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Avalanche HD Giveaway at Black Hawk Ameristar – 2 Weeks Until the Drawing

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The weather is HOT and riders are heading up the mountains to beat the heat. If you are riding thru the mountains and ride thru Black Hawk, be sure to make a pitstop at Ameristar in BlackHawk and check out the Avalanche Harley-Davidson motorcycle promotions they have going on until July 3rd.

This Friday, I headed up to see some friends at Ameristar and try my luck at a few slot machines. As i came thru security, i couldn’t help but see the magnificent collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles displayed.

The concept is simple, All mychoice® members get on free entry. For more entries, play June 1 – July 3. Every 10 tier points earned is an additional entry.

From Tuesday thru Friday you can boost your entry earnings by playing on entry multiplier days!

Tuesdays = 2X Entries
Wednesdays = 3X Entries
Thursdays = 4X Entries
Fridays = 5X Entries

Plus, on Saturdays, Advantage, Preferred, Elite and Owners Club members can claim bonus entries at any promotional kiosk!
Advantage = 250 bonus entries
Preferred = 500 bonus entries
Elite = 1,000 bonus entries
Owners Club = 1,500 bonus entries

See mychoice Center for complete details.

Today marks the 77th anniversary of D-Day

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If you want to ever thank a veteran for their service in our biker community, you don’t have to look far. Today marks the 77th anniversary of D-Day and our history of fighting for freedom all over the world. For the month of June, Colorado Rider News will continue to feature stories of veterans, active military and their history as well as the organizations they ride with.

History of D-Day

In the United States, D-Day is celebrated in remembrance of the brave soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. These American and Allied soldiers, some of which were killed in action, fought to liberate northwestern Europe from Nazi occupation, and bring an end to WWII in Europe.

Over 160,000 soldiers and paratroopers participated in the liberation of Normandy and this day is often seen as one of the main reasons why the Allies won the Western Front.  More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by the end of the day, the troops gained a food-hold in Normandy.  Thousands of soldiers lost their lives, but thousands more trekked across Europe to end the war.   The invasion is one of history’s most significant military attacks.

Native American’s Participation in D-Day

175 Native soldiers landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day; to date, the Department of Defense has identified 55.  44,000 Native Americans served throughout the U.S. military between 1941 and 1945. Nearly 800 Native American women served as well, Native women served as members of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), WACS (Women Army Corps), and Army Nurse Corps.

The 44,000 Native American men who served represent more than ten percent of the American Indian population at that time. A third of Native men between the ages of 18 and 50 served. Some tribes had as high as 70 percent participation in the war effort.

After the successful use of the Choctaw language (to befuddle the Germans) in World War I in sending messages to field phones, the U.S. Marine Corps began recruiting Navajo Indians for the same purpose.  They would become known as the Navajo Code Talkers.  Their code allowed for faster transmitting and deciphering, and it was a code the Japanese were never able to break.

A U.S. Army medic from Indian Island, Maine, Private Shay was attached to one of the first regiments to land on Omaha Beach, the most heavily defended sector of the coast. Shay began treating the wounded as soon as he got his footing, dragging wounded soldiers out of the surf under constant fire. After the war, the U.S. Army awarded Shay a Silver Star for his actions, and the French government appointed him a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur, the highest honor given to noncitizens of France.

The people of Normandy dedicated the Charles Shay Memorial. The first French monument to honor American Indian soldiers who fought on D-Day, it is part of a growing movement to acknowledge Native Americans’ contributions during World War II. To Shay, the simple stone turtle that stands as the park’s monument represents all the “Indian soldiers who left Turtle Island to help liberate our allies.”

D-Day Customs & Traditions

In the United States, D-Day is an observance day – which means that it is not a federal holiday and federal holidays are not given this day off. It is also not a holiday that is given as a day off to workers in the private sector. However, many people do observe this holiday by visiting museums with D-Day displays. Also, there are often rides, memorials and ceremonies given all over the country on June 6.

