Yikes. Are you ok? That was a close call for the radiator. Where were you? Those loose baseball, grapefruit and melon sized rocky sections are nasty.
I'm fine. Just have some bruises and I'm pretty sore from picking this beast up............Twice! Plus a third time with help from another dirt-biker.
I was up above Aspen.
I rode up the Ski-Mountain, chasing the Gondolas to the top.
Had lunch at the SunDeck at the top.
Then rode some of the trails up on the Ridge.
They started off mellow, and was an easy ride through the trees.
I started down this steep hill before I realized it was all rocks, and very steep!
Nothing I could do, as I was already committed, so I just rode it out to the bottom..
This put me down into a deep ravine with only two ways out!
Either continue straight ahead up this steep trail full of rocks, or turn around and go back up the steep trail full of rocks that I just came down.
I attempted forward first. Made it halfway up and then took a dirt-nap.
It's way steeper than the picture makes it look.
Got the bike spun around and a couple dirt-bikers came by. One helped me get it upright and pointed down hill.
I rode it to the bottom and parked it. Gathered up my gear and tank-bag/tail-bags. The dirt-bikers said it was ever gnarlier farther up around the next switchback.
The dudes left to continue their ride.
I rested for a few minutes and chatted with a Bow-Hunter who was camped nearby.
I gathered up my wits and rode back the way I came. I made it almost all the way up the hill I originally came down and took another dirt-nap, this time on the right side.
I got the bike upright by myself, and attempted to re-start but just dug myself a hole.
I took another dirt-nap trying to get the bike out of the hole.
Managed to get it upright again by myself. About this time another lone dirt-biker came by.
He helped give me a little push to get started without digging another hole, and I was able to just get enough momentum to ride it all the way to the top!
It was at this point that I realized the display was flashing at me: "Temp-Hi"
I parked it and looked the bike over to assess the damage. That's when I noticed the grille was broken, and the radiator fan was locked from turning.
I let it cool off a bit before riding back out the way I came.
It was getting later in the afternoon, so I needed to get a move-on.
I rode "Midnight Mine Rd." back down the hill to Aspen.
I took it real easy, and used taller gears than I normally would have to try and get the engine temp down.
Leaves are just starting to turn at higher elevations.
At one point coming down a steeper section of the road, I spotted something over the edge of the road out of the corner of my eye.
Looks like it's been there for quite awhile. I'm guessing they didn't make the turn coming down the steep hill.
By the time I reached the bottom, the temps were down to normal.
I decided the safest and quickest way to get me home was through Basalt and Glenwood Springs, and come home via I-70.
Very light traffic so it was ok. I got fuel in Basalt.
Traffic moved along nicely through Glenwood Springs, and I was lucky to hit most of the lights green!
Hopped on I-70 and started through the Canyon.
Traffic merges down to one lane where the huge mud/rock-slides just were. It was backed up a bit.
Bike got hot again so I shut it off and pulled to the side while I waited for traffic to move more steadily.
The rest of the ride back to Denver was uneventful. Engine ran great the whole way. Stayed normal temps the whole ride back.
