When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
That's about as little traffic as I have seen on Big Thompson Canyon in years.
Part of it is I just hang back some to keep from being on the *** end of a line of traffic! I normally ride fast and hard but learned immediately that just doesn't pay out there. That was somewhere around 9am I think.
Last edited by tnriverluver; Sep 20, 2017 at 04:43 PM.
Day 4 Tues Aug 29. My 56th Birthday!
Pikes Peak was on my must do list but on my computer the only routes that popped up involved going through Denver. I DID NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH DENVER!!!!! That morning I used my IPhone GPS and sure nuff it had routes that didn't involve Denver or even any interstates! Trip was on!!!!! I pulled up the route I wanted with the go symbol showing and closed the screen until time to leave. Apparently when I opened the screen later and hit go the GPS had reverted back to the Denver route and I didn't realize it until I hit I-25 not knowing the roads out there. Grrrr too late to turn back so I continued on and going south through Denver wasn't bad except for the 50 or so big side-dump trucks spitting sand, dirt, and rocks constantly. The only close call I had was somewhere between Denver and Colorado Springs there was a 6X6X8 treated post laying across my lane of traffic! Fortunately I saw it in time and wasn't pinned in and was able to avoid it. I'm sure someone eventually got a badly damaged car or truck from running over it.
The first segment of the route on hwy 36 from my cabin was very enjoyable. It's really a nice road that's fun to ride but it does always have a lot of traffic.
Before you reach Colorado Springs there is the USAF Academy and there is a pull-off on the side of the Interstate for viewing. They happened to have some skydrivers in the air so I stopped and tried to snap some pics. My camera didn't do a great job but this is what I got after blowing them up a little. My Late Father-in-law and one of my wife's brothers were career AF Chief Master Sargents so this was kinda a must stop.
Last edited by tnriverluver; Sep 21, 2017 at 09:31 AM.
Stopped at a gas station somewhere in Col Spr to get a cold drink and take a couple of phone calls while I had good service and continued on my way. It is really pretty down in that area because the rocks in the mountains have tremendous amounts of color.
I will be honest and say when I got about 3/4 way I had thoughts of turning around. This mountain is a bit more intimidating than I was expecting. Really steep roadway and a very long way down!!!! I did actually encounter a few snow flakes and rain drops from a cloud of in the distance and was worried it might build up and move over the mountain but that didn't happen while I was there thank goodness. I have watched videos where bikes had to turn around because of that happening. I was very happy when I hit the top and let out a little yell!!!!
The trip all the way up!!!! I can't imagine doing this just a few years ago when it was dirt!
The ride back was terrible!!!! Try as I may I could not get my stupid phone to pull up the previously shown routes. I reversed course and was on my way back to Denver. Before reaching Denver I pulled over and had it pull up a route to Boulder. That was probably a mistake because I spent 3 hours sitting in stop and go traffic from that point forward on I-270 and 34/36??? and it was only about 3 pm when this started, not what I consider rush hour.Also it was sunny and well over 90 degrees sitting still in a black fullface helmet and leathers. After stopping in Boulder to grab a sandwich the rest of the ride back was fine again.
At the end of the VERY long day.
Last edited by tnriverluver; Sep 21, 2017 at 12:07 PM.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
