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November on the Front Range is a game of picking your days. The high passes are taking snow now and most of them are done for the year. The clocks went back on Sunday, November 1, so it gets dark early, and a cold front can drop the temperature fast. But Denver still gets plenty of sunny, dry, 50 and 60 degree afternoons, and the foothill canyons are quiet once the summer crowds are gone. Watch the forecast, stay low, and be home before the sun goes down.
Ride of the Month: The Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park
Rock walls, a rushing river and elk grazing in town
Run I-25 north to Loveland, then head west on US-34 into the Big Thompson Canyon. The road follows the river through the Narrows, where the granite walls close in tight on both sides, then opens up past Drake as it climbs toward Estes Park. Much of the road was rebuilt after the 2013 flood, and the cottonwoods along the water have gone bare and silver for the season. In Estes Park, watch for the elk herds that wander right through town and across the road this time of year.
Grab lunch in Estes, then take US-36 back down through the foothills to Lyons and on to Boulder for the run home. Estes sits above 7,500 feet, so check the forecast before you go and turn around if the canyon looks wet or icy. The canyon stays shaded most of the afternoon, so give the cold corners extra room and plan to be out of the hills by mid-afternoon.
Short on time? Ride CO-93 from Golden up to Boulder along the base of the foothills, a quick run with the Flatirons in front of you and no mountain weather to worry about. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, take a minute to thank the veterans in your riding crew. Plenty of them helped build this community.
Late-Fall Safety: Colorado Edition
November gives you fewer good riding days on the Front Range, and new ways to get hurt on them.
- Elk and deer on the move. Elk and deer come down to lower ground as the snow builds up high, and they cross the foothill and canyon roads at dawn and dusk. They are big and quick to bolt. Slow down near meadows and tree lines, cover your brakes, and never swerve into the other lane.
- You are riding home in the dark. Since the time change, the sun is down before most people leave work. Drivers are not looking for a single headlight after dark. Wear something bright or reflective, and give yourself extra room at intersections.
- Ice, sand and cold tires. Shaded canyon corners can hold ice for days after a storm, and road crews leave sand and gravel behind that sits in the turns. Bridges freeze first. Let your tires warm up for a few easy miles, and slow down anywhere the pavement looks dark or dusty.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and I-25 and I-70 will be packed. The Wednesday night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, ride early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your Colorado Law
- Fault is shared, up to a point. Colorado uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery is cut by your share of the blame, and if you are found 50 percent or more at fault, you get nothing. How the crash is documented early on matters a lot.
- The minimums are low, so check your UM/UIM. Colorado requires only 25/50/15 in liability coverage, which does not go far after a serious motorcycle crash. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what protects you when the other driver carries the bare minimum or nothing at all.
- Helmets are required under 18. Colorado requires a helmet only for riders and passengers under 18. Adults can choose, but every rider must wear eye protection. A helmet is still the smart call.
- You have three years. Colorado gives you three years from a motor vehicle crash to file an injury claim. That is longer than most states, but evidence still fades fast, so do not wait to get advice.
Ride Nation Denver
The passes are closing, but the Denver riding crew is still out on the sunny days. Post your best November ride, share where you are storing the bike, and warn other riders about icy corners, sand and gravel on the canyon roads. Tag us in your photos. This is your scene, run by riders who ride these roads.
Final Weeks for the $20,000 BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance at 20,000 dollars toward any motorcycle you want, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free, so send them the link before it closes.
Enter the giveaway
A driver who never saw your headlight on the 5 p.m. dark commute on I-25. An elk stepping out in a foothill canyon. A patch of ice in a shaded corner on C-470. If you ever go down, you want a lawyer who rides these roads and knows how Colorado's fault rules get used against riders.