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Why limit the in-state rides to Saddle-Sores? I added a little bit and rode a Colorado Bun-burner. Below are the documents.
The route looked like:
(click on the pic for a larger view)
It took me through the southwest mountains, out into the plains, and back into the northwest mountains for a pretty good experience of all the types of riding available in the state. The total trip length was 1,593 miles according to the Mapsource route, 1565 miles according to the Garmin GPS (which had a habit off becoming unplugged and turning off), and 1,668 miles according to the bike's odometer (which at a 5% correction is 1,584 miles).
The ride was about what one would expect from an over-nighter. Around 3:30am, I was having a hard time making it through the night so I took some caffeine tablets. They have in the past gotten me over humps but I think they are becoming more of a liability. I was good for about an hour and a half before they would not keep me awake. However, they would not let me sleep and turned my stomach upside down. I though about bailing on the BB and simply claiming the SS1K. However, I pushed on and through the consumption of a box of saltines and copious amounts of water I recovered to where I felt quite well by the time I got home.
I was struck by the number of bikes and cops I saw. Several hotel parking lots were full of bikes showing testament to the number of planned events going on. Then lots of other people were just our riding. I've seen heavily patrolled weekends but nothing like this one. I limited my discussions to one warning for 75 in a 65. On one long, curvy, downhill stretch coming into Denver (I70 east-bound), traffic usually runs 70-80 in the 55 zone. I set the cruise at 62 and set in the middle lane. A few anxious ones pushed past me. I'm thinking, "You know they're watching". Sure enough, five state troopers were busy writing out citations around the next corner. At lest anyone think we are now home free since they are all busy, two more LEO's were at it within the next five miles.
I'd hoped to include Independence and Westin passes instead of following the freeway back. However, 550 is more challenging and scary than Independence and Westin is a 25-mile dirt road of which I do not know the condition. Combined with an afternoon gathering I had plans for and my still recovering condition, I bagged out. I did get to run the section of I70 built out of the side of the mountains just east of Glenwood springs. Also, I thought about trying for a BBG but the roads I wanted to ride, combined with this week's travelers and law enforcement ruled that out.
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