Nothing brings a bad-ass biker dude to tears quicker than a child in need. Bikers might have a bad reputation, but when it comes to kids, they’re suckers. Combine motorcycles and kids and you have one big fuzzy event.  We call this the Hope House Toy Run, and I’m happy to coordinate and participate in this feel-good biker event.  Click here for picture:  Bikers participating in the Hope House Toy Run

Delivering toys to kids in  needs is an amazing personal experience guaranteed to get everyone all warm and fuzzy — bad-ass biker dudes and chicks alike. We gotour holiday spirit going the Saturday before Thanksgiving during an annual poker run and toy run for Hope House of Colorado. 

This biker event works the same as any other poker run, with stops at bars (In The Zone Sports Bar, Firehouse Tavern, Hoffbrau & Jake’s Roadhouse) along the way where bikers socialize and draw cards competing for best poker hand.  However, bikers are given the opportunity to personally adopt a Hope House teen mom and her kid(s) by purchasing gifts — and giving them in person. Besides the residents of the house, Hope House supports more than 50 families along the Front Range.

With our small envoy of 20 bikes and 2 cars filled with toys, we rode to the church gymnasium to meet the families. The teen moms and their children stood outside in a greeting line, waving and smiling. The knew that the Santa bikers were on their way, loaded down with gifts, and many of the kids even jumped up and down in excitement.  Cllick here for picture:   Kids waiting for Biker Santas

For about 30 minutes, special moments took place as the auditorium filled with shrieks of laughter and paper ripping off the gifts.

Bikers silently watched, many wiped tears from their eyes. Why?  Because of the stories. Stories like one 18 year-old mom who cried because this was the first gift she’d received in her life. Because another mom cried because just 4 months earlier she and her toddler was sleeping in the park.

A tour of “Hope House” next door revealed a tight ship with rules created to form a stable home and future for the young families.

When we returned to the parking lot, one young boy, barely walking, was fascinated by the bright orange color of a chopper, so entranced that he reached out to touch it reverently. The guy who owned the chopper had that classic sterotyped biker look — tough, leather, tattoos, long hair, but talk about bad-ass biker turned to taffy as he smiled while the little boy drooled over his bike. 

Click here for picture: Biker watches little boy drooling over his chopper

Other youngsters wrapped their arms around their “adopted” biker squealing in delight as the bikers putted through the parking lot giving the little guys short motorcycle rides under the watchful eyes of the teenage moms. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the first step to a future biker.

I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift — and we donated nearly $1,500 in gifts and $700 in cash!  God bless the teen moms and their kids.

Until next time,

Diana Rowe

 

$25 per person/$40 per couple (100% donated to Hope House) **Feeling Lucky??? DRAW AGAIN $5.00 each additional Card (Unlimited)****Prizes for both winning and losing hands of poker – and one random hand. POKER RUN SCHEDULE

 1ST STOP:In The Zone Sports Bar, 44th & McIntyre, Golden, CO (303-279-3888) 1st bike out 10:00/last bike out 10:15 2ND STOP:           Outlaw Saloon, 160 E. Main St, Lyons (303-823-8201)1st bike out 12:15/last bike out 12:30 3RD STOP: Windjammer Bar & Grill, 3431 North Carter Lake Road, Loveland,1st bike out 1:30/last bike out 1:45 (**longest ride)                        (970-667-0454) 4TH STOP: Jerry D’s, 6048 State Highway 52, Dacono (303-833-3469)1st bike out 2:30/last bike out 2:45 

5TH STOP:  Wide Open Saloon @Top Gun; I-25 & 58th, Denver (303-657-3550)

All Bikes OUT together: 4:30 **Let’s show Hope House our support. Please hang tight at Top Gun Motosports. Please all bikes leave together in a show of support approx-4:30 pm

***Return to In The Zone Sports Bar Patio for Raffles (2 for $1/15 for $5), 50/50, Beer, Food & Live Music by Brethren Fast. 

The following exerpt appears in this month’s issue (Sep/Oct 2008) of Denver’s Motorcycle Rider News — you can acces it online shortly.  This goes quite nicely with my new quote: Some girls have a black dress for that special occasion, I ride a black bike.

