Big Ride Out This Weekend!

[jhwalker]

I would have loved to be on any part of this ride. I would have only seen the start of each section or I would have put my life at risk. What we used to do with bicycles is give the weaker riders a 1 (2,3,4,5?) minute head start (depending on strength and skill) and then see how many seconds/minutes it would take to catch and pass them. If we did that I would get to see you guys come roaring by.

[Tetge]

I would have loved to be on any part of this ride. I would have only seen the start of each section or I would have put my life at risk. What we used to do with bicycles is give the weaker riders a 1 (2,3,4,5?) minute head start (depending on strength and skill) and then see how many seconds/minutes it would take to catch and pass them. If we did that I would get to see you guys come roaring by.

But, there is a problem with that since the fast guys do not brake and wait to pass. They just bull their way by the instant that they catch you. Middle of a tight corner? No matter, and they could come by on the inside or the outside, or both! So, slow guys learn to start at the back and ride their own ride within a ride. The fast guys wait up now and then, and, I made sure to include them sitting there waiting in my current videos just to document that fact, since they love to fabricate these fables that I am keeping up with them.

[Brakelate]

All I know, is to remain "competitive" (which should never even be a factor to be considered in any other "ordinary" road ride to Breakfast, is that I need more motor, finely tuned suspension and fresh, premium tires on the bike, along with some daily routine "practice sessions" out here with my machine to fine tune the mose efficient braking entry points, max corner grip levels and the earliest point at which I can go WOT. And on the DRZ against you jokers, I am seriously trimming all the fat here, and riding right on the envelope of man and machine as I clearly have no "advantage" spots or the luxury of just letting the motor pull me along after being "Freight Trained" by the whole group of road burners.

I guess I could continue to absolutely get the maximum out of what have, by finally pulling the forks, re-springing them to match the fancy rear Ohlins shock out back, and having all lubed, dialed in to "spec" for my weight, size and riding style with a fresh rebuild of both. Then, by adding the last pair of Maxxis Supermoto super soft slicks, (minimally grooved) to perfection , with fresh "radial tubes" and re-assembled and balanced and lubed to enable them to perform at their highest level of performance possible.

Or keep the DRZ as a "play / spare" bike, converted to a more dual sport set up capable of running these long, unpredictable sand washes and fire roads. Then, if the funds become available, pick out a bike with just a bit more power, slight bump in higher top speed and component quality, as well as the new fancy electronic "rider aid" packages.

Multistrada, Hypermotard, or throwing down cash for a top notch "big bore" engine build in addition to the previously mentioned suspension and tire upgrades. Hmmm. I think this time, with all the players and their tricks, I am doubting that a mere "brushing up" on my skills and some good practice sessions to build my endurance and sharpen my "road reading" techniques will be enough to keep me in the hunt.

[jhwalker]

I would have loved to be on any part of this ride. I would have only seen the start of each section or I would have put my life at risk. What we used to do with bicycles is give the weaker riders a 1 (2,3,4,5?) minute head start (depending on strength and skill) and then see how many seconds/minutes it would take to catch and pass them. If we did that I would get to see you guys come roaring by.

But, there is a problem with that since the fast guys do not brake and wait to pass. They just bull their way by the instant that they catch you. Middle of a tight corner? No matter, and they could come by on the inside or the outside, or both! So, slow guys learn to start at the back and ride their own ride within a ride. The fast guys wait up now and then, and, I made sure to include them sitting there waiting in my current videos just to document that fact, since they love to fabricate these fables that I am keeping up with them.

I did not realize that you were all riding on a private, closed course.

Expert riders of course know how to pass, or you guys would be leaving a trail of smoking carnage in your wake. I think that you might be speaking of a fantasy "group behavior" rather than the way you actually pass civilians on a public road in order to not have a bunch of 911 calls being made about murdercycle maniacal hooligans.

