 miles

SUMMARY: The primary ride for today is "Poudre Canyon,"

Dave... Nothing beats going up the Poudre!

 

[CODan]

I've ridden many of these routes in one way or another, and they are truly great rides. Well worth it.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I've ridden many of these routes in one way or another, and they are truly great rides. Well worth it.

Hey I just read some of your complaints on the brakes of the FJR. Have you bought one yet? You should get one for the NAFO rally. You won't regret it.

 

[CODan]

I've ridden many of these routes in one way or another, and they are truly great rides. Well worth it.

Hey I just read some of your complaints on the brakes of the FJR. Have you bought one yet? You should get one for the NAFO rally. You won't regret it.

An 08 is on the way, I expect it this week. I've got some farkles waiting for installation.

There's still 18" of snow on the ground where I live, and the snow just melted off my driveway. Got my ZZR out for the first time on Friday.

 

[fjrrider]

Ok Dave, what dates are these rides going to take place on. Before NAFO, during, or after. I've got several days planned strictly for riding in Colorado and this looks like something I would like to do!