If your bike trips and travel ever take you close to Washington, DC Bedford, Virginia is about 3 ½ hours south of DC.  Be sure to stop at the  National D-Day Memorial.  This monument, which was dedicated in 2001, stands on an 88-acre memorial that features a 44-foot-tall granite arch, a reflecting pool, and English gardens. Encircling the monument are the names of over 4400 Allied soldiers who died during the invasion. It is one of the most complete lists of its kind that can be found anywhere in the world. 

You can also virtually visit the memorial by going to www.dday.org

Mount Evans OPENS UP today – Reservations are Required

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The Mount Evans Road from Echo Lake to the summit of the prominent Front Range fourteener is scheduled to open for the summer today, but there is a glitch: The website that was supposed to begin taking reservations this week hasn’t been cooperating.

“The reservation system failed to launch Wednesday morning,” said Reid Armstrong, public affairs specialist for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. “A new launch time will be announced this afternoon in advance of the actual relaunch.”

Mount Evans is the closest you can get to the moon on a paved road in North America

Reservations are being required this year at Mount Evans for the first time as a strategy to manage traffic load on the 14-mile road, which climbs more than 3,600 feet in elevation. Recreation.gov is the site where visitors make reservations for Mount Evans, Brainard Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park. Brainard Lake is scheduled to open June 11, weather permitting.

Mount Evans, the highest paved road in North America, is a popular summer tourist destination. CDOT crews began clearing snow May 17, and they had to re-plow this week because the mountain received significant snow over the weekend, but CDOT says the road will open on Friday unless it receives more snow.

Before you venture out on your next road trip that will take thru State and National Parks, be sure to check to see if they require reservations.

These National Parks Will Require Reservations This Summer

While there are more than 400 national park sites (monuments, seashores, recreation areas, and memorials), only 63 of them are designated as national parks and require entrance fees. All of these 63 major parks—think Yellowstone, Acadia, and the Grand Canyon—will continue charging those $20–$35 park entrance fees upon arrival, even if you don’t have to make a timed reservation to access the park. If you’re planning to visit more than one national park this summer, consider purchasing an America the Beautiful pass for $80, which covers a year’s worth of entry fees for a single vehicle (at parks that charge per-car fees), or up to four adults where fees are charged per person.

Here, we’ve rounded up the parks that will require a little extra planning to visit this summer, thanks to new reservation systems, with all the details you need for a seamless visit. 

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

This park about 1.5 hours north of Denver saw 3.3 million visitors last year, despite a two-month-long closure in the spring. To prevent overcrowding, the park is instituting a two-prong reservation system for all visitors this summer, in effect between May 28 and October 11.

Stunning view at lake Odessa with Notchtop peak in Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado, photos by Shutterstock

Here’s how the Rocky Mountain National Park reservations will work: If you’d like to visit the Bear Lake Corridor, one of the most popular spots in the park, you’ll have to make a reservation for a two-hour window between 5 a.m. MT and 6 p.m. MT.

You’ll be able to access Bear Lake and its surrounding trails, as well as the rest of the park, and can continue exploring after of your two-hour entry window. If you’re more interested in other areas at Rocky Mountain and plan to skip Bear Lake and its surrounds, you can get a separate reservation for two-hour timed slots between 9 a.m. MT and 3 p.m. MT. Though you will have to enter during your two-hour window, you can stay in the park beyond when it ends. 

Glacier National Park, Montana

Traversing the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most scenic drives in Glacier National Park, with tons of lookout points to spot bighorn sheep, waterfalls, and more, as well as trails and campgrounds. This year, driving the road—which takes about two hours without stopping—will require an advance reservation, though the rest of the park will not.

Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, MT, photos by Shutterstock

Those entering the park at either the West Glacier or St. Mary’s entrances (which bookend the road) between May 28 and September 6 will need $2 day-use tickets, which can be purchased on recreation.gov. Summer tickets will be released up to 60 days in advance starting April 28, with a quarter of the ticket released two days in advance. Those traveling both along this road or through the rest of the park will need to pay the $35 vehicle entrance fee as well. You can find more details about the reservation system and fees on the park’s site. 

