Snapped a quick picture of the odometer in Salida after gassing up.
I had to backtrack over Monarch Pass and didn’t take pictures of the second pass. I guess it was because I started with the mindset I was going to make 1,000 miles in one day, I felt I just had to GO GO GO. Continue reading
The next day it was finally time for CHICKFEST! The most super awesome women’s dirt bike riding event of the year!
They had me design the t-shirts this time. 🙂 Continue reading
Gunnison Canyon is surrounded by a vast and beautiful recreation area.
Let’s kick this entry off with a nice landscape photo.
So where was I…
I had decided from Chickfest that I would return home on my friend’s trailer. My bike needed an oil change so badly after all my riding around that I was beginning to feel guilty. I had purchased oil to do the change, but I didn’t have a filter and probably couldn’t get one for a couple days. I didn’t feel like hanging out in Salida after everyone left, so it made sense to just trailer home and call an end to my summer adventuring.
Then a guy came up to me as I was packing up…”Hey, you have a DRZ, would you like this oil filter?” Apparently someone was trying to give it away around the campfire the previous night and it went unclaimed! What luck is that huh? He didn’t even know I needed one and it just fell into my lap. It was too perfect to ignore.
I declared to my friends that I would not be heading back at all.
“Where are you going?”
“Don’t know yet!”
I loaded up my bike and set off from camp. I stopped at the main highway and sat there for a second debating which way to go. Then I made a right and just started riding…
Apparently all roads in Colorado lead to Denver, because that’s eventually where I ended up. Denver is also a massive city and I felt immediately overwhelmed and began to wonder what the heck I was doing.
After briefly contemplating a parking lot oil change, I had the bright idea to get onto the TentSpace List and locate a rider who might be kind enough to let me borrow their garage instead. I sent a message to MountainEagle and he got back to me right away. Not only did he have a garage I could use, but a place to crash as well! I headed right over.
The garage was open and full of dual sport bikes, I got off and introduced myself. “And what’s your real name?” “Umm it’s Mountain Eagle.” and then I felt a little silly. He helped me get my bike up on the lift and then I set about changing the oil. I like that he just let me do my oil change. I swear it’s nearly impossible for guys to just hang out and let a girl wrench. So what if I’m slow at it. 😛
The roads in the area were extremely inviting.
We started with easier stuff…
…but quickly progressed to tighter ATV track and lots of sand! Continue reading
I woke up to the smell of two stroke smoke and roar of dual sport engines as riders gathered the next day.
Skip made us a delicious breakfast.
We were very lucky our friends trailered in and brought lots of food. Sean and I were a little tired of protein bars at this point. Everyone who trailered in really helped out those who rode in and there was plenty of food and drink to go around! 🙂
We even had a shower!
The advanced riders went out early and rode some killer single track (I hope I’ll be able to try this stuff after another year of riding!)
These chicks will have you eating their dust!
Megan can take this bike anywhere!
Hardcore!
Sean and I went for a nice morning ride, but I didn’t take even a single picture. It was a really great track though. Lots of whoops and curves, a good bit of sand and only a little bit of mud and ruts…yet I managed to slide out in one and launch into the forest…I was fine and drug the bike back out to the road before Sean even realized I was no longer behind him.
Megan and Karen organized the event and taught the beginner clinic. They did an awesome job putting it together and everyone I spoke to learned a lot and had a great time!
Converging for the clinic
I look way too serious in this picture.
Megan demonstrated proper body positioning while standing on the pegs.
Once everyone had that down, we went out to a long easy stretch of dirt road to practive acceleration and braking.
We practiced braking with just the front and just the back. We braked until the tire locked up and skidded, so we would know what that felt like and then practiced using both breaks together.
The road ended at a large dirt pit where we practiced full lock turns and figure eights.
There were chicks on little two strokes and giant dual sports alike.
Then we went up the steep hill!
And then we were finally ready to ride!
So after skydiving we made a push for Colorado. It began to sprinkle so we pulled in at a gas station to don our rain gear and met up with these guys doing the Trans America Trail.
I think they were tempted to change their route and follow us when they found out we were going to a gig called Chickfest. 
Continue reading
