Offroad on Labor Day? Austin area

[WoodButcher]

My friend Brad and I are contemplating hitting some trails on Monday. I figured I'd open the invite up an see if anybody else was interested. We are thinking of hitting one of the Austin club leases down by Bastop.

Should only be in the mid 90's...hopefully. The trail is not too challenging on a pure dirt bike and I know all the bad spots and the bypasses if somebody wants to try it on a KLR. Typically not to many other riders out there either.

I'm down to one dirt bike these days so I don't have the loaner anymore, but Squeaky if you want to try the DRZ400 it'll be there.

The trail has open sections, sand sections (can be bypassed), tight woods, and not so tight woods. Plus some side routes that are much more "interesting". Oh yeah, there is a dirt road that loops through also.

The club charges $10 per person for a guest pass.

So, any takers? Jay61, this is the ride I was telling you about at Woodrow's last night.

[Jay61]

I will beg the wife and let you know. I need this more than she knows!

[bronco78]

My friend Brad and I are contemplating hitting some trails on Monday. I figured I'd open the invite up an see if anybody else was interested. We are thinking of hitting one of the Austin club leases down by Bastop.

Should only be in the mid 90's...hopefully. The trail is not too challenging on a pure dirt bike and I know all the bad spots and the bypasses if somebody wants to try it on a KLR. Typically not to many other riders out there either.

I'm down to one dirt bike these days so I don't have the loaner anymore, but Squeaky if you want to try the DRZ400 it'll be there.

The trail has open sections, sand sections (can be bypassed), tight woods, and not so tight woods. Plus some side routes that are much more "interesting". Oh yeah, there is a dirt road that loops through also.

The club charges $10 per person for a guest pass.

So, any takers? Jay61, this is the ride I was telling you about at Woodrow's last night.

Sounds interesting,, Mind If I come down? I have a bunch of work to take care of,,,, but If I can get there I would like to. Is there more information? Web site, directions, meeting times? ect ect....Can I bring my son? (B trail rider with NO issues, A rider as long as a second chance is avail at the truly tough sections, he'll make most everything,, but on occasion, will need a second run at a challenging rutted, rocky hill, gully, ect)

[chiricahua]

Mas details por favor:sun: Time, Date, location. I know about the ten bucks and I know the general location of Bastrop.

[WoodButcher]

Cool, glad to see some interest. Yes, Erik, your son will love it. There is some hard stuff if you want to find it, or the easy sections that a street rider on a KLR can test themselves on :-). The easy loop I'm talking about my very cautious daughter did fine on her xr100. There are some things you will find tough if you want to get off on one of the expert loops.

I'll post up some more detail directions. Timing, I'll get down there around 8am-8:30am. The parking is inside a locked pasture, but I'll be near the gate and will keep an eye out. It is about 11 miles south of Bastop on CR 20. CR20 is on the west side of bastop. I just need to dig up some prewritten instructions and post them.

I can't have a ton of guests out there, but under 10 is fine. Slime your tires because there are thorns out there.

[chiricahua]

Kewl, what are the chances of getting a thorn? Like how many thorns do you normally get to bring home. If you stay on the trails are thorns still a problem?

Any chance I can follow you down from North Austin. I'm at the end of the Mopac near the first Toll booth.

Anyone ever use tire liners to prevent thorns? Like the ones for Mountain Bikes? REI I'm sure has them and I 'd rather use those if anyone else has had luck with them over Slime.

OH Yeah this is pure dirt bike not dual sport right. I mean I realize DS bikes can go but my dirt bike will be legal right.

[WoodButcher]

Kewl, what are the chances of getting a thorn? Like how many thorns do you normally get to bring home. If you stay on the trails are thorns still a problem?

Any chance I can follow you down from North Austin. I'm at the end of the Mopac near the first Toll booth.

Anyone ever use tire liners to prevent thorns? Like the ones for Mountain Bikes? REI I'm sure has them and I 'd rather use those if anyone else has had luck with them over Slime.

