Weather Question

[jhowdy]

I'm scheduled for a class in Colorado Springs April 24th - 28th. I'm kicking around the idea of riding out and back instead of flying. Not really planning on doing any riding in the area while I'm there, just the trip out and back. Is this too big a gamble this time of year or are the local suface roads and interstates pretty clear regardless?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide,

[doctorbeemer]

You should be fine to ride to Colorado that time of the year.

[gdroege]

Here as some averages (http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayNORMS.asp?AirportCode=KCOS&StateCode=CO&SafeCityName=Colorado_Springs&Units=none&IATA=COS&normals=on).

[jhowdy]

Thanks for the replies, this may end up being a two-up trip so I really don't want to chance it if there is normal accumulation this time of year. I understand that snow/ice is possible at nearly anytime, especially at the end of April. I had checked the seasonal averages on Weather Underground (great site), but must admit not really sure what I'm looking at when you start factoring elevations/monthly totals (here it's a big deal if you're +10' above sea level and rain goes away pretty quickly!) Guess as things go out west, 6000' is pretty tame and with the daytime temps starting to reach into the low 60's it "ought to be beautiful.

Thanks again you all,

[SilverBuffalo]

You're a mighty brave Florida boy.

If this were me, the deciding factor would be:
how much time do you have to get there and back.
Colorado Springs can be 70 degrees one day and snow the next,
that time of the year.
Whatever you decide while you're there
find the time to visit the Garden of the Gods and bring your camera.
This was May of last year

[jhowdy]

Plenty of time to get there, leave SW Florida on Saturday and class on Monday in Colorado Springs! ;) Maybe I'll leave Friday afternoon just to be safe.

Actually, I'm just beginning the sell job on riding out there to the better half, we'll see how it goes.

[steamboatjohn]

That time of year, you have an equal chance of snow or shine in Northern Colorado (north of Denver). Colorado Springs, you should be fine. Plenty of warm sunny days, interspersed with a brief snow shower and dry roads by the next day...

Hope you ride out!

[jhowdy]

Thanks John, I think my wife has taken the bait on riding out. I overheard her telling someone at our RTE this weekend that it would only be about "900" miles a day...I corrected her and told her I said "about 700" miles a day. I think I've got a LD rider in the making. :)

[the1mavin]

Hi Jack,

If you plan on taking I-25 north, there is one place that you will definetly want to watch the weather for--Raton Pass. It is south of the Pueblo and typically where you will see the most "surprise" weather that time of year.

I went thru there that time last year and it was beautiful on the way south and we got hailed on a couple days later when headed back north.

There are some great rides in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

Take care-Tim

[jhowdy]

Thanks Tim, I was planning on taking that route on the return trip home when I have a little more time to look around. I'll keep an eye on it while I'm there, so if I need to shoot back out to the east I can.

[mjac]

I think I've got a LD rider in the making. :)

Can you say, Four Corners?

[jhowdy]

Not enough time this trip, but whenever I can finagle the time off to do a Four Corners, it will most likely be two-up. I figure by that time she will have done quite a few long, multiply day rides and it will be old hat. Of course our route would be about 10,500 by the time we got back home and the maximum time I can take off at once is 16 days unless I could start or end on a holiday then I could get an extra one.

[pjessen]

At that time of the year, any snow storm will have dry highways by the afternoon, though there can be rain anywhere between COS and Punta Gorda. Once you drop south of Pueblo and east, there would only be rain, so you can angle down to Amarillo or east to Wichita, OKC, or DFW. COS has a smaller but good dealer if you need anything. Call me anytime before or enroute and I can give you current weather and route info. I'll send you a PM.