Women Just Keep on Riding  Excerpted By Diana Rowe for Sep/Oct 2008 Motorcycle Rider news

 

“And the press just keeps on covering women on bikes!  We recently featured an article on Women Riders, entitled “Traveling Chicas,” in the July/August issue.  (You can access this issue on our web site at www.MotorcycleRiderNews.com under the archives.)

 

The Summer 2008 issue of H-D Enthusiast, page 9, continues the chick features:

 

 “We Ride – the Harley-Davidson Guide for Women” is a 43-page piece including inspirational stories of real women riders, as well as basic info on how to get started in the sport…If you didn’t get a copy but would like your own, visit your local dealer, download it at http://harley-davidson.com/womenriders, or call 1-800-LUV2RIDE.”

 

The article continues, “To celebrate every woman’s decision to grab the handlebars and ride, the Let Freedom Ring promotion in the United States offers a diamond-encrusted, sterling silver ring designed by Karen Davidson to any woman who purchases a new Harley-Davidson or Buell motorcycle before Oct 1, 2008, and who has graduated from a Rider’s Edge riding course in the last eight years. See your dealer or web site for more information.”

And that’s it for today — until next time, get out there and ride!

Diana

Elegance d’ classic. Hot cars. Hot bikes. Vibrant imagery of colors and sparkling chrome. (Isn’t it amazing the colors you can paint cars these days?) Amazing food and wine — and beer during the CU/CSU college game.  Hey, what more could a girl want?

Over Labor Day weekend, The Broadmoor’s West golf course is transformed into an amazing showfield of 120 classic, historic, racing & vintage automobiles, plus 60 Concours motorcycle entries. (The Vincent motorbikes received special recognition with a display of the British company’s history.)

 Unfortunately, if you weren’t there, you missed a showing of the classics!  Car and motorcycle buffs alike lined the golf course, gaping at the amazing showing of motorized excellence. All I can still say is — WOW!  The event was the 2nd annual Rocky Mountain Concours d’Elegance, held at The historic Broadmoor.

The event took me back to the days of the county fairs, when everyone dusted off their show cars and made their way to the county seat. You name it, we drooled near it. I checked out more chrome and testosterone in a motorized vehicle than I’d seen in one place — ever!  Check out this sampling of show vehicles: ‘27 Ford T, ‘67 Chevrolet Corvette and ‘67 Ford Shelby, ‘68 Pontiac Firebird 400 and a ‘70 Plymouth ‘Cuda.  Two-wheeled entries included ’36 Harley-Davidson, ‘37 Indian Scout; and Vincent motorcycles ranging from ‘36 to ‘68. 

Special guests included author Clive Cussler and Pikes Peak Racing Legends Al Unser and Bobby Unser. Check out their racing museum in Albuquerque: Unser Racing Museum.

Any event that is hosted at the Broadmoor is a guaranteed success. But don’t feel intimidated by its sheer elegance. Sure, the food will knock your elegant socks off, and the wines, especially chosen by some of the youngest sommeliers in the industry, will get your taste buds to rocking!  Yet the Hotel Bar is also a great place to hang out and watch your favorite sports — GO CU BUFFALOS! 

Speaking of great eats, this event also featured a new way to enjoy your food: Chop Mix & Mingle (web site coming soon!), an innovative lifestyle cooking school, August 30 - September 1, 2008, held at The BRO^ADMOOR’s Cheyenne Lodge. This Rocky Mountain Style - Farm to Table weekend program focuses on mastering the art of gracious entertaining in your home with simple food from the outdoor grill. The event is being held in conjunction with the 2^nd Annual Rocky Mountain Concours d’Elegance.

If you missed this year, make sure you include Labor Day Weekend in Colorado Springs for your plans in 2009.  Dates for the 3rd annual Rocky Mountain Concours d’Elegance will be held over Labor day weekend.  Check in to The Broadmoor on Friday, September 4 and stay through Labor day, Monday, September 7, 2009!

Bring your walking shoes – you’ll be hoofing it over the greens on the golf course just to get a good look at all the bikes and cars!