Yosemite National Park, California

Last year, Yosemite required reservations ahead of time and capped entry at 50 percent capacity, leaving the park’s usually crowded trails and parking lots surprisingly empty. “We might never get the chance to see Yosemite this way again in our lifetimes,” longtime park ranger Scott Gediman said last September. This summer, the park will still require reservations but you can expect a few more people, since reservations are being offered to between 50 and 90 percent capacity, depending on COVID-19 data, according to Thrillist. 

El Capitan and Merced River, Yosemite National Park, CA, photos by Shutterstock

The $37 vehicle reservations are valid for three consecutive days of entry and go on sale throughout April and May. (Like at Rocky Mountain, if you have an annual pass, you’ll still need a reservation but only have to pay the $2 processing fee.) The first batch of reservations for May 21 to June 30 are available on recreation.gov starting April 21 at 8 a.m. PT. The full calendar of when reservations go live can be found on Yosemite’s site. As the National Park Service notes, “reservations are taken almost immediately,” so be prepared with a recreation.gov account and be logged in ahead of time. If you miss out, note that a very small amount of reservations open on the site at 8 a.m. PT seven days in advance. 

Zion National Park, Utah

Like at Acadia and Glacier, certain parts of Zion require reservations while others do not. This summer, the upper Zion Canyon and the Scenic Drive are both closed to cars and you’ll need a reservation on the park’s socially distanced shuttle service to access sights like the Emerald Pools, West Rim Trail, and Angels Landing. Shuttle tickets are just $1 and are released twice a month, on the 16th and the last day of the month, and you can find the full calendar of when tickets are released on Zion’s site. Like everywhere else, you can purchase tickets on recreation.gov, which will allow you to buy up to eight at a time. Once you’ve snagged a ticket, you can board a shuttle at the main visitor center within your ticket’s one-hour window and then can treat the shuttle like a hop-on, hop-off bus for the rest of the day. 

Subway, Zion national park, Utah, photos provided by Shutterstock

If you can’t get a ticket on the 16th or the last day of the month, you can find tickets online one day in advance at 5 p.m. MT. A limited amount of first come, first served shuttle tickets are also available at the visitor center between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah, photos provided by Shutterstock

Visitors who aren’t interested in the shuttle stops can rock up to the park to pay the $35 vehicle entry fee upon arrival, and can explore the trails around the visitor center, as well as hikes along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Kolob Terrace Road, for seven consecutive days. 

10 Tips to Stay Cool on Hot Motorcycle Rides

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By Shannon “Dazzlin” Venturo, Senior Moto-Journalist

Summer is made for epic fun.  Even though it tends to be quite hot in Nevada in the middle of the day, we still have the benefit of year-round riding.  Nearly every day in Las Vegas is “riding season”.

Warm, sunny weather and long days make summer an ideal time for motorcycling.  But with 2021 set to surpass 2020 as the hottest season days on record, you need to be prepared to deal with above-average temperatures, especially on multi-day tours where you’ll be riding several hours per day.  These tips will help you keep your cool.

  1. Stay Hydrated.

According to WebMD, heat exhaustion “is a heat-related illness that can occur after you’ve been exposed to high temperatures, and it often is accompanied by dehydration.”  Heat exhaustion can include water depletion and salt depletion, so you should drink plenty of water supplemented by sports drinks (to restore electrolytes lost through sweat) and salty snacks.  The easiest way to drink water while riding is to wear a hydration backpack, which includes a water bladder and a drinking tube that can be used on the go, even with a full-face helmet.  One of my favorites is HydroBack 50 oz Hydration Pack, available on Amazon right now for just $35.

2. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine.

You should always avoid drinking alcohol until after you’re done riding for the day.  Not only does alcohol can leave you dehydrated (and possibly hungover) the next day, which means you start off at a disadvantage.  Whether caffeine contributes to dehydrations is debatable, but the consensus is that consuming plain old water (plus the occasional sports drink to restore electrolytes) is the best way to fight dehydration.  Drink lots of water to replace lost fluids.

