Cheese Weasels Get Rocky Mountain High

[Stichill_imp]

Four members of our little motorcycle club and I started planning a fly-n-ride back in December 2019. We decided to ride southern Colorado since one of our members moved to Colorado Springs about a year ago and could be our tour planner and guide. The target date for the ride was mid-July 2020. Little did we know then that Covid-19 was looming on the horizon and would threaten to wreck the best-laid plans.

Thankfully, it didn't. We managed to sneak the ride in between waves of pandemic panic.

One of our riders is a pretty decent amateur graphic designer and came up with a new club sticker (on the left) and a ride T-shirt that included the new club logo.



On the T-shirt below, notice the coronavirus is chasing us!




The plan was to fly into Denver for the meet-up on Thursday, stay overnight in Denver to enjoy the city's amenities, then pick up the bikes on Friday and literally head for the hills.

I contacted LongRanger to see if we might also meet up sometime on Thursday, but as the date approached I realized that our Colorado Springs buddy had really missed us and everyone in the club was looking forward to hanging out with the old group vibe. So I got back in touch with LongRanger and he was - of course - very gracious about it and we agreed to meet each other another time. So, I still have something to look forward to next time I'm out in Colorado!

Next installment: Thursday arrival and checking out the town.

[The A-man]

More please, plus pictures!

[the Ferret]

You go Weasels! Have fun, stay safe. Hope the c v doesnt catch you. Report in when you can.

[LongRanger_imp]

Stichill, sorry we couldn’t meet up, but yes, next time! Hope you had some wonderful riding while you were out here!

[Houtman_imp]

So you weaseled yourself out of meeting Longranger

[Stichill_imp]

No worries, ferret, trip is in the books and I'm back home now on my couch!

So here's air travel 2020 style (me on the left):



We took the RTD train from the Denver Airport downtown to "Lodo" or Lower Denver, where we had an AirBnb condo to stay in as a group. Masks were "optional" if nobody else was in the car with us.



Union Station has been beautifully restored.





Our downtown hipster pad:



We were on the corner of the second floor (ground floor = first floor).



Me sporting the new Weasels shirt:



After we dropped off our big, heavy duffel at the condo, we decided to head over to the Eagle Rider at Foothills BMW Triumph to check out the bikes. We out-of-towners again took the train and our local buddy rode his bike over. The train was actually a great way to get around Denver for us.



Our Colorado Springs buddy:



Here's my ride, a Yamaha MT-07. Smallest bike in the group, because A) I'm the shortest guy in the group and B) I actually like the way small bikes handle. Unfortunately, this particular MT-07 was an exceptionally ugly bike! Blech! Most MT-07s are just plain old standard ugly.



Keyshawn was the Eagle Rider bike attendant. Young kid, didn't have anyone helping him. We decided that we needed to arrive early at 10:00 am Friday to make sure Keyshawn had enough time to get all of us out no later than 12:00 and if possible by 11:00 am.



Next installment: Thursday night in the Mile High City.

[Cormanus]

That MT07 may be ugly, but it has good hoon points.

[LongRanger_imp]

I’ve bought three bikes from Foothills over the years, including my two ex-‘07 F800ST’s. The shop changed ownership about 4-5 years ago and is now part of a multi-dealer conglomerate, mostly with HD stores. I know the GM very well but, honestly, I’ve been taking my BMW’s elsewhere for service ever since. They’re a huge supporter of the Colorado BMW club and sponsor the annual 100,000 Foot Ride every August (a bucket-list ride if you like the mountains and have never ridden around here.

Stichill, I work across the street from Union Station but of course we’re WFH right now.

[Stichill_imp]

That MT07 may be ugly, but it has good hoon points.

If only it looked as good as it rides! Yamaha seriously needs to put away the ugly stick they keep beating their bikes with. It's actually a very nicely engineered machine in most respects; only the suspension seemed to fall short of the rest of the kit.

I’ve bought three bikes from Foothills over the years, including my two ex-‘07 F800ST’s. The shop changed ownership about 4-5 years ago and is now part of a multi-dealer conglomerate, mostly with HD stores. I know the GM very well but, honestly, I’ve been taking my BMW’s elsewhere for service ever since. They’re a huge supporter of the Colorado BMW club and sponsor the annual 100,000 Foot Ride every August (a bucket-list ride if you like the mountains and have never ridden around here.

Stichill, I work across the street from Union Station but of course we’re WFH right now.

So funny you mention that, because it had that same "we have better things to do than talk to customers" atmosphere that you find at HD outlets. There will be more to say about their Eagle Rider operation in upcoming installments.

Downtown Denver was very nice, if a bit on the sticky / stinky side here and there due to transients, etc. We were all impressed with the vibrancy of the younger crowd, even though everything was relatively subdued in the aftermath of the city-wrecking Covid catastrophe. Our local buddy said places we went to were absurdly free of crowds when usually you can't elbow your way into them. We saw lots of healthy-looking, attractive, prosperous young people and a lot of people with well-behaved urban dogs. We saw a plethora of newly-developed apartments and condos in that characteristic "Lego" style, which made us wonder what used to be there before the new buildings were erected.

[LongRanger_imp]

Lodo (“Lower Downtown”) is a model of gentrification and urban renewal. Thirty years ago, you wouldn’t want to be caught walking through there during the day, let alone at night. The 16th Street pedestrian mall was developed in the 80’s to bring folks downtown. Nearby Coors Field (home of the Colorado Rockies) was built on blighted, neglected, industrial property a few years later and became the impetus for rapid development in the area (mostly residential). About six years ago, renovated Union Station reopened, the “A Line” light rail to the airport began service, and Colorado voters approved the possession and recreational use of cannabis. With these events, the area (and rents) exploded. Today, it’s a hipster paradise. Residential and retail development (mostly bars and restaurants) has been nonstop and young people are moving in, with their urban dogs and rented scooters and well-paying jobs. The ones who marry find themselves looking at suburbia as a more desirable locale to call home.