Ride To The Springs

[bonfy]

Wow!  The first day of riding is complete, at least for Kawboy and I. Just rolled in half an hour ago.  Rode with JJ, KRJ and Shannon through Salida where those two peeled off and headed back.  Kawboy and I rode on with JJ to Alamosa.  We peeled off at that point back to the Springs via La Veta Pass.  We caught a little rain, pretty sure JJ caught a lot more.

JJ, post up when you can to let us know the details of that last leg for you.  Pictures to follow.  We are starving and must get food.  Kawboy said he got your text.    

[kingbaby]

 
  

Hooligans prevail !!!

Thank you for trying to hook up JJ's baby KRJ  

We're crossin' borders now. Those Denver guys might as well hand over the keys to the city  

The weather looked pretty good this afternoon on this side of the border.  A storm cell went plowing through south of Taos, but that looked like the worst weather around here today.

The general forum is covered in bad stories, so this one makes me glad to be a part of this group.

KRJ just told me you made it home.

Welcome home JJ !

[KRJ]

   Glad everything worked out OK, when Shannon and I got back to town the Guys from Fremont Motorsports, our local shop, had called and were waiting to open and get Us a tire, a little late but willing to help on sunday. Damn good people. We got a little wet but beat the brunt of the storm..Good seeing all, was a short but fun ride for us.. We can now all call JJ the "Silver Streak".. Work beckons early, night..

[kingbaby]

"Silver Streak"  I love it!

Good night all.

[bonfy]

Yes, KRJ, I'm always glad to know you are down there in Canyon City when I'm riding in that territory because I know you will hook me up if I have any trouble.  You've got the shop and contacts to make it happen.   It was really fun riding with you and Shannon out 50 to Salida.  

And then last night, Pete called from Los Lunas and when I relayed the entire saga, he said he had a sport tire the right size in his garage he's been trying to sell or even give away...a Dunlap Qualifier with at least 1000 miles left on it.  He said he wished I'd called because he could've contacted the duplex owner to let us in to get it.  I hesitated because I knew he'd have his garage dooor opener with him, (he's pointed that out to me before) and didn't think anyone else would be around to let us in.  Plus he's in NM on a much more somber occasion than our particular motorcyle calamity of the moment and I didn't want to intrude upon his scene.  

I am rephrasing my previous post because it isn't me who should be thanking everyone, it's not like it was my kid, just one of my best riding buddies, who had the worn tire.  He has thanked everyone profusely already.  I was just impressed with everyone who tried to help from their various locations, including DDGM who called around to the Denver crew, Scottish, who had some great ideas and input, and KB and Dusty who also contributed their ideas for sockets and possible solutions.  In the end, JJ made it happen by riding safely and managing to squeeze a few hundred miles out of a dead tire.  Good job, JJ!    It was a blast seeing you again and thanks for making the effort to come up!  It definitely upped the adrenalin factor a few points.  Can't wait till 4/20/10 to make another fudge run! 

[JJ]

Wow, I should be thanking everyone for their support and generosity! Our group is just wonderful...& resourceful....in times of need everyone voluteered their best!!!

Thanks a ton Bonfy. Kawboy (their spirits fly the sky!), KRJ & Shannon, DDGM, Kingbaby, Hans, Scotish & The guys at the Jap dealership at Florence, CO.  

I had an amazing ride, perhaps the test of a lifetime in riding...On one end, my tires were almost gone..beyond belief on a rather expensive machine I could not risk, not because it is a machine, but because it is everything!!! On the other end, I got pelted by rain that felt like spears through skin, bitten by bugs...drenched with an already heavy 22lb gear, 49 degrees felt like freezing at 80+...Try my tire on a wet road? well that was a luxury I lacked as well...But we (YES WE) made every painstaking mile grateful that all tried and I had to make it back and keep this precious upright...I had to always push to reach the glorified sunny horizon that always seemed a distant reality with the rain gods chasing...high speeds, high risks...still a miracle I made it...Here's pictures that speak the story...I'm sure others have more...All said and done, it was worth the trip and I'll not hesitate to invest in the Pirelli Dragon SuperCorsa's! All the more, I need that wretched key to remove the rear wheel in an emergency!

A ride makes a difference, even more the bike, but today I'd add that the people aound you make the best of everything!

Finally, bowing down to the unimaginable sight in my garage after the ordeal! The so called silver streak for a reason...Or rather my take..Poor man's operation of an un-poor bike...




Farewell ride..Bon Voyage!

[hunkypunk]

Very Cool!   

Wish I was there!

JJ I bet you had at least 2mm of rubber between you and a blowout...no biggie 

Glad you made it home safe.

Here's a thought...when its raining find a place to stop and wait for the rain to stop....just saying....its a thought. 

[kingbaby]

There is a reason our group has happy endings.  We take care of each other.

On the general forum there are tons of stories of "Doom & Gloom", but not so many of
"Bad gone good" (actually there are zero).

Rage on!

[Kawboy]

And you thought JJ had a ride back.  HA!!   Left the Springs today around noon after checking weather.com online.  It appeared I was to have some rainy weather down to about Pueblo and then looked like I would run outof it.  It was not to be though.  When I left the Bonfy residence it was raining and around 38 degrees.  Fortunately I had brought all my winter gear or I wouldn't have even attempted it.  Rain all the the way to Pueblo.  Not too bad.  I can handle rain.  South of Pueblo my thermometer started heading south also. By the time I got to Colorado City, Snow was mixed with the rain and I was discovering my "water proof" gloves, were not.  I needed to warm up the hands and feet and top off the tank.  Hit the Subway there and half an hour later was back on the road. Temp was now 35 and it wasn't a snow/rain mix anymore.  All snow now, but not that heavy.  Heading south to Walsenberg the snow started to get heavier and heavier.  I had to stop at Walsenberg.  The snow was so heavy I couldn't keep my visor clean and my wind screen was snow packed.  Hung around a gas station there for about half an hour until the snow lighten a little.  Some one coming from the south said that at Trinidad it was rain and from Raton south was no rain.  Back onto the road again.  Still snowing not as heavy though.  BTW, my gloves are soaked.  Made it to Trinidad but it wasn't rain.  Still snowing.  Pressed on with one through:  To make it over Raton Pass.  Make it that far and the worst will be over.  Temp is now 32 and a slight hint of slush on the road.  45 mph up the pass, snowing hard.  Made it over.  Coming down the New Mexico side, no snow and a light rain. Stopped in Raton to fuel up, eat, and thaw out; fingers and toes both numb.  It took a little over 5 hours to get to Raton.  Left there a little after 5:30 with overcast and no rain.  Finally I can nail it now.  Got home just before 8 averaging somewhere around 100 with a gas stop in Las Vegas.  The bike was flawless.  That's more than I can say about the weather.  Quite a mission, though.  [moto] [moto]

[Cloner]

Dang, Kawboy.  Sounds like an ironman kinda trip for you, huh?  Glad you got home in one piece, and without frostbite.

All hail the conquering Kawboy!! 

[dusty]

WOW!!!  Thank God you were not on a sport bike.  Not saying you wouldn't have made it but it would have been a lot sketchier.  There is no doubt, you are one bad-ass dude!!  So happy you made it home safely. Thanks for sharing your story.


and uh, no pics necessary.

[bonfy]

This thread gives a whole 'nother meaning to "silly season".   

[hunkypunk]

fingers and toes both numb.   [moto] [moto]

I thought you had heated grips on that thing???

[JJ]

Kawboy, thats one crazy trip!!! I could have never made it...the ride to the springs was quite a trip!!! Looks like we brought the chill back...early winter?