Returning to Taos (Saturday and Sunday Feb 4th/5th 2012)

[Clovis]

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.

[madvlad]

I hate you, why do you guys always schedule rides when I cant go? Lol

[Darth Do'Urden]

My goodness...that would be amazing.

Annual bike insurance and new rear tire says I'm not doing anything like this right now. But geez....am I jealous.

[GoldenBoy]

I should be in Golden by March 1st after that you will always have a 2nd.

Heated gloves?.......Bitch Please! ........Heated hand grips!

[Sean]

Keep an eye on Wolf Creek pass just south of South Fork. I rode it in mid-May, and it was pure ice.

[Nick_Ninja]

Keep an eye on Wolf Creek pass just south of South Fork. I rode it in mid-May, and it was pure ice.

Wolf Creek could be a hellhole.

[sfarson]

Yes, keep the flexibility options open. Wolf Creek Pass depending on the weather between now and then is for sure an uncertainty.

For the latest go here... http://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htm and click on the cam icon at Wolf Creek Pass. At the moment it appears dry on the SW side. There are shady sections on the NE side.

Confirm U.S. 64 east of Tres Amarilla is OK. It goes high over and through the Carson National Forest and northern NM has been hammered by serious snow this winter.

Nevertheless, a fine spirit of adventure.

[Clovis]

Wolf Creek Pass is a concern. An alternative would be to go through Alamosa instead.

I found a similar road report map for NM.

http://advanced.nmroads.com/

[mdub]

[QUOTEWolf Creek Pass is a concern. An alternative would be to go through Alamosa instead. ][/QUOTE]


don't stop to eat there.

[Clovis]

The forecast is changing. Looks like a cold front is coming through with cold weather and snow.

I don't have a desire to ride in the snow and freezing weather so chances are this little trip will be moved to later.

[JohnEffinK]

Weather looks like a suck!

I am coming back early from Cali....because of it.

Isn't that Superbowl weekend? It is an omen.

John

[Clovis]

I'm probably not even going to watch the Super Bowl this year.

Yeah, weather is not looking so good. From 55-60 degrees a few days ago to revised highs of 38 degrees which means lows in the teens. Not to mention snow everywhere on Thursday and Friday.

40 degrees is about the lowest I like to go. I'm going to post-pone the trip until we get a better looking shot.