EarthRider: Adventure Moto Guiding & Instruction

Welcome!

2012-04-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

EarthRider is dedicated to facilitating dual sport / adventure riders in enriching their riding experiences and enhancing their riding skills. Don’t know where to ride? Don't have time to plan a ride? Aren’t quite sure how to ride? Don’t know anybody to ride with? Come riding with us! The adventure you join us for might last hours, or it might last days. Either way, you will always have opportunities to practice riding skills you know, learn one that you don't, meet old friends, and make new ones.

Shiny happy dual sporters -- somewhere on the edge of the Tehachapi Mountains

Have a look at what EarthRider has to offer (links in Top Dead Center section above). If you have questions, or if don't see what you are looking for, email us!

email EarthRider

DSS 05 - "In Situ"

2011-01-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
06 March, 7:30 AM
Savory Cafe, Ventura, CA
EarthRider

In situ \In si"tu\adv. & adj. [L.]
1. In its natural or original position or place.

How does body position
affect handling?

Could a different line turn this
obstacle into a helpful feature?

Most beginner level adventure riding skill courses provide a cursory survey of a host of riding techniques. Skilzdrills traditionally delve into a particular riding skill, or 2-3 related skills. "And now for something completely different:" This class will focus on... a ride. Inspired by novice riders' experiences & requests during the Ventura County Adventure Ride Series (VCARS), "In Situ" classes are as real world as ride instruction gets.

How do I pick a line
for a water crossing?

We're embarking on a guided day ride! However, the route will be the template on which we lay the fabric of a day's instruction, which will take form to fit the chosen terrain. Beginning even before we leave pavement, we will stop en masse at each spot where the route offers a "talking point", to discuss and model how not just a novice rider, but also a more experienced rider, might manage the particular section of terrain under scrutiny. In effect, skill topics will be chosen by the route itself, and may include body position, cornering technique, simultaneous multiple control use, cornering options, tire lofting, braking techniques, line selection, tire pressure, or a host of other subjects.

Can a change in speed change
where the optimal line is?

We will be stopping at nearly every major change in the terrain. Each stop will begin with guided visual assessment of the terrain at hand - this in itself is an invaluable skill for any adventure rider to learn to do on the fly - followed by description of at least three of the multiple options that are always available for managing a given section of terrain, along with the different skills that each option may require of the rider.

How do you keep a steep climb
from getting out of hand?

Time will be spent discussing & modeling how a novice rider might manage a given section of terrain, as well as how a rider with more tools in his riding-skill belt might handle the same section. Finally, we will each ride the section, with observation & further discussion / question-answer to follow if warranted.

Our route should provide challenges that test the novice, and provide more advanced students opportunities to learn techniques that will allow them to surmount the same obstacles at higher average speed / while expending less energy, et cetera: A single obstacle may provide very different learning opportunities for different riders. We will "officially" wrap up class at 2:30, regardless of where we are at that point. Be sure to byo lunch for our mid-day trail stop, as well as snacks to keep brain & body going throughout the day.

If you've never taken a riding class during which you learned how
roadside flora can tell you what to expect the terrain to be like
around the next turn...
Now's Your Chance!

DSS 04 - Clutch/Throttle/Brake

2011-01-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
05 March, 7:30 AM
Starbucks, Castaic, CA
EarthRider

Learn how to use the controls to add
stability on slow, sharp corners.
Angie Deubel, VCARS DSO 01

This class is about synergistic, simultaneous use of your motorcycle’s controls. The day’s drills & discussion will focus on sometimes-counterintuitive techniques for multiple control use that will give you an edge in some of dualsport’s more challenging riding situations. You thought twisting the throttle was fun; wait ‘til you try it with the brakes on!

Single tracks often require
simultaneous use of controls.
Toney Lovegren, VCARS DSR 12

On an adventure bike, "When In Doubt, Gas It Out" is more of a tongue-in-cheek battlecry than a consistently safe & successful way to navigate through over or around obstacles. After all, adventure riders generally want not only to "make it" through the challenging section at hand, but they also want bike & rider to be good to go for anywhere from another 100 miles to 100 days of riding, afterward. The goal of this class is to show you how to arm yourself with the balance, techniques, & timing needed to master sections of challenging terrain at slow, safe speeds. Morning drills & discussion will focus on different ways to increase your control of the bike by overlapping the use of sometimes opposing vehicle controls. We'll talk about when to make use of which technique, & begin to develop the muscle memory needed for success.

Later we will move to real world applications in an instructional environment: With our newfound techniques in mind, we will analyze lengths of challenging terrain as a group, developing and implementing riding strategies trail section by trail section. A little bit of “recess” riding will provide a fun finish for our day.

{A non-exhaustive pictorial list of situations in which the skills we will practice can facilitate success}

As always, we will be working our way from easier to more advanced techniques, and many drills can be performed at various grades of challenge: There will be something for riders of all ability levels to benefit from.

Simultaneous use of the rear tire & harmonica - while holding a drink with the knees!
Don't expect to be this good by the end of the day; we're miracle-workers, not God!
Don "So Cool" Gordon, 1st Biannual Mojave Ride (Paul "Captain America" Beck, left, is searching for his earplugs)

DSS 03 - Sand 101 [Sand Is Not My Foe!]

2010-12-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
14 April, 8:00 AM
Ojai Coffee Roasters, Ojai, CA
EarthRider

You'll learn several ways to
get un-stuck. '09 DSS 03 02/21

This is the part where you open the door to a rich new world of adventure riding opportunities. In our neck of the woods, building confidence in sand is like taking the leash off. Ninety percent of the world’s roads may be unpaved, but around here, it seems like about 75% of those are sandy. Want to go to Tehachapi? Sand. Mojave? Sand. Death Valley? Sand. Anza Borrego? Baja California? The beach (you can ride it at Pizmo)? Sand, sand, sand. What are you riding on when that compacted decomposed granite covering local mountain roads becomes unconsolidated? Sand. Want to join us for the infamous bi-annual Mojave 3-day ride in spring? Beautiful scenery, joyful camping camaraderie, brilliant riding, gigantic, scary cactus looming over the trail – the SANDY trail…

Discussing body position for
executing turns in sand.
'09 DSS 03 01/31

When it comes to sand I see three major groups of riders: The hard-eyed “Sand? No way.” group; the leery, eye-rolling, “I don’t like sand but I’ll paddle through if I have to,” group; and lastly, the small “Hey, this is fun!” group, often wide-eyed with surprise. The aim of this day is to place you somewhere between groups 2 and 3. (Want to push it over the top? Stay on track through DSS 12: “My Friend Sand”.)

The lessons of DSS 02 are key to several aspects of adventure riding, and we will begin to put them to good use here. In fact, we will start with a brief review. Staying in practice with what you learn during DSS 02/03 will be a great help during DSS 04. Even better, the skills you practice during DSS 04 will prove valuable not just in sand but on a variety of different terrains.

Success in sand can require a variety of skills.

Don "So Cool" Gordon, '07 DSO 05/12 -- Bruce Schubert, '08 DSO 12/05

Sand is a fairly advanced challenge for adventure riders. Nevertheless, this Skilzdrill - as they all do - begins with simpler, fundamental skills and moves on through more advanced applications; no matter how far away (or close!) you think you are from being a competent sand rider, this class has much to offer.

Taking a break in the deep stuff. VCARS DSO 02

DSS 03 - Focus on Counterbalancing

2010-12-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
10 March, 8:00 AM
BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
email EarthRider

Roadside assistance. We don't
always need dirt to drive home a
lesson. '08 DSS 06

This is essentially a reprise of the second class of the series. Do you remember in The Karate Kid, when Daniel spends weeks washing cars & painting fences only to discover he was actually developing proficiency in a number of karate blocks & strikes?* Counterbalancing is like that. When you get it, everything else will begin to fall into place: Sand. Ruts. Boulders. Emergency swerves. Loose hill climbs. U-turns. Off pavement or on. Which is why this class is offered twice, early in the series: Every student who has taken this class has shown improvement in future classes or on future rides. No past student or ride participant to date - not even EarthRider's most skilled regulars - show complete mastery of this all-important skill. Conclusion: Everyone will benefit from taking this class, and taking it again. Here's a deal for you: Take this class & repeat it as often as you can: When you can honestly say at the end of the day that your riding didn't improve and you don't see how further study of this skill could improve your riding, EarthRider will refund your fee for the day and buy you dinner and tell the waitress its your birthday.

Steve DeCosta putting it all together
during the Backing It In Skilzdrill.
'08 DSS 07

This Skilzdrill will be a full day of instruction. Structure may differ slightly from DSS 02, primarily because we will be riding in a different area. As on our other ride series, an early group dinner at a restaurant on the way home is a possibility as well.

If you participated in DSS 02 (or any previous CB class), you may join this class for the discounted price listed under the registration drop-down above. This class will not be offered again for several months.

Kudos for Counterbalancing.

[* Or, Dre spends a lot of time fiddling with his clothing...]

DSS 02 - Counterbalancing

2010-11-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dual Sport Skillzdrill, full day
12 February, 8:00 am
Savory Cafe, Ventura, CA
email EarthRider

This second class in the Skilzdrill series will help lay a strong groundwork in basic handling skills for adventure riders. As with DSS 01, what we work on during this class will be of great use to you in ALL your future adventure riding, in a host of different riding situations. It is even valuable on pavement. The day will also include some review of material covered in DSS 01.

