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Giga-Head Technical Services, Scott McGlasson

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“Computer problems can really suck, and make you want to fire a whole magazine into the thing or go full Office Space on it with a bat. Even after 20 years in computer and technology work, I can still relate to that feeling.” 

Golden, CO local Scott McGlasson has started a part time business called Giga-Head (named for a drunken vision about a Knucklehead motor cranking out computer power).

Noticing a lack of similar businesses serving our community, Scott has a mission to provide technology services to local bikers and small businesses. 

“Using computer technology is not really optional anymore, if you’re going to be functional in the modern world. I’m kind of a local mechanic, but for computer stuff. My experience in audio / video and surveillance systems comes in handy too,” he says.

Scott works full time with a Wichita technology company, serving the public safety sector. “If our systems don’t work, every time, some child molester could avoid conviction as a result,” he says. “In the legal world, that’s what they call ‘bad’.” 

Before his current job, he worked for eight years in Black Hawk casinos, as a senior IT technician. “Everybody would always ask if I could rig the slots to help them out, but nope. Now I’m glad to be out of the casino industry and into work that matters.” 

The Giga-Head business is Scott’s side gig, “…basically for motorcycle money. I’ve done work for local friends, T-Bird Roadhouse and the motorcycle shop, from doing the shop website to fixing up the POS and surveillance systems. It’s a nice relationship, because I also want some work done on my bike – pipes and cams, more power and chrome!”

Scott has a 2017 FLSTN (Softail Deluxe), approaching 25k miles on the odometer. 

“I love my bike, I love riding Colorado roads, and I love the biker world. I like doing work for fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, because they’re usually not full of themselves, and have a sincere respect for honest work.” 

For anyone who wants a hand with tackling their computer or technology issues, he says “I’ll be glad to advise you on your problems or questions over the phone. I’m not working for a retail store, or trying to sell anything. For service calls at your home or business, evenings and weekends are usually good.” 

What advice does Scott have for Rider News readers with tech problems who want to blow up their computer? “Don’t panic! Technical issues are fixable, and there is always a solution.”

Contact Scott McGlasson: 316-358-1181

Editor’s Note: Scott McGlasson is a biker with an extremely charitable heart. Every weekend through our #2Wheels4Meals he volunteered, he donated, and he rode to deliver food to first responders. Scott has helped BikerDown with laptop and computer issues and is extremely knowledgeable and can solve most computer issues.

Peak Honda World. We Invented Social Distancing.

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By Peak Honda World, proud supporters of #2Wheels4Meals

There is something about the prospect of adventure that keeps our hearts beating. Right now in America, adventure seekers may feel a bit trapped. We are not used to being kept in one place and unable to wander, isolated and downright bored. 

This is America, for goodness sake. The land of the free. The home of the brave. It feels unnatural to be stuck at home, a bit fearful and feeling somewhat helpless. Peak Honda World understands the need for escape and autonomy. The need to get out and explore your world.

We invented social distancing, after all.

The kind of social distancing that looks like you with a whole day ahead of you and an open road. The social distancing between two yellow lines, the sun warm on your back and no destination. The social distancing winding down a mountainside, miles of that purple mountain majesty surrounding you. That’s what we’re talking about. Peak Honda World is honored to have the opportunity to Power your Adventure. We can’t wait to set you up with everything you need to bust out of the house and into the great unknown. We believe in your need to follow the call of the wild. To see new places. To forge your own path to peace.  It may be a few hundred miles of pavement or it may be a quiet dirt road.  Wherever your adventure awaits, we’ll meet you there.

The Times They are a Changing

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Laurie Montoya, Publisher

I was sitting here as I have done for the past 3 weeks trying to think about what to write about. What positive spin or thoughts that I could share with you. All I could come up with is that history has a way of repeating itself and hopefully this world, our country and we, as citizens, will learn this time.

We are in unsettling times. We will speak of this global virus pandemic, the stay-at-home orders, food shortages, gas prices possibly going back to 99 cents per gallon, highest unemployment in recent memory and the aftermath this pandemic had on our economy.  Before this, how many of you knew the word Essential business or ventilator? The simple word COVID-19 will flow off our tongues like WWI & The Depression and we will all remember where we were and who we lost. This virus knows no color or race, no religion, no gender and doesn’t discriminate… sounds like a John Lennon song. 

Future generations will roll their eyes when we try to tell them the stories of the day when there was no toilet paper and food was being rationed.  How manufacturing plants were converted from making pillows or beer, to making hand sanitizers and hospital masks/PPE clothing to save the lives of Americans. GM and Ford converted their plants to make not guns and ammo for WAR, but medical equipment.  They will humor us, and half listen at the unimaginable sacrifices people have made to save the lives others.

