Ahhhh - Riding in Keystone Colorado - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

vtbme · 09-02-2009, 11:12 AM

Part 1
AMA's 5th International Women in Motorcycling Conference, Aug 19-22 in Keystone. Pix, info, video: International Women & Motorcycling Conference

I'll add pix when I get them sized down to fit.

Found at about this two years ago (2007) just after I'd started riding. They are held every three years, so at that time the last was had been in 2006 in Athens GA...also in August...I can't imagine how HOT that must have been. I literally put this event on my calendar two years in advance and set a goal to attend.

Due to time contraints and still having the Virago 250 when I registered for the conference, I decided to fly into Denver, rent a bike and ride to Keystone. That Eagle Rider location only rents Harley's. I was trying to conserve as much $$ as possible and wasn't accustomed to a heavier bike, so I reserved a Sportster 883. I am grateful that it didn't leak or break down, but I HATED that bike!

First, the mid controls made me feel like I was on a little kids bicycle and that my knees were in my ears. Mind you, I don't even crack 5'6". Plus it shook like CRAZY...especially in 4th an 5th gear. There seemed to be only one speed in either of those gears that it wanted to go and if you ran even 1-2 mph either side of it, the thing went nuts. My 250 was WAY more comfy and smooth than this thing.

Tuesday, Aug 18 - Full day of flying: Charlotte to Dallas to Denver. Touched down in nasty weather that sent us aborting the first landing attempt and closed the airport shortly after I was on the ground. Bad winds and thunder storms. Stomach was a little upside down by the end of that.

Anywho...met up with another gal at the airport who flew in from San Francisco. We were able to connect through a Conference Connections board on Womenridersnow.com that was set up so solo riders could meet up with others if desired.

Split a cab to the rental place (ridiculously expensive $63...and ripped off, should have been closer to $50), got saddled up and headed west. Weather had cleared by this time, plus we were going the opposite direction. Ran into 5 mins of sprinkles...road through it.

Wed, Aug 19 - Started checking out the conference set up. Didn't realize that demo rides started that morning at 8am even though the conference didn't officially kick off until 230pm. Definitely would pay more attention to that next time and get in lots of demos before everything else starts. Lots of workshops, seminars, etc take check out. Plus a "marketplace" that I thought was pretty thin on vendors...plus there were too many "blingy booths" of girly stuff. I would have preferred more gear related stuff like Kury, Corbin, Madmaps, etc. In face I specifically didn't order some things online because I figured they'd be at the show...and they weren't. Many think the economy is a factor (even affected Sturgis from what I hear), plus women are still an undertapped market.

Rode the Yamaha Vstar 950 and Harley Fat Boy today.

Ridiculosly beautiful place and the rain held off.

Attended a seminar on Preparing for the Ride...packing, trip planning, etc.

Wed night opening welcome and speakers included:
Karen Davidson - nothing super special to say, but HD was the main sponsor so there ya go.
Leslie Porterfield - 2008 AMA racing female rider of the year; land-speed record holder on the Salt Flats of Bonneville...including world records where she topped out at 240+mph.
Ashley Fiolek - champion professional motorcross racer trailblazing for other female racers by not going back to amateur racing which many women have been forced to do because of lack of opportunities. She still in her teens and was born profoundly deaf. Her mother interpreted for her. She had an amazing spirit and story.
Leslie Prevish - Women's Outreach director for HD. Good things to share including an audio clip from Vivian Bales, female motorcyclist pioneer, describing her first motorcycle purchase and asking a gentleman to help her kick start it so she wound't have to push it home. As well as an introduction to Besse Stringfield - first African American woman to ride cross country solo...had often had to sleep at filling stations because segregation kept hotels, etc closed to her. More inspiration at Harley-Davidson USA | Experience | Women Riders | Trailblazers.

Thursday, Aug 20
I've been thinking about it and this may have been the most beautiful day I can remember in my life. Weather was gorgeous, just gorgeous!

Started with a 150 mile round trip guided ride to Hot Sulpher Springs. Felt like I was riding through a painting - the scenery was so gorgeous it couldn't be real! Including a canyon of curves following a very meek portion of the Colorado River with single railroad track following the river. It looked like a model that a train enthusiast would have set up on a basement. Absolutely stunning. Unfortunately I didn't get pix because I had to stay with the group.

Attended seminars and info sessions on basic bike maintenance and accident scene management. Barn Dance and dinner that night.

More to come in Part 2