Steve DeCosta putting it all together
during the Backing It In Skilzdrill.
'08 DSS 07

This Skilzdrill will be a full day of instruction. At day's end we will be in the middle of a great area for practicing what you've learned, or just cruising fire roads. What is more, there are some great hot springs nearby. You may want to stick around for a short afternoon ride, or a relaxing dip after a hard day of drills (if so, bring a small towel & a suit / shorts). As on our other ride series, an early group dinner at a restaurant on the way home is a possibility as well.

DSS 01 - Fundamentals

2010-11-01T18:44:00.001-07:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Dual Sport Skillzdrill, full day
11 February, 8:00 am
BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
email EarthRider

In association with BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County, EarthRider's Skilzdrill Series is off and rolling!

These classes stand alone; feel free to join whichever of them tickle your fancy. However, This series profectus in totum gives you the opportunity to spend six months becoming a highly competent adventure motorcycle rider, learning by gaining exposure - in a series of manageable steps - to a vast array of riding skills presented via pertinent drills & real-world scenarios, and (this is the best part) by doing your homework in between classes! ["Sorry honey, I have to go out & ride today..."] There will be two classes each month, generally on one weekend. Saturday classes will meet at BMWVC; Sunday classes will meet in the field, giving us more time fer schoolin'.

This first class assumes you have street riding experience, and little or no experience riding off pavement. We will begin by covering how to set up your bike’s controls for riding off pavement. Then, over the course of a day’s excursion both on and off pavement, we will study turning basics, discuss and practice the fundamentals of standing riding position, and introduce counterbalancing. These are KEY skills for dual sport riding, especially with bigger bikes. This is a great opportunity to build a strong skill base for future riding, or to brush up on the basics.

I can’t over-stress it; you can NEVER work too much on these fundamentals. All future rides in the Skilzdrill series -- not to mention every ride you ever embark on -- will refer back to what we learn today. To put it another way, if you are familiar with seven different ways to instigate a turn on a motorcycle, this class might not have anything to offer you - but i doubt it.

If 10% of the world's roads are paved, this class opens the gate between you and the other 90% of the world's roads. Class size will be limited to 12 riders. Expect a full day of instruction and a lot of personal attention.

’10 ADR 10/23 - R2 - The "Shop Ride" Series Renews

2010-10-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

TRY A LITTLE GELÄNDE WITH THAT STRAßE.

What
When
Where
More Info

Dualsport Ride, R2, partial day
Meet Saturday, 23 October, 7:30 AM
Meet @ It's A Grind Coffeehouse, Moorpark, CA
email EarthRider

Registration:

Going, going, gone. Transitioning
from pavement to dirt.

You might be using more than 10% of your brain, but if you’re an obligate slab rider, you and your GS are only using 10% of the roads available to you!

EarthRider no longer leads the BMW of Ventura County shop GS rides, but as promised, on October 23rd the long running series of increasingly challenging rides begins its final permutation, with a short-day ride designed to introduce novice adventure bike riders to the other 90% of roads available to us – the unpaved ones. Our scenic Ventura County back road ride will carry us over increasingly deteriorated paving until finally, there just isn’t any left.

The unpaved terrain on this ride is rated 2 (r2) on a scale of 1-9: R1 & easy R2 riding, with one or two slightly more challenging sections of about 20-200 feet in length; just enough to get you curious about what you and your GS are really capable of. All riders are welcome; riders with a modicum of gelände experience are welcome to bring passengers. More experienced riders will be able to up the ride rating for themselves on this out-and-back trip by getting out in front and applying judicious throttle control.

You may want a camera & some snacks; our Los Padres mountains turnaround point affords the opportunity for a short hike, or lounging & chit chat, and possibly a condor sighting. Likewise, break time is a great time for novice riders to pick the brains of the more experienced; if you have questions about off-pavement technique, always feel free to ask the ride leader!

The reg fee for all three rides in this last "shop ride" style series will remain at the discounted shop ride price.

"Nothing personal, but, just die, okay?" Gymnogyps californianus: Patient bird, horrible breath.

RIDE ROSTER

Jerome Smith
BMW F800GS

Gary D'Amico
BMW X-Challenge

Favourite Things

2010-06-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on windscreens and camp booze from Britain;
Bright copper wiring in warm riding mittens;
Dirt roads to nowhere and all that they bring --
These are a few of my favorite things!

This section is devoted to items that make the adventure rider's life just a little more worth living.
Click on the image to read more about each.

[More Soon]

Favourite Things - Ride-On Tire Sealant

2010-06-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

Crashing on the shoulder in Sunday
Vegas return traffic was extremely
lousy. Patching in the median was
merely unpleasant.

Having front flatted in the fast lane on I-15, and once while carrying a passenger and overnight gear, I strongly value anything that helps maintain tire pressure. Off pavement, a big bike will sometimes let you know your front tire is losing pressure by suddenly rolling over on its side in the dirt; nice to avoid that if possible.

Tire sealant, then, is a no-brainer, even with all the attendant draw-backs. As it happens, Ride-On doesn't have any drawbacks, that I can think of. What sucks about tire sealants? They make a hideous mess and throw your tires out of balance in the process, right? Or they cause corrosion. Or they're flammable, so you're riding around wondering if somehow a spark is going to launch you into the air when your tire explodes. Maybe that's an adventure-enhancer for some... I figure, once you've got a hole in your tire and you're 3/4 of a tank from nowhere, you don't really need an adventure enhancer.

Ride-On is non-flammable, non-corrosive, & fully biodegradable -- so if for some strange reason you want to clean it out of your tire, you can just hose it away. It contains fibers six times stronger than steel -- that's what helps plug the holes.

Its up to 95% effective in sealing multiple punctures in the crown of pneumatic tires -- that goes down as low as about 55% for tube tires (cuz sometimes tubes get torn instead of punctured), which is still twice as good as running without: I'm in.

It balances wheels without the need of traditional lead weights -- this is very cool: Not only do you not need to have new tires balanced, but you don't have to have lead on your rims, where it can fly off and crack your riding buddy's windscreen, or get eaten by your kids, or whatever. So not only is the product biodegradable, but it decreases our use of other toxic stuff too.

Ride-On might have saved us about
THREE HOURS of patching & re-
patching during the one-bike-
multiple-flat epic of '09 ADR 09/05.

How R-O actually balances a tire is probably an interesting paper for some enterprizing physicist. My understanding is that something about how the product flows pushes more of the product to where the spinning mass is lighter. The other important bit is that it doesn't lose it's flow behaviour like most sealants do, over the ammount of time you'll have the tire. So your tire gets more accurately balanced, dynamically, and self-adjusts over time. Which is to say, you could see an increase in mileage, or decrease in tire wear. Worth a try.

Ride-On treated tires maintain their set pressure up to 5 times longer than a tire without sealant -- another reason your ride might run more efficiently. Ride-On gives some test numbers: 1-3% better gas mileage, tire wear taking 15%-25% longer. This can also be a safety issue - riding at correct pressure is safer for cornering & braking, so anything that helps you maintain the correct pressure longer is a good thing.

The other side of the coin: Ride-On can be tricky to get hold of. Lately, I've seen more shops begin to carry it - either in bottles, or in the service department, where you can have the shop install it when they install your tires. Locally, BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County (805.499.3770) carries it, currently in the service department.

Click this image to go to the Ride-On website's Retail Store Locator:

[Return to Favourite Things Roster]

’10 ADR 10/30 – Cuyama Valley - R6

2010-05-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Adventure Day Ride, full day
30 October, 7:30 am
Ojai Coffee Roasters, Ojai, CA
email EarthRider

The Highway 33 corridor & Cuyama Valley area offer a plethora of seldom-used out-&-back riding opportunities. We will encounter a variety of terrain during our day of exploration in this wide remote valley & surrounding mountains. The flexible, repeated out-&-back layout of our route provides much opportunity to adjust the level of challenge of the ride; R6 is an option, rather than a requirement. Bring lunch to have on the trail, or contact ER about having lunch provided.

RIDE ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
ER - '10 Spring Mojave 3-Day

KTM 950 Superenduro

Mark "Duffy" Morong
VCARS - '10 ADR 01/09BMW F650GS

’10 ADR 06/26 – Narrow Gauge - R6

2010-03-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Adventure Day Ride, full day
26 June, 8:00 am
Starbucks, Castaic, CA
email EarthRider

Get ready for another beautiful day out in the hills! We’ll be aiming for narrow - but not straight – remote routes for this month’s exploration of the local mountains. June in southern Cali’s back forty is not to be missed; Spring will linger into early summer after this year's long rainy season. Bring your camera, and some snacks to tide you over until our restaurant lunch stop in Frazier Park.

RIDE ROSTER

Mark Levy

Neil Reynolds
VCARS '10 ADR 06/12

BMW R1200GS

'10 DSO 4/30-5/2 - Mojave 3-Day

2010-03-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

What
When
More Info

Dual Sport Overnight, 3 Days
30 April - 02 May
email EarthRider

Gallivant -
intr.v., -vant·ed, also -vant·ed, -vant·ing, -vant·ing, -vants, -vants.
To roam about in search of pleasure or amusement.

