Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
New trip, dusting off the cobwebs
Leaving for Dickinson ND next week with a trip through the Canadian Rockies, stay tuned.
Monday, June 1, 2009
AWRCS - Clintonville
Everyone has their story to tell, this is mine. I'll let the others speak form themselves..its much more comical that way.
Got up a 5:00am to make the drive to Clintonville, arrived at the track at the same time as Tim and Rob..perfect timing. Took the first pit spot that looked level and had room for my truck and "Tim's rig"..of course they complained of the hole.
Everyone unloaded and began the process of becoming a race..prep your gear, sign in at the registrar trailer and strap a cardboard box to your quad. Opps the cardboard box is another story (hint: see pictures)
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551703331_T6sCc-S.jpg
Registration was easy and the ladies were helpful for the bunch of funny NOOBS. We picked our numbers, paid our cash.
In the pits one of our neighbors was Ken Robey who is the main man in the utility class. He was very friendly and talked at great lengths about how to ride the event and mostly to not let the course beat you. My goal was to ride 2 hours nonstop...how bad can the course be...right?
So were on the starting line..the last real group out 7 utilities and a few sports which are first year riders. The other classes really blast off ..over a hundred of them. Then its our turn, I have the key on and finger on the button. The starter yells "TENNNNN secondssss" and bang we go. I was told to count to 8 and hit the button but I want little to do with the holeshot, just want to keep it close. First turn was a big crash..someone else's story...
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551707186_JEnv6-M.jpg
We hit the woods and to get into the woods is a drop, down hill, cliff, its like the earth ended..but down I go and at the bottom is a choice but it all equals mud. I went straight and passed about 5 stuck sport quads. Now into the woods...it was a very virgin trail..no logging road, no old path this was cut as new. The first section was rocky and tight, then a little must and very tight. No issues and I pop into another short field..though at and into another stand of woods. I could see riders in front of me but no-one behind yet..but I really was not looking behind. I start zipping by trees and had thoughts of catching someone..maybe a course worker on a mountain bike. Then I hit a tight tree section and seen the face of my boss on the tree...I go as fast as I can to hit her. I missed her but I hit the tree anyway! Up to the bars I go as I was being crushed into the tree I see my front fender bending. My thought was "glad I took those outside lights out". I put her into reverse..and off the bitch...err tree.
When I looked for parts as I went by the tree I noticed my tire was flat..we the tire was not holding air but the tire balls were holding up nicely.
I was almost done with the lap when I was in a tight rooty section..the damn quad would not turn like it should but I blamed in on the flat tire and my spaghetti arms..after the fact Rob notices the crunched lower control arm. At the shop Sunday night I had nearly 2" of toe out and it was tough just riding in the yard. Plus both right side tire were flat.
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551711926_oiPRi-M.jpg
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551711955_7sAN9-M.jpg
The next laps were much of the same, however there was 4 MAJOR pucker locations that must be mentioned. the one was the drop out of the field. It was easy but it had to be 100 feet. The next was a diagonal steep downhill which was covered in rock and trees. It actually got easier toward the end when i watched a sport quad fly down it so keeping some speed helped but I was still pissed about going down it. Another was the "deer tree stand" which was a quick up hill and then a turn along the hill and straight to the bottom of a 50 foot hill...into a creek. I nearly went over the bars twice there..the bottom was getting rough.
Overall, the first lap sucked. I was tired quick and was not in a good mind set. The second lap was much better and I was having more fun but a tree strike did have me thinking I broke my wrist for about 5 minutes while I waited for it to be able to hold the grip, the third I was having fun but nearly died on the track when I decided to drink from my camel pack and was sucking so hard when the water came that it went down the wrong pipe. I did have occasion to leave my machine twice, once was a big roll before the "tree stand hill climb" and the other was a case of mistaken identity when I went to blast a nice cushion of dirt on a corner and went over it.
There was some cool points like having Chris Borich and Chris Bitell..both factory rider go by but I was able to keep up for a short distance with the big 800 growling..that was a great 25 feet. I pasted Tim at a bottlenecks bunch of riders by plowing though the woods and then got him again when he got a flat..
Will I go back..yep. Will I be better..yep.
What did I learn?
Tire balls..for about 80 bucks you can have them..I rode all day with 2 flat tires but the ball held up.
Watch those trees
I need bionic arms or less fat to keep from moving..or a combination of the two.
I got an evening's worth of bench racing.
