Spring ride's with the Idaho boys.
Murray
sending this) I let my RR get a little long winded but here goes.
For the first time I'm aware of, the Forest Service closed our
favorite early spring riding area (Blacks Creek-Danskin Mountains) in
an effort to save the trail system from ruts due to the amount of mud
created from snow melt. Our riding group has been going crazy waiting
for it to open, (we can take the Dez riding for only so long) knowing
it would fantastic once it was open. The Forest Service set a date of
4/2 for it's opening, and TVTMA (Treasure Valley Trail Machine Assoc)
planed their trail cleaning day for the same day.
I started calling early in the week to a few guys we ride with and
arranged for my buddy Fred to bring an extra bike ('02 KTM 250 4
stroke) so DJ (Idaspode) could go along (he's been waiting for weeks
for his '05 200exc to arrive at the dealership) and Chris Johnson is
on board (just picked up a new '05 300 exc) for a 10am riders meeting
to plan what trails we would be working on.
4/2/05
DJ and I show up at the clubs parking area and unload my bike, Fred
shows up shortly after that, and we gather a riders meeting to choose
what ride/clear trail group we will be in, and listen to what the
Forest Service guys have to say. Fred buy's a current atv sticker from
the TVTMA guy's after the FS let's us know they will be checking all
of us for stickers and spark arrestors. Les (a good friend of ours)
will be our Trail Boss for the trip.
After stalling for a while in hopes of Chris showing up, we head out
on the trail without him and start clearing trail, mostly just brush
that we have been riding past for several seasons and a few low
hanging tree branches, no logs down in our area and it was hard to
determine how carried away we wanted to get with the brush clearing.
With 6 of us in the group and only 1 chain saw it was allot of
standing around, ride 100yds, stand around, ride 100yds, it was
frustrating the shit out me when the trails were in fantastic
condition and begging to be ridden. After several hour of the stop and
go and after completing 90% of our designated clearing plan, DJ let
Les know the he Fred and I were bailing on the rest of the group and
heading for Willow Creek to get in some fun to end the day on.
Willow was great, lots of creek crossings (some deep, some rock
filled, some easy) finally getting in a groove and loving every minute
of the single track we live for. We came upon one log down in one of
the nastiest creek crossings, hanging several feet above the water
line, only way to get past it would be to stand in the water and tilt
your bike over far enough to get under it. We all remembered passing a
fresh track diverting from the trail a 100 yds or so back up the
trail, and opted to try it for a way around so we wouldn't have to
back track and miss some of our favorite trail. DJ led the way, the
clutch on his borrowed bike was giving him fits and it made the hill
climb between the tight rocks look difficult but he made it and we all
found a new way around the crossing. The rest of the trail was in
great shape and it ends up with a deep crossing (where Baxter drown
the Husaberg a few years back) where we group back up for a short ride
up the road to the parking area.
Found Chris back at the truck, he got in a short ride looking for us
after arriving late, and we hung around a while till the others in our
trail crew showed up back at the truck. Ate some free burgers the
TVTMA had waiting for us, and talked about how great it was to be back
in the mountains riding. It was a great spring ride, a little
frustrating doing the trail work but we felt like we owe it to the
area we ride the most. We help maintain the trail on our own most
years by carrying a saw around and clearing downed logs when needed
but it was good to meet with the Forest Service and TVTMA guys to hear
what they have in mind for the area. Ended up riding 25 mile's,
average speed 17.7mph.
Tuesday 4/5
I'm on the phone calling everyone with a chance of getting away for a
mid week ride. Weather man predicts sunny skies, 75-80 degrees for
wednesday and it has rained Sunday night, most of Monday and all
morning tuesday, the trails would be fantastic! Fred, no, has to work,
Chris has a class the next morning, I call Les at work on his cell
phone, we get disconnected right after he tells me he has to work and
DJ is still bike less. I was going to go alone when I get a call Back
from Les, insisting I let DJ take his bike seeing he can't go. (Les
bought DJ's old bike, '04 200exc) YOWZA, I got my riding buddy along
for the ride!