The slower you ride,
the more you see.

Spring is the ideal time for gallivanting around the Mojave desert. Fine weather, epic horizon lines, overwhelming floral surprises hidden among the rocks, long roads begging to be ridden and numberless reasons to stop along the way.

Rustic comfort.

Our trip will begin near the western edge of the Mojave. Be ready to ride; Friday's "commute" to our weekend home away from home will be a minor epic in itself. Our nights will be spent in rustic tent-cabins in a remote, isolated, one-dog “town”… Picture a lonesome desert train line through a tiny oasis of buildings ... add a hot tub and showers and a coyote overlooking it from a nearby hill and you get the picture. Saturday will consist of a long exploratory loop, bringing us back to camp at day's end. Sunday will be a leisurely, loosely structured return to our starting point.

The ability to ride in sand
is a necessity.

This excursion will require intermediate dual sport skill level. Beyond the fitness level needed for long days in the saddle on unpaved terrain, the primary challenge we will encounter is sand in various forms. If you want to come on this ride and are concerned about your sand handling capabilities, contact Earthrider about the possibility of setting up a pre-ride group or individual sand clinic.

Rock collection unnecessary.

As with all DS Overnights, we aim to travel light, at a steady pace. You will need very little more than you bring on a typical day ride: As well as the few personal items you need for a night decidedly OFF the town, add a sleeping bag to your usual day ride kit. Riders will be responsible for their own meals, which will take the form of flexibly arranged group restaurant stops, “brown-bag” on-the-trail lunches, and completely unregulated between-meal snacking! Most riders find a tail bag to be sufficient for their packing needs, although saddlebags are acceptable. New to motorbike overnights? Contact EarthRider with any questions you have about gear and packing.

Included:
- Pre-ride packing guidance
- Route planning, logistics
- Guided riding at all times
- All camping fees
- GPS tracks if desired. Note: you do not need a gps or a roll chart for this ride!

[Contact ER for further camping equipment suggestions / rentals – or with any questions you have.]

RIDE ROSTER

Greg "ILean" Drevenstedt
VCARS - '10 ADR 01/09

Kawasaki KLR 650

Paul "Captain America" Beck
'09 DSS04 03/02

BMW R1200GS

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
VCARS - '10 ADR 03/13

KTM 950 SuperEnduro

Mark "Duffy" Morong
VCARS - '10 ADR 01/09

BMW F650GS

Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
'10 ADR 02/27

BMW X-Challenge

Wayne "Crazyhorse" Tidwell
VCARS - '10 ADR 03/13

BMW R1200GSA

'10 ADR 03/27 - R7

2010-03-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Adventure Day Ride, full day
27 March, 7:30 am
Starbucks, Castaic, CA
email EarthRider

Let's do lunch. Somewhere out of town... some uphill, some downhill, some single-track, how about a turn or two, and some nice scenery (for a change)! We'll take advantage of some ridgeline routes to take in March's rolling green hills. There will be one late lunch / early dinner restaurant stop - bring snacks to carry you through. R7 due to one hard R7 uphill section; an optional go-around leaves the ride on the easy side of R6.

RIDE ROSTER

Greg "ILean" Drevenstedt
VCARS - '09 ADR 11/07
Kawasaki KLR 650

Andrew Wheelright
ER - '09 DSS 03/28
BMW F650GS Dakar

'10 ADR 02/27 - R6 - Rockfront - NOT (See text)

2010-01-14T21:04:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Adventure Day Ride, full day
27 February, 7:30 am
Starbucks, Castaic, CA
email EarthRider

LAST MINUTE UPDATE
Due to area closure, this ride will take place somewhere else entirely. The meeting site info above
has been updated; the adventure begins when you leave your garage & head for CASTAIC, CA,
not Ojai...

Rugged & beautiful country

Better drag the anchor

We’re off to explore a riding area that will be new even to most of the EarthRider regulars; Rockfront Ranch. Far down Cuyama Valley, this area offers a variety of trails in an enclosed group of valleys. Make sure you brakes are in order; many of the roads are – engagingly steep!

Angie Deubel managing
her Rockfront hairpins

Getting there will be half the fun – and the third half of the fun may be getting back! There are a variety of unpaved routes between hither & thither, with far more great riding available for the day than we will have time for. We will flex our route a bit to best achieve the greater good – whatever that may turn out to be.

No restaurants in the backcountry! Byo lunch, or have Chef Rachel prepare something for you:

House-Roasted Turkey
brined & roasted turkey breast, balsamic roasted peppers,
red onion marmalade, local wild arugula & herbed mayonnaise
~or ~
Veggie
balsamic roasted local portabellas, eggplant, local Tahitian squash
& red peppers with our from-scratch hummus & house-made chimichurri
~or ~
BLTA
thick cut sustainably raised apple wood smoked bacon,
Hollandia lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, avocado, and herbed mayonnaise

All options include a locally grown apple, & a homemade cookie for dessert.

Special diets happily accommodated. If you would like lunch prepared for you,
please let us know by 25 February.

ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
'09 ADR 11/28KTM 990 Superenduro

Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
VCARS - '10 ADR 02/13
BMW X-Challenge

Paul "Captain America" Beck
ER - '08 DSO 12/05
BMW R1200GS

Darrel "Daz" Byard
VCARS - '10 ADR 02/13
BMW R1200GS

'10 ADR 02/06 - R6-9 - Divide Peak

2009-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
More Info

Adventure Day Ride, full day
06 February, 7:30 am
Savory Cafe, Ventura, CA
EarthRider

[Note: This ride has been downgraded from R7 to R6 in light of new trail info. However - this info came BEFORE the recent heavy rains, which may have again changed trail conditions.]

Walking up an R7 section
of the R9 trail

Riders on "Observation Ridge"

By request, a "more challenging the better" ADR! This ride offers some of the most challenging terrain of any EarthRider ride. Let's face it - some riders think riding up what amounts to a narrow, rutted, rock-strewn dry waterfall is fun. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, maybe this is: An R6 go-around provides sane riders with a grand view of those who choose a route better left to rock climbers - from the safety of the next ridgeline! If R9 sounds like something you'd like to watch, rather than ride, this ride is your opportunity.

The ridgeline includes several steep
and rocky climbs & descents

Having regrouped after the show, we will follow an epic & exposed high ridgeline out & back, generally easy intermediate riding with a few short sections as challenging as R6. As this is an out-&-back section, riders again have a "go-around" option - simply to stop, enjoy the ridgeline scenery (mountains to one side, the Pacific on the other), and wait for the return of the main group. Afterwards, we are in a great position to take advantage of some breezy sections of R3-4 riding through the oak forests of the Los Padres.

No restaurants in the backcountry! Byo lunch, or have Chef Rachel prepare a sandwich lunch for you:

Special diets happily accommodated. If you would like lunch prepared for you,
please let us know by 28 January.

ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
'09 DSO 05/25 - Mojave 3-DayKTM 990 SuperEnduro

EarthRider Media - Past Ride Photos, Video, Recaps

2009-11-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

'08 ADR 10/05
Castaic-Mojave-Santa Clarita

'08 DSO 12/05
Mojave Road... & Then Some

'08 DSS01 11/15
Fundamentals

EarthRider
Blake "Towstrap" Hill
Wayne Tidwell

EarthRider
Paul "Capt. America" Beck
Photos & Videos
Steve "Rudolph" DeCosta

Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier

'09 DSS02 01/17
Focus on Counterbalancing

'09 DSS03 01/31
Sand Is Not My Foe

'09 DSS03b 02/21
Sand Is Not My Foe

'09 DSS04 03/28
Downhill

'09 DSS05 04/26
Clutch/Throttle/Brake

'09 DSO 05/23
3rd Biannual Mojave 3-Day

'09 DSS06 06/20
Tire Lofting

'09 DSS07 08/29
Counterbalancing Redux

'09 ADR 09/19 - R7
NE Los Padres Loop

'09 DSS08 10/10
Backing In

'09 DSS 09 11/21
Uphill

'09 ADR 11/28 - R6
The Carrizo Area

'09 DSS10 12/19
Backing Out

EarthRider
Bob Trousdale

EarthRider

Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier
EarthRider

Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier
EarthRider
Videos
Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier
Terry Eannetta (#s 30-32, 39, 45-50)

EarthRider

EarthRider
Blake "Towstrap" Hill
Steve "Rudolph" DeCosta

Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier

EarthRider

EarthRider
Wayne "Crazyhorse" Tidwell
Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
Videos
Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph

EarthRider
Paul "Capt. America" Beck (p&v)

EarthRider

EarthRider
Blake "Towstrap" Hill
Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
Paul "Capt. America" Beck

Neil Reynolds

RIDE PHOTOS

'10 ADR 02/06 R7-9 - Bruce Gillies

'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - EarthRider
'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - Darrel "Daz" Byard
'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph

'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - EarthRider
'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - Rider Magazine

'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - EarthRider

'10 DSO 04/30 - EarthRider
'10 DSO 04/30 - Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
'10 DSO 04/30 - Paul "Capt. America" Beck
'10 DSO 04/30 - Blake "Towstrap" Hill

'10 DSS01 12/04 - Fundamentals - Todd Jeffries

RIDE VIDEOS

'10 ADR 02/27 R6 - EarthRider

'10 DSO 04/30 - Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
'10 DSO 04/30 - Blake "Towstrap" Hill

'09 ADR 11/28 - R6 - The Carrizo Area - Intro

2009-11-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact

Adventure Day Ride, full day
28 November, 7:30 am
Ojai Coffee Roasting Co.
EarthRider
[Visual Media]

Registration

An appealing ridgeline

Looking to get out in the fresh Autumn air & work off some of Thanksgiving's waistline memorabilia? This ride will get your blood pumping - for a seriously full day!

