Winter Riding in Colorado
 

Yeah, the mountains got four feet of snow, but we had severe Chinook winds (snow-eater) that melted every bit of the snow we received in Denver. I've ridden every day this week with temps in the 50's. Tomorrow should be near 60. I decided to ride Lookout Mountain today. The lower part was dry with no sand. I was only going to ride half way up because the upper part is shaded by Evergreens, but went all the way to the Nature Center on a dry, ice-free road.

With the bitter cold we had in most of December, I had almost forgotten how to lean off the bike. With my Hippo Hands, I rode very comfortably with my summer gloves. After the first couple curves, I got right into the groove. The good thing is: They say whatever you are doing on New Year's Day, you will do the rest of the year. So I should be doing a lot of riding.

Indeed, a nice holiday week of riding. Even at high altitude Park County have ridden 300+ miles this week.

It was good weather while it lasted. Today's supposed to be the last nice day for a while.

When I was bicycling home from my gym this morning, I saw a fancy motorcycle up a block I don't usually take. It was a small Aprilia. "250?" I asked, seeing the single front disc. "Good eye" he said, "but it's a 125." I looked it over and said "you don't see many new two-strokes. I'd love to hear it." He started it up and reved it. It still ring-dinged, but at a faster tempo than I remember. He said he got the bike for his wife. Haha.

The swing arm looked like it came from a liter bike. "It's a pure race bike" he said, "I had to put on the turn signals, etc." "Well, at least you were able to get it licensed" I said while looking at his current plates. "Oh, I took those tags off my Harley" he said, "I'm hoping to get it licensed as a dual-sport."

I told him I was riding up Lookout Mountain later, and he said I may see him up there. Both him and his friend also had Ducatis. I didn't see them on Lookout, but they only live three blocks from my house. Maybe I'll have some new riding partners and TWFixers.

sweet!

Badass man. A good local friend of mine had an RS125 for a few months that was imported in pieces from Belguim. Traded is 01 TLR for it and cash. He has had an RS50 for a year or so now that his wife rides sometime. He's planning on getting another 125 for his 13 year old son to start doing track days on next summer.

Warm spell since Friday. Been in the 50's and 60's. Today and tomorrow near 70. Rode every day except Monday. Today I rode with my friend Dean, and his Gixxer 1K, up Lookout Mountain. I was in the lead going up and he led going down. I much prefer being in the lead going up.

When I'm second, the road looks clear, but I see his rear tire throwing up gravel on the bends, and then I get nervous. And I stay passive in a tire track instead of actively attacking the curves.

Well, as attacking as I can be on a thirty-year-old bike. Actually it's great fun. I keep the old GS between 5 and 6K. The torque peak must be very near there, because it accelerates pretty quickly between corners. We're going again tomorrow afternoon.

Chinook winds... been a long time since I've hear about them... Grow'n up in Oregon they a common theme in our weather forcasts