July 2021 Cover
Magazine
It’s a HOT One!
With temperatures over 100 degrees, and riders taking long trips and getting ready to head to Sturgis in August, riders must understand that riding can come with challenges such as dehydration. Dehydration can happen quickly in motorcyclists, decreasing your ability to ride safely and even threatening your life if not properly treated. Motorcycle riding, like other sports, is a physical activity putting strain on your muscles and causing your body to release heat through sweat. If you must ride during the day or are traveling thru, we encourage you to go on our website (www.coloradoridernews.com) and read the June article by Shannon “Dazzlin” Venturo called 10 Tips to Stay Cool on Hot Motorcycle Rides. This article gives great tips on planning your ride and staying hydrated.
This month our online publication starts our 3rd Annual Colorado BEST of the BEST contest; we ask the readers to vote each year and tell us who has the BEST of the BEST in each of our categories. Starting in July, voters will write in their favorite business in each category. August, we will tabulate the Top 3 for a semi-finalist round and readers will have an entire month to vote for the Top 3 semi-finalists. Final voting will be published in our September CRN issue.
Suppose Arizona is on your destination list this year. In that case, we have two great articles from riders who recently took trips to Arizona and shared with us some great history about their destinations. If you took a Bucket List trip this year and would like to submit a story to Colorado Rider News, we would love to hear from you. You can submit your article by emailing us at info@coloradoridernews.com
Motorcycle riders are still being injured or killed in record numbers surpassing the 33% increase in fatalities in 2020, and this publication will continue to put a FACE on this injustice. Our sponsor RiderJustice.com helps riders with insurance reviews on their current motorcycle coverage, living wills, and BikerDown Foundation offers an Aflac Accident policy inclusive in their monthly $35.00 per month Roadside Assistance membership. As riders must consider these types of upgrades in our coverages before their next ride. Driver’s are still out driving distracted, leaving the scene, and continue to have limited insurance or no insurance at all. The injured riders are left alone to bear the burden of their recovery on their own. If riders increased their insurance to include under-insured or uninsured motorist coverage on their car or bike, this would provide them with some assistance to help them recover.
Our Calendar of Events section is also growing as mask mandates. COVID restrictions have been removed, so we look forward to your continued addition of events to the calendar.
Please ride safe out there!
Laurie Montoya
Publisher
Colorado Rider News
July 2021 – Calendar of Events
AD: Molly Hatchet Returns to Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
Bikers Lives Matter Blocking Team
By Laurie Montoya, BikerDown Foundation
There is nothing more fulfilling than organizing a charity motorcycle ride and having riders show up! All weekend riders pay for the privilege of riding on majestic Colorado roads to help every type of cause or charity.
The planning involved in putting together a safe ride is very time-consuming, it is so much more than if we route it….they will come. I have been preaching for years to organized charity rides and events that you must have more than just a first aid kit on a ride, you must have a moral compass and level of responsibility when putting a ride together.
When you are sponsoring or promoting a ride, you are taking the lives of those riders into your hands, waivers are of course signed, and every rider should ride their own ride, but it is important that organizers think about their ride and do everything possible to ensure SAFETY FIRST.
BIKERS LIVES MATTER BLOCK TEAM
Blocking or Leapfrogging is a term that most will not recognize unless you have done it. The purpose of those terms is to get groups of riders thru intersections and not break up the group. There are many that don’t feel bikers should be blocking intersections. I am a proponent of safety first and apologies later. I would rather see a group of 100 riders make it to their destination than worry about upsetting a few drivers who are inconvenienced for a few moments.
In 2020, Lyndell “Fuzz” Elliott founded Bikers Lives Matter Blocking Team with a few of his friends. His sole purpose was to help BikerDown and a few other charity rides he attended with a team of blockers that shared the same vision of motorcycle safety in a group setting and to have a Facebook page where others could volunteer to assist him. Fuzz has a long history in the biker community and has ridden on many charity rides in Colorado and has seen the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY when it comes to things that can go wrong on a ride.
MOLLY-DHARMA RIDE
A few weeks ago, I broke out and attended the 15th Annual Molly-Dharma Motorcycle charity run. If you have never run this ride, put it on your calendar for 2022. This event supports a variety of no-kill shelters in our community and draws a large crowd every year. There were puppies and dogs/cats looking for their forever family running around the Resolute Brewery in Arvada, and it took all my strength not to bring Gerda home for Noel.
