by Mark Smiley | Jan 19, 2024 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Ranger S: The cruiser style Ranger S from Heybike is a foldable ebike suitable for commuting to work, grocery store runs, or mountain biking.
In the December 2023 edition of this publication, we reviewed the Heybike Cityrun, an electric bike that most riders would find suitable to have in their garage. Another option to consider from the same manufacturer, Heybike, is the Ranger S.
The Ranger S has a larger motor than the Cityrun at 750W. In addition to the hydraulic brakes, it has a folding mechanism of the Ranger S for those with limited space or that want to tuck it away when not riding.
This ebike excels in urban areas as it features pedal assist to get up to speeds of 28 mph and many safety features making it a good choice for city riding. The pedal assist is a more gradual acceleration which has less of an immediate jerk forward than most ebikes.
Reviews online have touted the comfortable ride quality with its cruiser-style riding position. In our tests, the bike was a comfortable and zippy ride through town. At 72 pounds, it is not the lightest on the market but after riding, it is not something that will weigh on your mind.
Many riders expect a battery that will last. The ebike’s battery life is impressive, offering up to 55 miles on a single charge, ensuring uninterrupted long rides. Also, they expect ebikes to be in a certain price range. At time of press, this bike was listed for $1,299. This price point is c
Foldable: The Ranger S is foldable, making it convenient to store, ideal for those that live in the city.
onsidered affordable for the specs that are included with it.
Riding any bike in most cities is both convenient and sometimes dangerous. Fat tires with splash guards come standard
on this bike, and as most of Heybike’s fleet have, you’ll find large bright lights in front and rear with integrated bright turn signals to inform those around you which direction you are going and be easily seen. And, the horn is loud enough so someone inside a car can hear.
As with most bike computers, the Ranger S features a display for current speed and distance traveled, alongside which power level out of five you’re currently set to and the battery level. Consider downloading the Heybike app to have accurate readings on battery level and so forth.
The battery is removable with a key and can be charged on its own which is a nice feature if you want to only carry the battery into your office if commuting to work.
The Heybike Ranger S stands out as a feature-rich, versatile folding ebike. It balances performance, safety, and user convenience. Whether you’re navigating city streets, commuting, or embarking on mountain biking adventures, the Heybike Ranger S is a reliable, comfortable, and enjoyable ride experience.
To learn more about the Ranger S, visit www.heybike.com/products/ranger-s.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 15, 2023 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Unagi is known for their sleek and high-quality electric scooters designed for urban commuting and personal transportation. The Model One is portable and easy to use.
Electric scooters, often referred to as e-scooters, are small, two-wheeled vehicles that are powered by electric motors. They have become increasingly popular for urban transportation in recent years.
E-scooters are equipped with electric motors that provide propulsion. These motors are typically mounted in the scooter’s rear wheel. They are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The capacity of these batteries determines the scooter’s range, which is the distance it can travel on a single charge.
Many electric scooters are designed to be foldable, making them portable and easy to carry. This feature is especially convenient for users who need to combine scooter travel with walking or public transportation.
Electric scooters have handlebars with hand grips, throttle controls, and brakes. Riders stand on a platform with one foot on each side of the front wheel. Electric scooters are commonly used for short trips within urban areas. They can be a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation for commuting, running errands, or exploring a city.
Most people are familiar with the sharing services in Denver. Companies such as Lime operate fleets of electric scooters that can be rented via smartphone apps. Users can find and unlock available scooters, ride them to their destination, and then leave them for the next rider.
But, have you ever considered owning one of these products? One brand to consider is Unagi. Unagi is known for their sleek and high-quality electric scooters designed for urban commuting and personal transportation. Unagi scooters are designed with a focus on both form and function, featuring a minimalist and aesthetically pleasing design while offering impressive performance and features.
As mentioned earlier, Unagi offers a foldable design and long battery life. The scooter does not have a removable battery but charging it to 100% takes less than two hours. The Unagi Model One Classic retails for less than $1,000 and comes in your choice of five different colors.
The Levy Plus E-Scooter has a range of 20 miles and can also reach speeds over 18 mph. The triple braking system makes it one of the safest on the market.
Unagi places a strong emphasis on design aesthetics, using high-quality materials and finishes to create a premium look and feel for their scooters. The Model One is a simple scooter to ride and lasts for hours with an easy-to-read dashboard, smooth braking, and impressive speeds. In our tests, the Unagi Model One reached 18 mph which is fast enough for most users. For more information or to purchase, visit unagiscooters.com.
Another scooter to consider is the Levy Plus which has a range of 20 miles and can also reach speeds over 18 mph. It is also portable as it folds and weighs a total of 30 pounds. The Levy Plus features cruise control which is a nice feature when cruising down the street while paying attention to traffic.
The triple braking system includes a front e-brake, rear disc brake system, and a rear fender brake for backup. The LED front and rear lights allow for nighttime riding while remaining visible and safe. On our test, we were impressed with the shock absorption. It performed nicely on the streets of Denver. It also has 10 inch tires which makes it suitable to handle rougher situations — like gravel paths and dirt roads.