I remember when I was younger, I went down into my Italian grandparents’ basement, and would see everything that they stocked up on.  Every weekend, they would take the Sunday newspaper ads and coupon and spend the whole weekend going to stores picking up the Buy One-Get One free products and then they would proudly stock them on massive shelves in the basement.  They would only go out to eat at restaurants they had a coupon for.  My beautiful Grandma Ginny was our family Italian drug dealer, because she would pay you to refill your prescriptions and then stock them up in her private home pharmacy.  I remember thinking that they were just a little bit crazy, but now I understand that they had lived thru the depression, they had lived in a house with several married families and struggled every single day.  My grandma worked at a plant in St. Louis and paid double on her mortgage every month so that she could pay her house off early and the bank didn’t own her.  She believed in living within her means, and I can’t tell you the countless times my parents borrowed money from them and thank god they always had it to give.  They didn’t have credit card because they didn’t want to owe anyone.  If they wanted something, they had an envelope and they SAVED until they could go in and pay cash.

It is my belief and deepest hope that this pandemic and shut down will be a life lesson to world leaders, our government and all of us in some small way and will bring CHANGE in how we deal with things. 

I have personally learned a lot about how I will deal with things moving forward and to be the rock for my family and friends.

Our estimated goal date to getting back to some semblance of normal is now April 30th, and I pray each day that more people will honor the stay-at-home orders and practice safe social distancing. Group rides are not encouraged, and we ask all riders if you are going to ride to make sure you take the necessary steps to keep yourself and others safe.

The sooner we all sacrifice and bring this curve of infection down, the sooner we can all get back to the living and rebuilding our lives and our country.

#2WHEELS4MEALS

Colorado Rider News is working with a collective group of biker owned business to form #ColoradoRidersCare.  Our first initiative was our #2WheelsforMeals program to ensure that our small business biker owned restaurants survive so that we have them when this is over.  We are working with businesses like Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Wide Open Saloon, and Takoda Tavern. Each of these businesses are open for carryout and delivery and we encourage all riders to try your best to support your local biker owned business. If you know of someone  that needs a hot meal, please let us know by sending an email to info@coloradoridernews.com

Motorcycle Business Directory

CRN has also created a directory of businesses that have modified or adapted to the shut-down.  Many of our dealerships are still open and while the showroom may be closed, they are still open for service and parts. 

We will always be #COLORADOSTRONG and stand side-by-side.

As always enjoy the ride, let us know what we can do better and BE SAFE OUT THERE

Contact Laurie: info@coloradoridernews.com

Take It On-The-Run Supporting Biker Restaurants

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By K. Strother

Everyone knows bikers love to hit the road, whether it’s escaping into Colorado’s magnificent mountains or exploring our beautiful back country roads. It’s what we love to do.

It may be a long ride or a short ride; some are planned, others improvised, stopping only when we get hungry. And yes… riding makes us hungry, even ‘hangry’ at times. But luckily there are numerous biker-friendly restaurants across our great state. According to Colorado Restaurant Association in 2020 there were approximately 11,800 eating and drinking locations in Colorado. And many of those restaurants not only welcome riders, but even tempt riders to stop in and indulge in their culinary creations.

Luring bikers with food specialties is not uncommon. For example, Denver’s Piper Inn is famous for wings, especially their classic Buffalo Wings. Bruce’s Bar and Restaurant in Severance is celebrated for its Rocky Mountain Oysters. Out east, Limon’s Oscars Bar and Grille serves up “movie themed” meals named after popular movies. The “Braveheart” or “Robin Hood” sandwich satisfies even the biggest, ‘baddest’ biker hunger.

Some biker-friendly restaurants have been around a long time, like Alibi’s Bar and Grill in Littleton opened in 1988, and the graffiti-covered, Buck Snort Saloon nestled by the Elk Creek in Pine, Colorado opened in the late 1800’s.

Others have been newly remodeled, like Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in Golden that added on a new patio and stage for live concerts. Crystola Roadhouse in Woodland Park not only is historic, opening in the late 1880’s, but recently renovated their restaurant.

Usually bikers have a favorite restaurant, a home base of sorts, but it was clear on the weekend of March 13-15th that the highly-anticipated, grand opening, of the newly remodeled Wide Open Saloon in Sedalia attracted bikers, locals, families, and people from all over Colorado. In fact, over 2,000 people listened to incredible live bands, gawked at the snow-covered foothills from the ‘epic rooftop lounge’, and enjoyed amazing food and drinks. This bar rocked all weekend!