Wed 4/6
We hookup around 9:00am and head for Black's Creek. Conditions were
fantastic, DJ has a bike he's used to riding and the trail work is
done. We park next to the Forest Service guys trucks that were there
and head out on the trail by 10:00. We take our favorite route on
trails and run into the Forest Service guys just a few miles in. They
were hauling in a cattle guard so we don't have to open a gate on one
of our first sections of single track any more (nice guys!). We ride a
mix of single track and ATV trail and finally end up at our favorite
lunch spot overlooking the So Fork of the Boise River. We rest there
for a while, eat lunch, then its up Devils Hole (great single track!)
and return via Willow Creek for a great riding day.
(42.4 mi, avg spd 18.8mph)
I drop DJ off at his place around 3:30 or so and head home with a
smile on my face, feeling satisfied with a great ride day under my
belt when my cell rings. Caller ID says it's DJ, I'm guessing I left
something at his house when we unloaded the bike. (DJ) I guess it's
true, "a watched pot never boils". (me) What do you mean? (DJ) My bike
showed up today! He picked it up and spent till 1:00am that night
prepping it for it's first ride :)
Thursday 4/7 I get the call, it's been raining all day and it's iffy
on the weather but I agree, we should get a break in ride tomorrow
(it's the least I could do for a buddy right? :)
Reading the paper that night, checking out the ads (the only part I
read religiously) and come across an ad for a '02 300 mxc, the same
bike I currently ride. Ad says its only had a few rides on it and its
only 3 miles from home. I go check it out, its not been ridden much,
maybe 6-7 rides tops, original front tire and the engine and frame
stickers are still intact. I try to talk the guy down a couple of
hundred bucks but he dozen't budge on the price, I leave letting him
know I would think about it, go home and ready for a ride in the
morning.
Friday 4/8
DJ and I hook up around 9:30am and head back to Black's Creek (the
only one's there). The trails are a little muddy but firm up great by
mid day. Changed the routine trails a little till DJ got his bike
dialed in, saw several Bear tracks on the trails, had to detour around
a fresh log down on Devils Hole trail, and cut Willow Creek trail
short due to DJ's bike stalling on several creek crossings. A great
ride and DJ and I were both exhausted not being used to riding this
much so far this year. 44mi, avg spd 19.4 mph.
All day I couldn't get that bike I went and looked at out of my mind
so on my way home from the ride I gave the guy a call and asked if he
still had the bike. He said yes and I told him I guess I better come
get it. I went by the bank, dropped my old bike at the house and went
to pick up my new ride! That night I was the one up till 1:00am
prepping bikes.
I swapped out my old black plastic to the new bike (don't care for
orange), as well as the Scotts triple clamp, Damper, pro tapers, EE
bark busters, pipe guard, Clarke big tank and a few other misc items.
Stopped in at my local accessories shop the next morning and picked up
new grips for both bikes and some other misc "crap" (mw tm) and
finished up so as to be ready for a sunday ride.
Sunday 4/10
DJ and I hook up at 9:00 am, Back to Black's Creek we go.
Unlike the weekday rides we are not alone, there were several rigs
that beat us there but our favorite parking spot was still open. Fred
was already there and was unloaded, but we ended up waiting a little
while for Chris to show up.
So we have DJ on a new '05 200 exc, Fred on a 4-5 mo old '04 Husaberg
450, Chris Johnson on a new '05 300exc, and me on a new to me '02 300
mxc. This was going to be a great ride! Took off on our usual route,
my bike was feeding me every bump straight to the bars from it being
set up to stiff (I will be changing the fork oil weight to 2.5wt like
my old ride) but the trail was most excellent. We had a fast pace all
day but took a few more rest stops then earlier rides in the week.
DJ's bike was creek friendly now due to a re-route of the vent tubes,
so Willow Creek was a pleasure for him again, and we all had a great
ride. 44 mi, avg spd 20.3, 1 break in crash for me (just for break in
purposes you understand :) and 2 wet feet.
Sorry for being so long winded, I rarely write ride reports any more,
usually one a year after my 1 race per year which I didn't do this
year. Spring time and fall are the best times of the year when your a
Dirt Biker so I put 4 rides into 1 report and you won't have to here
anymore reports from me this year.
BTW, any of you spodes find yourself out this way and want to hook up
for a ride, let myself or DJ know and we will arrange our tight
schedule to get you ride in.