So it sounds like a good idea. The slow, early riders would have the opportunity to see the dicing in their rear-view mirrors as they were closed in on, and then watch the fun after the pass. Isn't that better than just watching the group accelerate away?

[Brakelate]

True, and despite being a very skilled and accomplished (trusted) rider in his own right, I think the best views of the Sunday ride would have been picked up off a camera mounted on Tim riding Tetges old bike.

He was just doing a "getting to know you" ride, and hanging back watching the action, which would, in fact, made for better footage than from some helmet mounted camera on one of the 'front runners'.

He got to see many passes, all the "chess game" line swapping and corner apexing that others did not. Especially following the close knit pack of riders who were sportingly aggressive in their multiple position swapping, yet safely riding within their parameters and making the most of each machine and rider's favorite sections or where their particular set up shined.

The left me at the tail end (waaay back) at the end of the few good long straights with clear and confidence inspiring sight lines, where everyone wanted to wick it up just about 20 mph outside of my max range. So, because he was just riding "The Pace", he would then get to see (the few times I was able to time it correctly, get lucky with no oncoming traffic and perhaps a overconfident or rider who had been inattentive to his mirrors just long enough, for me to build my steam, slowly over the entire course of the straight, pouring on the coal and never lifting well past the point where most logical, sane or those with power would unnecessarily be still charging hard into the next segment. Specifically at the end of a nice straight, within the first two decreasing radius turns, or where those without intimate knowledge of the route (not to likely with this seasoned group) would lift early and casually bleed off speed before re-applying the point and squirt, fat on torque techniques which these guys seem to prefer. Unfortunately for me, I am like a Solid Rocket Booster stage. Lit at the earliest point of the last corner, the fuse is triggered, and it stays WOT until it burns out, tops out or is forced to be jettisoned due to some limitation in traction, hampered by traffic, road debris, a decreasing radius or desire for life. Then I have to snuff out that run and start all over.

But, in those few occasional corners where the timing is right, and the planets all align, I can swoop in, under full momentum and energy conservation, make minimally offensive passes on the stragglers at the back (whomever they may be in that moment in time, as they constantly rotate) and then continue my charge well up at least deep into the pack, if not to the front, where I can then either start playing the I'm the fattest and most unpredictable wobbly gobbler on the road to prevent a re-pass, or If I am really lucky, have timed it right to where I hit the summit and begin the downhill, just as I sputter and run out of steam, having shed off all that precious momentum and drive that started sometimes a mile off in the distance from which we came.

I try to be clean, smooth and give enough room to not irritate any other riders, bobble and bounce off of them, or cook into some decreasing radius nightmare that would completely overwhelm my parameters, causing me to low side into , or right in front of them. So I really do try, for my own safety and theirs, to pass at such a high speed that it really minimizes the "exposure time" in which I could foul someone else up. I do not pass fast to impress, scare or intimidate anyone. Quite the opposite. I have to run up to speed and pass them as quickly as possible to prevent them from being "spooked" into losing focus on what THEY are doing, or depriving them of a potential line, or even, as I have said, cause some sort of contact, however minor between the two of us. That gets harder and harder to to, especially with this group, who is always watching, learning and modifying their own strategies, and ever increasing the speeds at which they hit the apex, often times meaning they are using the unorthodox or extreme line in which I was planning on using to get around them. But, Tim didn't pull me aside for a little talk, or seem offended by anything I did. And I honestly try, especially when approaching at a extreme "closing rate" to give them as much room as possible, often even running clear to the white line of the opposing lane, to "sneak" by with as little drama as possible. My goal (If possible) is to approach, slide past and be well good and gone out of their plotted line or "comfort bubble" long before they even knew I was there.

