The third edition of the Ride the Divide tour got underway in Pagosa Springs this year under beautiful blue Colorado skies on Sunday, the 21st of July. The idea, to ride all of the paved Continental Divide passes in the state, in order. So this year's destination will be Steamboat Springs by Wednesday.

After the comemmorative T-shirt distribution, some 24 bikes got underway to conquer 20 passes and 1200 miles. A wide variety of bikes and riders joined up this year. Veterans and neophites alike, and for the first time, two female pilots on their own machines, Faye Hickerson on her nifty ZX-6 from NM, with husband Jim on his Bimmer, although he could have brought his Duck. Laren from Pagosa on an ST and her husband Terry on almost matching, ST's. Ed Kist on his "Okie Loaded" CBR 900RR, and myself on another ST from NM. The rest of the crew: from the Boulder area Gary Cutler, Jeff Hoskins who helped organize, and Greg Card, all on go fast bikes, just in from an extended trip to Canada, the Pacific Northwest and down to pick up Greg's brother, Noel. Mike Dunning showed up from Fountain.

The Arizona Veterans showed up led by Rick Hall, with Dave Clark in attendance from Flag, Charlie Rubin on the VFR and "Down and dirty" Don Williams, both from Sedona. Tony Rose made the ride in from Wyoming, stopping on the way at the BMW rally in Paonia. Two former racers from Oklahoma, Charles Martin, on another VFR and his buddy Kevin Janney on his "make your whole body ache", FZR 1000. The Lone Harley rider, Wayne McCutcheon made the trip too.

A few others joined the trip in progress and were able to make a few good miles with the group. Third-timer Randy Bishop visited with us in Buena Vista. Erick Egger turned up in Minturn. And Bob Baumgatner bummed around with us for the last couple of days.

This year's ride had all the right ingredients for a great time. More excitement than we bargained for when Don wadded up his bright red ST because of a moment's inattention. But undaunted, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, he made the last day with a new red one, complete with new leathers and new helmet! Needless to say, at the end of the ride banquet in Steamboat, he was the recipient of the first annual "squid" award.

In spite of the mishap, what a state! Where else can you find mile after mile of such vistas, roads, and such gorgeous scenery? Where else can you pass the local highway patrols at para-legal speeds and get such stern looks and unmistakable hand signals to slow down, but not even red lights or stop for a lecture on the dangers of Colorado's curvy roads??

Of course the roads are the reason we ride. If you want to sightsee, be our guest, we'll meet you at the end of the day. If you came to ride, then why is your sidestand still down? If you've never ridden a modern day sportbike, say a bright red VFR, on one of these passes, you haven't lived. A test ride at your local dealer will never do a good sportbike justice. Ride the Divide, and they come alive. Get them up at altitude where the smooth, wide, sweepers are, and they hunger for more. 35 MPH? You jest! We laugh at the yellow diamond shaped signs as they blur past our shoulders.

But then Wednesday dawns, bright and beautiful in Estes Park. We leave the famous Stanley hotel towards what Mark calls Colorado's version of the Laguna Seca "corkscrew", into some hairpins and we are beginning the best day of the ride. "Down Big Thompson Canyon, across the great divide..." anyone remember that song by Michael Parks from that old TV motorcycle show from the '60s? Now I've got the song in my head as we undulate over a ridge road overlooking Horsetooth Resevoir by Ft. Collins.

Gas up at Ted's place and we blast for the Poudre River Canyon. Traffic is light and Mark sets the pace; even with girlfriend Kathy on the back, the pace is spirited. Following right behind him, it's hard to believe she is even there. Heck, that's the same way he always rides! At Cameron pass, the sporty bike guys from Oklahoma are impressed the way we ride these big sport/touring bikes. Special kudos to Kathy, she must have ESP to ride like that! If you can find a passenger that will stick on the bike on that kind of ride, better keep her! Probably want her own bike too!

Willow Creek Pass, Rabbit Ears, and I know Muddy Pass is around here someplace, and we make it to Steamboat Springs. Everybodys' cheeks hurt from pressing into the sides of their helmets, quite pleased with the whole deal. A must do ride, even if you do it on your own, but it's already on my calendar for next year. Maybe next time I'll find that sign for Muddy Pass

Special thanks to Karl "Burn Out" Zuercher for writing the text for this page, and Rick Hall for providing the pictures and scans.

Copyright © 1996-2011 Randy Bishop
Last modified: December 7, 2011