3. Wear Wicking Base Layers.

Sweating is how our bodies regulate temperature.  When sweat evaporates, it cools the surface of the skin, and the hotter we get, the more we sweat (which is why we need to make a concerted effort to stay hydrated).  Wearing synthetic base layers wicks moisture away from your skin, which increases the efficiency of evaporative cooling.  Stretchy, snug-fitting base layers, like those from Forcefield, also provide light compression for better circulation and less fatigue.   Trust us – once you start wearing base layers, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without them.

4. Wear Full-Coverage Riding Apparel.

When the summer heats up, many of us love to wear shorts, tank tops and sandals.  However, none of these make sense on a motorcycle, unless you wear shorts and a t-shirt under your armored riding apparel (carry flip-flogs in your saddlebag so you can kick off your riding boots during breaks and let your feet breath)  Jared Richards is a big fan of the philosophy of ATGATT (All the Gear, All the Time) for safety reasons.  No one ever plans to crash, but accidents do happen, and good motorcycle gear can reduce the severity of injuries.  Full-length gloves, jackets and pants, over-the-ankle boots and full-face or modular helmets also protect the skin from the ravages of sunburn and dehydrations.  By all means, stay comfortable by wearing something that is well ventilated or has large mesh panels to promote airflow, especially in lighter colors.  We respect your right to wear what you feel most comfortable riding in.

5. Wear an evaporative Cooling Vest.

On hot days, boost the power of evaporative cooling with a special-made vest that can be worn under your riding jacket to keep your core from overheating.  When you soak your cooling vest in water (I use the TechNiche Hyperkewl Cooling Vest), its polymer-embedded fabric allows evaporation to occur slowly, over several hours.  Instead of soaking there are many other styles you can use, some you fill it with water like a bladder, and its “dry evaporative cooling” uses patented technology.  This is perfect for longer trips and I have had excellent results, thought evaporative cooling is more effective in dry than humid climates.

6. Wear an Evaporative Cooling Neck Wrap.

Go a step further by adding an evaporative cooling neck wrap, like the ones you can find on www.mycoolingstore.com.  You can also wear a bandana or neck gaiter soaked in water, but they dry out much faster.  Neck wraps have the added benefit of protecting your neck from sunburn.

7. Avoid Riding During the Hottest Part of the Day.

Since the hottest time of day is usually between noon and 5pm, if possible, plan to ride during the cooler morning and early evening times.  Wake up early, have a light breakfast and cup of coffee, then hit the road.  You can ride for several hours and then take a break for lunch, nap in the shade, on of my favorite activities, catch a matinee in a cool, dark movie theater or do some sightseeing.  Early evening rides can be a real treat but beware that dawn and dusk times often see greater wildlife activity, such as deer crossing the road.  Stay cool, but also stay safe.  Watching the sun rise on an early-morning ride or chasing a sunset is always more beautiful on a motorcycle.

8. Take Frequent Rest Breaks

If you’re like me, on scenic, back-roads rides, I often don’t stop until the low-fuel light comes on.  But on a motorcycle with 200-mile plus range, that often means riding for several hours between stops.  On hot days, you should stop more often.  I really recommend cooling off every 100 miles.  If you’re not wearing a hydration backpack, frequent stops allow you to drink some water and have a snack.  Take off your helmet and pour some cool water on your head.  Walk around and do some light stretches to get the blood flowing throughout your body.  Sit down in the shade for a few minutes, or like many people do these days, take a selfie, and post it on Facebook.

  • Use Common Sense.

If you start to feel lightheaded or dizzy, have a headache or cramps, feel your skin becoming unexpectedly cool and clammy, your body could be overheating.  Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can be extremely dangerous, even fatal.  Don’t try to be tough and “ride through it.”  Pull off at the next exit or stop as soon as possible and immediately find a way to cool down.  Remove your helmet and put a cold, wet towel around your head.   Walk into an air-conditioned store or restaurant and order a pitcher of ice water.  Be sure to just sip it.  Let your body temp cool down slowly.  Take a dip in a cool lake, river, or swimming pool.  Give your body a chance to cool itself down.