Until next time, Diana 

It’s time for a public service announcement.  I just filled up my Harley Cross Bones’ gas tank (yet again) yesterday.  can you believe $10 bucks at $4.25 per gallon for premium?  I hate to date myself but I can remember when gas was 50 cents per gallon — and really that wasn’t THAT long ago.  Let’s all ride our scoots to work on Wednesday for Ride to Work Day.  Who’s going to join me?

On July 16th, riders from all over the world are encouraged to commute together for Ride to Work Day. The event is intended to showcase the number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians, to demonstrate that motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life, that motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities and that motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation. Simply put motorcycling is a social good. With the number of riders on the rise it is anticipated that this year will be the largest ever participation in Ride To Work Day. We all know that motorcycles and scooters generally consume fewer resources per mile than automobiles, so it makes sense that more commuters are turning to this form of transportation to save money. New owners are finding riding to be an economical, efficient and enjoyable way to get to work and around town. According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, over eighty million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding will become more visible as a larger number of America’s 8,000,000 cycles are ridden to work. The program is international. Affiliated countries include Germany, Philippines, England, Germany, France, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others. Check out the web site at RideToWork.org for more information and new interactive forums on topics ranging from lane sharing to insurance and health care issues.    

Hello all — My publisher Mike Clapp and I just finished up our third issue together since I’ve been the editor.  I really think you’ll like this one, so check out the online version at MotorcycleRiderNews.com

What I’m excited about here in Denver is the upcoming charity event that I sponsor for Hope House of Colorado, a teenage parenting home in Arvada (where I live).  This biker event is Saturday, July 19, and the details are below.  I’d love for all of you to joing me as bikers unite for a good cause — last year we raised nearly $4,000!!!

 Here’s all the details:

4th Annual IN THE ZONE SPORTS BAR BIKER Poker Run
Saturday, July 19, 2008
TO Benefit Hope House of Colorado
$15 per person/$25 per couple 100% DONATED

CHECK IN 9:00 AM @ In The Zone Sports Bar & Grill, 15600 W. 44^th Avenue, Golden, CO 80401  (303) 279-3888

1st stop:                Rocky Flats Lounge                           Highway 93 
2nd stop:               Outlaw Saloon                                   Lyons, CO 
3rd stop:               Jerry D’s                                            Dacono, CO 
4th stop:                Jake’s Roadhouse                              Arvada, CO 
RETURN to In The Zone approximately 4:00-5:00 pm
LIVE MUSIC: Brethren Fast  

BEST POKER HAND wins

Silent Auction, Great Raffle Prizes and 50/50 Cash Raffle

Swap Meet 2 pm - ??  BOOTHS STILL AVAILABLE!!!

 For more information on the Run, the Swap Meet, or to make a donation,

 contact Diana Rowe at In The Zone Sports Bar, 303-279-3888

or email me at diana@dianarowe.com

that’s all for now — I promise to get back to the Dominican Republic post — really!

Howdy all — Just checking in on this cloudy Memorial Day in Denver. I scooted around Denver Saturday and Sunday, when it wasn’t so cloudy, discovering and re-discovering a couple of great patios. As the new editor of Denver’s print monthly mag: Motorcycle Rider News, I blogged about those discoveries there, so check out my blog here at MRN.com and here at my other blog.

Still have lots more to tell you about Scotland, but a fun one to talk about is — Traveling Jordan. Anyone that has kids may have heard about the traveling Flat Stanley book. If not, here’s a quick blurb: “In the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, Stanley is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. Since he is now flat, he can visit his friends by traveling in an envelope.”

Well, my best friend from my high school called me to ask if her son could send me his own version of Traveling Stanley to take on my trip to Scotland & England. Of course, I said yes! Afte returning from Scotland, we ended the trip with Traveling Jordan getting a view of a Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field.  What a fun school project — in fact, I think I had just as much fun!

 Made me wish my kids were still younger.  Oh wait, I have grandkids, so no need to relieve that pain….

Have a great weekend!

Diana

Hello all — Whew! What a whirlwind sort of couple of weeks. I still have so much more to write about, but so little time.  I am back in Denver, where just two days ago it was 80+ degrees, and I scooted around on my Harley-Davidson Cross Bones enjoying the sun. Last night it started snowing, and this morning the ground is covered with snow — although not as much as was predicted.