OH Yeah this is pure dirt bike not dual sport right. I mean I realize DS bikes can go but my dirt bike will be legal right.

Okay, my method for slime in the tires when riding this area is to ride until I get a thorn, slime it, then pull the thorn. That way I get away without sliming for a few rides. If you leave the main road in the pasture where we park you will get a thorn. Back in the woods the chances go down.

I'll be heading down I35 to get there. Maybe we can arrange a meeting spot on 183 east past 290.

I use those tire liners on my mountain bike, but have never heard of them for motorcycles.

You have a DRZ400SM, right? Pure street tires or something in between? Pure street wouldn't be a good idea. 50/50 tires would get you around the easy stuff just fine. If we have mud (30% chance sunday rain), then the low areas could be challenging. But the sand would firm up. This place dries out quickly though.

[chiricahua]

I can get to the I35 @ Parmer Lane in about two minutes. You have a map you can post yet?

The reason I asked about the DS stuff is because I was planning on bringing my CRF450R which of course is not street legal. Do you plan on riding on the street? Tnx for the info.

I'll stop by today and get some slime. I'm heading out to Cross Creek so I may need it out there today.

[WoodButcher]

I can get to the I35 @ Parmer Lane in about two minutes. You have a map you can post yet?

The reason I asked about the DS stuff is because I was planning on bringing my CRF450R which of course is not street legal. Do you plan on riding on the street? Tnx for the info.

I'll stop by today and get some slime. I'm heading out to Cross Creek so I may need it out there today.

CRF if the perfect bike. I mentioned the dual sport stuff in case a dual sport type wanted to test themselves a little...or a lot

[WoodButcher]

Route to Walnut Creek (also called Rusty's due to the owner - who is not me, btw) take 183 South to the fork where you can take 71 East to Bastrop. Take 71 East to Bastrop. You will pass Highway 21 South, continue a few more miles to county road 20 and head south (only direction you can go). You will pass a outdoor cowboy church on the right, then pass a water tower with a smiley face on it. About 6 miles you will come to Pleasant Chapel Road on your right. There will be a rodeo area on the right and Walnut Creek Cafe behind that. Turn right onto Pleasant Chapel Road. Go about 200 yards and the gate will be on your left, just across the street from the entrance to the cafe and rodeo area.

Key landmark for the turn on Pleasant Chapel road is the sign for Walnut Creek Cafe. The landowner owns the cafe. Unfortunately he had a fire last weekend and the cafe is closed. I have heard that he is doing some grilling/bbq outside, but don't know if he will be open on monday. His name is Rusty also. Tall, thin old typical Texas cowboy type. Very nice guy.

Anyway, if you get to FM 535 on CR 20, then you went one intersection too far.

I'll be in the pasture/parking area starting around about 8:30am. Beige Ford f150 picup with black utility trailer. Should have a DRZ400 and WR250 somewhere near it.

[bronco78]

Well Toy hauler is loaded.. Three bikes, gear, gas, food. Riding at a local spot for part of tomorrow, then driving down to San Marcos, staying the night there, will be at the pasture first thing Monday morning. Drop the trailer,, Boy and I get to ride, wife headed into Austin, or hanging at the TH for some "MOM time" (meaning no silly, stinking, loud men/boys) Hope to meet some new folks and enjoy a day of riding.

[chiricahua]

Got a new axle and nut. Will be there on Monday if I don't break it again before then.:rofl: Should be good times:rider:

[WoodButcher]

Okay, this might be too late for Bronco78, but the last few rides I've done down at this place there were chances for rain...and we got it. Something about planning a ride there calls in the clouds. So, we need to be aware of what the weather is doing. It dries out nice, but while it is wet the trails get that wonderful gumbo sort of mud that sticks to everything and makes you slide all over. But the sand will be good though.

If we absolutely get dumped on today/tonight (or Bastrop does), we should plan on trying another day. However, at 2:30pm it doesn't look threatening.

chiricahua, I will plan on meeting you at the Lowe's, near the access road, around 7:45am tomorrow. Bronco78, we'll be at the riding place around 8:30am.