MurMan
P.S. For sale '02 KTM 300mxc, fantastic shape, stock plastic, stock
bars, stock tank, stock seat all like new. Acerbis hand guards, wheel
bearings, wheel seals, wheel spacers, rear tire, Heim joint, fork oil,
stock triple clamp, chain and sprockets all have 300 miles or lesson
them (I just did all my spring tune up crap to it 3 weeks ago and the
stock stuff came off my new ride. FMF Gnarly pipe and turbine core
silencer on it, (I really should put them on the new bike), asking
$3000 OBO. Boise Idaho area.
roost4u
--
Rick
2000KX250
1993KX250
1992XR100
"Murray" <murrayn...@work.com> wrote in message
news:mnql51d9978lme4j7...@4ax.com...
Murray
wrote:
>Great report Murray. Just curious. Why did you sell and buy the same bike?
I love my old bike but this one only had maybe 6 rides on it (2-300
miles?). I put 3000 miles on my old one and the previous owner had it
for two years before that and he was a rider. 1/2 the price of brand
new yet still brand new. I planned on a new '05 this year but it
wasn't going to happen on un-employment so this seemed like the next
best thing. All my extras fit right on and it just seemed like the
right thing to do to keep up with the Jones on a poor mans budget.
MurMan
IdaSpode
wrote:
> Funny how great minds think alike (I just read David's RR before
>sending this) I let my RR get a little long winded but here goes.
<snip>
> I drop DJ off at his place around 3:30 or so and head home with a
>smile on my face, feeling satisfied with a great ride day under my
>belt when my cell rings. Caller ID says it's DJ, I'm guessing I left
>something at his house when we unloaded the bike. (DJ) I guess it's
>true, "a watched pot never boils". (me) What do you mean? (DJ) My bike
>showed up today! He picked it up and spent till 1:00am that night
>prepping it for it's first ride :)
On the "watched pot..." thing:
I'd been calling the dealership every day, bugging them about when my
bike might come in. This was the first day in a week or so I hadn't
called, bingo, it shows up!
<snip>
> MurMan
David - 05 KTM 200EXC
djones<at>LSidaho.com
http://www.spodefest.net/rmd
Darin
> Sorry for being so long winded, I rarely write ride reports any
more,
> usually one a year after my 1 race per year which I didn't do this
> year. Spring time and fall are the best times of the year when your a
> Dirt Biker so I put 4 rides into 1 report and you won't have to here
> anymore reports from me this year.
I know I love reading these ride reports. The more long winded the
better IMO. I wish you guys would write more.
Thanks!
Darin
oldfart
there. Questons: Does my bike (California) qualify with a CA green
sticker or do I need something else? Are there bears to contend with?
Much snow? Thanks OF
Murray
Your sticker works fine but we'd like you to buy a $10. Idaho one.
Some of that money goes to our state trail fund.
You never know with Bears, they do like their beer kept cold so leave
your cooler out and they will find it.
Snow's melting fast but it will be another month or so before we get
up to much elevation. Currently riding below 6000'.
MurMan
oldfart
to save up gas money.
Murray
After you write a few it just seems like it's the same shit/different
day.
Next 4-6 rides will be in the same area, not much changes week to
week till we get up to the real mountains in late May to early June,
then things get exciting again.
MurMan
>
>Thanks!
>Darin
WoodsChick
Murray wrote:
> On 12 Apr 2005 13:26:18 -0700, "oldfart" <ada...@peoplepc.com>
wrote:
>
> >Reading about Idaho makes me want to load up the motorhome and go
> >there. Questons: Does my bike (California) qualify with a CA green
> >sticker or do I need something else? Are there bears to contend
with?
> >Much snow? Thanks OF
>
> Your sticker works fine but we'd like you to buy a $10. Idaho one.
> Some of that money goes to our state trail fund.
We always buy one. It actually goes back into the trails (unlike here
in CA,) it's only $10, and it makes a cool souvenir for you bike.
> You never know with Bears, they do like their beer kept cold so
leave
> your cooler out and they will find it.
Bears? There are no bears whatsoever in Idaho. Don't even worry about
bears. Just ask Rick and Ben...and Eric.
Did I mention that we will not be sleeping in a tent with coolers just
outside this year?
> Snow's melting fast but it will be another month or so before we get
> up to much elevation. Currently riding below 6000'.