150 riders attended this ride which started in Arvada and then headed up Coal Creek Canyon, a route that can be challenging for a large group of riders.
Prior to the ride leaving, I watched Jeff Busch and Fuzz, detail every stop, and turn along the route and the duties and responsibilities of the Bikers Lives Blocking Team. These types of pre-ride meetings can seem overzealous at times, and too much information for others who just came to ride. However, watching Fuzz and Jeff layout everyone’s responsibility is something that most riders don’t get to see which is the goal of a good ride.
The weather was warming up and Fuzz and Jeff did the safety meeting to the crowd, and I thought to myself, guy’s you are going too long…you are losing the crowd. This ride thru Coal Creek has a lot of sharp curves at 10-15 mph and it was important that riders understand and be prepared for the ride ahead.
My responsibilities during the ride was to ride behind approximately 10 blockers (which to me, seemed like way too many) and when we did the 3 designated hard stops, I was supposed to leave enough room for the blockers to get back in the front. I was up to the task but nervous as I have never had that level of responsibility.
As we proceeded thru Coal Creek it became clear that had any of the riders listened to the safety meeting, they should now be prepared for the tight curves and to watch their speed. I would glance in my rear-view mirror and could see that everyone was leaving enough room and being patient with other riders that may not have had their skill level.
As we proceeded to the first hard stop Hwy 72 meets Hwy 119 – the road gets quite steep to the intersection, so the blocker in front of me stopped about 75 yards before the intersection. I began to understand right away that the pre-riders had decided that they didn’t want the riders to come to a full stop on such a steep road. I did my job and stopped the riders about 10 feet away from that blocker. Suddenly all the blockers caught up and several went ahead to the intersection. This break also gave all the riders time to catch up so that when we turned, we could get everyone thru at 1 time.
Our ride on Hwy 119 to Black Hawk was beautiful and the weather while warm was cooler than in Denver and we all really began to enjoy the ride. However, I still was pondering why did we have so many blockers in the front. I was given my answer when we entered Black Hawk and I began to see Fuzz designate each blocker to go to each of the 3 intersections and block so that 150 riders could get thru with ease. Hard Stop #2 was at Johnny Z’s Shell Station on our way down and again, my job was to stop and leave enough room for all the blockers in Black Hawk to catch back up and get in line.
I won’t finish the number of incidents where the blockers made sure the group got safely to the END stop. What was noticeably clear to me was how important it is to have a good blocking TEAM with you on an organized ride. The precision and planning to ensure that 150 riders didn’t get lost or left behind made the event all that more enjoyable for everyone. Riders at the end of the event kept commenting that the ride was great and how much they enjoyed themselves.
These are the comments that you want when hosting a charity ride. A ride was so enjoyable that riders will come back the next year and support you again. A huge thank you to Jeff Bush and Fuzz and their team of riders with Bikers Lives Matter Blocking Team.
The TEAM has accumulated quite a resume of rides that they have blocked for including
- International Female Ride,
- Cruizin for Kruzer,
- BikerDown’s 9th Annual Look Twice Save a Life ride; and
- 15th Annual Molly-Dharma Motorcycle ride.
A special thanks and honorable mention to their TEAM members including
- Fuzz,
- shiner
- Steve Cox,
- Superman John Dentin Asdourian ,
- kickstand Joe Rivera,
- Rick Bouska,
- Jeff Bush,
- Michael Valles
And a special thanks to the Team for Molly-Dharma included
- Rob Bagforb
- Jake Marr
- Charles Holland Jr
- Joey Hackney
- Dave Wynn
- Chad McCullough
- Randy Barnett
Rocky Mountain HOG Chapter Takes a Trip to Madrid, New Mexico
By: Susan Dane
Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson HOG Chapter #0421 embarked on a weekend trip to Santa Fe June 4 – 6, 2021. Bob Cuculich has been the organizer of this overnighter, aptly named Wild HOGS weekend, since its inception. It also happened to be Bob’s birthday on Friday, June 4th, so of course, we had to sing Happy Birthday to him before we took off. 32 HOG Chapter members rode to Santa Fe this year in 3 groups, taking different scenic routes to the Sage Inn in Santa Fe.
Bob’s local friend, who owns a charter and sightseeing flying service, provided a sightseeing tour to two lucky winners on Saturday morning, with a group photo taken of the entire Chapter and their motorcycles staged on the airport tarmac. After the picture, the group headed to Thunderbird Harley Davidson in Albuquerque, then a scenic ride on the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway.
