AZ-Charouleau Gap

HoosierTrailmaster was kind enough to put together this year's rendition of the Charouleau Gap Ride. 9 bikes and 1 Razr started out under blue skies and perfect temps. We postponed the ride from last weekend when it was 22*!!!:eek1 Good call HTM!



YZFCathy with her new Jack Piner KTM 200 2T. She was flying today!


Everyone's favorite Big E!!!


Skip and Roger Razr asking who's truck is sporting the cool Oregon Ducks sticker.
Refokus preparing for battle.

Wild Bill


WAN on his trusty Husky.


Big E shows the scars on his Husaberg from trying to pass me the week prior at Coke Ovens. I say Karma!


The ride up to the Gap is pretty smooth and easy. Regrouping.


The descent from the Gap was nice and smooth. Refokus and WAN



Until we started hitting patches of ice and snow. John aboard his four fiddy playing slip and slide.

Better temps! About time. Looks like a nice ride.

Cathy putting a little english on it.


CG has lots of water crossings. Skip making a splash.


Roger making a much bigger splash!


Skip watching Cathy dance her way through.


Skip showing off.


Big E powering through.

This climb out out the wash gave everyone trouble today. I don't remember it being that tough in the past rides. Probably storm erosion. Yeah, that's the ticket. Cathy showing WAN the line.

WAN headed for another attempt. The audience grows awaiting their chance.
Boy these dreary winter days in AZ really suck, huh?


HTM takes the pro line.


Roger tells WAN to hop in, it's a piece of cake in a Razr!:loll


The next tricky climb. Skip got off the line. Restarting in this loose stuff is work.

True to his handle, Wild Bill came flying up this hill!


Roger may have spilled some ice tea on this climb...nope, he doesn't break a sweat.


Refokus and Roger. The weather couldn't have been better. I love AZ winters!


Oracle and lunch are close.


Lunch at the Oracle Inn. Cathy teasing Big E that she got her sandwich first.


But not for long missy!

The group split after lunch, with half slabbing it back to the trucks. HTM and I swapped bikes. Here he rides the CRF on the first part headed home. I was on his 300 2smoke. What a hoot!


WAN cruising.


Cathy still flying.


John, styling on his KTM, made it all look easy today.


Wild Bill


The locals were not nearly as impressed with our riding skills as we were.:loll

HTM's bike decided to take a nap on this nasty climb out of the wash.


No one had trouble on this hill that gave us so much grief climbing this am.






The long creek bed was another story. Fatigue was setting in. It took awhile to get everyone through here.

This was a beautiful day for a ride even if it was a lot of work. I don't remember the last time I went down 4 times in one ride and I was a bit sore this morning. Also stopped by Cycle Gear on the way home for a new battery and tire pressure gauge.

Riding the Gap with 40 lbs in the front and 35 in the rear is a real test. I felt like I was on a pogo stick and usually heading in a seriously bad direction all day. Cathy did me a favor and tossed out our old tire pressure gauges.

Terry heading into the creek where things always get interesting.



Nice form as always.



Rodger and the Razr can make anything look easy



Watercrossings too



Brad coming through the trees



and then stepping down into the creek.

After battling through the water crossing this tough uphill grabbed Wild Bill's bike and tossed it down. As usual, he pirouetted away unharmed.


From there on it was a smooth ride back to the trucks. While getting another shot of the beautiful scenery, I did mange to catch this UFO hovering above us. The aliens seem to be attacking in bee disguised crafts.


Thanks to Hoosier Trailmaster and the Tucson crew for hosting this event for us!

Cathy's out for another day and she has more good photos and a few videos that I'm sure she'll post soon.

But in the mean time here's the rest of mine. Pretty busy picking myself up and didn't get a lot.

Wan up on the pegs, nice



And into the creek



Nice body English dear



John sure had no trouble with this ride. Made everything look easy



Good to see Big E back in the saddle. Always great riding with you.





And our fearless leader



Thanks everyone, had a great time. Skip

Nice pics Skip!

I can't believe you had that much psi in your tires. No way you were getting a pinch flat. I noticed you had new rubber. Did you forget to air down after setting the bead?

It was great fun riding with you guys. Thanks for hosting us Phoenicians.

Awesome pics, I am so glad that you missed all the ones of me on the ground.

Ooooh baby, I would love me one of those blue Katooms!!

Looks like you guys had a great day! Sorry the weather delayed it a week. I would have loved to do the ride.

Is anyone riding tomorrow?

Sorry I missed it

Me too!

Snow, ice and blustery winds. It was just awful!

Oh wait. No, it was freaking beautiful.

We missed you guys.

Looks fun. Thanks for the pics Slow.

Great ride and RR. This was a blast, thanks HTM for getting us together again. The CG ride is one of my favorites, I just don't remember it being this difficult. I forgot the camera at the house, but I appreciate all the photos from everyone else.