Best of NorCo / Shop Ride Pre-Run

RIDE REPORTS
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I really wanted to get out on the bike after a chaotic week, so I used Saturday as an opportunity to pre-run some of the route I have planned for us next week. Specifically, I wanted to scope out Old Flowers and then scout some additional stuff I’ve done on the 500 but not a big bike.

I was met in the Elite parking lot by JP, Saul, Sean, and Jake, with Gino showing up fashionably almost late at exactly 10am for a 10am KSU. I had an opportunity to duck inside and chat with Steve, the owner of Elite, to discuss next weeks first official shop ride. He and the crew are really looking forward to hosting us, so I hope many of you will be able to join us!

We rode straight to Masonville, where Gino had to peel off. We carried on to Old Flowers, taking a quick “nature break” at the gate, the continuing on. Cameron was waiting for us at the little cabin. This is my 6th season in Colorado and Old Flowers gets more and more spicy each year. Specifically, the holes that 4 wheel vehicles have dug in to the final climb. After a little drama we all got up the climb and continued to Pouder Canyon and soft serve ice cream in Rustic.

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Next, we headed up towards Redfeather, but I wanted to ride the fun 2-track up on the east side of the road, on the plateau above Kelly Flats. Lots of fun steppy, ledgy stuff, but I decided it’s beyond the scope of next week’s ride. But I want to do it again!

From there we made our way to Pot Belly (?) in Redfeather, enjoyed a beverage and then back down the hill to Rustic. Then continued on, over Pingree Pass, Buckhorn, back to Masonville and home.

All in all, a very successful, short notice day with good doodes :slight_smile:

Please post yer pics if you took any. Thanks!

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Pre-run route

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No pictures, but can confirm a fun time was had by all. Thanks to Rich for the last-minute ride prompt—that’s my favorite kind.

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Here is a short video of the Kelly Flats area from Saturdays ride.

https://gopro.com/v/nqmgPBdeERKDV

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Here is the “Spicy” hill climb section of Old Flowers from Saturdays ride. The video doesn’t capture how bad the “Jeep holes” are at the top, nor did the logs that were placed in the middle section and very loose top cover help the situation.

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Yep. The line is on the right. I saw the logs and went left when I should have stayed right.

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It appeared the key was to keep moving as the dirt was very loose and trying to start from a dead stop mid-way up was even harder. :thinking:

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Smart to check your traction control isn’t on as well. :zany_face: I was certain something was wrong with my bike. Couldn’t climb that hill at all. Jake says “is your traction control on?” I was certain it wasn’t, until I saw it was. Made the rest of the ride much better!

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Yeah, when you riding up the hill, I was listening the engine, watching the rear wheel, and knew there was some kinda disconnect.

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Just a quick screen grab from my limited GoPro footage of the ride. Was a good time. I haven’t ridden Red Feather much and would like to get back up there to explore more.

I bailed when the group stopped at a restaurant. Had obligations at home and am afflicted with a compulsion to keep moving when I’m on rides. Some serious looking clouds were forming as well. I eluded the weather by taking Poudre Canyon and Stove Prairie roads like I was in the Isle of Man. Caught a few sprinkles here and there but stayed dry and made it home in time to get some Saturday honey-do’s knocked out.

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I like trailside sammiches by a creek. But Potbelly looked like a convenient place to stop, maybe check the weather, etc.

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Unfortunately i cant make the ride Saturday.

Its the day for hazardous waste free drop off at the Allenspark transfer station and the annual HOA… bollocksed

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Do you know Joseph Schwartz? Member, lives in Raymond