Rain Rain, Go away!

[columbia510]

I couldn't help myself. I had to warm up my daughters Honda and check out the yard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4xc8Up6GUQ

 

[Dirtdame]

I shuttled a little green bike all the way out to the high desert yesterday, donned the rain gear and went on a putt, all for 25 miles of singletrack....but really nice, sloppy wet singletrack. I would have ridden further but my boots were full of freezing cold water.

 

[ray_ray]

U gotta ride in the rain sometimes... How else you gonna learn how to ride in the rain if you don't do it ? Takes real skill and guts also

 

[Dirtdame]

U gotta ride in the rain sometimes... How else you gonna learn how to ride in the rain if you don't do it ? Takes real skill and guts also

It takes waterproof gear, mainly. As long as I'm comfortable I can ride all day long in a downpour.

 

[rajobigguy]

Had to re-light the water heater last night (better than in the morning). It's in the basement and high winds tend to blow the pilot out. One year, 2003, the basement flooded as the ground was saturated under the house. Got a sump pump in there now but so far the water is minor.

It's funny, I've lived in So Cal on and off my entire life and you're the only guy I know that has a basement. You would think that we would have the the perfect climate for one.
Well any way, the rain has finally stopped for the next couple of days so I think I'm going to try to get a bit maintenance and seat time in.

 

[Manic]

First real ride

Okay, I finally got a chance to try out the new TE310 and what can I say? I'm in LOVE! Got an email on Tuesday from Woodschick informing me that her & Eric were going to Stonyford on Friday, Christmas Eve. I and the family were leaving for Vegas on Christmas morning via Placerville but as I replied to Tami, "if I don't ride the new bike before we left, I might die!" So ride we did.

The weather at Stonyford was just about perfect for the first dirt ride We staged out of Little Stony and by 10:00, we hit the trails. I took my daughter so she could try out her new/used big wheel TTR125 and she made me so proud how well she handled the trails (after some kind words and great advice from Tami). Thanks Tami

Anyway, I felt immediatley comfortable on the new bike. It feels lighter than my 04 YZF250 and has much more grunt. The fuel injection felt pretty much spot on. Big thanks to Dan at MotoXotica! Even with the 40 tooth rear sprocket on the bike it pulled hard after a little feathering of the clutch to get going. Even the Metzler Karoos worked great, really impressive dualsport tires.

My laptop battery is getting low and I'm at a coffee shop in Vegas, so I'll have to post more later.

Here's some pictures from the ride

 

[ray_ray]

Nice pics and report ... U gonna get a few more teeth on that rear sprocket

 

[Coffee]

Great to hear!

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

Yay for Manic, gettin' the 310 dirty!!

 

[WoodsChick]

It was a superb day to ride, for sure! Conditions were primo and we only saw 2 other riders all day.

Thanks to Dan and Eric, my ride reports are much better looking these days...

Ooh!

The proud papa...

Poor Ivy...I made her stay on the other side of the road so she wouldn't mess up our pretty Husky pictures...

We had a good time blasting up the hill. For those that have never ridden Stonyford before, there are nothing but hillclimbs out of Little Stony. If you want to ride the trails you gotta climb the hills first. Ivy had no troubles til she cleared the last rise...

I, on the other hand, had a little issue...

It seems as though my IMS tank fit up nice and neat when brand new. After removing it to install my newly-ground valves (Thanks, Walt!) it would not go back on properly for love nor money. It just...would not fit. Eric messed with if forever but no go. As a consequence, my seat wasn't fitting properly and I lost it going up the hill. I managed to get it jammed back on there but it still doesn't look right. The only thing we can think of is it was pretty warm when we first installed it and now it's cold out.

Dan was grinning ear to ear when he made it to the top...

Now I know how poor Eric felt when I first got my WR125. All I heard Dan say all day was "I love my bike!" "Did I tell you I love my bike?" "Have I mentioned lately how much I love my bike?" and so on and so on...and so on. I kinda felt the same way after I rode it so I can totally understand where he's coming from. That thing feels like a tiny little rocketship Seriously, I think I need to sell some bikes and get myself one

Eric is digging his bike, too, now that we can actually keep it running for more than a few miles at a time...

