| Author | Message | ||
     Slaughter |
Just finished my second race weekend at Willow - my first Novice race on the Firebolt! I am slow but inspired!! Found this AWESOME graphic artist - Sandra Lara http://www.sdlara.com - who is also a sportbike rider who is going to work on a race logo/cartoon for me. All I did was describe in an email last night the thought that pushing the Buell hard on the track against all the Litre-bikes felt kind of like the old prospector pulling a stubborn mule where it didn't want to go... and this is what popped into my in-box this morning:  She KNOWS motorcycles and cuts us about half her normal rate as a graphic artist. Can't wait to see it inked and colored! | ||
| Sparky |
That is a very cool sketch. VERY winding... sections of dirt... expect rocks... Gorgeous scenery... really slow. Sounds like Killen Trail! On which it turned out to be fun with the damping set soft to swallow the bumps. | ||
| Slaughter |
Sparky, Just talked to another rider who has run the ridge route on his bike. He said when you see the "End of County Maintained Road" PAY ATTENTION!!! The road starts chunking within a few hundred yards. Apparently the original roadbed is very narrow concrete and they widened it in sections by paving it over the edges rather than re-paving. You get some interesting concrete/asphalt/dirt/asphalt/concrete stretches mixed in with chunks. You just have to putt. It is about 48 miles of first and second gear riding - a couple stretches maybe 3rd gear. You are probably right about opening up the damping to get some more "cushion" David who I work with takes his KTM dual-sport - loves the route but plans on dropping it at least once every time he goes out (though he'll go a tad faster than I would and he's got that lovely long-travel suspension) Sounds like if it's a slow ride with a couple scenic stops, it could be fun. Might be interesting to pre-ride it before taking the whole group out. Whatchya think? Otherwise, the run up the Crest through to Wrightwood is an easy run - just not much of a real adventure. Just trying to guess what most of the others would think. Maybe I'll get Candice's e-mail list and ping the GS BRAG "mob" and see if we get any feedback as far as preferences. | ||
| Viros |
I just did Glendora Ridge Road last sunday, real awesome, no cops or cars. Just really nasty twisties. Mt Baldy is my new favorite. | ||
| Jprovo |
Victor, Is GMR open too? Last time I went by there it was closed. Man, I might have to leave work early today! http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/conditions/conditions-road.shtml This website is becoming useless. James | ||
| Viros |
now that I think about it, I dont know if I was on GMR or GRR, all roads around the alpine village appeared to be open. | ||
| Slaughter |
Sparky, I don't know about taking the group on a road that we haven't pre-ridden. I think it's worth exploring sometime but not knowing what to say about road quality and such - maybe we ought to keep a little closer to what we know this time out. We do have a few riders who we aren't trying to scare off. There's also another lady Blast rider too timid to come out that we have been emailing trying to convince her that we're a pretty tame group... well.. sort of. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Slaughter---liar!!!!LMAO.  | ||
| Sparky |
Yeah, a pre-ride is a must. We'll hafta do one when there's a good time. Well, we could go to the Rock Inn via Sand Cyn & Bouquet or head to Wrightwood. There might be less LEO on Bouquet than the Crest. Not that we would be doing anything suspicious, right FMJ? BTW FMJ, congratulations, you 4 time record holder you!!!! You know why you were doing those tankslappers, right? It's from riding in the groove you made doing all those record runs!  | ||
| Slaughter |
Hmmm.... The Crest is guaranteed to be patrolled but since they killed 2 and injured a third last weekend on Lake Elizabeth road, there are no guarantees there, either. The last time there was a sportbike fatality on Lk Liz Rd, they patrolled the snot out of it for a couple weeks afterward. | ||
| Slaughter |
Even though it may be booooring because of riding the speed limits, we might do the Crest because some can peel off at Newcomb's after coffee and then we can have lunch in Wrightwood. I have to break away to pick up my ladyfriend in the Valley at 4 for an evening concert at Universal Citywalk. A friend's band - Silent Planet - is playing at the fountain plaza. Heck if anybody likes Irish/Celtic/"World" music - they have an excellent blend of traditional plus much of their own compositions - plus some humor - especially if their piper is going to be wearing his kilts again! http://www.silentplanetmusic.com Music starts at 6. | ||
| Slaughter |