But, somewhere in there, are the good shots. The "art" of working each machine and rider to it's comfortable "road limitations" and playing the positional Chess Game without contact, irritation or offense. On these rides, with these guys going so hard, those margins shrink rapidly and soon can become bar banging, line stealing, brake dabbing and a rapid erosion of time and space perception to the point that people start getting their "noses chopped off" , forced to make mid-corner line corrections or checking up of speeds in less than ideal segments of a corner or at undesirable lean angles and very close proximities. Fortunately, that is pretty rare.

Back on point; I sure wish Tim had a GoPro rolling all day to catch all of this (which is invisibly going on behind any front runners) . There were some interesting moves going on back there.

Also, I am not sure if Kelly is a big email/internet/forum board guy - but I consider him to be a very skilled and cool cat under pressure. Very confident in his riding and in riding with others.

I sure would like for him to log in here and give us a blow by blow account of how the day went for him, and how that nasty little Triumph Triple performed in the many, widely varied segments of the ride. That little 636 (?) sure was a capable little bug-eyed road burner. My only complaint, was that he had left in the "decibel killer" silencer insert in his fancy Werks Performance exhaust system. I could hear a little of that distinctive "Triple Cylinder Howl", but wanted much more. I say we take a drill bit to his silencer rivets and yank that thing!!! Not that I could have heard it over the raspy snap of Tim's (Tetge's dual-Yosh) exhaust system when wicked open, or that rich bark from Norton John's big 525 KTM. I could even hear that damn Duke 690 every now and again, if I got close enough to it. But clearly it was KTM day, despite having Three DRZ's in the hunt.

And as usual, Mike was totally deceptive with his casual, confident "sit up and beg" riding position and lack of "body English" as he railed along at max lean angles and full on four fingered late, corner braking and barking out of corners, from deep in the apex zone, well out to absolutely vertical. He makes speed look so effortless, casual and comfortable, that I can see why many a rider has been slayed and left scratching their heads as mike just motors along, no muss, no fuss. No drama at all. Just good, clean speed.

Yup, even all maxed out, tuned up, fresh premium rubber and suspension reuibuilt, with my skills all up to snuff, I doubt I can hang with either of the KTM's in attendance.

Tetge pulls me like I am broken from any speed, and Norton John rails right around with an unreal power to weight ration, well sorted suspension and well scuffed and confidence inspiring rubber, along with the monster front brake and his intimate knowledge of any road in the state. I may just need that Hyperstrada for those few extra HP, comfort and confidence provided by it's multiple "ride modes and ABS" when sliding both ends trying to run the "new" pace. Now off to look at the options; Hypermotard, Hyperstrada or insane Duke 1290R. But, I shudder to think the pace one could run on that machine, if fully dialed in and intimately knowledgeable about it's high tech aids. That power and braking would be almost too much for the street. IMHO. So, maybe that comfy VFR1200f just to play "chase/camera rig" next time ? At least then I could walk the next day, get close enough to shoot some brief, amazing video footage, and still not get left too far behind when the crew in Orange and Black decided to roll it on, up into the triple digits.

All in all, a great trip. And well worth the time, money and effort! Just a teaser to October! It was so great to hang out at the patio over breakfast once again... I think I tried "one of everything" just to soak it all in. I just wished I had more time to individually share time and chat with each person in attendance individually. I came away sort of feeling like I was "Speed Dating" or something.

Great time! We need to do it more often!~

[Brakelate]

I did not realize that you were all riding on a private, closed course.

Oh, I forgot to even mention ANY of the insanity that was the Friday evening "Pre-Ride" with Tetge, Tim and I.

After motoring out of the housing tract, Tetge decides to sample (show off) his mad flat tracking "Ready to Race" skills with his new machine by promptly riding right through all the oil covered pea gravel all scattered about by the shovel full as you transition on to the STR from the freshly repaved 50th Street West. He dove right in, at about 40 mph, while I avoided that trap all together. He nailed the throttle, roosted fresh piles of asphalt yet to be machined and steam roller packed into the surface, cocked his knee and toe out at a 45 deg angle, and glided gracefully across the oily tar and gravel pit of doom in some sort of reverse (right handed) Super TT exhibition that first kicked the rear out, then transitioned to a nice 10 foot "tucked under" front wheel push until he snapped it upright, just in time before he exited out the far side, back on to the clean, worn asphalt beyond.

