Colorado to Sturgis

  • April 16, 2012 1:12 AM PDT
    Any advice will be appreciated.

    The plan is to fly from the UK to Denver pick up hire bike and pootle south to Colorado Springs, and then meander roughly NW probable Breckenridge - Yamper valley - Steamboat Springs - Kremmling - Grand Lake - Rocky Mountain / Estes National Parks and NE ending up in Rapid City having booked 4 nights and taking in the Sturgis experience and back to Denver.

    I know some of these locations may not seemlessly link-up, I'm just a Limey surfing pretty pictures of Colorado on the net, most importantly the question is, is it feasibly to use this method of going where the wind takes me in respect of finding somewhere to lay my head ie Motel or Hotel at the end of each day? I'm not really into camping due to an old snore wound.

    However, the only must do's are riding over Pike's Peak and The Garden of the Gods looks awesome, but I will bow to the greater judgement from those who have actually lived the dream of one with a long list, but alas a small bucket.

    Best regards

    Buc
    • 467 posts
    April 16, 2012 1:38 AM PDT
    Depends on a lot of factors. How much time do you have for the meandering? You might not be able to find a decent room in Kremmling. Not a very big place. Finding a room in Estes without a reservation might be a little difficult. A lot of the little towns in Yampa Valley don't even have hotels or campgrounds. It's a full day ride from Estes to Rapid on the interstate most of the way. I would however suggest taking hwy 85 from Cheyenne, WY to Sturgis, then I-90 to Rapid. Prettier and less traffic and wind. You can message me for more details if you want.
  • April 16, 2012 9:03 PM PDT
    Thanks very much for your response, you have probably saved me a great deal of unnecessary stress (which I know from bitter experience) can spoil a trip when the uninitiated who live on a small piece of rock in the North Sea have to get to grips with your wide open spaces. However, plan B would be "Day Loops" from some of the bigger city ie: Colorado Springs and Boulder. I arrive in Denver and pick-up the bike on 08.01 and hope to hit Rapid City about 08.08 give or take a day depending on how things are going. I'll familiarise myself on Google maps with your suggested route. Thanks again Buc.
    • 467 posts
    April 17, 2012 1:50 AM PDT
    Well, if it makes it any more convenient, you can take absolutely beautiful day loops from both Estes and Rapid every day for more than a week and not hit the same scenery or roads.
  • April 18, 2012 10:27 PM PDT
    All sounds great, I was kind of hoping that that general area appears to be a motorcyclists Nirvana, (and provided I have gas in the tank) I'm sure that I won't be dissappointed. Keep the shiney side up and make friends with reality!!

    Best Wishes to you both Buc.
    • 1 posts
    April 18, 2012 10:49 PM PDT
    make sure you go to the crazy horse location...don't know what more they have done to it in the 2 years since i was there...but anything you do see is going to be part of history...and you can tell the grandruggos all about how you went and spent time with the lakota Indians...Make sure you hit one of the casinos in Deadwood...they have the best buffet lunches, after eating at th chip..i found it refreshing to eat greens..lol
  • April 18, 2012 11:09 PM PDT
    Whitehorse Gear sells a book and map set, "Motorcycling Colorado". I got it pre-trip; FANTASTIC!
    http://www.whitehorsegear.com/motorcycling-colorado-set /> My number one do not miss - Independence Pass - 13,000 ft. elevation at the Continental Divide. Best ride ever.
    Number 2 - The Strater Hotel in Durango, and the steam train from there to Silverton. There are Zip Lines up there!
  • April 19, 2012 12:18 AM PDT
    Thanks Guys for the information and advice. I stumbled across (being very steam driven) a site and link to that of the Colorado State Tourist Information Office who have sent me an interesting virtual tour guide-book of the area (the sort where you click in the corner to turn the pages) and presently I am on SSO..Scenic Sensory Overload!! I am trying to maintain a sensible balance of what my Lady and I can experience, within a given space of time, and end-up still talking to each other at the conclusion of the tour. I will definately seek out The Motorcycling Colorado guide, especially having the maps and all. I intend to tackle Pike's Peak, and will generally be drifting through a triangle with points of Colorado Springs - Steamboat Springs - Rapid City; I think you will agree is enough real estate to get lost in, and (if Sue and I are still talking) we can always say "Well, we will just have to come back and see that next time". I am looking out of the window (on the edge of London) hoping for a break in the heavy rain, in order to get the Road King to the dealer to have an oil cooler fitted after an engine upgrade from 96 to 103, roll on Sturgis.
    Thanks again Buc
  • April 19, 2012 11:45 AM PDT
    Youre going to love it here! I dont think finding a room will be that difficult, as for estes, as mentioned earlier, it can be difficult finding a room there in the summer, especially weekends, however, just down the canyon a few miles there are other places to lay your head, not a far drive down the thompson canyon at all. Youre going tolove colorado, you picked a fine place to start, I know very well as I have lived here all 42 years of my life. Dress for all seasons here, even though it will be summer, you cna still epxerience winter conditions in the mountains even in august, doubtful, but can still happen, yeah you could see snow, but doubtful, at worse probably cold rain. feel free to hit me up for advice as far as lodging, roads, restaraunts or whatever!
  • April 19, 2012 11:46 AM PDT
    RNP8000 wrote...
    Youre going to love it here! I dont think finding a room will be that difficult, as for estes, as mentioned earlier, it can be difficult finding a room there in the summer, especially weekends, however, just down the canyon a few miles there are other places to lay your head, not a far drive down the thompson canyon at all. Youre going tolove colorado, you picked a fine place to start, I know very well as I have lived here all 42 years of my life. Dress for all seasons here, even though it will be summer, you cna still epxerience winter conditions in the mountains even in august, doubtful, but can still happen, yeah you could see snow, but doubtful, at worse probably cold rain. feel free to hit me up for advice as far as lodging, roads, restaraunts or whatever!

    P.S. Sorry about the grammar!
  • April 20, 2012 2:03 AM PDT
    Thanks Rob, your comments compounded by the view behind you (as per your profile picture) really does start to prime the endorphin receptors!! I hope to retire and move (at the end of this year) to North Wales from London, which by comparison, would be like from New York to Colorado, although the scale would seem to you like observing a land in a "Snow-Globe".
    I was wondering what the dress code would be, and appreciate how the climate can change in relation to altitude, and will have to think smart about what to kit to bring, and not be too cluttered with baggage. Before motorcycle clothing existed the thing to have was a "Tank-suit" being a WW2 Tank Commanders one piece suit. This resembled an Aerostitch one piece suit, which was combined with German Officers "Jack Boots" had to be Officer issue which were superior quality, and beautifully fashioned to really show off when "Goose stepping". Er, them not me by the way, which equated to greater comfort and feel when riding. Despatch riders gauntlets, with pure silk pilots inner gloves, and a scarf made from a bar towel to stop the rain running down your neck, halcyon days! Nowadays I mix Goretex with Scott Flying Squirrel.
    Regards Buc