Oh yeah!! I met Sandra last night at Bike Nite in Ventura to pay for the artwork and pick up the final image - if you don't laugh at this, nothing is gonna make you laugh - see y'all Sunday  | ||
| Usroute66 |
IF you are in SCAB or BRAG, check out this great ride Eric Barrows and Ferris/Denise have put together. The Place: Ferris and Denise's ... Lake Isabella , California The Date: October 11 and 12th The Time: Friday Night Arrivals OK, Saturday Arrivals at 4:00 pm and Later ... (We'll be out riding!!) The Season: Cool and Clear! (usually) The Digs: 20 to 25 people at the New Place The View: Huge Deck overlooking Lake Isabella with Sleepability The Garage: Bathroom included The Rides: Saturday Morning ... Will map out route and provide detailed maps. Ride at your own pace. Find your most suitable group. Overflow will be directed to local Motels. Several to chose from and one is within crawling distance ... (not to insinuate anyone WOULD be doing such a thing!) If you've never been to this area it has some of the most INCREDIBLE Twisty Bits in California and Some of them run alongside one of the PREMIER River Rafting sites ever created by nature! Most sites are feet from the road and are great for swimming, Rafting and Fishing. Many areas are stocked constantly. Bring your Sleeping bags and your appetites 'cause this is gonna be an unforgettable weekend! Please RSVP me at eobarrows@beckman.com and ebear99@aol.com ... so we can get an idea of numbers in order to print up directions and ride forms. Please keep watch on this site and I will be Posting the Motel names and Phone numbers. Monday is a Holiday so some may have the day off. Welcome to stay Sunday night. YEEEHAAAWWW! | ||
| Usroute66 |
SCAB Meeting this Thurday, October 2, 2003. Where: Sports Bar and Grill at the 91 Glassell/Kramer offramp, just to the south of the offramp (which is just east of the 57 interchange). 7:00 PM until See ya there. Plans for the big Ferris weekend of October 11 & 12 will be discussed! Scott | ||
| Ferris |
EBear and Cheryl, it was great having you guys up here this weekend to help with recon for OktoberFAST. me 'n D still can't believe how much beer YOU guys drank on Saturday night!!!  to all: the weather should be great for this gig, as the daytime temps are finally starting to abate somewhat. the Aspen trees up on the Western Divide are really starting to glow, and the air up there amongst the giant Sequoias is pretty intoxicating this time of year. the Western Divide Highway and the Mighty 190 are two of the roads that we couldn't do on day three of the All-Cal BRAG ride last year due to the snowstorm that blew thru the night before. for anyone wanting to see and ride what we missed, this would be a great opportunity. we game for having company here at the 'Dome anytime from Friday afternoon on, clear thru 'til Monday evening (it's a holiday weekend...) the "main" ride will be on Saturday (about 200 miles) but we'll get in get in some tasty local stuff on the other days, as well. y'all come. FBaD  | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Sparky, thanks for the good (BRAG) ride on Sunday.I was expecting a quick but leisurely ride, but as soon as we got off the freeway 'it was on'! I did my best to keep up, but without that extra cylinder if you get behind, there is no way to catch up!James, however, had no such problem. I was caught a little off guard but was glad it was not going to be just a 'tour' through the countryside.Enjoyed also the old ridge route and happy to say my suspension is finally broken in!Thanks again to all who'dragged' me along. PS (I know you weren't going that fast!) | ||
| Sparky |
Erik, glad you had fun on the backroads. That's where it's at. When I'm leading I almost always try to run a balanced pace between the curves and the straights, accelerating and braking enough to keep the momentum up. James would understand this as the conservation of energy theory of sport riding. I enjoyed Bouquet & Spunky and was glad to finally ride the Old Ridge Route. Yeah, it's as rough as everyone said it was. Most of the time the Firebolt did OK but the pucker factor shot up a few times when it skated a little on gravel in turns. I guess knobbies would help there, eh? See ya next time. | ||
| Slaughter |
Sparky, We ought to get a standup briefing from you guys at the next BRAG get-together. I have heard the ridge route is a great ride, just can't be in a hurry. Always wanted to try it, just thought that I'd be getting to it "next weekend" - for the past year now. Cool that you guys did the run! BTW - "PING" - just sent you an email on the fairing thing. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
The Blast was made for the Old Ridge Route.That was the one place Sunday I didn't mind a little sliding,I wasn't riding two up though! | ||
| Slaughter |
Sheesh - that's RIGHT!!! Sparky was 2-up!!! |
