Colorado "Mini" FJ-Rally

[Firehawk068]

HA-HA-HA.....................Just kidding!



We actually did have a sort-of Mini-Rally.

Mike Ramos met the Cap'n and I in Ouray.







We had dinner and a beer on the roof of the Ouray Brewing CO.













The next morning we packed-up, geared-up, and headed in to town for breakfast.









After some food, we headed north to Montrose, where we fueled up before heading east back towards Denver.

We stopped at Blue Mesa Reservoir before riding north through the "Black Canyon"





I have to say that after riding many roads around Colorado, Highway 92 along the north rim of the "Black Canyon" is still my ultimate favorite!





We headed north through Crawford, Hotchkiss, and Paonia before running into a construction roadblock just before McClure Pass. They were doing some blasting, and the road wouldn't be open for another hour, so we relaxed and hung-out in a local picnic area.



After they re-opened the road, we made our way over the pass, through Carbondale, and stopped to have some dinner in Glenwood Springs.





After dinner, it was a blast down I-70 into Denver.
We arrived late due to some more road construction in Idaho Springs, but we arrived safe and sound.
Parked the bikes in the garage, and called it a night.



We had awesome weather, and it was a great ride, with some great friends!
I can't wait until June 2016!

[Mark Olson]

Cool ride guys..ya know the rule is whenever 3 FJ,s meet and a spirited ride ensues that is a rally.

You will be missed at the Renegade Rally next weekend.

[1tinindian]

Awesome guys!
Great to see ride reports from the more fortunate riders out there!

Keep at it, it will get me through my non riding times until rally time in Colorado next year!

[FeralJuggernaut]

I'm going to have to lodge a complaint with the Minister of Colorado Tourism...

"I have to say that after riding many roads around Colorado, Highway 92 along the north rim of the "Black Canyon" is still my ultimate favorite!"

This clearly shows you have not traveled on the 114 southbound from Highway 50.   East of Gunnison a little bit.   Sure the Black Canyon is a wicked good bit of pavement, and a nice run to 'get someplace', but the 15 miles or so on the 114 will surely update your map.    Clear your head in the first mile or so, then enjoy the creek following for a bit.   When you get to the DOT facility, pull over for your cigarette and then make a U turn and go back north.   It will feel like a completely different road again.

We'll await your road report right here...     

[simi_ed]

Excellent road, but do watch for the Sheriff deputies that occasionally park along the road.  I was lucky enough to get a warning for 62 in a 40 zone.  If he had been parked 1 corner earlier it might not have been for 62, nor a warning (unless they write them for triple digit speeds!).

Ed

[Capn Ron]

I'm going to have to lodge a complaint with the Minister of Colorado Tourism...

"I have to say that after riding many roads around Colorado, Highway 92 along the north rim of the "Black Canyon" is still my ultimate favorite!"

This clearly shows you have not traveled on the 114 southbound from Highway 50.   East of Gunnison a little bit.   Sure the Black Canyon is a wicked good bit of pavement, and a nice run to 'get someplace', but the 15 miles or so on the 114 will surely update your map.    Clear your head in the first mile or so, then enjoy the creek following for a bit.   When you get to the DOT facility, pull over for your cigarette and then make a U turn and go back north.   It will feel like a completely different road again.

We'll await your road report right here...     

Ohhh, we ran that road exactly 18 miles south...made the u-turn and returned to the 50.  I meant to mention this to Alan....there were SO many good roads ridden:  Rudy's loop, Pikes Peak, Ouray, Black Canyon (twice!), the trip to Rustic..  But out of 1450 miles ridden in six days, the 114 was my favorite!!!  Just a ripper of a road along the creek and every turn had me fully engaged.  What a ride!

[Firehawk068]

I'm going to have to lodge a complaint with the Minister of Colorado Tourism...

"I have to say that after riding many roads around Colorado, Highway 92 along the north rim of the "Black Canyon" is still my ultimate favorite!"

This clearly shows you have not traveled on the 114 southbound from Highway 50.   East of Gunnison a little bit.   Sure the Black Canyon is a wicked good bit of pavement, and a nice run to 'get someplace', but the 15 miles or so on the 114 will surely update your map.    Clear your head in the first mile or so, then enjoy the creek following for a bit.   When you get to the DOT facility, pull over for your cigarette and then make a U turn and go back north.   It will feel like a completely different road again.

We'll await your road report right here...     

Ohhh, we ran that road exactly 18 miles south...made the u-turn and returned to the 50.  I meant to mention this to Alan....there were SO many good roads ridden:  Rudy's loop, Pikes Peak, Ouray, Black Canyon (twice!), the trip to Rustic..  But out of 1450 miles ridden in six days, the 114 was my favorite!!!  Just a ripper of a road along the creek and every turn had me fully engaged.  What a ride!

Yes Erich, we did drop down the 114. I felt we shouldn't pass it up since we were riding right by. It was the perfect bit of road to get us fired up just before getting some lunch in Gunnison.
I would agree, it is a great piece of road, but I still love the 92 just a little more.  The 114 is a higher speed section, and the sweepers seem to have a perfect rhythm to them. You can't help twisting the throttle, and taking this road fast. It is fun for sure.
The 92 is much more technical, and really works your focus and ability. There is no rhythm to it. The next corner coming up is totally different than the previous ones.  It's a "Rollercoaster" ride!
It wears you out. When you get to the overlook, you pull over to have a peek at the view, and when you look back at the road you just came up you feel like you've just accomplished something.
Then you continue on, and still have 1/3rd of the road to go before popping out of the canyon.  It reminds me of the "Devil's Highway" in Arizona.

And we rode the 1,450 miles in FIVE days. (We didn't ride Friday. That was our "Maintenance" day)

[Derek Young]

Well, I guess we will have to settle this by riding both of those roads in June!

I've ridden the 114 and the 92 we drove in the truck when we left Gunnison in 2012. Both awesome roads!

Thanks boys for preriding our rally routes... just wish I was there to ride them with you


Derek