  1.  Take a Day Off.

We go on motorcycle tours because we like to ride, but sometimes it pays to take a day off.  Long, hot days in the saddle are more likely to leave you fatigued, dehydrated and sore than long days in cooler weather.  Plan your next tour around a daylong visit to a national park, historic site or city that is best explored on food.  Build in a rest day where you can hang out around the campground or lounge by the hotel pool.  Americans are constantly in a rush, always on the go.  Summer motorcycle rides are fun, but when it gets really hot sometimes the best thing to do is just put your feet up and chill out.

Some final advice as you get ready for summer rides.  Be sure your motorcycle is in good working order.  Nothing worse than a breakdown, flat tire etc. on the side of the road in 100 degree plus weather.  It can sometimes take hours to get emergency help.  I once baked in the sun for nearly 5 hours during a breakdown between Barstow and Baker California.

Don’t eat greasy or fatty foods leading up to a ride.  Eat healthier option and “stack the fluids”.  I have a goal of about a liter a day.   Always let your friends or family know where you will be riding and check in periodically. 

Rider Safety – Accident Scene Management

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Mark Beluscak, Lead Instructor Accident Scene Management

Motorcycle safety is a subject some of us in the motorcycle community take very seriously. I remember approximately a year and a half ago I was on a long motorcycle round trip out to the Kansas City area and back. I do not remember who I was riding with, but we were on the way back on Westbound Hwy 36  near Last Chance. A member of our group riding near the back probably fell asleep or was blinded by the setting sun. The group leader was not keeping a steady pace and as the rest of us were slowing, he did not. He came up through the middle of the pack going at least 50 miles an hour. He glanced a friend of mine but solidly hit his own wife riding near the front of the group.  Her bike went off into the ditch on the right side of the road and she landed solidly on the pavement. I was the second to last motorcycle and to my horror, I saw the entire thing.

In this situation, would you be ready and willing to help your fellow motorcyclist? There IS a class you can take that tells you what to do if you are at the scene of a motorcycle accident before EMS arrives. Accident Scene Management 100, presented through local instructors (like me) prepares you for these situations. The training includes such topics as how to perform rescue breathing without moving the injured party and helmet removal only when necessary.

Instructor showing proper helmet removal when injured rider isn’t breathing

Let’s get back to the reason for this article. When the accident happened, several people came by to offer assistance. One of these people was a local EMT who professed to know a lot about motorcycle accidents, and I initially welcomed his help while we waited for EMS to arrive. Almost immediately he began to suggest we move the injured party into his vehicle and give her water and a snack. I remembered from my training that we give NOTHING to an injured party prior to EMS arrival in the way of food or water. If there are injuries requiring surgery, food or water in the stomach can complicate this. Also, we NEVER move an injured party prior to EMS arrival unless necessary (to get them away from more danger like a burning motorcycle). IF there are serious injuries present and we move an injured party, then we have probably made those injuries worse. I was able to politely tell this volunteer EMT that we shouldn’t do these things and luckily, he agreed. In the end we were ALL lucky because my friend was NOT seriously hurt. Both bikes were totaled but both my friend and her husband are riding again! Fortunately, we were all wearing our helmets and leathers.

Riders practicing how to properly get a blanket under rider to remove him from the road

Accident Scene Management 100, CPR and First Aid are all being offered through the Rocky Mountain Public Safety Training Group (rmpstg@gmail.com). If you are interested in taking any one of these classes I would love to hear from you. The classes can be offered at your location or one can be arranged.

To review and prior to EMS arrival …

  1. Do not move injured parties unless it is necessary to prevent further injury.
    1. Give injured parties nothing by mouth including water.

-Mark Beluscak has served the public as a firefighter, EMT, and other public safety professions. He is an active rider in his local chapter of the Harley Owners Group (Mile High 3615) and Blue Knights (CO1). He has a bachelor’s degree in education and loves to teach. When not teaching classes, he rides his 2018 Harley Davidson Road King which has provided Mark nearly 20,000 miles of wind therapy.

Morning Stretch – Thoughts & Inspiration

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Morning Stretch
Stretch is a new inspirational writer to CRN and avid rider in the biker community

By Stretch McClue

With all the bad information from the media etc.  I feel wisdom can be gathered on your downtime.  Wisdom that can change the very course of your life will come from the people you are around, the books you read, and the things you listen to or watch on radio or television.

