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25th Arizona Bike Week Postponed to 2022

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Most of us in the New Year were hoping to be able to get back to our normal routine and motorcycle events in 2021. Arizona Bike week just announced they will be postponing their 25th annual bike fest to April 2022.

Bike week was rescheduled to October last year as bike week fell in the midst of the pandemic and shutdowns. The promoters did everything they could in 2020 to continue the tradition of bike week and to be in compliance with state health regulators. Unfortunately, the cost and attendance being down most likely played a factor in their decision to reschedule to 2022.

Safety is always in the back of the minds of promoters, but the experience is what brings bikers back each year. Attendees knew things would be different, but some of restrictions just didn’t give you the bike week experience.

This being the 25th anniversary of Arizona Bike Week is a monumental year for a rally and promoters felt that they would rather hold off on the 25th celebration until such time as they can hold the type of bike week they want.

Our hope is that riders will continue to go down to the Scottsdale Arizona and ride the magestic mountains and small rustic towns that depend on the motorcycle dollars to survive. There is so much to do in Arizona in the springtime. For other ideas, we did a piece last year of fun things to do in April, click here to read more.

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Salute to Veterans Rally Shuts down indefinitely

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Jim Wear is Owner of Pro-Promotions who organized the Salute to Veterans Rally

Colorado Rider News is very sad to hear that there will be NO Salute to Veterans Rally. It has been a time honored tradition in our community for our veterans in the State of Colorado. We want to post owner Jim Wear’s perspective.

Friends and Patriots, Please allow me to be clear: Contrary to what some espouse, our collective decision to end the Salute to American Veterans Rally in Cripple Creek has NOTHING to do with City council‘s decision to pull their financial sponsorship for the event. Likewise, it has NOTHING to do with the last hour cancellation of the 2020 event. In precise order, it has everything to do with:

* The repeated attacks on the rally committee members, our crew and my family by a very few but very aggressive members of the American legion riders / legion post 171 a.k.a. the “Gold Camp Coalition”.

* City Council‘s refusal to publicly acknowledge – in any small way – the positive worth of the rally and our efforts.

* The numerous broken promises and non-financial commitments repeatedly reneged on by the current city council.

* The utter disrespect shown by city council members toward the rally committee members in public venues.

The Salute to American Veterans celebrates those who came home and those who are still waiting to come home.

While it is clear to everyone on our end that the vast majority of citizens and businesses in the Cripple Creek / Victor / Teller County area love, support and covet the rally and respect our efforts and hard work toward honoring our veterans, we are simply no longer willing to work in such a hostile and toxic environment. Honor, respect and integrity have seemingly given way to greed, dishonesty and a want for power and control.

Those who mean to destroy our reputation, business and all we have built with the rally over the past 30 years are continually empowered by City Council’s lack of stated support. Moreover, The haters are emboldened by select council members who encourage their behavior and feed the dishonesty and negativity. This, combined with the obvious inability for opposing leadership to control the destructive behavior has made it impossible for us to continue.

History it seems has been forgotten and the consequences of the Rally’s departure from Cripple Creek in 2007 will likely repeat. For that, we are beyond regretful. The Salute to American Veterans Rally put Cripple Creek on the worldwide map as sacred ground for our beloved United States Veterans and as the west’s most patriotic town. It is beyond sad that a handful of people, working against what the majority supports, have managed to destroy that legacy of great work.

I want to personally apologize to everyone who cherishes the Veterans Rally and will be hurt by its cancellation. In 2021, identity politics have become an overwhelming factor. Accomplishments, reputation and history matter far less than personality. Being a rugged individual and standing ones ground used to be an attribute. These days, it seems a handicap. In a day and age where it is imperative that people in power “like“ you if you are to be supported, I have failed to pass muster and for that, you all have my sincere regrets. ~ Jim Wear Founder / Organizer Salute to American Veterans

Michelle Mallin Retires as Executive Director of Honor Bell

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To donate and support the Honor Bell click here

Michelle Mallin has been at the forefront of every aspect of the Honor Bell’s creation and operation since 2014 when she helped to begin the bell’s journey from an idea into a reality. A connector of people and organizations par excellence, she brought an energy and level of experience to the Foundation that was essential.

