DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'

Kevin, how is your mileage in the mountains?

Really good! The altitude always gives a nice bump to the MPG, plus never really going that fast gives another bump, plus the new tune I got from Fuzzy is another bump! I think that about 70 miles of riding in the 50-70 range, then going up and back down Pikes peak, and the MPG was 41 or 42! :)

All I can add is Wow! what a ride and thank you for taking us along with you. Also please as always travel safe... Fred

Thank you Fred! Glad you're liking. Lots more to come. :)

We got back from Denver Tuesday. Sunday I hope you and Mary did not run into the bad weather around Golden Sunday!

Wish we able to have ridden up this trip. :(

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Wow, that's some crazy weather in your photo's!

Kevin
 
Day 12 Continued-

Starting to head up the "serious" part of the road...

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...to the summit of Mt. Evans. It is in poor condition, and, as always, little room for error. But...

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...the views are stunning!

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Always good to see a fellow biker enjoying the ride!

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A nice photo showing the treeline. Even though the trees can't breathe up this high, we are doing fine with the oxygen boost. lol

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Past the treeline and into where it is cold enough that there is still plenty of snow and ice!

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I started laughing when I saw this sign, because pretty much the whole road is damaged...

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...but then we saw that there were some pretty good potholes...

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...then there were a couple of these 10" deep trenches across the entire road...BUT, they did put rocks in them so if you placed your tires on the rocks in the hole you did not drop down as much. lol

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There are a bunch of fun switchbacks on the way up!

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Will continue Day 12 as time allows.

Kevin
 
There are a bunch of fun switchbacks on the way up!

For sure. I recall going up there on my two wheeler a few years back. Some of the switchback are so sharp that you're in a full lock turn and the rock wall on your right completely blocks your view. You just hope and pray that if someone is coming down they are in their lane . . . and not yours!

Looking forward to doing it again on my trike. i think it'll be a lot more fun and less tense.

 
Highest paved road in US needs to be paved.

Love the 360 view at the summit. :wave4:

You nailed it with both your statements! :D

There are a bunch of fun switchbacks on the way up!

For sure. I recall going up there on my two wheeler a few years back. Some of the switchback are so sharp that you're in a full lock turn and the rock wall on your right completely blocks your view. You just hope and pray that if someone is coming down they are in their lane . . . and not yours!

Looking forward to doing it again on my trike. i think it'll be a lot more fun and less tense.


Yeah, you gotta be ready to hit them or the wall, just don't steer away from them into the air! :xzqxz:

Imagine riding it on a bicycle...and the descent!!! It was so fun!!

I can almost imagine riding a bicycle down....up....no thank you.:laugh:


Pretty sure most of us would not make it...at least not in one day. haha

rdhgme, you rode this decent on a bicycle?

I think he rode up it too!

Kevin
 
Day 12 Continued-

Continuing up to the summit.* Here are a couple of photo's riding close to the edge of the road for some photo's...

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...and another...

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...this is a fantastic ride with...

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...amazing views!

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I wanted to touch the snow while riding...

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...guess what?* It isn't snow, it's very hard ice!* Burned a bit.* lol

Check out the view in the upper left of the photo....yeah, where the road just disappears into the sky.

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Lotta mountains in the distance.

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I did not count the switchbacks, but there were a lot, and they were all fun!

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Just breathtaking views!* This is a ride we'll always remember!

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Hey!* There's a traffic jam at the top!* lol

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More of Day 12 in next post.

Kevin
 
Day 12 Continued-

As soon as we parked, Mary saw some Mountain Goats and went up close to get some photo's. This was the last photo she took...this one was starting to get to close for comfort. lol

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We all ate our lunch up at the top, enjoying the views...but I discovered, we did not take very many photos at the top.

Here we are at the sign, 15 feet higher than Pikes Peak.

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Left to right- Scott, Karin, Mary, Kevin.

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There used to be a house at the top here...

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It was destroyed in a fire back in 1979 and never rebuilt.

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We're on our way back down now...looking up, you can see what is left of the Crest House.

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Whole different perspective when we headed back down....

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...we're encountering less slow moving cages too, so that is nice.

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Saw this little guy on the side of the road in a switchback.

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Either Scott & Karin, or myself and Mary....one of us is going the wrong way! lol

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Will post more on this epic day of riding as time allows.

Kevin
 
Wow, big salute to the bicycle man, big salute as well to Kevin and Mary for fantastic pics and comments. Most enjoyable as I savor them over coffee.
 
Day 12 Continued-

Mary grabbed this photo as we were riding down the mountain...

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...and this one too.* Just one of over a dozen switchbacks still to go.*

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Came up on a 2 wheeler who was riding cautiously...

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...and with good reason!* The road is bad, rocks fall, and any variety of other challenges to keeping those 2 wheels on the road.

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Plus the view is absolutely amazing!

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All three of us in a turn...

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...and another one.