Should you do it?
If you like to ride your ATV..
If you like to be competitive
If you want to test yourself
If you want to be a better atv rider
If you just want to have some fun
Then do it...
All The Pictures are here:
http://parocket.smugmug.com/AWRCS%20Events
Got up a 5:00am to make the drive to Clintonville, arrived at the track at the same time as Tim and Rob..perfect timing. Took the first pit spot that looked level and had room for my truck and "Tim's rig"..of course they complained of the hole.
Everyone unloaded and began the process of becoming a race..prep your gear, sign in at the registrar trailer and strap a cardboard box to your quad. Opps the cardboard box is another story (hint: see pictures)
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551703331_T6sCc-S.jpg
Registration was easy and the ladies were helpful for the bunch of funny NOOBS. We picked our numbers, paid our cash.
In the pits one of our neighbors was Ken Robey who is the main man in the utility class. He was very friendly and talked at great lengths about how to ride the event and mostly to not let the course beat you. My goal was to ride 2 hours nonstop...how bad can the course be...right?
So were on the starting line..the last real group out 7 utilities and a few sports which are first year riders. The other classes really blast off ..over a hundred of them. Then its our turn, I have the key on and finger on the button. The starter yells "TENNNNN secondssss" and bang we go. I was told to count to 8 and hit the button but I want little to do with the holeshot, just want to keep it close. First turn was a big crash..someone else's story...
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551707186_JEnv6-M.jpg
We hit the woods and to get into the woods is a drop, down hill, cliff, its like the earth ended..but down I go and at the bottom is a choice but it all equals mud. I went straight and passed about 5 stuck sport quads. Now into the woods...it was a very virgin trail..no logging road, no old path this was cut as new. The first section was rocky and tight, then a little must and very tight. No issues and I pop into another short field..though at and into another stand of woods. I could see riders in front of me but no-one behind yet..but I really was not looking behind. I start zipping by trees and had thoughts of catching someone..maybe a course worker on a mountain bike. Then I hit a tight tree section and seen the face of my boss on the tree...I go as fast as I can to hit her. I missed her but I hit the tree anyway! Up to the bars I go as I was being crushed into the tree I see my front fender bending. My thought was "glad I took those outside lights out". I put her into reverse..and off the bitch...err tree.
When I looked for parts as I went by the tree I noticed my tire was flat..we the tire was not holding air but the tire balls were holding up nicely.
I was almost done with the lap when I was in a tight rooty section..the damn quad would not turn like it should but I blamed in on the flat tire and my spaghetti arms..after the fact Rob notices the crunched lower control arm. At the shop Sunday night I had nearly 2" of toe out and it was tough just riding in the yard. Plus both right side tire were flat.
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551711926_oiPRi-M.jpg
http://parocket.smugmug.com/photos/551711955_7sAN9-M.jpg
The next laps were much of the same, however there was 4 MAJOR pucker locations that must be mentioned. the one was the drop out of the field. It was easy but it had to be 100 feet. The next was a diagonal steep downhill which was covered in rock and trees. It actually got easier toward the end when i watched a sport quad fly down it so keeping some speed helped but I was still pissed about going down it. Another was the "deer tree stand" which was a quick up hill and then a turn along the hill and straight to the bottom of a 50 foot hill...into a creek. I nearly went over the bars twice there..the bottom was getting rough.
Overall, the first lap sucked. I was tired quick and was not in a good mind set. The second lap was much better and I was having more fun but a tree strike did have me thinking I broke my wrist for about 5 minutes while I waited for it to be able to hold the grip, the third I was having fun but nearly died on the track when I decided to drink from my camel pack and was sucking so hard when the water came that it went down the wrong pipe. I did have occasion to leave my machine twice, once was a big roll before the "tree stand hill climb" and the other was a case of mistaken identity when I went to blast a nice cushion of dirt on a corner and went over it.
There was some cool points like having Chris Borich and Chris Bitell..both factory rider go by but I was able to keep up for a short distance with the big 800 growling..that was a great 25 feet. I pasted Tim at a bottlenecks bunch of riders by plowing though the woods and then got him again when he got a flat..
Will I go back..yep. Will I be better..yep.
What did I learn?
Tire balls..for about 80 bucks you can have them..I rode all day with 2 flat tires but the ball held up.
Watch those trees
I need bionic arms or less fat to keep from moving..or a combination of the two.