The historic Byway encompasses 15,000 square miles in the heart of central New Mexico and is approximately 50 miles along Highway 14. First, a stop was made to enjoy the breathtaking view from atop Sandia Crest, and then the ride continued through the mining towns of Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos.
Riders also enjoyed a stop at the now-infamous Maggie’s Diner in Madrid. Madrid is about an hour north of Albuquerque and where part of the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. Maggie’s is now a gift shop with numerous Wild Hogs and Del Fuego T-shirts and souvenirs. A little know trivia fact is that Maggie’s Diner was never an actual diner, the Wild Hogs movie set team for the movie, and they left it for the town to do with it what they wanted.
It just so happened that this year is the 15th anniversary of the Wild Hogs movie, and several of the Del Fuego Motorcycle Club members who were in the film were in Madrid to celebrate. What an expected fun surprise that was…..we couldn’t have timed our arrival any better.
Madrid was once a historic coal mining town and ghost town; Madrid is now a creative community with over 40 shops and galleries, several restaurants, a spa, and a museum. Madrid is famous for its annual Christmas lighting displays, which began in the 1920s. There are also three quaint but modernized Bed & Breakfasts in Madrid that riders can stay overnight to take in all that this small town offers. A couple of miles north is the quaint village Cerrillos that includes a state park with hiking paths and horseback riding.
Chapter members headed home on Sunday, taking several different routes—some wanting to take the scenic route home while others took I-25. This trip was a great weekend getaway and one that I would highly recommend to any rider looking to take a long weekend cruise on the bike with good friends. Creating memories with friends on a trip like this is what it’s all about…..Life is Good.
Morning Stretch – Thoughts & Inspirations
By: Stretch McClure
With all the crap going on in this world, people are offended by everything. To me, too many people have that “want everything for nothing attitude!” The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!
It is the possibility that keeps us going, and though you may call me a dreamer or a fool or any other thing, I believe that anything is possible. Well done is better than well said. So believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who said it, no matter if I have said it unless it agrees with your reason and your own common sense.
The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most challenging thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don’t let them put you in that position. If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying.
There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever. It is not the failure of others to appreciate the abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs. Nothing will work unless you do! If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you’ve made, if they don’t realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go.
Then, start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible! Sometimes it’s not enough to know what things mean. Sometimes you have to know what things don’t mean.
Be safe and keep the shiny side up!
Sober Souls MC – Celebrate 30 Years – Saturday, July 17th
On behalf of Colorado Rider News and BikerDown Foundation, a special Thank You and Congratulations to the Sober Souls, MC for 30 years in the motorcycle community. I personally want to let you know how much I appreciate all that you have done to help people with their battle of sobriety. Your support for BikerDown over the 10 years has never gone unnoticed.
Got Motorcycle Towing/Roadside Assistance Coverage?
By Michael Levy (Owner of Rider Rescue Denver)
In Colorado, Tows Can Cost you a Small Fortune… If you don’t have the right tow coverage.
(But with the right info, you can get your tows for FREE OR reimbursed in FULL)
Colorado is one of the most expensive places in the country to have your motorcycle towed. But if you have the correct type of roadside assistance coverage, you can make towing your motorcycle (when you need it) a whole lot less financially painful.
But you may also be asking why towing rates are going up… when Munky Mark was able to tow people in town, at really reasonable rates? Since Munky (God rest his crazy soul) passed away, gas/diesel costs have more than doubled, liability insurance for tow providers has skyrocketed, and traffic in and around Denver has only gotten more atrocious.
The other reason why motorcycle tows in Colorado are so expensive is those beautiful mountains to the west of us, where we all want to ride. Unfortunately, if you have a mechanical breakdown or get a flat tire in the mountains, there are very few places in the mountains where you can get that sort of work done. So unless you have a buddy with a truck or trailer (who is willing to come to get you), you are going to have to call a tow truck to come up the mountain and then haul you and your bike a bunch of miles BACK down the hill.
Below is the INSIDE SCOOP on how to get most of your motorcycle tows for free or reimbursed in full.
Step 1: Get a Biker Down Membership
Why? Because Biker Down does so much for riders in need when they have accidents and are having difficulty taking care of themselves and their families. Additionally, your Biker Down membership comes included with 1 or 2 tows with a $150 Benefit Limit. Generally speaking, a $150 Benefit limit will get you an approximate 15-mile tow in town. Always know that mileage and prices will vary depending upon a number of factors. As a general rule, the further away you are from the tow truck driver and the bigger the pain in the ass the tow is, the more the tow could cost. To join, please click here
Step 2: Add Roadside Assistance Coverage to Your Insurance Policy!