I commented on what a neat slide he did at the next stop, and he just complained that he lacked the proper steel toed boots and had to merely improvise, sliming up his decades old brown leather work boots in the process of carving a nice smoothly radiused arc across the recently rolled out asphalt.

Then, after flat sprinting away from Tim and I on our DRZ's in several roll-on attempts by to probe exactly what I was up against (as the KTM never sounded like it was breathing heavy or over-revved, even with the slash cut tip he had installed). Up in the Juniper Hills, we came across two "Real" dirt bike riders, running a diagonal trail to the road we were on, who in seeing us, decided to play a little by veering off course, and onto the double wide plowed shoulder running up the hill. The two dirt bikes and I paired off, with me on the far right shoulder of the pavement, eventually pulled the smaller 2-stroke of the group, while the leader of their pack (later determined to be riding a rather crisp running Kawaskai KX450) roosted me with his knobbies and left me in the dust quite easily. After we ran up to speed, I got tired of eating the dust blowing across the roadway, and after re-taking him while he cruised to let his high-strung 4-t single cool a bit, I jumped off into the dirt as well, and fishtailed around a bit in the powdery mix of gravel and sand, just to return the favor. He too would now have to clean his goggles, as I would, my face shield. The DRZ with it's "triangulated" racing rains, particularly the front, would start to weave and shake it's head up around 80 in the dirt as it lacks any type of steering stabilizer. So, I slowed, and jumped back on to the pavement. After sharing soe nods and thumbs ups.

Seeing as how quickly the KX had jumped me and ran off, Tetge of course had to give it a shot. So next, he swooped in alongside the piped and very raspy sounding KX. The KX eased alongside the mighty KTM 690 and they punched off in about 3rd gear, both on the pavement now. I expected the KX, with it's light weight, quick revving MX motor, light weight and short gearing, would perhaps pull the KTM until they hit 100 or so and he would have to then back off after running up against the limiter.

Much to my surprise (perhaps not), the KTM sprang forward like it was shot from a canon and put bike lengths on that KX. More and more as the speeds grew ever higher. I know I could not even keep up to watch, so this KX, though apparently geared quite tall, perhaps a open desert racer set up, got absolutely smoked by Tetge and his KTM. Very impressive. I do not know how fast he got up to, but what was most impressive, was it's jump out of the hole, from a solid roll on against a bike with an amazing power to weight ratio and some real snap. Incredible.

So. Once back in town, I had to give it one last try, looking for that one little spot - perhaps only that one little gear ratio / speed overlap that I could do my best against the powerful little Duke. So, from a Red light, I did my very best "controlled launch". Mid-RPM, quick feed out, weight over the front end. With Tetge just to my right. I swear I had a millisecond of a flashback from all those many runs against him, nose to nose at LACR, 12 vs Busa. Again, me holding revs right at my torque peak rpm, modulating the clutch with absolute perfect feedback and precision. While he just seemed to roll on it from an idle. We were once again neck and neck, wheel to wheel, 3/4 of the way across the intersection , with me carrying my front wheel perfectly counterbalancing all the launching forces that I could muster. I held that front wheel aout 6" off the ground WOT, staring over at his front wheel, which seemed locked in with my own, perfectly synchronized. Up until I had to grab 2nd gear. And with that, he immediately put 2 bike lengths on me, and again going into 3rd before clicking off, some five bikes distant, in perfect form, having never any hint of loss of traction, headshake or even lifting the front of the machine to it's max suspension up-travel, without ever creating an 1/4" of daylight under his front tire. That Duke just hooked, and pulled from way down low, and marched off with no drama, sense of urgency or anything other than just another ride away from a stop light.