Michelle Mallin Executive Director

In 2018, Michelle was named the Executive Director for the Foundation and has shepherded its growth and operations even under the trying circumstances of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Since a 2016 cancer diagnosis Michelle has been not only helping to keep the bell tolling, volunteers organized, and fundraising flowing, but has been dealing with surgeries, complications, and treatments. Through it all, she has remained committed to the Honor Bell’s mission. Last December, Michelle decided that it was time to step down as Executive Director to focus on her health and family. She will remain involved with the Foundation as a member of the Board of Directors.

The Honor Bell has been seen many times at Veteran events at Dirty Dogs

Effective immediately, Chris Boyer will take on the role of Executive Director. Chris has been serving as Assistant Director for several months and has been involved in day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and more since he started

THonor Bell Foundation, Inc. is a Colorado nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation based in Denver. Its primary purpose is to provide a unique funeral honor for deceased military veterans through the slow ringing, known as tolling, of a ceremonial bell. The foundation also provides veteran outreach and community education.

To accomplish this mission, the Foundation produced the Honor Bell and renders “Bell Honors” at the funerals of U.S. military veterans and personnel killed in action to augment the dignity and respect that should be paid to those that have served our nation. In addition, the bell attends public events with a military or patriotic theme, and tolls in a memorial capacity. The foundation’s volunteers also attend programs in schools to educate young people about the significance of dignity, honor and respect owed to our military and fallen heroes.

Editors Note: As President and Founder of the BikerDown Foundation and Editor of Colorado Rider News – I was honored to do this article for Michelle, but very sad for our community. Many do not know, that Michelle was an intrical part of founding BikerDown in 2010, and was an integral part of the structure of BikerDown that still is used today. I had a dream, and Michelle had the tools to implement it. She worked tirelessly thru the many nights to always meet the deadlines that we had. In fact, she ran another non-profit simultaneously while helping me found BikerDown. While I respect her desire to want to spend time with her grandchildren and family, our community has lost a hero. Her devotion to this community is beyond words and I wish her all the best.

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse is OPEN FOR BUSINESS

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By: Laurie Montoya

We Are OPEN!
On January 4th, Gov Polis lifted the Level from Red to Orange that lifted some of the dining restrictions.

Dirty Dogs is OPEN for BUSINESS, and our biker community came out this morning at 7am to welcome Mark & Rob and the entire staff from Dirty Dogs and to have some breakfast.

It has been a rough road for Dirty Dogs and all bars and restaurants in Jefferson County as we watched our level rise from Orange to Red in December.  Gov. Polis ordered that all counties in Level Red will move to Level Orange effective Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 which does ease up some of the restrictions for indoor and outdoor dining.

Mark & Rob have been in the fight for their livelihood to get back open after the Jefferson County Public Health shut down Dirty Dogs on December 23rd, so be prepared to follow all guidelines that Mark & Rob must set up to stay in compliance to keep our biker bar/restaurant up and running.  Mark & Rob are so grateful for the support of the biker community as they worked for 2 weeks to re-open their business.

We ask all riders to please respect the safety guidelines imposed by JCPH

This is going to be a long haul for Dirty Dogs to make up the lost revenue from COVID in 2020 and we hope that all our motorcycle community will come back and keep their social distance and comply with all safety measures put in place.

I know we all look forward to hearing great music, hot food and cold beers this weekend at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse.

2021 is HERE! What Resolutions will you stick to this year?

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Editor & Publisher of Colorado Rider News

By: Laurie Montoya

2020 is behind us, A new year is upon us and many hope that 2021 will bring healing to all. The start of a new year is a time of making positive change, arriving at fresh decisions, and transforming old habits into great ones.

