My Hardest Ride in 2008
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:10 pm
Last year's hardest ride for me was the Colorado Classic 1000 in August. Steve Hart from Topeka recommended the ride and Lee Hunt and I volunteered to complete the ride with him. Here’s the article I wrote for BMW Riders Association that was published in their December 2008 On the Level magazine.
2008 Colorado Classic 1000!
Denver to Cripple Creek, the long way around…A thousand miles in a day!
August 16-17, 2008
Ken Krumm, RA #27812
Manhattan KS
The 2008 Colorado Classic 1000, hosted by the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club, is an annual long-distance riding event which asks participants to ride 1000 miles in a day! The BMW Motorcycle club of Colorado website described the event as “Sanctioned by the Iron Butt Association® as an official SaddleSore 1000 endurance rally and is limited to 125 entrants. This year’s route departed the Denver area for the historic gold rush town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, the long way around! (See Map at Bottom of Page) It followed scenic, two-lane highways across the Colorado high country, climbing mountain passes totaling almost 100,000 feet in vertical elevation and crossing the Continental Divide at four locations.” Before the event, I should have paid closer attention to this paragraph. It included all the clues necessary to determine the route beforehand.
I participated in this year’s event were two other riders from Kansas; Lee Hunt from Olathe and Steve Hart from Topeka. We departed Kansas for Lakewood, Colorado on Friday, August 14th. We arrived later that afternoon at the Lakewood Holiday Inn and registered for the event. After signing all the release forms, we were issued the route for this year’s event. Before registration, I was convinced the route would travel north to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then west on fast Interstate 80, dropping down into western Colorado. Unfortunately, the event organizers had other ideas. This year’s route was very aggressive for a Saddle Sore 1000, with very little interstate and twelve continental divide passes. When you’re attempting to cover 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours, fast straight interstates are desired. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Adding to the complicated route was unseasonable weather. On Friday night, the weather forecast called for statewide rain with snow and ice in the mountains on Saturday. The Eisenhower Tunnel was already having problems with snow and slush. It became obvious that this years Colorado Classic 1000 was not another Iron Butt SaddleSore ticket punch event.
The event began at 5:00 AM Saturday morning when we departed Lakewood, Colorado in heavy rain. Our first big hurdle was getting over Berthoud Pass just north of Empire, Colorado. As we gained altitude on Interstate 70, the temperatures dropped into the 30s-40s, with a very cold rain. After turning north, we passed through Empire towards Berthoud Pass. At 9,000 feet, the road turning into a couple inches of slush. It became evident that Crossing Berthoud Pass at 11,000 feet was out of the question. Unfortunately, while discussing our options standing in two inches of slush, my BMW K1100LT center stand sunk into the mud and fell on its right side, causing minor damage. The road down to Empire was very treacherous, but we turned around and rode back to the interstate, passing through Eisenhower Tunnel to Dillon with more slush and snow. Luckily, truck traffic kept two tire tracks open on Interstate 70.
At Dillon, Colorado we stopped for gas and then rode Highway 9 to Waldron, Colorado to get back onto the original designated route. This detour added about 50 miles and over an hour in time. Just north of Dillon (about 10 miles) the road without warning turned to slush and we came upon two bikes down. The first bike was a Honda Goldwing that went down on its left side, in the middle of the road. About a half dozen folks were attempting to get this behemoth vertical. The second bike was a BMW K1200GT that went off the road into a ravine, and was wedged between two trees. Needless to say, it was totaled and needed a wrecker to retrieve. Both riders were alright. The Honda Goldwing rider mounted his bike and continued on.
We continued north to Waldron and fortunately, the skies began to clear and it warmed into the 40s. Thank God for electric jacket liners and heated grips. As we passed into Wyoming, the roads dried and we started to make up time. However, we were behind schedule and the roads had a lot of curves. By the time we arrived at Baggs, Wyoming, we were only 250 miles into the event and 5½ hours had already passed. We needed to make time.
Fortunately, the roads from Baggs, Wyoming all the way to almost Cortez, Colorado were mostly straight, wide open and fast. My only concern was a large amount of open ranges with cattle on the roads. Meeker, Colorado was our first designate gas stop. The weather warmed into the 80s by the time we arrived in Grand Junction, Colorado, with beautiful blue skies. We were able to push the speed limit a bit arriving at the 500 mile mark in 9½ hours. So we took our first 15 minute break at Grand Junction. Before this time, it was just gas and go. South of Grand Junction, we rode Highway 141 through Gateway, Colorado on one of the most beautiful roads in the U.S.
We continue to push our speeds knowing the last 400 miles would be all mountains. Near Cortez, Colorado we were back in the mountains and rode Highway 145 to Rico, Colorado, to our second mandatory gas stop. After our second 15 minute break, we departed Rico for Placerville, Colorado then onto Montrose, Colorado. It was now dark and we were on Highway 50 heading towards Gunnison. The mountains were slow, and we were quickly loosing the time we made up from Baggs, Wyoming to Cortez, Colorado.
