Different Perspectives

[the Ferret]

I like riding the interstate " once I'm out of major cities". There is actually some lovely stretches of interstate in this country. Just like riding giant backroads. Curves, trees, little traffic. Now of you are talking downtown Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Los Angeles, Boston, New York etc during rush hour ..no thank you.

[VLJ_imp]

mickey, reading that Colorado group-ride thread is pure torture to a guy who's stuck at work and can't get out there.

I know that most people talk about Tail of the Dragon, but I have a far greater desire to ride the Colorado high passes. TotD isn't going to be any different from or any better than countless roads I have here, and it will probably have a lot of traffic. I prefer empty roads for going fast. I hate constantly having to wait to pass Harleys, mobile homes, logging trucks, etc.

Colorado looks like my favorite high passes in the eastern Sierras. I want to ride there. Pike's Peak is a must.

Cormanus, I'm with you 100% on the preference for riding good back roads. Given a choice, and sufficient time, I'll stay off the interstates every chance I get. Sometimes it just doesn't work out that way, unfortunately, and I have to slog it straight up and down in the center of the tire for hours on end. No fun.

[Cormanus]

Ferret, 'little traffic' is the point, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with the roads per se; it's just that they are designed for moving lots of traffic and, in the places where they do, are not all that comfortable on a motorcycle. And our roads are relatively empty compared to the US.

[VLJ_imp]

Also, slabbing it across beautiful open scenery like Arizona or Idaho (or Australia!) is a vastly different experience than droning on the 405 in SoCal.

[the Ferret]

Yep, traffic is most of the key, but add in scenery and some curves and it's a great way to get someplace quickly.

[LongRanger_imp]

Pike's Peak is something to experience and the views are cool but candidly there are many other roads in the area I'd rather spend my half-day on. It's very touristy and therefore not uncommon to get stuck behind parades of minivans and slow-moving gawkers, which I have scant patience for. Due to the nature of the road, it can be very difficult (or illegal) to pass, so you sit there, inhaling fumes, droning up and down the mountain with the rest of the sheep. The CB is a perfect bike for Pike's Peak because you will be forced to settle in and just enjoy the ride. Me? I'd rather hit an empty 60-mile stretch of continuous sweepers that actually go somewhere, knowing a good chargrilled burger awaits me at the other end.

Winter stinks. I need to go for a ride.

[the Ferret]

Yep poor LR had to suffer because OR and I made him take up to several touristy places ... Pike's Peak, Rocky Mt Natl Park, because how can you go to Colorado and NOT go to those places. Like going to NC and NOT riding the Dragon, even though you KNOW there are better roads you could be out riding.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Also, slabbing it across beautiful open scenery like Arizona or Idaho (or Australia!) is a vastly different experience than droning on the 405 in SoCal.

You can drone on the 405? Usually it is best known for enjoying the scenery at a slow crawl.

[VLJ_imp]

Later at night, yep, droning on the 405 is possible. At any time of day, however, at any speed, the 405 is miserable.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Later at night, yep, droning on the 405 is possible. At any time of day, however, at any speed, the 405 is miserable.

I don't ride at night any more. Who goes out at night to play on the freeway? Only the bad guys.

However I was unveracious.

My riding buddy and I rode on the 405 today for several miles, zipping right along at 80 mph in the car pool lane, with traffic behind making sure we didn't slow things down. Riding Triumphs with fake fins and everything. Didn't feel too much like droning. lol. All freeways lead to some good road somewhere.