Adventure in Ohio?

[swingset]

Originally Posted by mgorman

You aren't that old, though I did notice AARP members did seem to outnumber those without gray hair.

[Indiana Jones] It ain't the years, it's the mileage [/Indiana Jones]

Even when I was younger I never really rode with any discipline or training, just jumped on in total ignorance and rode...never had the money or connections to learn offroad by anyone that knew what they were doing, so I never even tried anything that required trials skills, and my bike was utterly inappropriate for it. I paid for that naivete too, 25 years later I still have lingering shoulder stingers and knee issues from wrecking when I was a teenager.

Coming back to it so much later in life, it's hard to instill that skill set without a learning curve that involves some broken stuff (me and the bike). I look at some things like that and think "Yeah, if I wasn't worried about going to work Monday, I would do it". And, that's true, I know I have the physical ability to do that stuff but I'm not ready for the damage. In a chicken shit way, just knowing I could and would if things were different is kinda enough for me.

[buildit]

I reviewed all my video and it looks like I won't have anything worthy of submitting to Americas Funniest Home Video, so there goes my $10k.


Mike there were several people who got to the last section and decided their skid plate was worth more than a t-shirt. There was one guy who did an endo off the table rock close to the end and went into the ditch with the bike coming down on top of him. He was okay but with all the trees all the photo shows is a blue spot between a background of green and brown.
I'm a little sun burned today so it will be a good day to stay inside and get video up on You tube from the ride.

[rob748]

does that mean you dont have me falling off the first rock on video
didnt get to see anyone for long, had to preride and check arrows
that was a shit load of great single track
hope you guys had fun

[OhioPT]

Originally Posted by Gabby

That would be me. Nice to have breakfast with you Mike.

You were at Swingset's ride last Saturday? I assume you were the guy out front with Swingset and Sean? I was there on my black DL650 with TKCs.

[OhioPT]

Originally Posted by mgorman

The trails were sweet. Been years since I got to ride a little bike on such nice trails. I usually ride to and from the trails on the 640 which is about as svelte as Opra, the 250 felt like a motorized mountain bike.

You need to get your 250 out to our trails at the property. 50 minute lap times for the AA enduro guys for the 12.5 mile single track loop.

[buildit]

Originally Posted by rob748

does that mean you dont have me falling off the first rock on video

Oh no, I got you and your little theatric bow afterwards. Very classic

[S2P]

The caveman section looks like some of the trials sections I used to ride. I would try it with a trials bike,but I don't think I could pull the front wheel high enough on the 426 to even start. I rode a section like that,not as big rocks,on the last GNCC I raced on my Quad. It was easier after the first lap, but when I came to that section the first time, I thought what kind of sick MFer would put this in a race track.

[MeefZah]

Alright, fuck this. I'm tired of missing these good dual sports and I'm tired of working like a dog every weekend (granted, a dog that lies around and does nothing, but a dog nonetheless).

Knobs on order for the WR. 1 - size smaller front sprocket on order. Firming up the suspension for my fat ass. Medical insurance updated. Sick leave request pre-formatted.

When's the next one?

Also, the rock garden shot was not the motivation for this.

[mgorman]

Originally Posted by swingset

[Indiana Jones] It ain't the years, it's the mileage [/Indiana Jones]


Even when I was younger I never really rode with any discipline or training, just jumped on in total ignorance and rode...never had the money or connections to learn offroad by anyone that knew what they were doing, so I never even tried anything that required trials skills, and my bike was utterly inappropriate for it. I paid for that naivete too, 25 years later I still have lingering shoulder stingers and knee issues from wrecking when I was a teenager.

From what I saw, most of that stuff was well above even the hardened riders abilities and I know I'd probably have broken either my bike or my freshly repaired lower back. I've seen you ride and I doubt you'd been killed or mamed on the 1st 2 sections or the bunny trail.

But I was the same way when I started riding, jumped in alone on a '79 XL125. 2 years later and 3 days after I had my own insurance, I entered the Bear Creek 100 and the only way I got a trophy was because I didn't give up and attrition moved me up the leader board.





After that it has been all downhill wasting dollar after dollar wearing out bikes. I did learn two things that people told me years ago, slow down to go fast (or practice it slow before trying it fast) and practice the most what you suck at the most. The last one ended up being the most fun I had over the years.