We had one major hurdle that had worried me all day: Monarch Pass. I have never crossed the pass during the day without snow, ice or rain. We were on schedule to cross Monarch Pass at 11:00 PM and rain was already on the mountain. We took a gas stop at Gunnison, Colorado and pushed on. By the time we arrived at the top of the mountain, the temperature dropped to 36 degrees. Fortunately, we were 30 minutes behind the rain and were able to watch the thunderstorm continue moving away. We crossed Monarch Pass with steaming wet roads and plenty of deer.
With Monarch Pass behind us, we continued through Salida, Colorado to Highway 9 and traveled north, where we picked up a county road to Cripple Creek, Colorado. For me, this was the most dangerous road of the day with open range (cattle near the roads), plenty of deer, new wet chip & seal, tight curves and hills, cold temps, tired bones and light rain.
We arrived at Cripple Creek at 1:18 AM with plenty of time to complete the event (end time was 5:00 AM). The Colorado Classic 1000 was limited to 125 participants. However, the word must have gotten out from last years event (the route changes every year) on the difficulty of the mountains and only 45 registered. With the rain and cold, eight participants decided not to start and 12 did not finish. Out of the remaining 25 participants that completed the event, the best time arrived a 11:30 PM. I doubt he actually completed the designated rally route, since you only had to return with a 1000 + miles and gas receipts for Meeker and Rico. It really didn’t matter. It wasn’t a race. It was an individual rally within a time limit.
When you consider the damage to my bike, dangerous road conditions, near misses with cattle and deer, cold wet rain, and fatigue, I was left with the feeling that this was one of the most dangerous and dumbest rides I have ever completed. But oddly, I will probably do it again sometime in the future. I’ve participated in Iron Butt SaddleSore rides before. However, this route was better suited for accomplished Iron Butt competitors, and not a group of volunteers. Even with all the difficulty, I enjoyed the event. Events that push your limits teach you a little about yourself, both good and bad. Nonetheless, participants need to understand the risk involved and their own capabilities. Let the rider beware. Sometimes, you get more than you bargained for.
Photos by Lee Hunt
Colorado Classic 1000: Saturday, 6:00 AM. One Hour into the event north of Empire, Colorado at 9,000 feet, just south of Berthoud Pass (looking North).
Colorado Classic 1000: Saturday, 6:00 AM. One Hour into the event north of Empire, Colorado at 9,000 feet, just south of Berthoud Pass (looking South).
Colorado Classic 1000 Route with Detour.
2008 Colorado Classic 1000!
Denver to Cripple Creek, the long way around…A thousand miles in a day!
August 16-17, 2008
Ken Krumm, RA #27812
Manhattan KS
The 2008 Colorado Classic 1000, hosted by the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club, is an annual long-distance riding event which asks participants to ride 1000 miles in a day! The BMW Motorcycle club of Colorado website described the event as “Sanctioned by the Iron Butt Association® as an official SaddleSore 1000 endurance rally and is limited to 125 entrants. This year’s route departed the Denver area for the historic gold rush town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, the long way around! (See Map at Bottom of Page) It followed scenic, two-lane highways across the Colorado high country, climbing mountain passes totaling almost 100,000 feet in vertical elevation and crossing the Continental Divide at four locations.” Before the event, I should have paid closer attention to this paragraph. It included all the clues necessary to determine the route beforehand.
I participated in this year’s event were two other riders from Kansas; Lee Hunt from Olathe and Steve Hart from Topeka. We departed Kansas for Lakewood, Colorado on Friday, August 14th. We arrived later that afternoon at the Lakewood Holiday Inn and registered for the event. After signing all the release forms, we were issued the route for this year’s event. Before registration, I was convinced the route would travel north to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then west on fast Interstate 80, dropping down into western Colorado. Unfortunately, the event organizers had other ideas. This year’s route was very aggressive for a Saddle Sore 1000, with very little interstate and twelve continental divide passes. When you’re attempting to cover 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours, fast straight interstates are desired. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Adding to the complicated route was unseasonable weather. On Friday night, the weather forecast called for statewide rain with snow and ice in the mountains on Saturday. The Eisenhower Tunnel was already having problems with snow and slush. It became obvious that this years Colorado Classic 1000 was not another Iron Butt SaddleSore ticket punch event.
The event began at 5:00 AM Saturday morning when we departed Lakewood, Colorado in heavy rain. Our first big hurdle was getting over Berthoud Pass just north of Empire, Colorado. As we gained altitude on Interstate 70, the temperatures dropped into the 30s-40s, with a very cold rain. After turning north, we passed through Empire towards Berthoud Pass. At 9,000 feet, the road turning into a couple inches of slush. It became evident that Crossing Berthoud Pass at 11,000 feet was out of the question. Unfortunately, while discussing our options standing in two inches of slush, my BMW K1100LT center stand sunk into the mud and fell on its right side, causing minor damage. The road down to Empire was very treacherous, but we turned around and rode back to the interstate, passing through Eisenhower Tunnel to Dillon with more slush and snow. Luckily, truck traffic kept two tire tracks open on Interstate 70.