Of course, bad information is gathered in your downtime too.  Bad information that can change the very course of your life will come from the people you are around, the books you read, and the things you listen to or watch on radio or television.

One of wisdom’s greatest benefits, is accurate discernment, the learned ability to immediately tell right from wrong, good from evil, and acceptable from unacceptable.  Time well spent from time wasted.  The right decision from the wrong decision.  Many times, this is simply a matter of having the correct perspective.  One way to define wisdom is THE ABILITY TO SEE, INTO THE FUTURE, THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICES IN THE PRESENT.

That ability can give you a completely different perspective on what the future might look like…with a degree of intelligence and a hint of wisdom, most people can tell the difference between good and bad.

It truly takes a wise person to discern the oh-so-thin line between good and best and that line gives you the perspective that allows you to clearly see the long-term consequences of your choices. 

It is always about timing.  It is too soon, no-one understands.  If it is too late, everyone has forgotten.

A Tribute to Chris Pejko

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By Michele Tusi – East Coast

On January 3rd, 2021, Chris Pejko died in a tragic motorcycle accident.  And just like that, the community lost a fellow biker, a nurse, an avid snowboarder … a person who would move heaven and earth to help a friend, ease a heartache, or give you a doom and gloom prognosis if you had a cough.  Funny?  Yeah, Chris was a funny dude with a quirky sense of humor and a laugh that was genuine.

Chris was a rock star.  Literally.  He kicked cancer’s ass TWICE, cruised all over the country on his Harley, slashed through fresh powder on more mountains than most can even name, and cared for the sickest of the sick as an ICU nurse working on the front lines against the pandemic and throughout his career.  When people say, “live your life to the fullest”, Chris embodied that expression.  Chris designed his life in a way that needed to be experienced in order to be fully lived.  Experience it, he did, and he would have happily taken any of us with him on those adventures.

He loved his concerts – big and small, his Harley – I mean how many photos of his bike did we see on Facebook??, snowboarding – great adventures with ‘Team Retard’, his profession – a lifelong passion for helping others, his friends – and you know who you are and of course, his family – God Bless.

If you had the privilege to ride with Chris, you know he was an experienced rider, whose joy came from the RIDE – no matter where or with whom – he loved to ride!  He could find a unique route to get just about anywhere, you never knew where you were going, but the roads were always smooth, and the scenery breathtaking.  The girls would joke that Chris was the best ‘bike valet’ for he was quick to help you get parked, get moved, or get caught up!  NO ONE LEFT BEHIND when you rode with Chris.

Chris was a solid human, a great friend, and more importantly, possessed empathy beyond his years.  He would do whatever he could for anyone.  He would offer to pay for things when he knew that others could not afford them, even if he himself was strapped for cash.  He just made it happen.

Each one of us has a footprint beyond the Biker Community.  I would be remiss if I did not mention Chris’ professional impact as an ICU Nurse.  His peers and colleagues looked up to him, as evident by the many Facebook posts on his timeline and retelling of work time stories and antidotes.  His ability to stay calm in emergencies, advocate for his patients, and provide on the spot training and support for his fellow nurses makes this loss even more heartbreaking.

What can I say?

‘You know that only the good die young

I tell ya

Only the good die young

Only the good die young’

Artist – Billy Joel

1,000 Miles in a day Challenge

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By Stormy

Cool Biker Lunch and Rides Facebook group page hosted a 1K in 1 Day challenge during the 2020 riding season.  It was perfect timing because it gave members something to do during the crazy lockdown of COVID19.  For the ones that do not ride, they might wonder “why would you torture yourself and ride 1,000 miles in one day?”  They would not understand that our self-esteem soars when we have been able to accomplish something like this, and to some who treated the challenge like it was a race to see who can complete it in the best time, the higher the self-esteem will go.  To me, personally, I carried an unaccomplished feeling for a year because the first time I attempted this in 2019, I was hit by a car right when my odometer read 1,001 miles, but I could not verify this accomplishment because I was unconscious in the hospital and my motorcycle was totaled.  In August, my great friend Kristi and I did the 1K in 1 Day and headed to Sturgis and back.  We had time to roam around Main Street and got some cool Sturgis souvenirs.  We did the challenge in less than 18 hours.  When we boasted about that, of course, it now became a challenge to see who can do it in less time.  