I got an evening's worth of bench racing.
Should you do it?
If you like to ride your ATV..
If you like to be competitive
If you want to test yourself
If you want to be a better atv rider
If you just want to have some fun
Then do it...
All The Pictures are here:
http://parocket.smugmug.com/AWRCS%20Events
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
2008 Fall Hatfield McCoy Quad trip
I finally broke down and signed up for smug mug..and the first thing posted is pictures of the annual trip to WV's Hatfield McCoy ATV Area.
Enjoy..we did!
http://parocket.smugmug.com/
Enjoy..we did!
http://parocket.smugmug.com/
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thursday West Elk Loop, Gunnison, Crested Butte
Today started as a throw away day and ended up with some good mountian riding both on dirt and pavement.
A late start we headed to Crested Butte Co on rt135, once we hit CB we turned west on CR12 which is a dirt road crossing over to RT92(?) Going up 135 was typical colorado landscape. Once we rolled in CB we got to see many high end mountian homes and just as many low end shack for the seasonal workers.
CR 12 was a well graded dirt road. It had its share of thick gravel and ruts but mostly a good surface for running along checkin out the scenery and the cows who roam open range.
After clearing the dirt we hit a few country road and stopped for lunch in Hotchkiss. Don't recall the name but the grilled cheese and navajo tacos were cheap and good.
From there we were going to hit the Black Canyon which has RT92 carved from the ledges of the canyon. On Sunday we met a couple of GS riders and they said it was a must do, it orginally was not in the plans but I managed to get it in. From about Maher to RT50 its got to be one of the best pieces of twisted pavement ever put down. Turn after turn from very fast to 40 mph turns marked as 20 mph. On top of the riding is super views of the canyon...very close and personal as like so many roads there was nothing but drop off past the yellow line.
After the run down 92 we road 50 back to Gunnison, went for a walk to a great sporting good store and did dinner at Garlic Mike's.
Tommorrow, we are making a b-line to Limon to load up and head home after a cookout with the Colorado gang. I'll be doing an wrap up post early next week.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday Mex Hat to Gunnison
I added pictures to yesterdays entry as well as added todays info
We're off schedule and we're lost...
So we pulled out the map started to look at how to pick up the pieces. Then that plan fell apart.
We started out in Mex Hat and headed for Natural Bridges. It was a quick run up the state road until Moki Dugway and pass. Its a pass over a desert canyon cliff and its dirt and it has super tight switch backs..and great views once your up a bit.
Check some pictures:
So we pulled out the map started to look at how to pick up the pieces. Then that plan fell apart.
We started out in Mex Hat and headed for Natural Bridges. It was a quick run up the state road until Moki Dugway and pass. Its a pass over a desert canyon cliff and its dirt and it has super tight switch backs..and great views once your up a bit.
Check some pictures:
Then we headed to Natural Bridge which was under construction, it was hot and it was really not for the moto touring type...ya had ta walk to see stuff! We donated to the national parks system since out Golden Eagle pass expired yesterday. The bridges were viewable from overlooks and were cool but I think the hikers going down the 1 to 5 mile hikes got their monies worth.
Check some pic.
After that we headed to Blanding and was planning Moab and Arches but decided to turn for home. We both we both had enough "desert" type terrain..we wanted mountains. So we turned at Blanding to Colorado up utah 491 to Co 141 towards US 50. We hit Disappointment Valley and a bunch of other highland type shrubby stuff until we go into the mountians.
We ended in Gunnison checked into a hotel and found a steak joint for dinner. The hostess takled me into crab cakes..what was I thinking??? Hint...don't order food from a place the chef never seen...I bet he seen cows..but not the seas.
Snoozing in Norwood Co and Jenn being artesy.
Don't know where we are going tomorrow...maybe do some local dirt.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday Silverton to Mex Hat, UT
Tuesday started out slow... as in slow to go out in the cold.
I rolled the bike to the door of the hotel room and flipped the switch..27 degrees and there was ice on the puddles in the lot. I went back and forth packing the bike and staying warm. Even with the cold we were ready to go at 8am.
Once packed a guy from Minnosota stopped to discuss riding in the cold..he puts over 4k miles on a sled a year and he is the low mileage guy out of his gang. He had just been to North Rim and Moab and was having a hard time finding rooms..I hate when people tell me that..I got zero reservation for the whole trip.