About the only sign that he was trying, was his sly comment when we got home, when he said "If you had left any harder, I would have had to pulled the front tire off the ground to keep up!"

Ahh, the shame of it all.

But, what a great weekend!

[Tetge]

Now we are talking. I have been waiting for the current episode of the Tetge fables. But, I will confess that I did win a drag race versus Brakelate and also Sliderbackside, on his KTM. I never said that I couldn't drag race and a ready to race 690 > than wee little bikes with wee little motors. I also did lose the front end only, on some very slippery freshly worked on pavement and I swear that it slid for many feet. I instinctively dabbed my right foot and to the KTM's credit, I saved it from crashing, but it was not the slide described at all although it did give me some major puckering, and it happened just as the ride was starting out, on cold tires about a mile from my house. I never saw the loose stuff as it was all black asphalt of the kind that they resurface with. Brakelate was following me at the time but as I recall he said that he did not actually witness my lurid slide.

And, yes, I did slay the bully kid on the dirt bike something fierce. But, he stayed in the dirt and did not come onto the pavement and he ever had a chance at all. I think that he was surprised as he beat Brakelate up something fierce, but, a ready to race 690 KTM is not a thing to be trifled with. Although I would deny it if officially questioned, I saw 115 on the speedo as the bike approached red line in 6th, and it got there mighty quick. The kid was so far behind that I could not see him in my mirrors at that point. It is definitely a strong running motorcycle up to 115, or so. And, I confess, it was rather nice to have some power versus some of the other bikes on the ride for a change. The Triumph Triple was the only bike with more scoot, but, he declined to punch off when we had the chance as I suppose I was beneath his notice.

Still, as the video clearly shows, the fast guys were parked and waiting for me to get there at more than one gathering spot. So, HP is nice, but, riding skills still trump power. And, I also want to make it clear that everything is relative, but, the fast riders on this ride are legit fast guys. Mike stated that he was not feeling it, or he would have been there too, and, in that case, I might have, since I can generally follow Mike, but, I never want to pass him, or, at least, I don't want to pass him on his breakfast ride route.

But it was a great ride and no one got hurt and breakfast, with the exception of no alcohol, was good as well. And, Brakelate was not kidding about ordering one of everything.

But, what Brakelate is not saying is that somewhere after the meaty part of Little T was done, and prior to the 14, he was attacked and stung on the chin, by some unknown insect and he proceeded to ultimately swell up like a balloon. There are rumors of him laying down while water was poured over his face and of extreme swelling and a close to death experience.

[jhwalker]

Vid of Brakelate near-death?

[Brakelate]

Apparently I had the fortunate experience of running head first into a airborne swarm of Africanized Killer Honey Bees or something right in the middle of the road, ,at speed, with my full face helmet on. I felt the initial good sting on my chin, then the burning sensation as I wiped whatever it was around my face in the limited space between my face and the interior of the helmet. In doing so, it broke apart, fluttered around on my lips, and then got me a few more good times on my upper lip before I was able to pull off the road, come to a safe stop, remove my gloves, glasses, and helmet to inspect the damage, Which did not look that bad at the time. It just hurt like hell, like someone has just mashed their lit cigarette on the tip of my chin.

I never did find any remains of the critter to aid identification. I am not allergic to bees as far as I know, from previous encounters, but this was different.

The swelling and pooling of itching and offending venom spread into my lower chin. In the interest of "being a man" and not holding up the ride, I carried on. with the swelling and itching increasing ten fold over the next 24 hours. Then the next morning, I discovered that my upper right lip had also taken a hit, and had now swollen my upper lip like a big rubber bait worm and my lower chin all a swollen, strawberry ice cream swirl color that both hurt and itched like hell.

I swear I looked like a Pink, rather than Green version of Jim Carrey in "The Mask". But, I think it Is calming down now.

[jhwalker]

Ouch, sorry to hear.