Open spaces beckon

Imagine the November BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County shop ride on steroids. All the scenery (and more), twice the average speed, and three times the challenge, is a rough approximation. For those of you who desire a basis of comparison – our last ER ADR (09/19) was rated R7. This ride is basically R5, with a few short “eye-openers” earning it an R6 rating. If you are a BMW shop ride veteran who is comfortable with the shop R4 rides, this is a great next step.

Getting there & back is half the fun

Primary challenges consist of ascents & descents, and rough road. Accessing views that can reach across the entire central valley to the Sierras, or far into the coastal ranges, rising to the challenge is well worth the effort!

This will be a long day. Lunch will be in the middle of nowhere as usual; byo, or have Chef Rachel prepare something for you:

H & C
Ham & Swiss cheese with lettuce, tomato, & Dijon mustard on a croissant
~or ~
Veggie
Grilled vegetable sandwich with hummus, chimichurri, $ roasted vegetables on a baguette
~or ~
Roasted Turkey Sandwich
House Roasted Turkey, roasted red peppers, red onion marmalade & arugula with herbed mayo on a baguette

All options include a locally grown apple, & a homemade cookie for dessert.

Special diets happily accommodated. If you would like lunch prepared for you, please let us know by 26 November.

Soda Lake, Carrizo Plain National Monument

ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
The "Honey, Hand Me the Remote" GSA Tour

BMW R1200GSA

Peter Neuper
'09 ADR 08/01

BMW HP-2

Paul "Captain America" Beck
'09 DSS04 03/28

BMW R1200GS

Kurtis "Slick" Heidolph
'09 ADR 11/07

BMW F800GS

'09 DSS10 - 12/19 - Backing Out

2009-09-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee

Dualsport Skilzdrill, Partial day
19 December, 7:30 AM
Moonlight Donuts, Fillmore, CA
EarthRider
$50.00

Being able to steer with the rear is a lot of fun on any bike, and an invaluable skill for riders of big adventure bikes. During this short day of drills, we will work toward using throttle-induced rear tire traction loss to facilitate sharp rapid turning on unpaved surfaces. Oh, sure, it’s fun – and more: On long rides or tours, by altering your average speed over winding, unpaved terrain, this technique can have significant effect on when you make it to camp, or how much mileage you can cover in a day. Not to mention the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you know what to do, should the rear tire break loose unexpectedly.

This Skilzdrill builds directly on counterbalancing – as so many do! Morning drills will provide review of more basic skills, leading stepwise to advanced techniques; the day will provide valuable material for riders of beginning skill level & beyond.

Class will finish up in the early afternoon (with options for continued group riding). Pack a middle-of-nowhere-&-MAN-I'm-hungry lunch, or have Main Course California do it for you -

Lunch menu options:

Ham & Cheese Croissant
with lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese & Dijon mustard.
~or ~
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
with hummus, chimichurri, & roasted vegetables on baguette.
~or ~
Roasted Turkey Sandwich
House Roasted Turkey, roasted red peppers, red onion marmalade &
arugula with herbed mayonnaise on baguette.

All options include a locally grown apple, homemade cookie for desert. Special diets happily accommodated. If you would like lunch prepared for you, please let us know by 19 November.

ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
'09 DSO 05/25BMW R1200GSA

Neil Reynolds
VCARS - '09 ADR 09/05"Dear lord, let this tire repair end one day..."
BMW R1200GS

John Voorhis
'09 ADR 12/05BMW R1200GS

Robert Torbet
Kawasaki KLR 650

Andrew Wheelwright
'09 DSS04 03/28 - DownhillBMW F650GS Dakar

Matt Austin
VCARS - '09 ADR 12/05 - R3Kawasaki KLR650

Moss Rosen
VCARS - '09 ADR 12/05 - R3BMW R1150GS

'09 DSS09 - 11/21 - Uphill - Introduction

2009-09-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS09 11/21 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, Partial day
21 November, 7:30 AM
Starbucks, SANTA CLARITA, CA
EarthRider
$50.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Visual Media]

Confidence & assertive riding are
key to successful hill climbing.
[Terry Eannetta, DSR 12]

Sometimes a climb doesn't go exactly
as expected; contingency plans rule!
[Doug Ford, DSR 08]

Finally, we get to go charging up all those hills we went down during the Downhill Skilzdrill! The noise! The power! The flying dirt!

Or not. Oftentimes, and especially on the bigger bikes, successful hill climbing requires less throttle than it does good line selection, contingency planning, and finesse with the controls we learned so much about during DSS 05. You’ll use your throttle in this class, yes. You’ll use your brain even more.

Lots of things can go wrong on a
climb; but life goes on! Learn what
to do next. [Don Gordon, DSR 03]

You get to choose whether this
trail looks intimidating, or fun!

We will start the day with introductory drills focusing on managing failed climb attempts – valuable skills to have! As the day progresses, we will encounter increasingly demanding hill scenarios, including hills that are steep, rutted, cambered, curving, bumpy, loose – or a pleasant mixture of several of those things!
This is not a rocket-launching expedition; our goal is to develop the skills necessary to complete challenging climbs in a controlled manner. When adventure riding, your rest at day’s end may well be a hundred miles beyond the intimidating hill you encounter at midday. The purpose of this class is to get you up it in one piece.

Class will finish up in the early afternoon (with options for continued group riding). Pack a middle-of-nowhere-&-MAN-I'm-hungry lunch, or have Main Course California* do it for you -

Lunch menu options:

All options include a locally grown apple, homemade cookie for desert. Special diets happily accommodated. If you would like lunch prepared for you, please let us know by 22 October.

*Recently voted Best Caterer in Ventura County, California!

ROSTER

Neil Reynolds

VCARS - '09 ADR 09/05BMW R1200GS

John Voorhis
VCARS - '09 ADR 11/07BMW R1200GS

'09 DSS08 - 10/10 - Backing In - Introduction

2009-09-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS08 10/10 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, Partial day
10 October, 7:30 AM
Moonlight Donuts, Fillmore, CA
EarthRider
$50.00 - repeat offenders, $30.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Visual Media]

This short(-er than usual...) day of drills will focus on off-pavement cornering – rear tire first. In manageable steps, we will work toward skidding into / around turns. Gaining confidence in your ability to execute this controlled cornering technique puts another valuable self-rescue skill under your belt. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun!

This Skilzdrill will be a valuable learning experience for riders of all levels of ability: Stopping your bike with the rear brake is a beginning skill, and ruddering your bike around corners is an advanced skill. We will work on both, and all the steps in between. Every rider chooses for him- or herself how many steps to work on.

Neil Reynolds, Backing In, 2008

Class is expected to end between 12:30 & 2:00 pm. There will be plenty of time for snacking, but a lunch break will not be scheduled. There will be an optional after-class late lunch get-together in Fillmore.

'09 ADR 09/19 - R7 - NE Los Padres Loop - Roster

2009-08-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
'09 ADR 09/19 Pages

Adventure Day Ride, full day
19 September, 8:00 am
Ojai Coffee Roasting Co.
EarthRider
[Intro] [Roster] [Visual Media]

Registration

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
ER - '09 DSO 05/23
BMW R1200GSA

Dan Genter
VCARS - '09 ADR 07/11BMW R1200GS

Steve DeCosta
VCARS '09 ADR 09/05KTM 690 Enduro

Wayne Tidwell
'08 ADR 10/05BMW R1200GSA

Terry "FUBAR" Eannetta
'08 DSS04 - 03/28Suzuki DR650

Chun Lai
'09 DSS07 - 08/29BMW R1200GS

Kurtis Heidolph
VCARS - '09 ADR 07/11BMW F800GS

Greg Drevenstedt
'09 DSS07 - 08/29
Surprise us. Again.

'09 ADR 09/19 - R7 - NE Los Padres Loop - Intro

2009-08-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
'09 ADR 09/19 Pages

Adventure Day Ride, full day
19 September, 8:00 am
Ojai Coffee Roasting Co.
EarthRider
[Intro] [Roster] [Visual Media]

Registration

Morning in the grasslands

Get ready for a grand adventure day ride! Freeways, Jeep trails. Highways, single-track. Mountain roads, canyon trails. Our route takes us around a huge section of the Los Padres National Forest, both along high ridgelines, and down into narrow valleys. Gorgeous scenery!

Midday forest trails

This ride is generally intermediate in nature, with two short sections that earn it a slightly higher R7 rating. (both sections have go-arounds). Primary challenges will involve steep terrain & single track. Intermediate / advanced riders should get a lot of enjoyment out of the chosen terrain, and remember, EarthRider is about helping you improve your riding:

Afternoon on the blacksnake's back

If you think you are on the cusp of intermediate riding, contact us to discuss whether or not this ride is appropriate for your skill level. This may be an opportunity to test your ability in the company of our supportive regular ridership.