Mmm...snow. I've seen snow before, I think.
Thanks for the report, Murray. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Makes me want
to ride up there at Black's Creek with you guys again. Sure had a good
time last time. Although, when I think of Black's Creek, I can't help
but think of wildly revving 4-strokes, broken femurs and helicopter
rides. I wonder how that guy healed up?
Congrats on the "new" bike. Gonna keep the other one for a spare? Maybe
lower it for Tracy Baxter or something? Maybe?
>
> MurMan
Tami-
oldfart
oldfart
IdaSpode
wrote:
<snip>
>Thanks for the report, Murray. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Makes me want
>to ride up there at Black's Creek with you guys again. Sure had a good
>time last time. Although, when I think of Black's Creek, I can't help
>but think of wildly revving 4-strokes, broken femurs and helicopter
>rides. I wonder how that guy healed up?
At least he had the good taste to do it right next to a place where
the chopper could land, eh Murray?
>Tami-
Murray
wrote:
>On 12 Apr 2005 20:00:46 -0700, "WoodsChick" <TamiR...@msn.com>
>wrote:
>
><snip>
>>Thanks for the report, Murray. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Makes me want
>>to ride up there at Black's Creek with you guys again. Sure had a good
>>time last time. Although, when I think of Black's Creek, I can't help
>>but think of wildly revving 4-strokes, broken femurs and helicopter
>>rides. I wonder how that guy healed up?
His name was Randy Hoeshaw, his buddies called him "holeshot". While
talking to some guys at the local RDR track one day, they mentioned
his name and I asked how he was doing. They said he doesn't ride much
anymore. And they don't let him "test ride" their bikes anymore. :)
>
>At least he had the good taste to do it right next to a place where
>the chopper could land, eh Murray?
Wouldn't have wanted to carry that big guy 2 miles down the TST to
the nearest chopper pad. Hell....I don't want to carry anybody that
far again, no matter how light/heavy they are. I didn't even get a
commission from the rescue crew. Where was the stretcher on a rope
like you see on tv rescues when you need it.
MurMan
Murray
wrote:
<snip>
>Thanks for the report, Murray. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Makes me want
>to ride up there at Black's Creek with you guys again. Sure had a good
>time last time. Although, when I think of Black's Creek, I can't help
>but think of wildly revving 4-strokes, broken femurs and helicopter
>rides. I wonder how that guy healed up?
>
>Congrats on the "new" bike. Gonna keep the other one for a spare? Maybe
>lower it for Tracy Baxter or something? Maybe?
I already polished her up and parked her at out front of the bike
shop here in town. Hopefully she'll be sold before the credit card
bill comes for the new bike.
MurMan
>
>Tami-
Chris J.
>
> while for Chris to show up.
>
You should tell that inconsiderate a-hole that the meet time is 9:00 instead
of 10:00.
I'm trending in the right direction. 1 hour late the first time, half hour
late the next. So we can extrapolate from that that I'll be 15 minutes late
next time, and then just about close enough to be considered on time after
that. I guess that's assuming I get invited again!
Murray
Hi Chris!
Not much warning but we're meeting at the trail head at
10:........9:00am this morning (thursday). See you there?
Not sure which day this weekend, Sunday's looking best for me.
BTW, welcome back to RMD after your winter hibernation.
MurMan
Chris J.
Dang, it's about 9:30 now and I'm looking at a bunch of Really Important
Crap in my inbox, plus a bunch of other RIC on the calendar. Sunday works
for me, say, 9:00?
Have fun out there.
Chris
IdaSpode
>"Murray" <murrayn...@work.com> wrote in message
<snip>
>> Hi Chris!
>>
>> Not much warning but we're meeting at the trail head at
>> 10:........9:00am this morning (thursday). See you there?
>>
>> Not sure which day this weekend, Sunday's looking best for me.
>>
>> BTW, welcome back to RMD after your winter hibernation.
>>
>> MurMan
>Dang, it's about 9:30 now and I'm looking at a bunch of Really Important
>Crap in my inbox, plus a bunch of other RIC on the calendar. Sunday works
>for me, say, 9:00?
Saturday is looking much better weather-wise, will that work for you?
>Have fun out there.
We did...
>Chris