Colorado Rider News

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Laurie Montoya

Letter From the Publisher – Fall is Finally HERE!

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While Global Warming is a topic that many would like to debate, there is absolutely no doubt that in Colorado, we have experienced one of the warmest summers on record this year with temperatures rising above 100 degrees for more extended periods.  We Colorado riders are so fortunate to head up the mountain for relief when the temperature is unbearable in town.

The fall season is here, and fall colors are upon us, and you only have a week or so before all those beautiful fall colors will have fallen softly to the ground, and in a blink of an eye, winter riding will be upon us….are you ready.  Halloween can be seen in every store, with Thanksgiving not far behind.  I then realized that we are but a blink away from the Children’s Hospital Toy Run and  86 days away from Christmas.  Where did our summer go?

Motorcycle Fatalities continue to RISE – Our biker community in Colorado has suffered 9 tragic motorcycle fatalities in the last two (2) weekends of September.  My calculations as President of BikerDown are that we have recorded 77 fatalities on the motorcycle so far in 2021.  The more significant statistic that will surprise many of you is that rider error accidents/fatalities are up this year.  That is a staggering number of deaths.

I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said or covered in previous issues of Colorado Rider News. Still, motorcycle awareness and safety are no longer about Look Twice Save a Life or Watch for Motorcycles bumper stickers on cars or Can you see me now As*hole t-shirts or patches.   MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MUST BEGIN WITH US!

Motorcycle awareness is now in the rider’s hands, and how experienced you are in defensive driving.  It is about how fast you ride for the conditions; it is about being more cautious when going thru intersections and stop lights.  Green no longer means GO; it means down shift and see if anyone is coming, looking both ways…before you proceed thru any light or stop sign.  It means if you see someone driving distracted…you do all that you can to stay clear of that irresponsible driver, which is almost impossible because 4 out of 10 drivers are using their phones while it is moving.  

Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike.  It out ranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it out ranks everything.  Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or un-insured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers.  RiderJustice.com has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers.  Be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth next time you see them and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.

Motorcycle Safety used to refer to whether you wore a helmet.  This isn’t a debate on where to WEAR or NOT WEAR a helmet.  Now, considering helmet protection and wearing the proper safety gear IS A MUST to stay alive and enable you to recover from an accident.   Companies like Tobacco Motorwear are coming out with stylish denim jeans with Kevlar fibers in them so that in the event of a crash, it can help limit the road rash and damages to your body.  Kevlar riding shirts that you wear over your t-shirts and under your vest and will protect your shoulders, elbows and most importantly your back.  Knox armor in your leather vests or jackets that will protect your spine.  Some will say I will not spend 300 on a pair of riding jeans or I can’t afford it.  We are in a riding age where you can’t afford NOT TO HAVE some safety gear when you ride.  This year I would ask all motorcycle riders to put safety gear on their Christmas list for next year.

Calendar of Events – This month has some special events, and Colorado Rider News is proud to feature them in this issue:

October 16th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse 4th  Anniversary Birthday Bash – who doesn’t love a party when Mark and Rob pull out all the stops for their 4th-anniversary party.  You can read more about Dirty Dogs with some great photos showing how far they have come from when they started.

October 24th – BikerDown and Rider Justice are hosting another round of Accident Scene Management classes that teach a motorcycle rider how to render aid in the event of an accident.  Class to be held at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds from 8:30 am to 5 pm.  Rider Justice is offsetting the 99.00 class rate to $40.00 to make it more affordable for all riders to have these valuable skills.  For more information, go to riderjustice.com/rj-events/ to register.

October 30th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Halloween party – We all know that Mark & Rob know how to throw a party and their Halloween parties are legendary!  So, get your costume ready for a chance to win great prizes!

We welcome your comments and thoughts on what CRN can do better in the future, and enjoy the ride!

Please ride safe out there!

Laurie Montoya

Publisher

Colorado Rider News

info@coloradoridernews.com

3rd Annual Colorado Rider News BEST of the BEST Contest is ON

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By Colorado Rider News

Colorado Rider News is bringing back our BEST of the BEST contest.  This year has been a year of recovery for our biker-owned business who survived the pandemic.  Biker-owned companies are just getting back on their feet, and we want to honor them for their hard work. 