All Levy scooters come with a six-month warranty and this particular model retails for $729. For more information or to purchase, visit www.levyelectric.com.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 16, 2023 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Solid Ebike: The Heybike Cityrun is an ebike to consider if in the market for one. It is powerful, comfortable, and reliable.
Electric bikes have grown in popularity over the last couple of years. To meet the demand and to try to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road, the city of Denver launched a rebate program in April 2022. It has issued over 7,000 vouchers totaling $6.5 million since then and more on the way.
According to a survey conducted by the city of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, cyclists are replacing 3.4 vehicle trips every week with electric bike trips, which according to the office, totals 150,000 vehicle miles per week.
The vouchers are good for 60 days and can be presented at participating ebike dealers for an immediate rebate at the register. Most are good for $300 toward the purchase for a regular ebike, and $500 toward the purchase of a cargo ebike. Lower income qualified candidates may be eligible for as much as $1,200.
There are many options to consider and most good options are all over $1,000. The Heybike City Run is one to consider as it fits the bill for what most people are looking for. It retails for $1,299 at the time of press and can be purchased using a voucher at Boost Ebikes at 2344 S. Broadway in Denver.
Versatile: The Heybike Cityrun suits users of all heights and weight.
The Heybike City Run takes some time to assemble as most ebikes do, approximately 30-45 minutes. Once assembled, the learning curve is minimal. Most riders can easily fit comfortably as it has a load capacity of 350 pounds. The technology syncs with both android and IOS users with its own app. The smartphone app lets you customize and update the bike, control whether it’s locked, and track your rides. It is not meant to be anti-theft, but it does make it more difficult to steal if it turns off if the Bluetooth is not connected.
Comfortable: The Heybike Cityrun’s seat is comfortable for any user. The step through design also makes it easy to get on and off.
The 500W motor and 48V 15Ah battery make it more than suitable for long rides. In fact, you should be able to travel between 55 and 65 miles on a charge. This bike has the capability of going 21 mph depending on weight and throttle.
Heybike just launched a new commuter bike, called the Horizon. The Horizon is very similar to the City Run with a few differences. The Cityrun cannot be folded, while Horizon can be folded. Compared with battery installation, Cityrun’s battery is installed at the bottom of the frame, while Horizon’s battery is installed at the top of the frame. The minimum height of Horizon riders is higher than that of Cityrun, and the motor on Horizon is more powerful than Cityrun, Horizon is 750W and Cityrun is 500W.
The Cityrun is a bike that gets good reviews from trusted sources and as mentioned before, should fit what most people are looking for in an ebike. It’s an affordable, comfortable, and powerful ride that gets going quickly when stopped and can handle long distance travel on a charge. It also has turn signals and a brake light along with other safety features including hydraulic-disc brakes, a loud horn, an LED headlight, and hands free access.
For more information on the City of Denver’s ebike voucher program, visit energyoffice.colorado.gov/ebike-rebates. To learn more about the City Run, visit www.heybike.com/products/heybike-cityrun-electric-bike.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 12, 2023 | Travel
Bouncing Beds: Like a gaggle of young kids playing in their grandparents’ room, six artists jump on two 600-pound beds that move on rotating platforms.
Corteo: In this Cirque du Soleil a clown imagines his own funeral as a carnival of sorts, blending the ridiculous with the tragic. The show will be performed five times in January at Blue Arena in Loveland.
CORTEO In Loveland from January 25-28, 2024 at Blue Arena
By Mark Smiley
Corteo, an arena production from Cirque du Soleil is back in North America and heading to Loveland. This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal in April 2005. Since its creation, the show has performed in front of over 10 million spectators, in 20 countries, on 4 continents. Corteo will be presented at the Blue Arena for only five shows from January 25-28, 2024.
Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.
The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.
The stage has a unique setup as it will be set up in the center of the arena and audience members will be on either side with good sight views. Set Designer Jean Rabasse has divided the Grand Chapiteau and its rotating stage in two, with each half of the audience facing the other half, so they see not only the performance, but also have a performer’s eye view of the audience. There is one turntable built into the stage, which is about 41 feet long, and the track is almost 120 feet long.
The show lasts two hours and 30 minutes (with a 20-minute intermission) and is packed with death defying feats fans have come to expect from Cirque shows. Corteo was in Colorado in 2019 and is back by popular demand. Tickets for Corteo in Loveland are available online at cirquedusoleil.com/corteo.
The performance schedule is Thursday, January 25, 2024 and Friday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 25, 2024 at 1 p.m.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 28, 2023 | Travel
Founder: Adam Avery started Avery Brewing with his dad in 1993 and built it into one of the largest breweries in Colorado.
30th Anniversary: The Avery Invitational featured a curated list of invited breweries based on Avery’s employees favorites. There were 58 breweries from 14 states and five countries in attendance.
The Avery 30th Anniversary Invitational was held on July 29, 2023, at Avery’s 67,000 square foot brewery campus. To celebrate 30 years of brewing beer, Avery Brewing Company hosted an Invitational Beer Festival which brought together all of the beers and breweries that have inspired and worked with them throughout the past 30 years.