Located perfectly at the intersection of Hwy 85 (Santa Fe) and Hwy 67, the Wide Open Saloon is almost 10,000 square feet — every space, the dance floor, every bar (there’s three), every booth, every outdoor firepit was specifically created to give us a place to escape the grind of the day.

Todd Hills, owner, mentioned several times, “I love providing a place where people can leave their troubles behind, even for a bit… park your outside world, outside! Come in and enjoy our atmosphere!”

Over the last year, there were stories circulating that describe Hills’ arduous journey of renovating and giving new life to the Saloon. However, the grand opening weekend was a huge success. Over 2,000 people. Happy bikers everywhere.  Of course, Hills and his devoted waitstaff learned a lot, even learned what to work on, but they were excited to keep the momentum going.

But no one knew that the next day, they would be closed, only offering take-out orders. Dam Covid-19.

Jump to March 25, 2020, only 10 days after the successful grand opening; Hills, Anton Barich, general manager, and staff were still doing everything they could to keep customers happy and their doors open, albeit only with take-out orders.

Following an executive order imposed by Governor Polis, they could only offer curbside take out. Coloradans must ‘stay in place’ until April 11th.

Wide Open Saloon is not alone. Restaurants across the state are dealing with the same order and closures.

Hills thinks the “worst is yet to come.”

But bikers and supporters across the state are already trying to help: Ordering take out. Buying gift cards. Voluntering.  Sharing encouraging messages on social media. It all helps.

Many restaurant owners suggest the best way to help is to order take out or buy gift cards.

Bikers are the most generous people around. Dig deep. Support biker-friendly restaurants. Make sure when our Governor lifts the ban on our state, our go to restaurants are not only open, but thriving.

And don’t forget the Wide Open Saloon is currently offering curbside take out Tuesday- Saturday from 11am-7pm. We may not get the stunning views right now or the live bands, but we can still get the amazing food and drinks!

Wide Open Saloon Opening

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After a year of painstaking work, it appears that Wide Open Saloon is in the final stages and should be open this March just in time for riding season. Bikers and cagers who regularly drive to Castle Rock or Palmer Lake have been counting the days to have their local watering hole and restaurant back on Santa Fe (Hwy 85).

Owner Todd Hills has left no stone unturned when it comes to renovating this historical landmark in Sedalia. In fact, in my conversations with Todd, we confirmed that it probably would have been easier and more efficient to have torn down the whole building down and started over. Todd stated, the building has great bones and we wanted to keep the integrity of the older building and historical value.” We gave her a fresh look and have added some great additions including:

  • Brand new stage
  • All new seating
  • Extended patio that is enclosed
  • Motorcycle parking and so much more!

With renovating it has come with its own set of challenges and rumor is that this week Wide Open will get their final inspections and is hoping to soft open the doors on March 7th.

The name Wide Open Saloon is personal to the owner as in 2009 he hosted a Wednesday night bike night at Top-Gun Motorsports off 58th and I-25 and the name of the bar was Wide Open Saloon. Todd knows how to throw a party and create a biker friendly environment.

On behalf of Colorado Rider News, we want to WELCOME BACK Wide Open Saloon to our riding community and we hope that all our readers will stay updated on their website and Facebook pages. For more information please visit their website.

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – 2 Year Anniversary

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So much work went into the first wave of renovations of a building that had been neglected by others for years. It would require more than repainting. Dirty Dogs had to have a certain biker flair but keep the same visual of the Susie’s we loved. The biker community didn’t disappoint and supported and packed Dirty Dogs from the moment that it opened.

When Mark and Rob ventured into the transformation of our beloved Susie’s bar, no-one could have imagined the Dirty Dogs Roadhouse that is 2 years in the making. Vintage riders longed to have a true biker bar back in Golden and a place to go where they were understood and welcomed.

Next came Mark and Rob’s vision to create an outdoor patio area that could accommodate the overwhelming number of riders that were coming in on the weekends. For months, customers would come just to watch Mark & Rob doing the improvements themselves and you could see the excitement each week as another intricate piece of wall or concrete was poured.

The 3rd wave was the outdoor stage area that would enable Mark & Rob to bring bigger entertainment and host multiple riding events simultaneously. The 4th wave was the upper parking lot to enable more riders and vehicles to safely park. And who could forget the yellow buses they bought to transport riders to/from the Freedom Fest at Jeffco fairgrounds.

Dirty Dogs will be hosting their 2nd Anniversary Birthday party on October 12th so SAVE THE DATE and Thank you Dirty Dogs for giving the biker community in Denver a place to call HOME!