CRN had such a great response from previous years, and we have added and eliminated some categories to keep it interesting.  This year, you can vote daily instead of one time per round to really up the competition.

Here is how the contest will work.  The survey/contest is on our Colorado Rider News Facebook page (click here)and our website www.coloradoridernews.com.  Vote daily and vote often.    On October 24th, we will tally all the entries and pick the top 3  semi-finalists and post them online and in the November 2021 issue.  You will then have another 30 days to vote again for the 3 finalists in each category.    Awards will be presented in January 2021. 

2nd Anniversary of the Passing of Mark “Munky” Berman

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By Laurie Montoya

In October 2019, our community lost our friend Munky at the hands of a murderer named Alberto Calcurian. The loss to our community resulted in one of Denver’s most significant celebrations of life in recent memory.

For Munky’s family and friends, this started the beginning of the criminal aspect of Munky’s death, and 2 years later, those family members and friends still have no justice. Calcurian’s legal counsel pleaded that his client wasn’t mentally capable of standing trial, and after a mental health exam, he was committed to some mental facility, and to date, there has been no update since February 2020

Munky’s children received almost nothing from his estate that could ever replace their father, everything that they held valuable was taken from them that day, and that was their father.  I am happy to report that Munkys 2nd love was his motorcycles, and his beloved bike can and will always be at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in Golden, where it will be a constant reminder of a friend take from us all too soon.

That was the beauty of Munky, he lived life by his own rules, and no one defined who he was. He only cared that a biker was on the side of the road. Whether you were an independent rider, sportbike, Harley, group, or club, Munky would always be there to get you & your bike safely off the road.

On the 16th, at the 4th anniversary of Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Colorado Rider News will be giving out candles to light and remember our friend Munky Mark. We encourage everyone to bring a photo, and let’s honor our friend with a drink and solo salute in the air.  Munky, I am sure you will be watching!

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Celebrates 4-year anniversary October 16th

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By Laurie Montoya

When Mark and Rob ventured into the transformation of our beloved Susie’s bar, no one could have imagined the Dirty Dogs Roadhouse that it is today.  A biker bar that is more to us than a bar to catch a quick drink, grab a bite to eat, and hit the road again.  Dirty Dogs Roadhouse is our HOME. 

There hasn’t been a time in the past 4 years that I haven’t walked in and saw someone I knew who said hello.  It reminds me of the TV show Cheers back in the day when Norm would walk in, and everyone said, “Hey Norm.”    It is a place where everyone knows your name, and if you are riding alone or feeling lonely, you can ride up to Dirty Dogs and see someone you haven’t seen in years and melt the stress of live away.

In 2017, so much work went into the first wave of renovations of the original Susies’ building neglected and renovated by others for years.  It would require more than repainting.   Dirty Dogs had to have a certain biker flair but keep the same vision of the Susie’s we loved.  The biker community didn’t disappoint and supported and packed Dirty Dogs from the moment that it opened.

In late 2017-2018, came Mark and Rob’s vision to create an outdoor patio area that could accommodate the overwhelming number of riders coming in on the weekends.  For months, customers would go just to watch Mark, Bart & Rob doing the improvements themselves, and you could see the excitement each week as another intricate piece of wall or concrete was poured.

In 2019, 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 allow more riders and vehicles to park safely.

Dirty Dogs is also where most in our community will start or end their charity rides or hold our parties.  Dirty Dogs Roadhouse is also where we have mourned the loss of the bikers that we have lost over the years.  Munky Mark was taken from our biker community 2 years ago, and it was standing room only as we laughed, cried, and remembered a life that was taken from us too soon!  Mark and Rob ensured that Munky’s beloved bike will forever be displayed at Dirty Dogs for his years of service to the community and love and friendship to all of us. 

The history and biker memorabilia around the bars leave no open space, and there is always something that takes us back to a time when Freedom of the Ride was FREE.  Dirty Dogs brings the best entertainment and great food, including their new BBQ trailer.

Biker bars like this are rare, and for Dirty Dogs to have not only shown impressive growth over the years (with more to come in 2022) but to have also survived the pandemic with little to no income and rapidly changing restrictions from the health department, shows their management is solid. The biker community will support Dirty Dogs thru thick and thin.