 Arizona Bike Week — in short, I was a bit disappointed. It’s not Sturgis, not that I expected that, but the event’s location was really a fairgrounds-ish sort of spot, West World of Arizona, on the outskirts of Scottsdale off of the 101.  I love Sturgis and other rallies that incorporate the town into the event — without having to hop on your scoot each time to ride to the next place. 

Arizona Bike Week was so not that type of rally.  Don’t get me wrong — tons of riding to do here — Tons of bars and parties to visit (when you ride there): Buddy Stubbs H-D, Billet Bar, Dirty Dogg Saloon, The Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek, etc.   But traffic in Scottsdale is CRAZY, and few drivers look for motorcyclists (just my opinion). That meant in-town driving wasn’t very relaxing at all. 

 But once you get out of the Phoenix metro ara – WOW!  The scenery is an amazing contrast of desert, mountains, open highway — it’s beautiful!  I rolled just over 1K miles on my new H-D Cross Bones scooting around awe-inspiring scenery like Salt River Canyon, Galloping Goose, Florence, Payson, etc.

Would I go again?  Mmm, definitely the riding in Arizona is AWESOME, especially in April when snow can hit Denver on any given day.  Would I go specifically during bike week? Probably not — but don’t take my word for it.  Give AZ Bike Week a try yourself next year.

Wheels up, Diana

It’s not that I’ve NOT been traveling; it’s that I’ve been at work on multiple deadlines writing articles. Now I’m back and traveling in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. We trailered our motorcycles the 15 hours, 1250 miles or so here, so I could show off my new ride, my Harley Cross Bones during Arizona Bike Week.

 I just spent two days enjoying the iconic, boutique hotel The Canyon Suites at the Phoenician. Talk about being pampered!! 

A part of the bigger resort, The Phoenician, this intimate boutique hotel is also nestled against the Camelback Mountain with luxuriously appointed suites.  It features 20 guest rooms, 38 luxury suites and two Presidential suites, along with its own secluded “edgeless” pool and cabanas. You can walk to the spa and 27-holes of golf (or take a shuttle), but both are on property.

Plenty of restaurants, total of 8 including The Terrace, contemporary American steakfood and seafood and Windows on the Green, upscale dining with a Southwestern flair and the best margarita I’ve had in a long time!

For a couple wanting some “me” time, check out Dinner at Tee Box Eight, a private gourment dinner for two served under the stars at the highest point of the resort’s golf course or in the romantic seclusion of a Garden Retreat. 

The Canyon Suites are not only spacious, but cater to your every need. Services included with our room:

• Personal Canyon Ambassador with pre-arrival contact.
• Sterling silver coffee/tea delivery each morning to your room!!  All you do is pre-arrange a time and voila! a staffer delivers cute sterling silver coffee urns and newspaper(s) of your choice.
• Afternoon “wine tasting” facilitated by master sommelier Monday through Friday (I can’t believe I missed THIS!!).
• Daily personalized turndown service with chilled water delivery and therapuetic bath, upon request.
• Executive Chef’s seasonal welcome amenity (ours — an assortment of nuts and fruit).
• Complimentary valet parking.
• Complimentary health club access (FABULOUS facility!!).
• Canyon Pool right off the lobby, exclusive to this hotel.
• Twice daily maid service

The experience was over-the-top, and the staff were friendly and genuinely seemed to enjoy their job. I’d visit again, and I’ll try to update more highlights with pics, like the golf, spa and culinary experiences.

 in the meantime, we’re ready to jump on our scoots and get on down to the Arizona Bike Week festivities and put miles on the bikes.

Until next time, Diana

 I’m back in Denver, and the weather seems to want me to get on my bike this week with 50’s and 60’s forecasted through Saturday.  I just returned from Foxwoods Resort, but I have a bit of jet lag and catching up to do after traveling first to Fort Lauderdale and the Hyatt Bonaventure, then hopping a plane to Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort (weather delays and other issues). I’ll post about my visit there, later this week.

Meanwhile, yep, here it is, the ever-awaited picture of the my 2008 Harley Cross Bones — ain’t it sweet?

until next time, diana