First, congratulations to the ones who accomplished it in 2020:

Jason Ennis, Austin Prather, Rachel Renee, Michelle Clemente, Kelli Thomas, Frank Nusser (two times), Stephen Gonzales, James Head, Gary Braley, Kristi Strother, Audrey Paulus, Michael Koller, Ed Collins, Bruce Gorman, Dave Setter, Rick Way, and Wildman Wilson.

Below are their experiences of this challenge:

Jason Ennis

My experience with the 1K was one of enjoyment and pure torture.  I have never done something like that before and was determined to be the first one to do it.  As my whole life, I love to be the first to do anything.  It took me almost the full 24 hours, but I accomplished it.  

Austin Prather

I had been seeing the 1K 1Day Challenge on the Cool Biker page on FB.  I was interested right away, but I noticed that no one was chomping at the bit which made it much more attractive to me.  It really meant that it was not an easy or truly desirable mission, which made me want to do it even more.  It was a fun day, and I cannot wait to do it again this year.

Kelli Thomas

It was an extraordinarily rich experience. The whole scene on the trip was all breathtaking.  This group works well together which made it smoother.  I am deaf, and we got through it with good communication.  I would like to thank them all.  It was well worth it to accomplish the 24-hour challenge.  I will remember this ride for a very long time.

Frank Nusser

I did my first 1k earlier in the year with Austin and the gang.  It was not your normal 1k route.  Lots of mountain passes and slower roads.  It took around 21 hours. I wanted to beat that time and attempted another 1k in the fall.  We had a good group, good route, and great weather.  We had a couple issues but still got it done around 14 hours.  It was a great feeling to be able to complete this challenge twice in the same year.  The only one!

Rachel Renee

Boy was this a challenge.  We communicated well and made decisions together as a group.  There were a lot of firsts for everyone, and this ride would not be the same without this exact group of people.  I am so glad I went along.  Met new friends.  Seen old places with fresh new eyes.  Ride free!

Michelle Clemente

I am glad to make a decision to join the 1k for one day challenger because I was not sure if I could do it as I’m a new rider.  It is a BIG challenge for me with routes and mountains.  So glad that we made it!  Our group is so wonderful to cooperate, communicate well, and enjoy our times with no drama.  

James Head

My 1k ride is not only my first try, but also the first time I have left the state by myself on a bike, and only the second time I have done any real distance.  I have years of riding, but just never rode anywhere far.  My route was down to Durango and then on to Albuquerque and back to Denver.  This experience was exhausting, and eventually filled with the shadowy hallucinations, but when I opened Facebook and read all the encouragement from Cool Biker Lunch & Rides members, it made me jump right back on the bike after the fill up and keep on keeping!!

Rick Way

I rode more than two 1K rides in 2020.  2021 who knows?  At least  once a year,  maybe more, is always my goal.  I love it.  That is why I keep doing it.  For me, the destination always changes.  It is all about the journey….  Ride safe, ride on.

Stephen Gonzales

Thanks everyone.  All in all, it was a fantastic day!    I stopped and visited with friends and family along the way to Las Vegas.   Some of them I have not seen in 10 years.  Part of my route took me though my hometown and places I camped and hunted when I was young.  I even got to spend some time remembering good times while riding.  So yes, this was a fantastic day!

Kristi Strother

I met Audrey right off I-25 and exit 136, at a Maverick gas station right off the freeway.  She was all smiles.  We both were.  I had made some funny Bat and Shark signs to help us tease each other about our bikes.  We took photos of our mileage and held silly signs.  Off we went!  The road in front of us, the cold morning wind whipping at our faces, music cranked high, our hair blowing, two friends embarked on our amazing, Sturgis 1k Challenge. 