“It’s a celebration of beer,” said Adam Avery, founder of Avery Brewing Company. “I’m not a beer snob. I want the beers that my employees and co-workers want to have here. I want to have the best beers at the festival. It doesn’t matter if it is craft or 100 million barrels.”
The event featured live music and food trucks. The main attractions were the 58 breweries from 14 states and five countries pouring their beers. Additionally, Avery Brewing Company released an Anniversary Barrel-Aged Strong Ale, which is a blend of several styles and brewing techniques, representing the culmination of 30 years of brewing experience.
Adam Avery started the brewery in 1993 with his dad’s retirement nest egg of $90,000 and a dream. Along the way, Avery gives credit to his dad for believing in him and another few hundred people who helped him succeed. “How do you succeed in business?” Avery asked. “You don’t give up. My high school mascot was the bulldog and that is what I consider myself.”
After starting the business in a 2,000 square foot facility in 1993, Avery and his father did not pay themselves for over three years. “My dad has always pushed me and believed in me,” said Avery. The most gratifying part of the last 30 years is that he hasn’t once woken up and dreaded to go to work. “I feel like I haven’t done a day’s worth of work. It’s just my life. I am grateful to the people who have gotten me here. You don’t get here by yourself.”
Avery celebrates good beer no matter who brews it. He wishes there was less competition with so many breweries existing but he credits those who care about their craft. “There is no better time in the history of the planet to be a beer drinker than today,” said Avery. “It’s only going to get better. I feel super lucky that some people say Avery is on my list.”
You may ask what is on Adam Avery’s list or in his fridge. He always has Pacifico, Guinness, and Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale in stock. He also recognizes Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River Brewing as the best brewer in the country and admits the bar is set by him.
Avery Brewing is located at 4910 Nautilus Ct. in Boulder. You can find their beers in liquor stores throughout the state and 39 other states. Visit www.averybrewing.com for more information.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 20, 2023 | Travel
Old Hickory Steakhouse Now Open For Lunch
by Mark Smiley
Exterior Enhancements: A $22 million exterior enhancement project was completed in April 2023 at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.
Fireplace: A fireplace with an 8-foot-wide hearth is the focal point on Old Hickory Steakhouse’s new terrace. Guests of the resort and residents are welcome to dine at Old Hickory Steakhouse. Parking is validated by spending at least $50.
Event Space: The addition of an event lawn with 10,000-square-feet of artificial turf area, four fire pits, and two natural boulder fire features were part of a $22 million exterior enhancement project. Adjacent to the Grand Lodge lawn is a games lawn featuring artificial turf, family-friendly games such as bocce ball, corn hole, and giant chess, as well as three firepits where guests can roast s’mores.
Phase one of a $22 million exterior enhancement project was completed in April 2023 at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in time for the summer months. With the indoor water park being closed for improvements, the outdoor development became increasingly more important. Ryman Hospitality Properties, which owns Gaylord Rockies Resort, purchased the adjacent 130 acres of land in 2021 and began planning for how to best utilize.
The project features an elevated arrival experience, a new games lawn complete with corn hole, bocce ball, and giant chess, expansion of the Grand Lodge lawn, new fire pits suitable for roasting marshmallows, and the addition of terraces to Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar. The project also features more than 1,500 native and adaptive trees, 40,000 shrubs, groundcovers, perennials, and five acres of low water-use native grass mixes.
New Terrace: Old Hickory Steakhouse Terrace added an additional 96 seats to the restaurant by adding an outdoor terrace. They are now open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The enhancements layer in a richness to the resort and create a more genuine lodge experience for our guests,” said Suzy Hart, General Manager of the 1,501-room resort. “While we are focused on the exterior enhancements and the new dining terraces, there are plans for future development of the 130 acres that surround the resort. We are currently in the design phase on what those 130 acres will look like, but it will complement the community and the resort with retail, dining, entertainment venues, and open spaces that bring people tog
ether,” she added.
The Old Hickory Steakhouse Terrace added an additional 96 seats to the restaurant by adding an outdoor terrace. A fireplace with an 8-foot-wide hearth is the centerpiece to the 2,600 square foot space. Now open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests of the resort or residents who want to visit, can enjoy a variety of dishes, including salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Parking is validated with a $50 spend at Old Hickory Steakhouse or when a spa treatment is booked.
“Gaylord Hotels are known for their exceptional facilities including spectacularly designed environments, spacious indoor and outdoor gathering areas, and creative food and beverage concepts, and we believe this is the perfect time to enhance what the hotel already has to offer,” said Colin V. Reed, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ryman Hospitality Properties. “These current enhancements, combined with future development of the resort and surrounding area, will position Gaylord Rockies as a true leader in the market for both leisure and group travel,” he added.
Phase two will include a new Mountain View Pavilion for weddings and special events. More coverage on what phase two will offer will be covered in a future edition. The Gaylord Rockies Resort is located at 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. For more information about the resort or to make a reservation, visit www.gaylordrockies.com.