There will be a mid-day restaurant lunch stop and, as always, an optional dinner stop as well, before we break up & head homeward.

The EarthRider Trail Rating System

2009-05-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

A work in progress, this rating system applies only to the unpaved sections of our rides. Any rating system by it’s nature is quite subjective. Different riders excel at different aspects of riding: What is easy for one rider may be nearly impossible for another, who in turn may be capable of other nifty riding tricks the original rider can only dream of. Furthermore, simply changing speed on a given section of trail can radically change how difficult it is to keep the metal bits from touching the ground. Weather alone has changed an R2 ride into an R8.

These ratings are for riding a certain terrain competently -- not for simply being able to "get through". For example: Recently wetted, compacted clay forms a thin, slick top layer that is extremely difficult to ride on. The dense drier clay below prevents knobbies from biting well, and the slippery top layer seems to repel rubber and attract handlebars. Roughly R8, a competent R2 rider can usually muddle through with feet down, or using other Jedi Adventure Rider tricks to be discussed elsewhere. The take-home lesson is, an Rx rider is one who can ride Rx, feet on the pegs, with consistency. The other take-home lesson is, Rx riders may well be able to find their way through R(x+3) or (x+4) terrain. In fact, it behooves any rider desiring to improve at riding to do just that, from time to time: An R3 rider who never rides R4 is unlikely to wake up one day and find they are a competent R4 rider!

Remember; EarthRider is primarily about skill-building. Riding classes are obvious learning opportunities. You are encouraged to treat day rides the same way: Certainly you should register for rides within your level of ability; they're fun! And, when you want to increase your level of ability, you should confidently sign up for day rides one or two levels above your ability knowing full well that such is expected and encouraged.

The R1-9 rating system is exemplified as follows:

John Clark, BMW R1150GSIt is almost impossible to find an unpaved road of any
significant length without at least one R2+ section.

Phil Wren, BMW F650Pavement... without the pavement.

Many backcountry roads are mostly R2 - but virtually no backcountry roads are exclusively R2!

Arne Anselm, BMW R100GSR1 with substantial loose surface material
or line restrictions.

Doug Ford, BMW F650GS DakarR1 with mild inclines / curves.

Rachel Main, Kawasaki Super Sherpa,
Eric Wetherbee, Suzuki DR650Smooth single-track with minimal obstacles
and fairly open turns.

Nick Sinclair, Suzuki DL650 V-Strom,
Jerome Smith, BMW F800GSSlightly loose terrain with whoop-de-doos.

The road Jim is riding below is sustained rockiness for at least a mile or two. That isn't too common, but almost any backcountry road is going to have short R4 sections. They take the form of sloping corners with water ruts; steep inclines with loose soil; rockfall on the trail from the upslope side of the road-cut; gravel in sharp off-camber turns... or a myriad other forms. It is almost a guarantee that any given fire road will have at least a few sections of R3-R4 riding - or harder - which makes this a valuable level of riding ability! R4 terrain can look very intimidating to a novice, but given a little training and practice, it is well within most riders' ability.

Jim Janssen, KTM 950 AdventureSignificantly rocky terrain requiring at least
a modicum of concern for line selection.

Blake "Towstrap" Hill, BMW R1200GSA,
Laura Smith, Honda CRF230L

Narrow single-track with obstacles requiring
at least minimal course adjustment, or with
turns / inclines that are "somewhat"
steep / sharp (end of vid approaches R5).

R5 is a crucial level of ability. At this level, a rider can maneouver his / her bike around / through / over at least minor obstacles (R4), and -- most crucially -- can ride in sand. If 90% of the world's roads are unpaved, perhaps 75% of those unpaved roads are sandy. This can't be stressed enough: The ability to ride in sand makes vast unpaved riding options available to you -- especially here in southern California. Every burgeoning adventure rider would do well to make sand riding competency (dogpaddling is not the same as riding!) one of their primary goals.

Dan "Lunchtime" Taylor, Suzuki DRZ400, Don
"So Cool" Gordon, BMW R1200GS, Paul "Captain
America" Beck, BMW R1200GSExtensive shallow sand with slight curves.
This level of ability makes a huge amount of terrain
available to you.

Calvin Morrison, KTM 950 Adventure,
Naor Post, Kawasaki KLX 650Narrow, slightly rough / curvy single-track
also requiring strict line control.

Wayne "Crazyhorse" Tidwell, BMW R1200GSASix+ inches of snow on R2 or R3.

Chris Craig, BMW R100, Bruce Schubert, BMW R1200GSExtensive mid-depth sand / shallow but FINE
sand, with turns.

Peter Neuper, BMW R1200GSA, Neil Reynolds, Honda
XR650L, Steve "Rudolph" DeCosta, KTM 690 EnduroShort sections of steep terrain with obstacles both loose
& embeded, as well as curves & / or limited viable lines.

"Dak the Daring" (no rider in shot)Curving single-track with obstacles, steep enough
to warrant the addition of concrete pavers (without
the pavers, R8 or more).

"Rudolph", "Captain America", Bruce Schubert, "So Cool"Clay-based mud often over hard-pack (dogpaddling it
may not be too hard; RIDING it is about R8).

Terry "FUBAR" Eannetta, KTM 950 AdventureCrossing trackless, obstacle-infested (but more or less flat)
wastes (rating decreases the more you get to use your feet).

Hark back to the introduction to this rating system above. Note that Tony, miracle-worker that he is, is not riding R9; he's "getting through". An R9 rider would run this entire section without putting a foot out, or perhaps with a quick unassisted toe-tap or two. Yes, even on a big adventure bike like Tony's.

Tony Lovegren, KTM 950 Adventure

Riding R9 isn't something many riders want to do - at least, not on their adventure bikes! However, having the ability to at least work through such terrain is more valuable than one might think. As you begin to do more adventure riding, you will inevitably discover that dirt roads are like rock climbs; they usually have cruxes.

In rock climbing, the crux is the hardest move of the climb; it's where many climbers fall, and only the most skilled climbers manage the section and continue through the easier climbing beyond until they reach the top.

In our world, this can look like 70 beautiful miles of R4-5 riding, very remote, with very few escape routes to highways ... and with 200 yards of R7 rockiness at a saddle in the middle somewhere. Suddenly a brilliant 70 mile ride from point A to point B is a 35 mile dead end for anybody who can't at least muddle through R7. The Goler Wash approach to Death Valley is a poignant example of this common phenomenon.

An EarthRider axiom is; be a better rider than you need to be to ride the terrain you want to ride. Let the biggest challenge be the border-crossing paperwork; build & maintain the skills that allow the terrain to be the least of your worries.

Ride Slideshow: '09 DSO 05/23 - Mojave 3-Day

2009-05-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 13 May)
'09 DSO 01 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
23-25 May (Friday-Sunday)
EarthRider
$225.00
$255.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

The first half of the slideshow are photos taken while researching our route for this Spring. The second half are from the actual ride. Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download.

'09 DSO 05/23

Here is a (staggeringly non-high quality) 2.5 minute video sampling of roads, tracks & trails from the pre-run planning of this Overnight:

Ride Slideshow: '09 DSS 05 - Clutch/Throttle/Brake

2009-04-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 05 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
26 April, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download. Images with thick borders all the way round are actually thumbnails for videos - click on them to open the video in a new page.

'09 DSS 05

'09 DSS 06 - Tire Lofting - Introduction

2009-04-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 06 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
20 June, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Keeping the front end out of a short
water crossing prevents it being
knocked about by unseen obstacles.
Don "So Cool" Gordon, DSR 04

In a way, this class is an extension of the previous one. Lofting the tire(s) is certainly a matter of simultaneous, synergistic control use. We will cover various ways to combine control inputs in different circumstances to achieve useful results.

When traction is key, & steering
less important, putting all the
weight on the rear wheel is helpful.
Eric Wetherbee, VCARS DST 01

What use, you ask? There are those who see tire lofting as frivolous at best, reckless and irresponsible at worst. Couldn’t agree more – or less: Wheelieing your GS down the freeway between lanes of stalled traffic, say… let’s just call that less than wise. On the other hand, as a safety tool, the ability to loft the tire when off pavement can quite literally be a life saving skill.* Armed with the solid ability to escape danger with CVTMS (controlled vertical tire maneouvering skills), you will eventually find yourself skipping across the backcountry, free to leap the front end from high point to high point, not only to ease up on the shocks a bit, but for – let’s face it – the sheer frivolity of it.

Meet Wayne Tidwell & his frivolous
flying pig! VCARS ADR 02

Join us for yet another fun, educational day. Who knows – we may even get a short ride in edgewise…

In this direction, the washout is
almost invisible. Coming upon such
an obstacle unawares could spell
disaster. A quick front tire loft could
easily save man & machine. Steve
DeCosta, 2nd Biannual Mojave Ride

*All frivolity aside: Besides being fun, situations can arise in which the ability to loft the tire(s) can spare a rider costly repair shop and hospital bills. A tire loft in an emergency can be a pearl of great price, yet many people are intimidated by the idea of removing even one of their motorcycle’s tires from the earth. This is the class for you!