Why?: Trust me, and do it, TODAY. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Just add roadside/towing coverage to your insurance policy, NOW. Depending upon who you are insured by, your insurance company’s roadside assistance coverage could cover most of your tow costs reimbursed to you in full. This coverage is as low as $7 with Progressive, $14 with Geico and comes included with State Farm motorcycle policies (IF you have “comprehensive” coverage on your policy). Just add roadside assistance coverage to your policy TODAY. If your insurance company does not offer roadside coverage, consider switching to a company that does. If you are going to use your insurance company to get your towing bill reimbursed, remember to call your preferred motorcycle towing specialist first… to make sure that your bike does NOT get jacked up by a towing company (that your insurance company wants you to use) who may not have the proper motorcycle specific equipment or expertise to tow your bike).
Step 3: Add at least one more layer of roadside assistance / towing coverage to your MacGyver Rider Emergency Tool Box
Why?: Because when you live in Colorado and ride motorcycles, you can easily find yourself getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, where you are more than 100 miles from the closest shop. And believe me when I tell you that I have towed folks where the round trip was more than 300 miles… where the tow bill was $1,000 or more. So if you ever find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, you will want to make sure that you have multiple layers of coverage, IF and WHEN you might need it. Here are some of the additional roadside assistance options you might want to consider adding to your bag of motorcycle tricks:
AAA: Not cheap, but they have coverage options that will tow you up to 100 miles
AMA: Great industry group that fights for our motorcycle rights. Towing up to 35 miles
Factory Roadside Assistance Programs: Harley’s come with the first tow of up to $100 included with your HOG membership. New Indian Motorcycles come with at least 50 miles of tow coverage for at least the first year. And new BMW Motorcycle owners are covered for at least 100 miles of range for the first 3 years of ownership.
Step 4: Call your preferred motorcycle towing specialist FIRST!
Why?: Because that’s who you should call when you don’t want your bike jacked up by a tow vendor who does NOT know how to secure a motorcycle properly. When you reach your preferred motorcycle tow specialist first (with the right roadside coverage in place)… you will likely get most or ALL of your tow bills reimbursed in full.
When using your motorcycle tow specialist, always make sure to get a receipt for your tow bill to present that to your insurance company to have them reimburse you.
Editors Note: A very special THANK YOU to Michael Levy, from Rider Rescue who wrote this amazing article and still promoted competitors towing businesses. To me, this is about the biker code and Michael is showing that it is more important for a rider to be safe off the road than it is to make the mighty dollars.
World Record Poker Run 2021 Comes to Dirty Dogs Roadhouse On Way to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
On August 4th, over 140 Registered riders who started in Florida will be making a pit stop in Golden, Colorado, at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse. These riders began their ride to break the World Record Poker Run on July 30th, and on August 3rd, riders will arrive in Durango for their 2nd to last poker card stop.
On August 4th, they will navigate the Million Dollar Highway to Grand Junction, up I70, and ending in beautiful Golden, Colorado, at the infamous Dirty Dogs Roadhouse.
A Moto Meetup Party and Fundraiser for BikerDown Foundation has been planned for the evening of the 4th at 6:00 pm at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, 17999 W. Colfax Ave.
These riders voted to re-route their journey to come thru Golden and up thru I-25 to see the #1 Biker Bar in Colorado. So let’s show them a BIG COLORADO WELCOME by coming out to Dirty Dogs on the 4th.
While riding to break the World Record is a big deal, all these riders are also riding to support the BikerDown Foundation and help this 501c3 organization help more riders nationwide. Funds raised thru this poker run and sponsors will replenish the national accident fund to enable BikerDown to reach more injured riders.
For 11 years, BikerDown has worked within the state of Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. The Biker Badgers have a massive network of riders all over the country, and BikerDown with the assistance of this network is being recognized on a more national stage.
Everyone is invited to come to meet some of their favorite moto vloggers and Facebook personalities. The Moto Meetups along the World Record Poker Run Route are open to anyone who wants to come party. Bikers wishing to join the official riders on their way to Sturgis for the Rally will sign a Guest Book and are encouraged to donate BikerDown.org to participate.