This year, life looks different than it did last December. When the 2021ball dropped the streets were not filled with hundreds of thousands of people, many celebrated in a quiet, low-key way, perhaps snuggled on the couch. 

As motorcycle riders, our bikers had more time to ride and saw an uptick in motorcycle fatalities and accidents and as a rider myself, I know it is time to consider what I can do to be safer on the ride. 

Dieting and saving money might sound like good 2021 new year’s resolutions. But, really, the best resolution you could make is: ride more motorcycles and make some changes in how you ride.  Here are some motorcycle resolutions to keep in mind in 2021

To get an FREE Insurance Review contact RiderJustice or visit this link click here
  1. Increase your bike/car insurance – not the most glamorous first resolution, but certainly the most important.  Colorado riders ride year-round and accidents as we know happen weekly in our community.  All riders MUST have at least 250k dollars in under or un-insured motorist coverage.  50% of all drivers in Colorado do not have car insurance and if they do another 25% of them have liability only.  No-one likes high priced insurance, but FREEDOM of the ride is NO LONGER FREE.  Do it for your family and friends if nothing else, family members are the ones who will struggle to help you if or when you have an accident.
BikerDown offers the Aflac Accident Essential policy inclusive in our Roadside Plus Membership for $35.00 Click here to JOIN

2. Add a Supplemental policy such as Aflac or MedPay – These supplemental policies are vital coverages to have in the event of an accident and will cost you less than you think.  I cannot tell you how many times a rider has said to me I have FULL-COVERAGE, so I am good.  Full coverage covers your bike loan or helps you if you hit someone.  What full coverage does not DO is help keep your family financially a float while you are out of work.  Health insurance will pay your medical or doctor’s bills.  But having 1 of these supplemental policies will help offset your loss of income while you are recovering. 

Aflac Accident policy inclusive in their 35.00 per month ($1.16 per day) membership that you can utilize in any type of an accident not just on the bike. 

MedPay – Medical Payment Coverage, also called MedPay, is a premium that your car insurance company must offer you. MedPay is relatively inexpensive, adding about $5 per month to the cost of many policies. This is because its use is limited, and its maximum payout is low. In fact, to forfeit the coverage, you must sign a waiver. The value of the coverage can range from $5,000 to $25,000.  Watch this video for more information on MedPay

3. Get your Living will and affairs in order – again not on most people’s top 10 of things to do, but vital in the event of an accident.  We all know that life can change in a blink of an eye.  Accidents can happen but thinking that your family and friends know your wishes or will honor your wishes after an accident of fatality is quite a different story.  We lost many of our biker family in 2020 and the aftermath of confusion would shock most of you.  Take a day to do your living will or watch for one of BikerDown Foundation’s Free Will Friday that will be scheduled for 2021 monthly.  They are planning on bringing in experts who can help you get your documents in order..

4. Motorcycle Maintenance – Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to ensure motorcycle safety on the road.  Just because your bike starts and runs…doesn’t mean it isn’t a risk for a breakdown leaving you possibly stranded on a ride and causing more damage to your bike when you are forced to get it fixed.   If you don’t know what you’re doing, then the New Year is the perfect tie to learn.  Take your owner’s manual and get more familiar with your specific bike.  You should also always check your tire pressure for the temperature and conditions on the road.  Your tires will lose pressure in colder riding conditions and not give you the performance you might need…traction is also so important in Colorado with the ice/gravel and other hazards that can be on our mountain roads

5. Get your endorsement – Many riders are riding in our state and nationwide without their motorcycle endorsement.  While your state may not require it, many states do…so taking that trip cross country you might head into a state that requires it. I believe there are also some insurance discounts/benefits that you can get from your insurance company by showing them that you have your endorsement or have completed some refresher classes.