Lunch menu options:

Ham & Cheese
Thick-sliced ham, dijon mustard & Swiss Cheese with Lettuce & Tomato
~or ~
BLTA
Apple-wood smoked bacon, local lettuce, sun dried tomatoes & avocado
with herbed mayo
~or ~
Roasted Turkey Sandwich
House Roasted Turkey, roasted red peppers, red onion marmalade &
arugula with herbed mayo

Please specify whether you want your sandwich on a baguette or croissant.
All options include a Home Made Cookie & Farmer's Market Apple.

'09 DSS 05 - Clutch/Throttle/Brake - Introduction

2009-04-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 05 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
26 April, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Single tracks often require
simultaneous use of controls.
Toney Lovegren, VCARS DSR 12

Learn how to use the controls to add
stability on slow, sharp corners.
Angie Deubel, VCARS DSO 01

Morning drills & discussion will be followed in the afternoon with real world application in an instructional environment: With our newfound techniques in mind, we will analyze lengths of challenging terrain as a group, developing and implementing riding strategies trail section by trail section. A little bit of “recess” riding will provide a fun finish for our day.

Our class day riding area

We've encountered more dangerous
relatives of this fellow in the area...

VCARS riders take note; the skills we practice during DSS 05 will come in extremely handy during ADR 07!

Lunch Menu Options:

Ham & Cheese Croissant
Thick-sliced ham, dijon mustard & Swiss Cheese with Lettuce & Tomato
~or ~
BLTA
Apple-wood smoked bacon, local lettuce, sun dried tomatoes & avocado
with herbed mayo on a baguette
~or ~
Roasted Turkey Sandwich
House Roasted Turkey, roasted red peppers, red onion marmalade &
arugula with herbed mayo on a baguette

All options include a Home Made Power Bar & Farmer's Market Apple

Ride Slideshow: '09 DSS 04 - Downhill

2009-03-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 04 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
28 March, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

'09 DSS 04

'09 DSO 05/23 - 3rd Biannual Mojave 3-Day - Roster

2009-03-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 13 May)
'09 DSO 01 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
23-25 May (Saturday - Monday)
EarthRider
$225.00
$255.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
ER - '09 DSS 03
BMW R1200GSA

Steve DeCosta
'08 DSO 12/05
KTM 690 Enduro

Don "So Cool" Gordon
'08 DSS 03
BMW R1200GS

Paul "Captain America" Beck
'08 ADR 07

BMW R1200GS

'09 DSO 05/23 - 3rd Biannual Mojave 3-Day - Introduction

2009-03-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 13 May)
'09 DSO 01 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
23-25 May (Saturday - Monday)
EarthRider
$225.00
$255.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

A sandy get-off provides one rider
an excuse to wander off and
smell the flowers.

Spring is here; time to go ride through the flowerbed again!

"One thing we can say about the
~~Fire Swamp~~ Mojave Desert; it
certainly keeps you on your toes."

What began a year ago as a weekend dual sport ride of the Mojave Road has morphed into a challenging and fun three-day desert camping tour. This spring we will cover a portion of our winter route, as well as new terrain, where we will meet familiar challenges… in unfamiliar scenery!

Camp 1, getting ready for
the breakfast run.

Our trip will start at a soon-to-be-disclosed west Mojave desert meeting site. Our route will – as always – be largely unpaved. Our first night we will be in a remote area with few amenities; we will be camping in the southern portion of Mojave National Preserve. Saturday we will bed down in rustic tent-cabins in the northern section, in a remote, isolated, one-dog “town”… and there will be hot tubs & showers!

Floating over the top of the
really loose stuff.

"All right; which one of you parked
your GS across my helicopter
skids? I'm late for patrol."
Three hands shoot up.
[Typical lunch stop...]

As with all DS Overnights, we aim to travel light, at a steady pace. You will need very little more than you bring on a typical day ride: As well as the few personal items you need for a night decidedly OFF the town, add a sleeping bag and pad to your usual day ride kit - tents are usually not necessary in late spring.* Riders will be responsible for their own meals, which will take the form of flexibly arranged group restaurant stops, “brown-bag” on-the-trail lunches, and completely unregulated between-meal snacking! Cookware, then, is unnecessary - most riders find a tail bag to be sufficient for their packing needs, although saddlebags are acceptable. New to motorbike overnights? Contact EarthRider with any questions you have about gear and packing.

Packing tactics - tailbag, sleeping
bag, & hydration pack on an
R1200GS; saddlebags, tailbag, &
tank bag on a DRZ400.

Included:
- Pre-ride packing guidance
- Inexpensive rental camping gear (small stock; ask early if interested)
- Route planning, logistics
- Guided riding at all times
- All camping fees
- GPS tracks if desired. Note: you do not need a gps or a roll chart for this ride!

*[Contact ER for further camping equipment suggestions / rentals – or with any questions you have.]

'09 DSS 04 - Downhill - Roster

2009-03-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 04 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
28 March, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Dan "Lunchtime" Taylor
[DSO 02 - The Mojave Road]
Kawasaki KLR 650 (er, not shown)

Neil Reynolds
'08 ADR 05
BMW R1200GS

Terry "FUBAR" Eannetta
'08 ADR 05b
Suzuki DR650

Frederic "Fredo" Charpentier
'09 DSS 03b
BMW R1200GS

Andrew Wheelwright
{No photo yet}
BMW F650GS Dakar

Paul "Captain America" Beck
'09 ADR 05b
BMW R1200GS

Michael Tarver
{No photo yet}
Aprilia Caponord

'09 DSS 04 - Downhill - Introduction

2009-03-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'09 DSS 04 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, 2/3 day
28 March, 8:00 AM
Starbucks Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!...”

John Rennel managing plenty of
momentum on grit-covered
hardpack. VCARS DST 03

Tired of making that sound all the way down descents that don’t really look all that bad… until suddenly, they are? Yes, the nice thing about descents is that if getting to the bottom is your goal, sooner or later you will succeed – one way or the other…

This class will focus on the “one way or the other” aspect of steep hill descent, with the goal of presenting options that don’t include the long, high-pitched, vowel-laden yell, or any ensuing visits to the parts department:

Sometimes the mountain wins a
round. Angie Deubel takes a
breather while Eric Wetherbee
looks on. VCARS DSR 07

“Hello, this is your local motorcycle shop, how may I direct your call?…”
“Post-descent trauma ward, please.”
“Just a moment… PARTS! Line one…”

Daniel Goldstein contemplating
his own mortality. VCARS DSR 07

Our primary aim is to show riders how to get heavy bikes safely down steep, varied terrain, using techniques that are appropriate for each rider's comfort and ability level. [If your bike doesn't say Mongoose, Trek, Diamond Back, or Schwinn on it anywhere, it's probably "heavy".]

Starting with drills on blessed flat ground, we will look at techniques that can help you get down steep hills, rock-strewn downgrades, slippery slopes, side-sloped descents, rutted declivities, and a host of other adjective-noun combinations that all mean the same thing: nightmarish downhill. You will have the opportunity to learn at your own pace, choosing, as the day progresses, just how challenging you want your hills to be!

Class time aside, this should be a great partial-day ride, especially if the flowers are still in bloom!

DSS 04 trailside flowers, 03/17/09.
[Click any image to enlarge.]

Lunch menu options:

Ham & Cheese Croissant
Thick-sliced ham, dijon mustard & Swiss Cheese with Lettuce & Tomato
~or ~
BLTA
Apple-wood smoked bacon, local lettuce, sun dried tomatoes & avocado
with herbed mayo on a baguette
~or ~
Roasted Turkey Sandwich
House Roasted Turkey, roasted red peppers, red onion marmalade &
arugula with herbed mayo on a baguette

All options include a Home Made Power Bar & Farmer's Market Apple

Ride Slideshow: '09 DSS 03 - Sand Is Not My Foe

2009-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Gourmet Lunch (Optional)
'09 DSS 03 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
31 Jan OR 21 Feb, 7:30 AM
Ojai Coffee Roasting Co.
EarthRider
$45.00
$13.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download.

'09 DSS 03

'09DSS 03b

Ride Slideshow: '09 DSS 02 - Focus on Counterbalancing

2009-01-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

What
When
Meet @
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Pre-packaged Lunch (Optional)
'09 DSS 02 Pages

Dualsport Skilzdrill, full day
17 January, 9:30 AM
Bad Ass Coffee Company, Ventura, CA
EarthRider
$45.00
$14.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Registration

Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download. Participant Bob Trousdale's images are included in this slideshow. Willing to share your online photo album? email the url!

Ride Slideshow: '08 DSO 12/05 - The Mojave Road... & Then Some

2008-12-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 21 Nov)
'08 DSO 12/05 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
05-07 December (Friday-Sunday)
EarthRider
$225.00
~~$255.00~~ No late Reg. Fee!
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download.