At Dillon, Colorado we stopped for gas and then rode Highway 9 to Waldron, Colorado to get back onto the original designated route. This detour added about 50 miles and over an hour in time. Just north of Dillon (about 10 miles) the road without warning turned to slush and we came upon two bikes down. The first bike was a Honda Goldwing that went down on its left side, in the middle of the road. About a half dozen folks were attempting to get this behemoth vertical. The second bike was a BMW K1200GT that went off the road into a ravine, and was wedged between two trees. Needless to say, it was totaled and needed a wrecker to retrieve. Both riders were alright. The Honda Goldwing rider mounted his bike and continued on.
We continued north to Waldron and fortunately, the skies began to clear and it warmed into the 40s. Thank God for electric jacket liners and heated grips. As we passed into Wyoming, the roads dried and we started to make up time. However, we were behind schedule and the roads had a lot of curves. By the time we arrived at Baggs, Wyoming, we were only 250 miles into the event and 5½ hours had already passed. We needed to make time.
Fortunately, the roads from Baggs, Wyoming all the way to almost Cortez, Colorado were mostly straight, wide open and fast. My only concern was a large amount of open ranges with cattle on the roads. Meeker, Colorado was our first designate gas stop. The weather warmed into the 80s by the time we arrived in Grand Junction, Colorado, with beautiful blue skies. We were able to push the speed limit a bit arriving at the 500 mile mark in 9½ hours. So we took our first 15 minute break at Grand Junction. Before this time, it was just gas and go. South of Grand Junction, we rode Highway 141 through Gateway, Colorado on one of the most beautiful roads in the U.S.
We continue to push our speeds knowing the last 400 miles would be all mountains. Near Cortez, Colorado we were back in the mountains and rode Highway 145 to Rico, Colorado, to our second mandatory gas stop. After our second 15 minute break, we departed Rico for Placerville, Colorado then onto Montrose, Colorado. It was now dark and we were on Highway 50 heading towards Gunnison. The mountains were slow, and we were quickly loosing the time we made up from Baggs, Wyoming to Cortez, Colorado.
We had one major hurdle that had worried me all day: Monarch Pass. I have never crossed the pass during the day without snow, ice or rain. We were on schedule to cross Monarch Pass at 11:00 PM and rain was already on the mountain. We took a gas stop at Gunnison, Colorado and pushed on. By the time we arrived at the top of the mountain, the temperature dropped to 36 degrees. Fortunately, we were 30 minutes behind the rain and were able to watch the thunderstorm continue moving away. We crossed Monarch Pass with steaming wet roads and plenty of deer.
With Monarch Pass behind us, we continued through Salida, Colorado to Highway 9 and traveled north, where we picked up a county road to Cripple Creek, Colorado. For me, this was the most dangerous road of the day with open range (cattle near the roads), plenty of deer, new wet chip & seal, tight curves and hills, cold temps, tired bones and light rain.
We arrived at Cripple Creek at 1:18 AM with plenty of time to complete the event (end time was 5:00 AM). The Colorado Classic 1000 was limited to 125 participants. However, the word must have gotten out from last years event (the route changes every year) on the difficulty of the mountains and only 45 registered. With the rain and cold, eight participants decided not to start and 12 did not finish. Out of the remaining 25 participants that completed the event, the best time arrived a 11:30 PM. I doubt he actually completed the designated rally route, since you only had to return with a 1000 + miles and gas receipts for Meeker and Rico. It really didn’t matter. It wasn’t a race. It was an individual rally within a time limit.
When you consider the damage to my bike, dangerous road conditions, near misses with cattle and deer, cold wet rain, and fatigue, I was left with the feeling that this was one of the most dangerous and dumbest rides I have ever completed. But oddly, I will probably do it again sometime in the future. I’ve participated in Iron Butt SaddleSore rides before. However, this route was better suited for accomplished Iron Butt competitors, and not a group of volunteers. Even with all the difficulty, I enjoyed the event. Events that push your limits teach you a little about yourself, both good and bad. Nonetheless, participants need to understand the risk involved and their own capabilities. Let the rider beware. Sometimes, you get more than you bargained for.
Photos by Lee Hunt
Colorado Classic 1000: Saturday, 6:00 AM. One Hour into the event north of Empire, Colorado at 9,000 feet, just south of Berthoud Pass (looking North).
Colorado Classic 1000: Saturday, 6:00 AM. One Hour into the event north of Empire, Colorado at 9,000 feet, just south of Berthoud Pass (looking South).
Colorado Classic 1000 Route with Detour.