Dirty Dogs will be hosting their 4th Anniversary Birthday party on October 16th so SAVE THE DATE and Thank you, Dirty Dogs, for giving the biker community in Denver a place to call HOME! Please enjoy this 3-page spread honoring the growth of Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

Do You Know What a Blue Halloween Buck Means?

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Article Contributor: Nichole Zamora

It is almost that fun time of the year when kids dress up in their favorite costumes and go door to door chanting “Trick or Treat“! If you’re lucky, you will get a “Thank you” before they zoom off to the next house, giggling and checking their buckets to see what they got.

What about the kids who show up at your door and do not have a costume on? Or those that show up to your door and do not say “Trick or Treat” or “Thank You”? What do you do when kids that aren’t small kids, but still are waiting for you to drop that piece of candy in their bucket? 

It’s possible that an adult child or quiet child might have autism and be non-verbal.  If a trick or treater comes up with a blue Halloween bucket, do you know what that means?  We live in a different time, and we need to all become more aware that trick-or-treaters at your door may have different needs.

Alicia Plumber started an amazing trend in 2018 for her 20-year-old son BJ, who was autistic and non-verbal, just by a social media post:

Whether you’re out and about this Halloween or staying home to hand out sweets to well-costumed kiddos, you might spot a blue pumpkin today — whether it’s a plastic version used as a sweets-holder or carved and sitting outside someone’s home. This isn’t just a fun style choice. A blue pumpkin symbolizes autism and will be carried by trick or treaters to signal that they may have certain needs.

“This trend seems to be gaining momentum. As the general public becomes more aware of it, we think it could be a wonderful way for kids —the little ones and the bigger ones—to participate in Halloween festivities without the judgment that they sometimes face in social situations,” Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association, stated in a recent Newsweek article.

For those who choose to use them, the blue buckets could provide a subtle, dignified way of alerting people that this child or young adult may not be able to make eye contact, or tolerate wearing a mask, or even say ‘thank you’, but they certainly deserve to enjoy the fun of Halloween as much as everyone else,” she added.

“1 in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASDs begin in childhood and tend to persist into adolescence and adulthood. While some people with ASD can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support,” the World Health Organization (WHO) reports.

Halloween’s history is for adults and children of all ages to have a night of fun, so keep the true spirit of Halloween and just give from your heart and have a variety of treats, even some available for kids that can’t have sweets.

Letter from the Publisher – We Must Never Forget 9/11

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Laurie Montoya, Publisher

It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.   I know that most of us can remember exactly where we were on that day and how they frantically rushed home to be with their families to ensure that we were all together, as none of us knew what the future held.

Everything changed on 9/11, and it made us understand that there will always be evil in this world and that we must fight that fight abroad and not in our country. It was a time in our country where we all flew a flag on our homes, cars/trucks, and for a very short time, it was us against evil.  

For 20 years, our country hasn’t had an attack of that magnitude, and it seems that pride in our country has faded.  We spend more time arguing and being divided than we are doing to be proud to be American.  There is a reason that millions flock to the United States every year because whether you agree with the government or your neighbor, you have a right to express your opinion and voice against your government.

Colorado Rider News wanted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this devastating attack and losses with remembrance photographs and a timeline to remind us of the sacrifices that so many made and the lives lost.   Some riders will read this publication that wasn’t born before 2001, and hopefully, they will learn that this country should be more united than divided moving forward

In Colorado, our community annually honors these lives lost in rides and personal remembrance.  Since 9/11, we want to thank those who have served for protecting our freedom by attending the  Colorado 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks.  This event is a way to connect, honor, and remember the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live on 9-11-2001.  Each participant pays tribute to an FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.   We must also not forget the brave souls of Flight 93 that overcame the terror.  Mile-High Harley-Davidson will also be hosting first responders, fire, and police at the Aurora dealership with a free BBQ meal, compliments of Taste of Texas BBQ.

Colorado Rider News and BikerDown Foundation will be compiling a team of other motorcycle riders to come and climb these stairs to honor the fallen and veteran and active military that have fought for our freedom and keeping terrorism at bay from our country.

This will be a day of hope and healing, remembrance and reflection, honoring the heroes, victims, and resilient spirit of everyone affected by 9/11.

Please ride safe out there!