I took a year off from racing in '89 when I unloaded my 250EXC and FT500 and bought my Transalp the morning of my ACL replacement. I watched as many videos as I could during that time from guys like Bailey, Glover and others. After I was healed up I borrowed a bike and without any practice, entered a scamble and started on the back row. I kept reminding myself the video techniques and I actually rid myself of many bad habits. (many, not all ) In a race where I'd normally struggled to go fast, always out of control and totally exausted, I eased my way through the pack to a 2nd place finish and wasn't even remotely as tired. The next evening, I bought a new (used) 250 from Dirt Works.

I still enjoy attempting the hard way around or over obstacles, more to make sure I still can when the time arises!!

Unless their frail and weak, people are never too old to learn (not just riding), most people are just too damn stubborn. Many of my friends over the years only wanted to ride and never take time to practice anything. One dumped litterally thousands into a bike that he couldn't ride. Every week, last in the C class so he'd try to make it faster with cash. He quit to go drag racing, a sport where money rules!

[mgorman]

Originally Posted by buildit

Oh no, I got you and your little theatric bow afterwards. Very classic

That may have bee me

[mgorman]

Originally Posted by OhioPT

You need to get your 250 out to our trails at the property. 50 minute lap times for the AA enduro guys for the 12.5 mile single track loop.

Let me know when you're going back, I am hoping to get in a good ride this weekend, maybe ANF or WNF

[swingset]

Originally Posted by MeefZah

When's the next one?

According to the AMA:

NEW STRAITSVILLE ENDURO RIDERS
Type: DUAL SPORT RIDE
Date: 09/03/2011 (2-day event)
Location: NEW STRAITSVILLE, OH
BUCKEYE DUAL SPORTERS
Type: DUAL SPORT RIDE
Date: 09/24/2011
Location: MCARTHUR, OH
ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION
Type: DUAL SPORT RIDE
Date: 10/08/2011 (2-day event)
Location: MC ARTHUR, OH
ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB
Type: DUAL SPORT RIDE
Date: 10/23/2011
Location: ATHENS, OH

[OhioPT]

Originally Posted by mgorman

Let me know when you're going back, I am hoping to get in a good ride this weekend, maybe ANF or WNF

Will do. I rode there last Sunday from my house on my Berg and the trails were in good shape. I might go this weekend, but it's awefully hot out to be riding less than 15 mpg average speed. It would be much cooler to ride ANF or WNF were you can at least generate a breeze. I still want to take my V-Strom to ANF for some trail riding this year. I'm interested to see if I have enough ground clearance for the one-way bike trail in Marienville.

[Alacrity]

Originally Posted by mgorman

I stop to take the dudes picture, he blows by me on the gas and never looked back. I'm sure he'll just say something like "all you KTM riders look the same"

Met Alacrity and another Oh-Adv rider but his name slips my sun fried brain. I believe he has the 990 at the Swingset's BB2 last weekend.

.

It was cool for Swing and Gorman to let me eat their dust. I balled up on the first big downhill - had a yard-sale - and didn't see them until lunch.

Gormans right - the trails kicked ass - esp for Ohio (least the first half, had to bugout at lunch), - sooo in next year. I just won't bring a dual sport to a "dual sport" ride.

Eating lunch with Gorman taught me more about XR250s than I knew from everything prior - shoulda had lunch long ago. Maybe Blue aint my color - but neithers Orange...they DO look all alike. Must shop at the same place. Hell, I I caught this guy and followed him for a couple sections only to realize ... it wasnt Gorman. The fact I had caught and was hanging shoulda clued me in earlier

Didnt realize you were there Buildit - didnt see FHC either. Nice job on the Caveman section - I'll echo Swings thoughts on diminishing returns tho. I'm working more dead-lifts into my routine seeing the frequency I'm picking up my bike .

Need to do more of this shit - what's next? - Meh already answered

[miketv]

Sorry I missed some of you folks, managed to catch Swingset @ the end of the Caveman section. I was standing in the sun sweating my nads off to give a check to the passing riders. If anyone happens to run across a Katoom EXC rider with the number 119 on his side number plate, please feel free to punt his jewels for me, what a jerk... Everyone else was super cool and a BIG THANKS to the ZTR crew for putting on a GREAT ride!

Swingset, wish ya could have been around for a really nice face plant from yours truly. Spaun rated it at only a 8.5, CHS was not impressed, I felt it was worth at least a 9, next time Swingset, can ya help a brutha out???? The talcum covered uphills were killin me, not something to try and poke up fer sure, hammer down was the werd. We made it to "lunch" around 1300hrs, I bugged out shortly there after. Next year I'm gonna chase Swingset around so I don't feel so bad