Team Colorado: One Man, One Harley, and a Whole Lot of Heart

Let’s talk about a smaller team this week. Small doesn’t mean less heart, and Norm proved that! The team from Colorado, Norm Berg and his 1925 Harley-Davidson JD.

As always, it takes a team, and Norm had a great one with his wife, Denise, and Kent Pyatt. Along with being his support crew, this dynamic duo of Denise and Kent helped the race in more ways than one, from getting me a new computer when mine decided to crash mid-race to picking up dinners for the night for our teams. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes help that makes this event what it is.

Denise shared this about their experience:

“Norm had wanted to do a cross-country ride for some time. So when this event came along, adventure called! I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it. What an indescribable experience! The route provided beautiful scenery, unique places to explore, and so many wonderful people. The sponsors and communities were so welcoming and excited to see the riders and bikes. Such amazing machines and talented people that kept them running. This group of riders and all the people who came to support them formed a community that shared a common love for adventure and vintage motorcycles. Along the way, the photographers worked their magic to capture some unforgettable moments. Kelsey, Sean, Tom, and the entire event staff were incredible! Thanks for all the hard work you put into this. I can’t wait to see what you come up with in the future.”

Let’s talk about Norm and his steady, never-give-up attitude! He came into the race with a new-to-him bike, a 1925 Harley JD with a motor built by George and Gary from Competition Distributing. So let’s just say, we all had a little something on the line to get Norm across the country.

And he made it look easy, but as we all know, nothing about riding a century-old motorcycle across the United States is easy. Norm ran into a few bumps along the way: a carb issue and a flat tire that could have slowed anyone else down. But not Norm. He fixed it right there on the road and didn’t miss a single mile.

“I’ve been riding motorcycles for over 50 years and have never had this much fun on two wheels. This was my first time participating in a cross-country ride on an antique motorcycle, so every second was a new experience.  I found a qualifying motorcycle, rebuilt it, assembled a support crew (my wife Denise, and good friend Kent Pyatt), and showed up at the starting line.  After a couple days, our team developed a routine that worked for us.  The days were often long, and sleep was hard to come by – but what an adventure!  For the most part, my bike ran well – when it didn’t, it was due to my learning curve.  However, we managed to make it to the finish line and walked away with a lifetime of memories. The people we met were fantastic.  The other riders, support crews, event organizers, support staff, and even strangers we met at gas stations and at our daily stops – amazing.  Many are now new friends. (“Thank You” again to everyone that responded to my many questions along the way and let me ride with your groups at different times). The roads and scenery were more than I could have imagined.  Oceans, mountains, valleys, rivers, forests, the great plains… if you can imagine it, we saw it – and rode right through it.  Sean did such an outstanding job in planning the route across this great country of ours. I can’t wait until 2027 when we can do this again!” -Norm

He rode the days by himself sometimes, other days with Team Butts or the Kansas-Texas crew. Really, Norm could jump in and be part of any team on any given day. That’s just who he is.

Each night, he and his team would take care of the bike, fixing whatever bugs came up during the day. They were always laughing, always positive, and always ready to help. Never a complaint, never a bad attitude.

That’s a big part of what makes this run so special, the spirit you bring to it. Because being negative doesn’t get you to the finish line. A good attitude, determination, and a whole lot of heart do.

We love Team Colorado and can’t wait to see the early bike Norm’s planning to bring for 2027!

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Photos by: Olivier Touron, Kazuo Matsumoto, Ed Harriger

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Sponsored by: Legends Motorcycles, Sinless Cycles, Competition Distributing, Veritas Vintage, Antique Motorcycle Club of America