Laurie Montoya

Publisher

Colorado Rider News

info@coloradoridernews.com

Thunder in the Rockies is CANCELLED For 2021.

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Thunder Harley-Davidson announced today that due to circumstances beyond their control such as COVID concerns, staffing, and supply issues, they sadly must cancel their Annual Thunder in the Rockies for 2021. This will be the 2nd year in a row that Thunder Mountain has had to cancel, however, this publication commends them for doing what they felt was best for the community, as well as not settling on an event that doesn’t meet the standards of what attendees are used to.

Here is their post on their ThunderInTheRockies.com website:

a group of rvs parked outside a building

THUNDER IN THE ROCKIES 2021 CANCELLED


We are heartbroken to announce the cancellation of the 2021 Thunder in the Rockies bike rally. This extremely difficult decision was made based on many factors including potential restrictions and entertainer concerns related to the most recent rise in Covid-19 cases. Lack of support due to supply chain issues and labor/inventory shortages throughout our vendor, sponsor, and business partner communities were additional factors.

All 2021 concert tickets purchased through our official Ticketweb outlet will automatically be refunded within 30 days. Any tickets purchased at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson can be turned in at the Thunder Mountain front desk for a refund anytime within the next 30 days.

The Forever Family Ride will still happen on Monday, Sept 6th. It is very important to the Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson team to support Realities for Children and encourage our customers to get out in the fresh air and ride! Check-in and breakfast will begin at 9 AM at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson, kickstands up at 10:30 AM. More information can be found at www.ForeverFamilyRide.com.

We have extended our Bike Night series an additional week to hold the 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America giveaway. This event will be our last Bike Night of the season at Thunder Mountain Amphitheatre on Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 6 PM to 9 PM. The raffle prize drawing will be held promptly at 7:30 PM and the bike giveaway qualifier drawing/key turn at 8:30 PM. You must be present to win for both drawings.


The 2022 Thunder in the Rockies planning is already well underway so mark your calendars, Labor Day Weekend (Sept 2-5, 2022). We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your support. Ride safe!


THUNDER IN THE ROCKIES
4250 Byrd Drive
Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: (866) 646-6296
Fax: (970) 292-0440
For Questions Contact:
marketing@thundermountainharley.com

Be Sure to Visit the Infamous Sturgis Lemonade Stand

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It is estimated that over One Million motorcycle riders are at this years 81st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Vendors are everywhere and a shopper can get brain damage trying to see all that the vendors have for sale from Biden Sucks tshirts to leather and fishnet outfits that would frighten fish.

However, a motorcycle loving 8 year old’s lemonde stand has become a popular attraction at Rally this year. Wyatt Dennis opened the stand last year to earn a little money toward a Lego set he wanted. He raised enough money to get his Lego set and donate $200 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

This year, Dennis’ lemonade stand went viral after someone at a nearby campground posted about him on social media. But when Wyatt realized he had such a lucrative business, he sought some financial advice. He and his parents came up with a plan that 50% of what is earned should go to his college fund, 30% to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and 20% to buy a dirt bike.

As of today, Wyatt had raised about $9,000 at his lemonade stand. MedVed Autoplex in Denver also offered to match up to $1,000 in donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  

In addition to quenching the thirst of Rallygoers and others, Wyatt believes he’s making people happy by operating the lemonade stand.

“When they come up to the table, they have a smile on their face. I think I’m inspiring people,” he said.

Wyatt, who will be a third-grader at Piedmont Valley Elementary School this fall, is thrilled to be able to donate some of the money to the children being treated at St. Jude’s.

“It feels like I’m making other kids and their parents happy, but also making me happy that I can help them,” he said.

Wyatt’s mom and dad, Robin and Devin, warned him that if he wanted to do the lemonade stand he was the one who would have to work it, not them. They agreed to be there with him, but he was the one to wave in the customers and serve the lemonade.

If you stop at the Wyatt’s lemonade stand, please share photos with us at info@coloradoridernews.com.

8/9/2021 – UPDATE ON WYATT’S PROGRESS – It has been reported that the Black Hill Riders and South Dakota Sport Bikes got together and presented Wyatt’s with a dirt bike today! Watch the Youtube video here

It’s a HOT One!

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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

info@coloradoridernews.com