Weekend Dirt Biking

Stown going fast!!

Yeah, for BLM!!

From our house we headed south to Glade Run in New Mexico for the afternoon. Contrary to it's name, there is no glade nor will you find runners. (OK, maybe the latter but I've never seen them.) Glade Run is a ... Well , just read the sign. There are oil wells dotted through out the entire area, which make for nice parking areas. They aren't too noisy, like white noise, the sound seems to go away after a short while. There are plenty of jeep roads for beginners and single track for the more advanced riders. This nice new sign reads "Eagle Scout Project 2005 Kurtis Donisthorpe" along them bottom. They must have created this one be cause the old one was used for target practice. Thanks Guys!! For more information on this great area click on the link :

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/farmington/Glade_Run_Recreation_Area.html

Despite the fact that it states "Discharging of firearms is prohibited" this old sign was riddled with shotgun blasts.

Speaking of shot guns, I did some clean up work while the guys were out riding. I was meditating and doing yoga in the middle of the flats, when I peered through my feet during a wonderful downward dog to see bright red shells littering the hillside. Upon further investigation I found remnant of the computer they took out their anger on. Trust me, there are days I, too, would like to fire of a few rounds at my 'puter - but not in the middle of a beautiful area surrounded by native plants and critters. Finishing my series, I grabbed a plastic bag from the truck and gathered all the trash I could find in the vicinity.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Jim is enjoying some of the single track up on the ridge line.

Doug

The dogs and I hiked up to the crest of a nearby ridge to survey our surroundings.

We really enjoy this area. It's vast options of parking places and lack of people make it ideal for a beginner, like Stown, to get used to his bike with out the worries of traffic. Jim found a four mile loop that Stown was able to practice on by himself. Shifting gears and getting the feel for the bike we hooked up the GPS and he managed to clock almost 25 mph. Not bad for only his second day! It's amazingly clean despite it's public use. We were discussing how graffiti would cover everything if it were near a more populated area. For now we left it cleaner than we found it until next year. As of this week, the dirt bikes will find a home in the shed for the winter. It was overcast and in the low 40's while we were there and the wind was making it feel even colder.

Snowboard season is on the horizon - Time to switch sports again!!

Stown's First Dirt Bike Experience!!

Stown received his first dirt bike earlier this week. It's a Honda CRF 150. Kinda small, but perfect to learn on without being too powerful and scary. Today we went out for the basic lessons.

Rule #1: If you wanna ride, you gotta load your own bike.

Rule #2: Then you gotta unload your own bike.

Rule #3: ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME!!!
Probably the most important rule of all. We all abide by this one - Boots, Knee/Shin Guards, Body Armour, Gloves, Helmet and Goggles.

Jim, Stown and Aspen

It was all fine for Aspen until the bike started and she hauled off and out of the way. After a demonstration by Jim, Stown was on his way to starting, stopping and turning practice in a huge open space. Soon it was shifting gears and getting bored of making the same circles around the dirt lot.

Stown

Soon it was off down the dirt roads with Jim or myself.


Me on Jim's big KTM 450XC - it's bombproof!!
(Which is very important if I'm going to borrow your bike.)
Oops! As of noon on 9 Nov. I must correct this post. Jim just called to tell me that this is him on his bike. Gosh!! I thought I had a good picture of me going fast! Oh well, we all look the same in a helmet. But I really did go fast - maybe just too fast for pictures!
Jim, happy with Stown's progress demonstrated the next step in learning...


Jim
Needless to say, Stown didn't quite follow that stunt.



So we all rode and had a great time.
Then Stown learned another important lesson,

Never let your mom ride your motorcycle!!


So, I dumped the bike while I was showing off. I was wearing all the gear, so no harm no foul right? Unfortunately, I bent the front break lever pretty bad. I explained to Stown that anytime you borrow someone else's bike and break it you have to replace the part. I guess I'll be going back to the store this week.


Hope you had a fast weekend!!