After saying good bye, I hit the start button and the bike turned over but no fire. After a few more nothing but turning over. I then added a little throttle and it started to come to life. Good thing the battery is still in good shape...the bike finally fired and stayed that way until it stalled in the middle of the street.
Leaving on 550 s we were off to Durnago and Utah. The ride down 550 was great, more mountians and 2 more 10K+ foot passes. Coming into Durango we passed a steamer headed for Silverton.
Most of the trip was standard riding in the SW..lots of long straight flat runs...
Our first thing was to get a room. Orginally we were going to Blanding, but I wanted to stay in Mex Hat. I heard from a fellow GS rider of the steaks in this town and wanted to try them..here is the place and the HUNK of meat they server. Thanks Alton.
After the getting a room at Hat Rock Hotel of a staggering 110$, we took off to Monumnet Valley. I wanted to unload some weight but the room was not ready so we gassed up and headed to the land of butte.
Going into the tribal lands cost $5 a head. the guy taking the cash insisted a win is a win even if the steelers looked bad in winning. I finally agreed then he hit me with the eagles really spanked them...
The low down on the area around the mounments is this..tourist and the roads suck! We started in following 4 tour trucks with about 2 dozen people in each. Once we went down the entrance we got rolling but the sand was deep and smooth...we kept going until we hit a patch about 100 yeads long and nearly went down 4-5 times. I got no idea how I saved it but we did. The tracks behind me looked like a rattler snaked its way down the sand...so out we went..and a bit angry. Another area not covered on the bike and I'll be damned before I ride a tour bus. We did get to see a few miles of the area and got some pictures.
After Monumant Valley, we went to Valley of the Gods. Its a 17mile dirt road north of Mexican Hat. The loop winds around many of the same type of buttes, etc like Monumnet Valley...but it free and no one was there. The road has heavy washboards and some stretches of loose silt and gravel but it was fun on the GS. Once I got up on the pegs we whirled through and got a bunch of pictures. Overall a great ride.
Check out the pictures from the day.
I rolled the bike to the door of the hotel room and flipped the switch..27 degrees and there was ice on the puddles in the lot. I went back and forth packing the bike and staying warm. Even with the cold we were ready to go at 8am.
Once packed a guy from Minnosota stopped to discuss riding in the cold..he puts over 4k miles on a sled a year and he is the low mileage guy out of his gang. He had just been to North Rim and Moab and was having a hard time finding rooms..I hate when people tell me that..I got zero reservation for the whole trip.
After saying good bye, I hit the start button and the bike turned over but no fire. After a few more nothing but turning over. I then added a little throttle and it started to come to life. Good thing the battery is still in good shape...the bike finally fired and stayed that way until it stalled in the middle of the street.
Leaving on 550 s we were off to Durnago and Utah. The ride down 550 was great, more mountians and 2 more 10K+ foot passes. Coming into Durango we passed a steamer headed for Silverton.
Most of the trip was standard riding in the SW..lots of long straight flat runs...
Our first thing was to get a room. Orginally we were going to Blanding, but I wanted to stay in Mex Hat. I heard from a fellow GS rider of the steaks in this town and wanted to try them..here is the place and the HUNK of meat they server. Thanks Alton.
After the getting a room at Hat Rock Hotel of a staggering 110$, we took off to Monumnet Valley. I wanted to unload some weight but the room was not ready so we gassed up and headed to the land of butte.
Going into the tribal lands cost $5 a head. the guy taking the cash insisted a win is a win even if the steelers looked bad in winning. I finally agreed then he hit me with the eagles really spanked them...
The low down on the area around the mounments is this..tourist and the roads suck! We started in following 4 tour trucks with about 2 dozen people in each. Once we went down the entrance we got rolling but the sand was deep and smooth...we kept going until we hit a patch about 100 yeads long and nearly went down 4-5 times. I got no idea how I saved it but we did. The tracks behind me looked like a rattler snaked its way down the sand...so out we went..and a bit angry. Another area not covered on the bike and I'll be damned before I ride a tour bus. We did get to see a few miles of the area and got some pictures.
After Monumant Valley, we went to Valley of the Gods. Its a 17mile dirt road north of Mexican Hat. The loop winds around many of the same type of buttes, etc like Monumnet Valley...but it free and no one was there. The road has heavy washboards and some stretches of loose silt and gravel but it was fun on the GS. Once I got up on the pegs we whirled through and got a bunch of pictures. Overall a great ride.
Check out the pictures from the day.
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