Michael Koller

I really only went on this ride to beat someone’s record after friendly banter on Facebook, so I hooked up with Ed Collins to accomplish this.  The route was chosen specifically for that reason, straight and easy!  I would have liked a more scenic route, but this one served its purpose.  The trip was not difficult at all, and I would do it again, especially when our record is broken.

Ed Collins

It was the first week of October when Michael Koller and I did our 1K challenge to Kansas and back.  We had a few snafus in the morning that held us back timewise, but we made up for it on the long stretches going 100 mph.  Once we passed the state line back into Colorado, ears ringing from the wind noise, the sun hanging low in the sky, temperature slowly dropping, we have 990 miles under our belts.  The next cut off is only a minute away.  We turned off into a fuel station and the mileage read that we were 1,003 miles up and 13.5 hours.  We filled them up, fought our way through rush hour traffic, found a cold drink, a good cigar, and took some time for reflection, 1,000 miles under 24 hours!

Dave Setter

Our 1k/1Day “race” started with a boasting challenge on September 28, by the leader of our riding group (Audrey Paulus with Cool Bikers) posting that the fastest time for the year to date was set by Audrey and her pal, Kristi Strother, at slightly under 18 hours.  Bruce Gorman wanted to make the run anyhow with the thought that we could catch a great lunch at a famous Mexican restaurant down in Albuquerque and ride back easily under 18 hours.  We picked a date a few weeks out that worked for the group, Saturday, October 10.  However, a few days before our ride, two other riders (Ed Collins and Michael Koller) completed their 1k in a record setting 13.5 hours. They threw down a gauntlet that Frank Nusser dared us to beat.  So much for a relaxing lunch ride down and back to Albuquerque, as the race was now on.

THE RIDERS: Frank Nusser, Craig Harlan, Bruce Gorman, and Dave Setter. As a group, we had been on several longer rides together.  It helped that we knew each rider’s skills and road savvy, especially, if we were going to beat that damn 13.5 hours.

We finally made it to 1,000 miles, right at 14 hours.  We celebrated as Frank passed out candy cigars, as our salute to those who had set the 13.5-hour record.  Until next time, cigar dudes!

Bruce Gorman

I kissed my wife, ‘See you later’, and I stepped out into the darkness.  Ready for whatever the road has waiting for me.

Steve “Wildman” Wilson

Chronicles of the Wildman and the Thousand Mile Ride

On 5 November 2020, I embarked on a 1000-mile ride on my 2003 Honda Goldwing.  I pack more than I need, but I just wanted to make sure I am prepared for a variety of possibilities and eventualities.  I get to bed early for an early start.  I wake up at 0200 and finish my packing and checklists and get on the road.  I get my start receipt at 0255 and off we go.   I ride to complete this trek.  I ride to get a sense of accomplishment.  I ride to finish what I started.  I get to the last gas station to get my final receipt.  I am tired and dirty, but after 21-1/2 hours and about 1,057 miles, I am accomplished.  I go around the corner home and I have a celebratory drink, shower, and go to bed.

Gary Braley

My 1K 1D ride was for me: it had been an unusually rough year, and it was about time for me to get my head on right.   I went through Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.   Got off the highway and took a few backwoods mountain roads where I grew up.   My plan was to use all the time I had to just cruise and enjoy,  enjoy my bike, enjoy the scenery,  and enjoy me again.  It turned out to be a fantastic day, over 23 hours of time, just me and my bike.  I believe I traveled 1,141 miles taking in the beauty and smiling that I had missed all the rain…lol.  I cannot wait to take the similar trip this summer, only this time, my daughter will be riding her bike with me.  My bike truly is my happy place.

Todd McLaughlin and his friend Bruce Leipold attempted this challenge on October 11th.  Their route was Denver to Provo to Green River and back.  After they hit Laramie, they decided to opt out of the challenge for they ran into some dangerous weather, 60 mph winds and rain with snow in the forecast!  They will be back in 2021 to finish this accomplishment.

Anyone else want to do this challenge this year?!!  There are some rumors that the above will be back this year to beat their time.  I am looking forward to hearing about their journeys.