And I couldn't be happier with mine...

Dan having some fun...

Ivy is still having fun at this point...

Dan was ripping monster wheelies on Eric's WR250!

I spent a lot of time riding behind Ivy and teaching her some stuff. I think a 13-year-old girl has an easier time listening to her female friend than to her dad...

Dan was pretending to take photos of me and Ivy, but I think we all know where his lens was aimed...

Eric thinks his bike is pretty hot...and I agree!

Ivy's not afraid of water...

Dan and I couldn't let her show us up so we followed...

The bad part about staging at Little Stony is that at the end of the day you have to ride down a really long hill to get back to the truck. Ivy had put in a pretty valiant effort on the day, riding more miles and on more technical terrain than she was used to, and she was extremely tired. The downhill almost broke her spirit but she toughed it out and made it down the hill on her own power. It wasn't easy but she did it and I was so proud of her! I've been in that situation before...I think we all have...where you're just done yet you still have a ways to go. I felt bad for her but I think she was pretty proud of herself when the day was done. I know we all were!

Getting ready to drop further down the hill. We're staged at Little Stony Creek at the very bottom...

Ivy decides to get a head start...

We made it back just before dark, a really good day for everyone on their new bikes!




WoodsChick

 

[ioneater]

Nice report! I think those new 310's are going to be "the" bike for a lot of people once the supply catches up. Tami, I wish my daughter could get some of your tutelage. You're right about Dad's advice vs. an outsider. I think she and Ivy would have a great time together. Haven't met anyone up here yet for her to ride with so she's stuck with Dear Ole Dad!

 

[Coffee]

There is a reason I don't stage out of little Stony

 

[Pedec]

That looks like the best place to ride. The reason I only ride motocross is there is no trail like that within 1000 miles where I live. Why is there no nasty ruts from 4x4 quads or rhino riding when it to wet on trails.

 

[ray_ray]

Can a big Stony ride little Stony?

Nice report ...

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

Fantastic report! Loved seeing the Huskies and Ivy's success!!

 

[Bill502]

Well, WC I'm convinced, the next time I go out west to visit relatives in San Leandro I'm bringing my bike if I drive. Nice terrain.

 

[wallybean]

Thanks for the pics and report Woodschick! That TE 310 is a spicy meatball. OBTW, I am completely jealous of the riding. It looks like so much fun.

 

[Manic]

Nice pics and report ... U gonna get a few more teeth on that rear sprocket

Thanks Ray_Ray. Yea, I'm going to mount the 50 pretty soon. Can't wait to try it out!

 

[Dirtdame]

Ouch....that one picture of the saddle laying in the middle of the trail makes my butt ache.

 

[WoodsChick]

Nice report! I think those new 310's are going to be "the" bike for a lot of people once the supply catches up. Tami, I wish my daughter could get some of your tutelage. You're right about Dad's advice vs. an outsider. I think she and Ivy would have a great time together. Haven't met anyone up here yet for her to ride with so she's stuck with Dear Ole Dad!

I'd love to ride with your daughter! It wasn't so long ago that I was struggling to figure it all out on my own, and I wish someone would have given me some of the benefit of their experience. Every little bit helps!

There is a reason I don't stage out of little Stony

Hey...if a little girl can do it...
The trail we went up is actually pretty easy, it's just very long and a bit arduous if you're not used to it. I have no issues riding my 125 motocrosser up it. There are some (Trail 2, mostly) that are incredibly steep...like going down I'm always surprised my rear wheel isn't flying right up over my head...

That looks like the best place to ride. The reason I only ride motocross is there is no trail like that within 1000 miles where I live. Why is there no nasty ruts from 4x4 quads or rhino riding when it to wet on trails.

Well, not too many quads or rhinos out there (thank goodness...) and the forest service has been rather aggressive with their closure policies this winter. I think if I didn't have a trail within 1000 miles of my home I'd pack up and move

Can a big Stony ride little Stony?

Nice report ...

Gee...I don't know How much wood would a WoodsChick chuck if a WoodsChick could chuck wood?




WoodsChick