Riding in the Moutains or Prairies

[Dave77459]

Just wondering how eveyone else decides which is the best. I,ve noticed when I,m in the mountains, especially two up or pulling a trailer and cruising on curvy mountain roads the scenery goes by and all I see is the road in front. Really have to stop or pull over some where safe to have a look around. When I,m driving all I see is the road in front, miss all the good stuff. On the prairies things seem to slow down and if there is some thing interesting you get a chance to decide if it,s interesting and pull over. Now I know the air is fresher and cleaner in the moutains but it just seems that I stop more to look around when on an open road than in the hills. Funny thing is I have met more people pulled over on:think: the open road than in the hills, both in Canada and the US.

 

I totally get this question. On my ride to the Grand Canyon last year, I really loved the ride into West Texas on Hwy 90, west of Del Rio. That was a gentle hill terrain, where you could see low mountains to either side. The scenery was gorgeous.

 

The riding in NM and AZ was superb in the mountains. There was one moment, where we switchbacked up a mountain and broke into a high plain... after the stress of the curvy riding, where you couldn't really watch the scenery because the road demanded your attention, the high grassland was a pleasure. A real pleasure. I realized then how much I wasn't seeing.

 

On the other hand, I rode an ironbutt to Denver last fall, then spent a couple days riding back. The roads through Kansas were flat and straight, but relaxing too. I found lots of interesting things to look at... objects in the distance growing nearer or just passing by miles away. I was riding by myself, and the tranquil scenery let me just live in the moment. And every once in a while, I'd come across an arroyo (or whatever they're called around there), which I didn't seem coming and pleasantly surprised me.

 

I guess I like all the terrain. I suppose I need to spend more time in the mountains, rather than just passing through. As of now, I think they don't provide as much return on investment.

 

Dave

[Canuck]

Kinda surprised at the replies. Figured everyone was gonna favour the mountains. Guess there are other guys out there who can appreciate a long relaxing ride on the prairies. Kinda like the idea of a long ride along a coast line sometime but we haven,t got any coasts around here and I have to go through the moutains and see nothing but road to get there.(silvert),

[friesman]

Kinda surprised at the replies. Figured everyone was gonna favour the mountains. Guess there are other guys out there who can appreciate a long relaxing ride on the prairies. Kinda like the idea of a long ride along a coast line sometime but we haven,t got any coasts around here and I have to go through the moutains and see nothing but road to get there.(silvert),

 

Yep, I love riding in the mountains becuase of the scenery and the twisties, but i love riding the prairies for the open skies and the zenlike calm it gives me.

You cant compare the two, its kinda like comparing chess and checkers, 2 games on the same board but different things entirely.

 

Brian

[SilvrT]

OK.. I'll admit that once in a while I don't mind a straight road where I can see my destination 6 hrs from now. It is actually enjoyable to set the cruise @ 140km and just kick back and gawk around, flailing both arms into the wind .... oh, speaking of wind .... those flatlands sure like to beat a guy up with the wind and if it's raining at the same time, man that rain on those prairies is like 1000 needles hittin yer face. Whooops, better grab onto the bars and let's see... how long riding at a 20 degree angle will it be before I get to a corner that will alter the wind direction and I can straighten up....??

[Canuck]

Hey wait a minute being able to see 6hrs down the road is a good thing, I can watch Brian leave home and make sure the coffee is on when he shows up. Can even wave once in awhile (flailing) to make sure everything is going ok (it,s a prairie thing). As far as the wind goes you never let a windy day stop ya, it,s like riding the twisties when your passing a semi on the down wind side with a 60-80km/hr breeze blowing. The only bad thing is ya gotta keep your eyes on the road when your passing those big trucks and miss all that nice prairie going by, so I guess it,s kinda like riding in the hills.

[showmebob]

Have you ever rode in the flint hills of kansas, kind of reminds me of parts of wyoming, Wyoming has it all, moutains and flat land.

[friesman]

Rick what do you mean nothing but straight lines.....? this killer curve and hill is only 15 minutes northwest of town...lol

 

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