Rallying In the Rockies

Rallying in the Rockies

ROUNDUP

IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST PEOPLE, YOU THINK A TOURING RALLY is something you do when you’re over 40 and your bike’s name ends in “cade.” But that wasn’t necessarily the case at the first Americade Rockies Rally, held in Estes Park, Colorado, this past September. Sure, full-dress touring bikes were out in force, but this event, which was the first Americade held in the western region of the U.S., also attracted an enthusiastic contingent of sportbike riders.

The rally site—the YMCA camp just outside of town— is nestled in a high-mountain valley surrounded by a majestic ring of mountains on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. In the park itself, Trail Ridge Road winds and twists up past permanent snow fields to 12,183 feet, making it the highest continuously paved road in America.

Back in Estes Park, Americade West offered typical rally-type events such as barbecues, bike judging and field games. In addition, each of the six major streetbike manufacturers offered demonstration rides on new machines.

While the games made the rally interesting, by far it was the spectacular beauty of the region that raised this event far above the many other well-run and organized rallies held all over the country. After all, when you’re surrounded by the splendor of the high Rockies, little else matters. —Bill Stermer