6. Update your riding skills – Many of you have been riding for years, but there is not anything better than taking a day to refresh your motorcycle skills and learn some additional defensive driving tips.   There are also Accident Scene Management classes sponsored by Rider Justice and BikerDown that can help someone render aid in the event of an accident.

7. Is it time for a new helmet? – In terms of safety gear, a DOT helmet is one of the most important items you can add to the bike, and if you are planning on any road trips outside of Colorado, you will need to carry a helmet when you travel.  While Colorado riders have always believed in the choice to wear or not wear a helmet it is astonishing just how many bikers will compromise their safety in a bid to look cool on the road.  I too had never wanted to wear a helmet, but now have taken that leap to additional safety when I ride by purchasing a DOT helmet.

  • 8. Safety clothing and apparel – For years if you wanted to wear motorcycle safety gear you had to go to a sport bike clothing manufacturer and it really did not match your clothing or style of clothing.  Companies like Tobacco Motorwear Company have brought to the motorcycle riders (male and female) clothing such as Kevlar riding pants and jackets and vests that have D30 back protectors.  D30 is a new technology is the thinnest and most advanced protection against impact around.  Basically, it is very thin and flexible until impact and then hardens instantly.
  • Ride more often – you should try, and ride more than you did in the previous year. Set a goal of riding a specific amount of days per month. It can be hard to do with family, work and other commitments occupying most of your time, but if you are a passionate rider, then it shouldn’t be viewed as a chore. Even if you must go around the corner for a few groceries, make it your duty to take your bike instead. Once the nice weather hits your area, get out and join up with local organized charity rides.   Find a group of riders that share your passion and style of riding is also a great way to get out and ride more. The more buddies you have that want to hit the road, the easier it will be for you to get off your butt and go for a ride.

9. Plan a Motorcycle Trip – Colorado riders has some of the best riding in the country.  Make a list of states that you have always wanted to ride to and start planning. Road trip can get expensive, but if you decide on taking your motorcycle somewhere instead, you will enjoy the freedom and experience of getting to your destination a lot more. Now is the perfect time to start planning something for 2020 because, in Colorado winter is still upon us and will limit our riding over the next few snowy months.  There is some amazing riding outside of Colorado…so make your bucket list and start your saving for your trip. The possibilities are endless. You just need that determination and drive to start organizing things and follow through with it. You only live once, so you might as well make it memorable experiencing the unfamiliar.

Being pro-active with your riding and taking some simple necessary steps to keep you a little safer on the road seems to me to be the BEST Motorcycle New Year’s Eve Resolution!

BikerDown’s Adopt a Family for Holidays Meets Goals with Help from Special Donor

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Adopt a Family raised over $14k for families in need!

There is nothing more stressful than the holidays for families, whether it is the COVID world that we currently live in with job layoffs, food service industry shutdowns and in-home learning requiring 1 family member to not work.   Also, the normal high cost of living in Denver and surrounding areas makes it difficult for any extras each month.  Gone are the days, when a family can put a little away every month, or the Christmas savings accounts one used to open every year to save for the holidays.  Families struggle every year to provide the kind of Christmas that all children deserve.

BikerDown Foundation saw the need in the motorcycle community 10 years ago and implemented a holiday program called Adopt A Family for the Holidays.  Since its inception BikerDown thru Adopt A Family has helped over 500 families have the resources to provide Christmas for their children.

Each family in the program receives a $250 Walmart gift card and partnered with Walmart to provide a full holiday dinner and to ensure that children have food to get them thru the New Year.  What makes our program different is they allow donors to see their donations at work by meeting with the families, reading about their circumstances and getting to personally meet them at our Dinner with Santa. 

