After getting the blessing to tag along from the ride leader I got down to business. I have been riding a GSA since 2003 and I rode some of the Alpine Loop while attending an Adventure Rider Rally at the Ouray KOA in 2004 so I had some familiarity with the area we’d be calling our playground. For my first ride on the loop I grabbed a friend from New England as I wasn’t going alone. Later we both confessed how nervous we were.
I’ve done quite a bit of riding since this photo was taken. I rode that GSA in the 2005 Iron Butt Rally where I found out what happens if you run a rally loaded GSA at WOT in the desert for a few hours. It’s not as bad as you might think but it will require a road side valve adjustment. I’ve had four GS Adventures since this bike; I trained with Shane Watts, the BMW Performance Center Instructors and have been participating in all sorts of off road rides and adventures whenever possible. I even wrecked one by hitting a porta potty but that’s a story for the campfire. I looked forward to having a much more relaxed experience on the Alpine Loop than my first trip 13 years ago.
For this trip I’d be riding my 2012 GSA. Ironically I also finished an Iron Butt Rally (2013) on this bike; neither rally I did on a RT ended well. Since the day after the rally the bike has been getting converted to more and more of a woods bike. Gone are the aluminium panniers, original hand guards and mirrors; all were replaced with proven gear such as Barkbusters, DoubleTake (mirrors) and Mosko Moto for soft bags. This evolution has caused some concern for my wife. As much as she loves riding her GS she is not quite as enthusiastic about proving dead end signs wrong as I am.
I also decided to forgo using the Sprinter van to transport the bike to Colorado. The Sprinter is a great tool for bending space and time but it has been a while since I left for a tour on the bike. I felt this might be making me a bit too soft. I also wanted to make sure I was completely and 100% bonded with my fully loaded GS before I connected with the group. With this in mind loaded up most of my gear for a day of practice with my friend Kyle.
A day in the Savoy Forest with gear. Note lack of tankbag.
I was able to glean some information on what to expect from the ride organizer, Jim Bean via facebook messaging. I was told the main meetup was in Ridgway, Colorado the Sunday after the National. I was also told that some of the gang was going to get together the night before in Lake City. With a plan to leave early Thursday morning I figured I’d meet up with the group in Ridgway.
One of the constant challenges of riding a big dual sport motorcycle is tires. The best tire for back country Colorado is often the worst tire for the 2,000 miles of pavement required to get to the Rockies. To mount my off road tire of choice in Connecticut would mean having a tire that was more than 50% gone before finding any dirt, plus I’d probably need a new tire on the way home. My solution was to contact my buddy Woody of Woody’s Wheel Works.
Woody is a trip. He’s old school. He was born in Germany and came to the United States with his parents as a child, fleeing Nazi Germany. He’s one of a brilliant mind and a natural problem solver. He is the Woody behind Woodys Wheel Works; I purchased wheels for a few years before I actually met the man himself. Woody also has a friend who is a paraplegic skier. Woody saw his equipment, said “I can do better” and is now the supplier of equipment to the US Paraplegic ski team. Problem solved. I shipped a few things to his shop and planned on seeing him Saturday for some tires.”
I told you he was “Old School” If this van could talk you probably don’t want to hear all the stories.
As an aside we used a similar van to support our sailing team in 1984. That one was destroyed to protect the guilty.
Finally my departure day arrived. I was packed and ready to head west. I still did not know exactly what the plan was. I had heard White Rim Trail (outside MOAB) and Colorado, specifically the Alpine Loop. From photos of previous trips I figured I should be ready to back country camp, fix my bike and pick up a few bumps and bruises. Other than water filtration I was ready to leave no trace; I even had bio bags so I could carry out my poo which is a requirement in the Canyonlands National Park.
I left home with Woody’s Wheel Works as my destination. The first day was uneventful but like the Iron Butt Rally I was very impressed with the speed some folk will push a complete shitbox of a vehicle down the highway. The make great rabbits so long as the tailpipe doesn’t come off and I made some great time west through New York, right up until I got to Buffalo. There had been some big rain and the interstate was blocked by water. I found this out at a toll booth from a kind trucker. We were in a traffic jam and nobody was even getting though the toll but that didn’t prevent a couple in s a small Mercedes SUV from tapping my left saddle bag as they tried to get around me while I spoke with the trucker. I should have dropped the bike and called for a waambulance and a lawyer but I had places to go.
Day two. Day two someone stuck a firecracker in my bum and lit the fuse. It might have been the realization that with the time zones working in my favor I could be at Woody’s *tonight*. This was followed by “I could be at Woody’s for *dinner*!” The results of such feelings are below. The product of a whole bunch of LD Rallies and rides is the ability to snap one of these off on demand. What I didn’t have the juice for two weeks prior was a walk in the park with Woody on the other end.
Don’t try this east of the Mississippi.
Next: Denver to Lake City / Meeting a legend