'08 DSO 12/05 - The Mojave Road - Roster

2008-11-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 21 Nov)
'08 DSO 12/05 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
05-07 December (Friday-Sunday)
EarthRider
$225.00
~~$255.00~~ No late Reg. Fee!
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Paul "Magic Boots" Beck
Where No Tourance Has Gone Before
BMW R1200GS

Steve DeCosta
DSO 02
BMW R1200GS

Bruce Schubert
BMW R1200GS

Don "So Cool" Gordon
Lost in Baja
BMW R1200GS

Chris Craig
'07 Adventure Rider's Challenge
BMW R100GS

'08 DSO 12/05 - The Mojave Road - Introduction

2008-10-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 21 Nov)
'08 DSO 12/05 Pages

Dualsport Overnight, 3 days, 2 nights
05-07 December (Friday-Sunday)
EarthRider
$225.00
~~$255.00~~ No Late Reg. Fee!
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Time to use up a day of sick leave, for we are riding the Mojave Road – the historic trail used by pioneers in covered wagons bound for Californ-eye-ay. This road is an unpaved track traversing remote desert terrain from near Bullhead City, AZ to Barstow, CA.

Taking a break
en route to the Mojave Road

We had way too much fun doing this ride last spring to wait 12 months before doing it again. Last time, getting to the Mojave Road was half the fun. This time, for an unprecedented total of 150% fun, getting back will be half the fun too: Once we leave the I-14 corridor, little more than 30% of our mileage will be paved.

ALL meals will be at local eateries en route with the possible exception of lunch on Day 2.

Friday night we will camp in the southern portion of Mojave National Preserve, and Saturday we will kinda-sorta camp, in tent-cabins in the northern section. Our first night we will be in a fairly “unimproved” area – on our second night… there will be hot tubs! As with all DS Overnights, we aim to travel light, at a steady pace. You will need to pack very little more than you bring on a typical day ride: As well as the few personal items you need for a night decidedly OFF the town, add a sleeping bag, pad, and small tent / tarp to your usual day ride kit (contact ER for camping equipment suggestions / rentals). Most riders find a tail bag to be sufficient, although saddlebags are acceptable.

The Mojave is full of surprises;
Bring a rock - leave a rock!

This excursion will require intermediate dual sport skill level. The primary – nearly the only – significant challenge we will encounter is sand in various forms. If you want to come on this ride and are concerned about your sand handling capabilities, contact Earthrider about the possibility of setting up a pre-ride group or individual sand clinic.

One of the more exciting aspects of this desert
ride is... the water!

Included:

- Pre-ride packing guidance
- Inexpensive rental camping gear (small stock; ask early if interested)
- Route planning, logistics
- Guided riding at all times
- All camping fees
- GPS tracks if desired. Note: you do not need a gps or a roll chart for this ride!

Contact EarthRider for more information or to register.

Ride Slideshow: '08DSR 10/05 - Castaic-Mojave-Santa Clarita

2008-10-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

What
When
Where
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'08DSR10/05 Pages

Dualsport Ride, full day
Meet Sunday, 05 Oct, 8:30 AM
Meet @ Starbuck's Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$40.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Click the image to start. During the slideshow, click any image to access a full size copy for viewing / download.

The Pacific Ridge Route - Act I: Baja Border to Sierra Pelona - Intro

2008-09-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

What
When
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
Late Reg (after 30 Oct)
PRR01 Pages

Dualsport Adventure Ride, 4 days
06-09 November (Thursday-Sunday)
EarthRider
$465.00
$495.00
[Intro] [Roster]

Facing north, your rear tire is up against a 10-foot tall metal wall crossing open, uninhabited country in the middle of nowhere. The Baja border. Releasing the clutch, you begin a four-day adventure, following the California high country north over mountain ridgeline trails, desert canyon runs, remote tracks through tall conifers, and gently winding dirt roads traversing high grassland. Well over half of your mileage will be off pavement.

This ride is the first in the Pacific Ridge Route Adventure Ride Series. Future rides in the series will increase in length / level of challenge. The completed series will take riders from California’s Baja Border to Canada. We will see vast expanses of some of the most breathtaking country in the west, building a host of adventure-riding skills along the way.

The Preparation – Riders will be carrying their own gear. Whereas saddlebags / hard luggage are an option, they are not a necessity. Gear requirements are minimal. During the included pre-ride planning meeting & dinner, we will discuss what & how to pack, and address other logistical questions you may have. Date & Location TBD. Don't want to wait for the meeting? Contact us any time with your questions!

The Riding – In planning this section of the PRR, the priorities in trail choice have been scenery and simplicity. Nonetheless, bear in mind that we will cover a lot of unpaved miles, traversing a variety of natural habitats – and the geology that comes with them! You will need some previous experience with unpaved riding. Knobbies are not a requirement, but will make short, more challenging sections that much easier.

Gas – Our route passes gas stations at all the right places. Not to worry.

Food – Breakfasts & Dinners are included, and will be at local restaurants en route. Riders should always carry snacks – we will spend long periods in the backcountry! Lunch is not included in the price of the ride, and will take place either on the trail or at restaurants.

Lodging – We pass far too many campsites on this ride not to take advantage of them. However, since this is just the first in a series of increasingly demanding adventure rides, we strove to create the most simple camping experiences as possible: Running water (& showers!) are available at all three chosen sites, and restaurants will be within walking distance on all but the first night. You will need only a sleeping bag & pad, and a means to keep dry if it rains – that could be a tent, or simply a waterproof tarp. Some rental equipment is available.

Itinerary:
Day 1 – 11:00AM - Meet in Rancho San Diego (group riding available from Ventura County)
Day 1 – San Diego – Baja Border – Anza Borrego Desert
Day 2 – Anza Borrego Desert – San Jacinto Mountains
Day 3 – San Jacinto Mountains – San Bernardino Mountains
Day 4 – San Bernardino Mountains – Sierra Pelona Mountains
Day 4 – Disband after dinner Sunday evening

Included:
- Pre-ride packing meeting & dinner
- Route planning, logistics
- Guided riding at all times
- Breakfast Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
- Dinner Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
- All camping fees
- GPS tracks if desired. Note: you do not need either a gps or a roll chart for this ride!

Don’t miss this first section of our epic Pacific Ridge Ride! As soon after winter as weather allows, we will resume our long mountain trek to the Canadian border.

The Pacific Ridge Route – Baja to Canada: An Epic Adventure In Four Acts

2008-09-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Where can you find an grand riding adventure covering thousands of miles of challenging, breathtaking, and remote terrain, without multiple expensive plane flights, worrisome motorcycle teardown and shipping, and an itinerary interrupted regularly by what can amount to literally days of time spent wheedling your way through border crossings, all while you recover from a host of prophylactic needlings which may or may not prevent you from contracting some exotic disease you can’t spell or pronounce?

Right here in California, Oregon, and Washington – covering some of the most diverse territory in North America.

Following the same general line as the Pacific Crest Trail, the Pacific Ridge Route will cover close to 3000 miles of desert valleys, alpine meadows, mountain highways, deciduous woodlands, temperate rainforests, and nearly every other type of habitat or terrain to be found along the high country of the pacific ridge between the two BCs; Baja California and British Columbia. At this stage only 20-30% of the route is paved. It is expected that once completely mapped out, pavement will cover less than half the route.

In many countries, much of what we would consider main roads are unpaved. Imagine the I-5 freeway as a thirty-foot wide dirt track from L.A. to Sacramento, and you get the idea. Such a road – even unpaved – allows fairly rapid travel, in most cases. Cut to the Pacific Ridge Route: Many of the unpaved sections of this route are narrow tracks hugging the curving topography of steep mountain ranges, or roving up, around, and down miles of empty foothills. No matter what the surface, this route is no freeway.

Tackling such a route in one go would be epic indeed. In keeping with EarthRider’s desire to provide riders the opportunity to build their adventure riding skills over time in manageable steps, our current plan is to divide the route into four separate rides of increasing length and level of challenge. The first section, a four-day ride from Baja California to the Sierra Pelona, is coming soon. The last section will be a 10-14 day adventure through some of the most breathtaking landscape of the pacific northwest.

Links to introductions for each section of the Pacific Ridge Route will be added below as they are brought to completion.

[Baja California to Sierra Pelona]

[Sierra Pelona to ___]

'08DSR 10/05: Castaic-Mojave-Santa Clarita - Introduction

2008-09-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

What
When
Where
Registration Contact
Registration Fee
'08DSR10/05 Pages

Dualsport Ride, full day
Meet Sunday, 05 Oct, 8:30 AM
Meet @ Starbuck's Coffee, Castaic, CA
EarthRider
$40.00
[Intro] [Roster] [Slideshow]

Jackrabbit crossing the trail, full out, ears flat…
Flash of batwing against the helmet visor; a brief mid-air at sunset…

Not part of a series, this is an intermediate-level ride unlike any we’ve done so far. There will be some of the mountainous terrain you may be used to, and even a little single track, but much of this ride will see us skimming over remote, barely-used high desert tracks – at a pretty good clip, too. You’ll have fun, whatever you run, but these fading horse thief trails, double-tracks, and unimproved county roads will really let the big bikes shine!

Riding challenges: With few (very short) exceptions, this is a fairly non-technical ride. Much of the desert portion of this ride is sandy – but shallow. Some sand / loose surface experience is required, but the most important skill for this ride – because of the faster than usual pace expected – will be good observation and line selection. Our track is a remote one, and numerous bail-outs exist.

We’ll go over the route in more detail over coffee at Starbuck’s in the morning. Lunch at Mike’s Roadhouse Café in Mojave is a foregone conclusion. If the timing works out, dinner at Big Oaks Lodge in the Angeles Nat’l Forest might just be the perfect ending to an awesome day’s riding!