Their goal in 2020 was to help as many families as they could but to also be realistic that everyone in our community was struggling and that donations could possibly be down this year.  Adopt A Family even limited the number of families that could apply to 40 families, from the normal 75-100.  BikerDown Adopt A Family also expanded their reach in 2019 to include the Las Vegas BikerDown chapter which each year has reached their family goals with the guidance of Shannon Venturo from Full Throttle Law & Bling Devas, MC, Cheryl from Original Sinners, MC and the Southern Nevada Confederation of Clubs.

On December 11, 2020, with 2 weeks away from Christmas, they began to get very worried that they just would not meet the goal of helping 40 families. On Wednesday, December 16, Laurie Montoya, President and Founder of BikerDown and Adopt A Family, received a phone call that she will never forget.
Michael Lord, a local Denver entrepreneur, called to adopt the last 4 families in our program. Mike then asked if there were any other families that they could help. In a matter of minutes, Mike and his co-workers adopted 10 additional families that were on the waitlist!

The program would be remiss to not recognize all the Colorado donors of this program, that each year make sure to adopt at least 1-2 families.  These biker community donors have been the back bone of our program for 10 years and Adopt a Family would not have been able to survive and increase our help without their commitment every year.  We would like to give special recognition to Scott O’Sullivan from RiderJustice.com and The O’Sullivan Law firms, Greg & Brooklyn Chmel, Art and Khris Cleveland, Derek from Ironwood Earthcare, BO Martinez, Skip Hohnhorst, Eli Ohlauser, Deborah Thomas, Kevin Maki, and all of you who attended the November Chili cook off.  You are truly a blessing to this program.

Adopt A Family will continue the mission in 2021 and we look forward to bigger and better events that will enable us to extend our reach to more and more families.


We will all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I hope you will raise your glass and join me in say FAREWELL to 2020.

“Modified” Toy Run Scheduled for Saturday, December 5th

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COVID red levels in Denver and surrounding counties have put a hault on many of our charitable events and rides in December. Most recently, Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson had to cancel their 35th Annual Children’s Hospital Toy Run. This has been a time honored tradition in our biker community in Colorado with attendance hitting all time records in 2019.

Rider Justice, BikerDown Foundation and Colorado Rider News took it upon themselves to try to ensure the kids from Children’s Hospital didn’t go without their toys for Christmas by organizing a Modified Toy Drive/Run and to put a smile on Kathy Yevoli, owner of Rocky Mountain HD face.

On Saturday December 5th, riders are asked to decorate their bikes, strap on their toys just like they have done for years and meet at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in Golden at 12pm. Kickstands are up at 1pm and we will do a short ride to Rocky Mountain where Kathy and Marina will have bins and boxes ready to accept your unwrapped toys and gifts for the kids.

If for any reason you cannot make it on Saturday, bring your unwrapped toy today thru Friday to the dealerships.

Colorado Motorcycle Expo Cancelled for 2021

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By Scott Schulz

It is with sadness and frustration that we announce the cancellation of the upcoming Colorado Motorcycle Expo “The Swap Meet” (due to take place January 30-31, 2021). 

We know this will come as a tremendous disappointment to all sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees, and we want to assure you this decision was not taken lightly. The overriding factor leading this difficult decision is the city and county of Denver reverting back to “Safer at Home/Level 3” and the updated guidelines and restrictions around events and gatherings announced on October 27, 2020. The most debilitating restriction limits event attendance to no more than 25 people per room. Historically, our attendance has been in the 10’s of thousands and based on your recent survey responses and the fact that the upcoming Expo was not scheduled on Superbowl weekend, we were expecting an exceptional turnout in 2021. With increasing COVID numbers, we do not anticipate Denver will lift or lighten these restrictions in a timely enough fashion for us to properly plan this event as it takes several months to pull it all together.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have historically helped make the event possible through sponsorship, purchased booth spaces, and ticket sales, and to also thank you for your outpouring of support through these challenging times. We feel extremely fortunate to be a part of what feels like extended family.