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We are out of the snow now, down where the trees are, and no big drop-offs.* The bagger is more comfortable to go.

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Awesome riding.* Can you see we are behind a different kind of 2 wheeler now (in front of the truck).

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On the I-70 for a short distance, headed for Leadville, and then Independence Pass.

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More coming soon.

Kevin
 
Day 12 Continued-

The Eisenhower Tunnel.* It's over 1.6 miles long and at an elevation of over 11,000 feet!* eeek!

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I really don't like caves, and this is just a man-made cave...at least it's well lit.* But riding through it I was thinking of all that rock above us!!!

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Just WOW!*

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Taking the turn-off toward Leadville, and then on to Independence Pass.

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Scott and Karin have gone out of their way to take us on some great rides...

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...photo's of them taken at 70 mph on our climb to Leadville.

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One of hundreds of amazing views taken while riding today!

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Downtown Leadville....been there a long time!

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This is the first curve in the ride up to Independence Pass.* A great way to start!

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We've just barely started and the views are stunning!

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​​​​​​​Will continue Day 12 as time allows.

Kevin
 
Day 12 Continued-

These couple of pics of this curve give an idea...

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...of how sharp and at an angle they are.* The TG's eat them up, but you can see a cage has a bit of a time with them.

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We're climbing higher and...

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...the views are absolutely amazing!

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The pics from just today are already so many....the ride up was full of scenic views and great riding...but skipping ahead, here we are arriving at the summit....

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...which is also the Continental Divide.

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Playing in the snow, and, yes, I got her right in the leg a split second after this photo.* lol

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Headed down the other side, just as spectacular views...

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...and still a lot of snow in places.

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A look back!

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More on day 12 as time allows.

Kevin
 
thoroughly enjoying your ride with you. Been to many of the places in various 4 wheelersand a couple on a 2 wheeler. Someday maybe a 3 wheeler. Enjoy your trip and keep the pictures coming....tks
 
4 yrs ago a couple of friends and I rode a lot of the roads you’ve been on. Of all the places I’ve ridden Colorado is at the top of my list to go back to. By the way your picture taker is doing a fine job! You guys have fun and be safe! And keep the pics coming.

Oh by the way your missing all the fun back home,it was 111 heat index here today and I’m about 200 miles north of your house. Probably even warmer in Mississippi!
 
Awesome photos Kevin! You and Mary got a lot of trikers riding along with you.

Cool! Glad you're enjoying, much more to come!

thoroughly enjoying your ride with you. Been to many of the places in various 4 wheelersand a couple on a 2 wheeler. Someday maybe a 3 wheeler. Enjoy your trip and keep the pictures coming....tks

Yes, I think you'll like them on a 3 wheeler...far more relaxed ride than a 2 wheeler, but still outside of the cage.

Thank you. Yes, much more to come!

4 yrs ago a couple of friends and I rode a lot of the roads you’ve been on. Of all the places I’ve ridden Colorado is at the top of my list to go back to. By the way your picture taker is doing a fine job! You guys have fun and be safe! And keep the pics coming.

Oh by the way your missing all the fun back home,it was 111 heat index here today and I’m about 200 miles north of your house. Probably even warmer in Mississippi!

So you know...Colorado is a gold mine of great riding and views!

I agree, could not ask for a better riding partner or picture taker!!! Lots more to come.

Nah, not missing that heat. lol

Kevin
 
Day 12, wrapping it up-

What an epic day of riding and scenic views! I am not sure...

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...I would ever get any work done if I lived in Colorado! The riding and the views are fantastic!

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Well, actually, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't get a lot done. haha

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As we roll down the back side of Independence pass, getting closer to the bottom, the road continues to narrow...

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...getting very comfy, not even a center line. This is a small cage and a TG, imagine two trucks!!!

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We're rolling flat now...headed toward Glenwood Springs for the night. This is just one of a thousand views, seen at 60 mph.

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The TG is running great. I'm liking this new tune I got from Fuzzy. That's an average of almost 42 mpg over the last 120 miles. Which included a bunch of miles at 70 mph, climbing up to the Eisenhower Tunnel, then rolling thru Leadville, then climbing and descending Independence Pass.

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Riding thru the uppity town of Aspen, Colorado.

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Day 12 concluded in the next post.

Kevin
 
I feal like I am right there with you and Mary on this trip with the great pics

However I am offended by the SNOW Just kidding, look forward to the next pics and write up;)
 
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Day 12 Conclusion-

Manufactured snow in Aspen-

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Shadow pic as we're rolling toward Glenwood Springs on the 82.

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Wow, I'm liking this tune more and more.* At 154 miles now, rolling between 65-70 mph and MPG is still going up!

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A look back...

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A look to the side...

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And a look ahead!

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It's been a long day, about 9 hours of actual riding, and close to 400 of some of the best miles to be ridden.* We are in Glenwood Springs for the night.**

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​​​​​​​Tomorrow we head out to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, then on back to Colorado Springs!

Kevin
 

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