The Ventura County Adventure Ride Series - Introduction

2008-08-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Click Image to visit the VCARS site

You don't need a BMW to take part in the Ventura County Adventure Ride Series, sponsored by BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County. You don't need to wait for 2009, either: The series starts in late September, 2008. This series is designed to – well; it’s designed to be fun! We’ll take you out of Urbania and introduce you to some great dual sport riding areas, ripe for exploration. Each ride will take us into the beautiful California backcountry, riding with old friends and making new ones.

As a whole, the series has even more to offer: The first ride is an easy introduction to dual sport riding, and the last ride is a serious challenge, designed to allow intermediate / advanced riders the opportunity to seek the limits of their ability. This continual slight increase in riding challenge over the course of the series provides riders the opportunity to gradually increase their riding ability in a non-instructional, learn-by-doing setting.

Although designed with the novice rider in mind, the early rides always offer opportunities for more experienced riders to push themselves as well if desired. Likewise, more challenging rides late in the series often include go-arounds, allowing all riders the opportunity to choose their level of challenge.

Visit the VCARS website for further information about the series, and for listings of VCARS rides. Don't wait until 2009; the first ride is scheduled for 09/27/08! Likewise, the VCARS Retrospective Celebration & Slideshow, scheduled for 09/25/08, is not to be missed if you are a VCARS vet, or if you are hoping to participate in any part of the upcoming series. Click the link for more information.

Food

2008-04-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

We like our roughing it on the rough side, here at EarthRider. Day rides usually require riders to pack their own snacks / lunch, and we usually gather up at the end of day at whatever restaurant we're passing by. Thus far, DS Overnights have been similarly arranged.

This does not mean that we don’t enjoy an exquisite dining experience now and then! As it happens, EarthRider is fortunate to be closely associated with one of the finest professional chefs in the western spiral arm of the galaxy. Chef Rachel Main has been the personal chef of choice for some of the most unbelievably wealthy people on the planet, and from time to time, she cooks for us as well. Expect casually elegant dinner events open exclusively to EarthRider clientele; another chance to build community, maintain friendships and make new ones, and enjoy Rachel Main’s awesome culinary creations.

Not excited about packing your own lunch for a day ride? You now have the option to sample Rachel’s food during our rides! If you would like Chef Rachel to prepare a lunch for you to take along on any of our day rides, simply let us know when you register. For an added fee, a scrumptious lunch will be ready for you to pack away when we meet on the morning of the ride. Special dietary concerns gladly adhered to.

Click image to visit The Main Course California Blog

Contact EarthRider

Multi-Day Rides – DS Overnights, Adventure Rides

2008-04-25T17:21:00.001-07:00

What could be better than getting out into the wide world on a day ride once a week? Getting out for the whole week, of course.

Earthrider does not cater to your every motorcyle-touring whim. On the other hand, if we can avoid them, we do not have a must-get-up time, or a must-be-on-the-bike time, or even a must-stop-here-for-the-night location. Rather, our aim is to facilitate well-researched multi-day rides with less structured schedules. You might not have the time, know-how, or inclination to plan and research a multi-day ride; Earthrider doesn’t believe that means you don’t want it to be an adventure!

Dual Sport Overnights (DSO) are mostly about the riding. We pack as light as we reasonably can, and move pretty quickly over terrain that may at times be quite challenging. Previous Overnights have taken us into Baja California, Death Valley, and Mojave National Preserve.

Adventure Rides (ADV) are mostly about “the ride”. They tend to be longer than DSOs. The saddlebags are loaded, the terrain dictates our speed. We are exploring, seeing new places, experiencing new things. Previous Adventure Rides have taken us into Death Valley, San Luis Obispo County, and along the southern Pacific Crest.

Contact EarthRider for scheduling and pricing.

Testimonials 2

2008-04-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Contact EarthRider

Swag

2008-04-25T16:19:00.000-07:00

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Shirts, hats, mugs, stickers for your ride.. THIS LINK takes you to the current EarthRider Swag Stop. You'll see several illustrations on a variety of products. Some have front & back images; click the preview image to view both.

Personalize your swag! If you see the right images on the wrong sweatshirt, for instance; send in an email (BEFORE you make a purchase)! We can juggle illustrations until you've got just what you want. Want your name on the back? No problem. Here's an example:

Contact EarthRider

Day Rides – Adventure Day Rides & Two-ups, Dual Sport Rides

2008-04-25T16:12:00.001-07:00

Our day rides are a full day of fun and exploration. They include Adventure Day Rides and Dual Sport Two-ups.

Adventure Day Rides (ADR) are a repeating series of guided rides, usually scheduled once a month. Taken on its own, any ADR is a fun, full day of riding. You will spend time in beautiful country, riding with old friends and making new ones.

As a whole, the series has even more to offer: The first ride is an easy introduction to dual sport riding, and the last ride is a serious challenge, designed to allow intermediate / advanced riders the opportunity to seek the limits of their ability. This continual slight increase in riding difficulty over the course of the series provides riders the opportunity to gradually increase their riding ability in a non-instructional, learn-by-doing setting. Many of the highly capable riders who will complete this year’s series were first-time dual sport riders when they signed on for DSR 01!

Although designed with the novice rider in mind, the early rides always offer opportunities for more experienced riders to push themselves as well if desired. Likewise, more challenging rides late in the series often include “go-arounds”, allowing all riders the opportunity to choose their level of challenge.

Adventure Two-ups (TDR; passenger not required) are designed with two goals in mind: To provide novice riders with an adventurous day on manageable terrain; and to provide more experienced riders the opportunity to share their passion with a passenger if they desire. The pace is relaxed, as is the terrain, yet there are usually “extracurricular” opportunities for riders of greater ability.

Two-ups sometimes include other activities as well. We might visit a hot spring, go to an airshow, enjoy a catered lunch… Details are included in each ride’s Introduction. Best of all; barring the price of any such “extracurricular activities”, passengers participate free!

A Dual Sport Ride (DSR), for our purposes, is just that; a full day, stand-alone, on-pavement / off-pavement day ride. During the early stages of an ADR series, we may schedule some more challenging stand-alone DS Rides for more capable riders. Likewise, as the current ADR series progresses toward more advanced riding, we may schedule a few easier DS Rides for new riders who missed the series, and vets looking for a more relaxing day out!

Contact EarthRider for scheduling and pricing.

Testimonials

2008-04-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Click image to go to page 2

Contact EarthRider

Private Guiding

2008-04-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

“I don’t think I’m in Iceland (or the Philippines, or Hastings, or…) anymore…”

Visiting the area briefly (business meeting, chess tournament, what-have-you...)? That one free day you have – What an opportunity for an epic adventure ride! Whatever your reason for being here (maybe you even live here!), take our advice: Get Out of Town! How about a tour of the “Serengeti of California”? Or do you see yourself etching a pencil-thin dust line across the vastness of a Mojave plateau? Perhaps “dirt – pavement – wine-tasting – pavement – dirt – wine-tasting…” is more what you have in mind. Can do.

Let’s get you on a bike, and go explore this amazing California landscape! EarthRider will tailor a ride of whatever length or level of challenge you desire, for you or your small group.

Contact EarthRider for scheduling and pricing.

Dual Sport Instruction – Dual Sport Skilzdrills, Private Instruction

2008-04-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

Great dual sport riding boils down to a surprisingly small handful of core skills that can be applied in a rich variety of ways. There are many valuable sources of instruction available to you. Take advantage of as many as you can! Earthrider is one such source. EarthRider offers group skills rides, and private instruction.

Dual Sport Skilzdrills (DSS) are 3/4 - full day classes focused on practicing specific riding techniques in real-world environments. If you have taken a multi-day riding course you were likely exposed to a broad range of riding skills – maybe too broad! Did you master them all? Take advantage of a Skilzdrill to meet up with other riders in a positive environment, and focus on one or two specific riding skills. Join us for an entire series (and do your homework!) to gain in depth understanding of and experience with the vast majority of riding skills you will ever use on the trail.

As a given class progresses, the advanced skill/s in question are broken down into several steps, providing each rider the opportunity to take on as much or as little as he or she desires. In this way, a Skilzdrill provides valuable instruction for riders of multiple levels of ability. Further, there are fundamental techniques that we revisit again and again as we learn new skills. As a result, any Skilzdrill can be taken alone (regardless of your ability level) and will help you improve your general riding ability.

Individually, Skilzdrills offer depth of understanding and experience with specific riding skills. The series as a whole provides you with a broad range of riding experience and ability, with a depth of study that multi-day skill survey courses can't help but lack. Imagine not a 2- or 3- but a 10-day survey course, and you somehow get to jam in a month of practice between each day. That's the idea behind the Skilzdrill Series.

Private Instruction – For the highly motivated rider, the rider who is stuck on a performance plateau, or who desires to focus on a specific skill or skill-set, or the rider who simply has strict schedule demands, EarthRider offers private instruction. Private instruction is arranged to fit your schedule requirements and can be tailored to focus on specific skills, if desired. Don’t be surprised, though, if you improve markedly in several aspects of dual sport riding simultaneously!

Contact EarthRider for scheduling and pricing.