Colorado Rider News

Colorado Powersports

 

 

colorado rider news

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

By Leave a Comment

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

Bandimere hosts Motorcycle Challenge – kind of Run what you Brung!

By Leave a Comment

Bandimere Speedway – Motorcycle Challenge set for September 19th

Bandimere Speedway is hosting a Motorcycle Challenge on September 19th. This day of racing is open to all skill levels of riders with classes for Street Bikes, Pro Bikes, and ATVs.  No experience necessary! Kind of a “Run what you Brung” day of racing. 

All brands welcome. Simple rules for all riders. (valid driver license, Snell-rated helmet, leather gloves, leather or heavyweight riding jacket, jeans, and leather footwear that extends above the ankle). Riders only need full leathers if exceeding 120MPH. 

SCHEDULE

  • Gates Open 8:00 am
  • Time Trials 9:00 am
  • Eliminations 12:00 pm

ADMISSION

  • Adult Crew $20
  • Children (12 & Under) FREE

RACER ADMISSIONS

  • Street Bike/ATV $40
  • Pro Bike $50
  • Titan 16 Series $45

For more information, visit bandimere.com.

Morning Stretch – Life Inspiration

By Leave a Comment

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

NEVER FORGET!

September 11, 2001, is a day that lingers in the hearts and minds of many Americans, especially those who were there for the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

Almost 3,000 people lost their lives during the attacks at the Twin Towers, Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93. Many died in trying to help the injured during the terrorist attacks on our nation, and it’s a day to honor their lives, courage, and memories. It is a day of remembrance.

At 8:46 am ET, American Airlines Flight 11 (traveling from Boston to Los Angeles) hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. At 9:03 a.m. ET, United Airlines Flight 175 (traveling from Boston to Los Angeles) hit the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. At 9:37 a.m. ET, American Airlines Flight 77 (traveling from Dulles, Virginia, to Los Angeles) hit the Pentagon Building in Washington. And at 10:03 am. ET, United Airlines Flight 93 (traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco) crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

This day is also a time to show that we will never forget the horrific events that occurred. It was one of the worst days in our American history, in which we saw some of the bravest acts. We learned that the unthinkable could happen and did!  It was intended to break our spirit, but instead, we became more unified and stronger.

It showed us that life is so precious of a gift.  The fathers, mothers brothers and sisters, the grief, the fire and ash, the last phone calls and the funerals of children. Every life has a purpose, and that we have a responsibility to those that we, Americans and the World NEVER forgets.

Twenty years have passed since a perfect blue sky morning turned into the blackest of nights. Since then, we have lived in sunshine and shadow, although we can never unsee what happened here. We can also see that children who lost their parents have grown into young adults, grandchildren have been born, and good works and public service have taken root to honor those we loved and lost. Please remember that on September 10, 20 years ago, 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning.  343 Firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 Police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol.

None of them saw past 10:00am September 11, 2001. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted! In just a single moment, life may never be the same.

Stretch

Be Sure to Visit the Infamous Sturgis Lemonade Stand

By Leave a Comment

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!

By Leave a Comment

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

Biker Owned Business Directory and Business Card ADS

By Leave a Comment

Colorado Rider News’s MISSION is to network and promote biker-owned businesses owned by motorcycle riders in Denver and surrounding areas. If you would like to add your business card ad or be in our Biker-Owned Business “BOB” Directory, please send your inquiry to info@coloradoridernews.com

April 11th is the last Motorcycle Expo Swap for 2021

By Leave a Comment

The last Swap meet for the Expo this year will be April 11, 2021 at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

UPDATE: The 2nd swap meet hosted by The Colorado Motorcycle Expo and Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in March was another record crowd and the weather again shined upon our biker community.   There was a better diversity of vendors selling everything from parts to amazing riding hats.

Sadly, this will be our final swap meet of the season.  Dirty Dogs Roadhouse is the #1 biker bar for a reason and with the warm weather and beautiful weekends to ride, they need both parking lots to accommodate customers.

On behalf of all the sponsors, Scott from The Colorado Motorcycle Expo, Rider Justice, Colorado Rider News, Mark & Rob and the staff at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, we want to THANK YOU ALL.  This modified swap meet was a testament to the pride and unity the biker community feels for each other. 

Our biker owned businesses were struggling in this pandemic as the events they heavily relied on to get them thru the winter are rescheduled, cancelled, or eliminated entirely.  We hope that these 3 months helped them get thru this tough time and get ready for any spring events they can find.

Please come out for the final swap meet on Sunday, April 11th from 10am to 4pm

Letter from the Publisher – Spring is in the Air

By Leave a Comment

Laurie is Publisher and Editor of Colorado Rider News

March is here and with the warmer temperatures here, its hard to not start looking forward to spring rides, events and trying to get back to normal.  Today it was in the news that the governors of Texas and Mississippi both announced that TODAY they would be lifting their states’ mask mandates and rolling back many of their Covid-19 health mandates, just one day after the CDC warned against complacency in the face of emerging coronavirus variants.

The future of our motorcycle events in Colorado are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and more events are being added to our Event Calendar in the hopes that restrictions will continue to loosen up. 

In this issue we will share with our readers The Colorado Motorcycle Swap Meet held at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in February.  This was a combined effort of the Motorcycle Expo, Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Rider Justice and Colorado Rider News whose only goal was helping our local biker owned business get thru these winter months due to the official Expo being postponed to 2022.

Colorado Riders News is proud to work with charities, riding groups and biker businesses to help promote your event.  Please visit our website and submit your event on our calendar and we will make sure it gets on the calendar at no-charge.

On a safety note, please ride safe out there, even with the beautiful weather, there is sand in the mountains and on the roads.  Watch the conditions of possible black ice in the shade.

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

Laurie Montoya, Publisher

Colorado Rider News

info@coloradoridernews.com

Publisher, Colorado Rider News

Colorado Swap Meet in February Has Record Crowds – NEXT EVENT March 20th

By Leave a Comment

Mother nature clearly loves the biker community and on February 20th the day of our 1ST modified swap meet at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse in conjunction with Scott from the Colorado Motorcycle Expo and Rider Justice and Colorado Rider News was confirmation that that in the biker world, “If you build it….THEY WILL COME”.

Swap meets at Dirty Dogs are regularly done in June and December with great vendors everywhere, Mark can be found roasting something to satisfy the overwhelming crowd.   It was unclear to all of us that even if the weather were nice, how many attendees would come out to support the biker owned business. 

It was about 10am, that we got our answer, the parking lot was full up top, and drivers were parking on the side of Colfax all the way up past Wrigley’s.  Riders were walking around with the goods they had purchased, and you could see the guys carrying around parts to sell and parts they had bought

This modified swap meet is a testament to the pride and unity the biker community feels for each other.  Our biker owned businesses are struggling in this pandemic as the events they heavily rely on to get them thru the winter are rescheduled, cancelled, or eliminated entirely.  Scott Schultz from our Expo, Scott O’Sullivan from Rider Justice and myself met with Mark and Rob from Dirty Dogs Roadhouse to see if we could come up with an option to help these businesses, the modified swap meet was the option we all came up with that could help everyone.

The party continued long after the swap meet was over with riders and vendors staying around just to celebrate a day of normality and listening to great music.

After the event was concluded, we spoke with several of the vendor who said the swap meet was a god send, and would help them get thru the month.  Most said they would be back again in March and were so grateful for the opportunity to sell their items and make a few dollars.

If you are biker owned business and would like to participate in our March 20th swap meet, please visit the expo’s website at www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com.  Good spots are still available

For the most updated information please go to https://www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com/monthly-swap-meet