2018 Colorado Rally, July 12-16

[BA80]

Love the Colorado scenery but my lowland bike hates the elevation. We'll see. might head north or southeast next year.

[Bonz]

What do you think makes it so uncooperative at this elevation? Most XS bikes seem to do okay. Understanding that there will be some difference at the extreme elevations of mountain passes and tops of mountains.

[BA80]

Well Howard, Tulsa is about 650 feet. It runs great here. We are BOTH panting above 8 - 10K.

Wasn't too bad last year though. Not ruling it out.

[Bonz]

LOL, yeah it makes anything that relies on O2 perform less than optimally!

[Jerry]

I’ll second the Tarryall road, newer pavement and twisties. Buena Vista to Hartsel, east on 24 to the Tarryall road, up to Jefferson, west backover to FairPlay then Hwy 285 back to Bueny. Or reverse. Good 135-ish mile ride. Fairplay is the current “home” to the “Hoffman crew” in the Discovery Channel show “Gold Rush”. Maybe catch a sneak peek of them at a watering hole for lunch if they are still mining there next summer.

I get through Fairplay quite often as my 7 acre mountain lot is near there, south of Como off Hwy 285. Saw some of the Hoffman crew eating at a local place, the Brown Burro, last summer otherwise they seem to have little presence in the town. I've eaten at the same spot and the food is good and reasonably priced but the hours of operation are spotty, mostly weekends.

Will mention that although the County has been working on improving the Tarryall Road south of Jefferson running to Hwy 24, the upper end (Jefferson) has a lot of potholes and rough spots so speed is not high. Nice canyon, though, and several pioneer buildings remain along the creek.

A possible side trip is to turn east at Jefferson on Hyw 285 and ride to the top of Kenosha Pass which is 8 - 10 miles away. Good views of South Park coming back down the west side. At the top of the pass is a campground (potential rest stop) and "historic" spot as the railroad crossed here. There is some interpretive signage and part of a railroad "Y" recreated for those with an interest in old railroads. Moose are often seen at the nearby lake. The Pacific Crest hiking trail (Canada to Mexico) crosses here as well. I've run my ATV from the campground, where the trail starts, up to the top of North Twin Cone Peak. The ATV trail follows the old railroad bed for a way. JAT

[IanDMacDonald]

I wish Erik would do another Lost Rally in Michigan again. That was fun.

[Sebastian_99]

I get through Fairplay quite often as my 7 acre mountain lot is near there, south of Como off Hwy 285. Saw some of the Hoffman crew eating at a local place, the Brown Burro, last summer otherwise they seem to have little presence in the town. I've eaten at the same spot and the food is good and reasonably priced but the hours of operation are spotty, mostly weekends.

Will mention that although the County has been working on improving the Tarryall Road south of Jefferson running to Hwy 24, the upper end (Jefferson) has a lot of potholes and rough spots so speed is not high. Nice canyon, though, and several pioneer buildings remain along the creek.

A possible side trip is to turn east at Jefferson on Hyw 285 and ride to the top of Kenosha Pass which is 8 - 10 miles away. Good views of South Park coming back down the west side. At the top of the pass is a campground (potential rest stop) and "historic" spot as the railroad crossed here. There is some interpretive signage and part of a railroad "Y" recreated for those with an interest in old railroads. Moose are often seen at the nearby lake. The Pacific Crest hiking trail (Canada to Mexico) crosses here as well. I've run my ATV from the campground, where the trail starts, up to the top of North Twin Cone Peak. The ATV trail follows the old railroad bed for a way. JAT

Jerry,

The Tarryall road is in pretty good condition, I've ridden it a couple of times this past year (including the trip back from the last rally) and I was juts out at the reservoir two weeks ago duck hunting.

-Sebastian

[MaximPhil]

I wish Erik would do another Lost Rally in Michigan again. That was fun.

Hey Ian is that just so you can go back to the Gay Bar or was that a different Rally ?
Phil

[Bonz]

Thank heavens this thread is about the Colorado rally and not the Michigan rally...

[Bonz]

I was on the southern half of the road from hwy 24 to Tarryall Reservoir this spring ice fishing and it was in superb shape. It had just been repaved.

I like the other ride idea you shared Jerry as well. Overall, I think Sebastian has come up with a doable location with lots of draw for new roads and new scenery for veterans of the rally and newcomers alike.

[Jerry]

Glad to hear the Tarryall road has been improved. Has always been a pleasant ride. The county had been working on it last time I rode that stretch but it was not completely done, apparently they finished their work!

[Jerry]

Also in the area but probably not a viable option for a rally is Jefferson Lake. The lake is a volcanic caldera, quite deep, and is quite attractive. Two problems: Getting there includes gravel roads and it is a fee area ($7 per vehicle) not covered by National Parks passes.
Link:

If anyone plans to spend additional time in the area this might be something to add to your itinerary.

[Bonz]

Good stuff!

[Sebastian_99]

I really hope they finish up paving Cottonwood Pass by rally season next year, this was the ride I was hoping to base everything off of, haha.

(I have mixed emotions about that pass being paved, great for bikes but it only adds to more RVs in the mountains which drive me nuts).

Side note, if any of you guys like fishing it might be worthwhile to pack a small rod. There are a lot of great places to throw a line in up around Buena Vista.

[motoman]

Well Howard, Tulsa is about 650 feet. It runs great here. We are BOTH panting above 8 - 10K.

Wasn't too bad last year though. Not ruling it out.

Food for thought so the speak.....again. Idle mixtures set at highest in. vacuum ARE to rich. Get away with it at your near sea-level location, but not above 4,000ft. elev. Again, lean drop method will cover ALL elevations, and is the correct way of setting idle mixtures, whether it be automotive style carbs, tractor up-draft style or motorcycle carbs. Your fortunate, I pant anything above 6,500ft. elev..