Despite the disappointment and impact we know you all feel, we want you to know that we are fully committed to serving this industry and community that we love. We can say with confidence that we will be back stronger than ever at the next Colorado Motorcycle Expo (scheduled for January 29-30, 2022).  This also is a weekend that does not conflict with the Superbowl, so we can hardly wait!

Once again, we thank you all for your support and know that we are here to support others in the industry as we all work through these difficult times.

See you in 2022,

Scott

Growing COVID cases leads Gov. Polis and local counties to raise to the caution level red. Changes go into affect Friday Nov 20th

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November 20th Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams County upgrade to Level Red

COVID cases are on the rise again in Colorado and it appears that more drastic measures for citizens and business owners is coming our way this Friday, November 20th. Local health and political officials have confirmed that Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams counties will be moving to the higher level.

What does this mean? Here are the changes that will affect all of us.

  • Elementary schools are still able to hold in-person classes and middle schools can do either in-person, a hybrid program or remote learning. But it is suggested that high schools go to hybrid or virtual learning, if they haven’t. For colleges and universities it is recommended they go to remote classes.
  • Restaurants can no longer do indoor dining, but they can still do curbside pickup and takeout. They can also do outdoor dining by limiting groups to only members of their households.
  • Last call for alcohol is moved from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. and bars remain closed.

Local groceries stores are beginning to see shoppers starting to stock up on food and other necessities as the fear of another shutdown looms in the unforseen future.

If Denver and other counties move to Level Purple restrictions, outdoor dining will no longer be allowed at restaurants, according to the new guidelines. Polis says he believes the Level Red restrictions will be effective in flattening the current coronavirus spike.

Of the newly created highest Level Purple, Hancock said, “We expect to be there.”

The state health department recorded 30,843 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, last week. It’s the sixth consecutive week that the state has recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases and reflects how infections are now at the highest level since the state had reliable data from testing.

There were 1,294 people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and another 130 people with suspected COVID-19, according to the health department.

Owners Mark and Rob have been modifying our beloved Roadhouse since March of this year and have prepared for this higher level by the Health Departments

Before publishing this article, I spoke with Rob from Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in Golden and Rob confirmed that Dirty Dogs will continue to stay open with outside dining, however alcohol will have to stop at 8pm from the 10pm when Jefferson County was at the Orange Level.

Many Counties in Colorado are Raising the Level of Concern

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On Wednesday at 5pm, Jefferson County shifted to Level Orange — formerly ‘Level 3’ — on Colorado’s COVID-19 Dial, public health officials announced Wednesday. The new restrictions will take effect Monday at 5 p.m.

The announcement came just hours after Boulder County announced the same shift to Level Orange. Adams County also went to Level 3 or Orange on October 28th. See website by clicking here. Douglas County moved to Level 2 on Thursday, October 29th. Click here

Over the past two weeks, 2,513 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the county, public health officials said. During that time, hospitalizations in the county have increased by more than 75 percent, according to Jefferson County Public Health.

“We were hoping we could avoid these new restrictions, but unfortunately cases have continued to increase in Jeffco and across the state,” said Margaret Huffman, director of Community Health Services at Jefferson County Public Health.

Previously called ‘Level 3,’ the new ‘Level Orange’ includes the following capacity restrictions:

  • 25 percent or 50 people at restaurants, places of worship and non-critical manufacturing
  • Offices and retail: 25 percent
  • 25 percent or 25 people at gyms/fitness centers (groups of up to 10 outdoors), personal services and limited health care settings
  • 25 percent or 50 people, whichever is fewer, with space calculator at indoor events
  • 25 percent or 75 people, whichever is fewer with space calculator at outdoor events
  • 25 percent or 10 people at outdoor guided services
  • Virtual or outdoors in groups of less than 10 at group sports and camps

While personal gatherings will continue to be limited to 10 people from no more than two households —with face coverings and social distancing required indoors and when within 6 feet of others — many public health officials are urging residents to avoid all gatherings.