Hola mi amigos!
Grab your winter gear and let's go south! I'm heading back to Taos!
Ride report to the October 2011 Taos trip.
We'll cross this very scary bridge just after Taos.
The weather forecast calls for highs in the mid 50s everywhere we'll go and the roads have been exceptionally clear thanks to the mild winter. Lows in the low 30s.
Meet:
Shell/Circle K station located in South Academy and Highway 115 in Colorado Springs. The gas station is right next to the Safeway.
10:45 AM -- KSU at 11:00 AM. Eat before you leave because we won't be stopping until dinner in Taos.
Gear
Full leathers is recommended. Besides that, dress in layers. A pair of thermals or sweat pants under your pants works wonders. A fleece and neck fleece will keep you (relatively warm). We'll be ridding 6-7 hours each day.
If you have $400 burning a hole in your pocket, consider heated gear. Some local vendors carry them. Darth recently purchased Gerbings. I ordered FirstGear stuff from Motorcycle Super Store. If you order it over the weekend you should have it by Friday.
Heated Jacket Liner (goes under your main jacket) is $179.99. It's meant to go over a thin layer and beneath your jacket. The entire jacket including sleeves and collar is heated. Comes in 90watt and 65 watt versions. The 65 watt is for bikes with less excess electrical power.
Heated gloves are $115 to $150 depending if you want just leather or leather with carbon fiber knuckle protection. Both are water proof and warm.
A dual heat controller is $90-107 depending if you want a portable unit ($89) or mounted unit ($107). I have a portable unit but I decided to replace it with a mounted unit so not to have wires running from my tank bag. The gloves plug into the jacket liner so you can use a single troller but a dual controller is recommended to control the gloves independently. Typically the gloves are run on max heat while the jacket is 50%.
Route
http://mapq.st/yPLVvn
Day 1: 316 Miles. Colorado Springs > Canon City > Rye (Bishop's Castle) > Walsenburg > La Veta (Highway 12) > Trinidad > Cross into NM and head to Taos for the night.
Day 2: 385 Miles. Taos > Chama > Pagosa Springs > South Fork > Salida > Colorado Springs
Estimated Cost: $100 or so.
Fuel cost - $45
Lodging $30
Food: $30
Questions? Want to go? Reply here.