Remember, a little rain is good. A lot is bad. Hopefully we get some tonight and the rest tomorrow afternon.

[chiricahua]

chiricahua, I will plan on meeting you at the Lowe's, near the access road, around 7:45am tomorrow. Bronco78, we'll be at the riding place around 8:30am.

7:45 AM I'll be there.:yawn: :storm::pirate:

Scott

[bronco78]

Okay, this might be too late for Bronco78, but the last few rides I've done down at this place there were chances for rain...and we got it. Something about planning a ride there calls in the clouds. So, we need to be aware of what the weather is doing. It dries out nice, but while it is wet the trails get that wonderful gumbo sort of mud that sticks to everything and makes you slide all over. But the sand will be good though.

If we absolutely get dumped on today/tonight (or Bastrop does), we should plan on trying another day. However, at 2:30pm it doesn't look threatening.

chiricahua, I will plan on meeting you at the Lowe's, near the access road, around 7:45am tomorrow. Bronco78, we'll be at the riding place around 8:30am.

Remember, a little rain is good. A lot is bad. Hopefully we get some tonight and the rest tomorrow afternon.
Well we are on the road,,,, errr, stopped for the night in San Marcos. We close enough, that we will stop by in the morning. It's raining now,, but not hard. If it's too wet, we will head back to Youngsport and ride CTOR for the day. Riding was cut short today with a flat ,and trashed tire. We cut loose early, came in to Austin, bought a few tires and tubes at Cycle gear, and now just sitting at an Rv camp waiting on the sun to rise....... is it morning yet,,,,,how about now???, Now?,,, Unless it's pouring in the morning... I'll see you there. Check your PM's
:giveup:

[bronco78]

A great day was had by all... Thanks Rusty for making the offer.

Cody and I had a nice day riding with you all. Scott, thanks for the spirited laps.... :rider: Sorry readers, but I have no pics to add....My cam never left it's pouch. :doh: Flat land mostly, with some play in the creeks.. But a nice change from CTOR. Looks like CTOR next weekend, then one of the other riding areas the week following.

[WoodButcher]

Yep, good riding. I know Scott (chiricahua) went home with a mequite thorn in his front tire, but it was holding air. My bike went home with a rear flat, but no sign of a thorn. Sympathing leakage?

I only know of a couple soil samples and they were by Erik (bronco78). I think I came home with the only injury though. I leaned over the top of the rear fender to look under the fender from the other side to see why a bolt was loose and managed to check the exhaust temperate with my forehead.:doh:

Anyway, good sfuff and not a drop of rain.

[chiricahua]

Hey Guys, thanks for the introduction to riding in the trees. Cali has nothing that I’ve seen that comes close to that type of riding. :rider:

Rusty thanks for the invite it was well worth the trip out.:clap:

Eric thanks for showing me how fast those single tracks through the trees can be ridden. :eek2: Looks like I’ll need to get used to those trees if I plan on riding here in Texas.

Brad and Ken it was nice meeting you two. Hope to ride with you all again soon.:chug:

Eric, you son Cody Jams on that little two smoker. He’s gonna race soon?

Tires still have air in them :sun: although I did have some narley thorns through a couple of knobbies.

Scott

[bronco78]

Tires are full of air, as is the rider :trust: Cody has done a few off road races,,,, we would do more, just a timing thing, right place right weekend. Next few months he'll be getting a new bike,,,, that gives him a few month to get used to it... Once I'm back.. I think him and I will spend some time looking for races. :rider:

First time in trees?? wow coming from CA,,, I'd have thought that was old hat. Down south the deal is more sand, high dez and tracks I guess.... I rode more in NorCal....Lots of hill and dale, trees,and creeks. Same with OR. Miss that stuff a bunch... I'm told there is Hill Country here in CENTEX... I've been looking for it for months now :lol2: Not found a hill yet :giveup: A few inclines, and an occasional bush locally called a tree, :rofl:

The riding here is good, just much different from what the Family grew up riding. Looking forward to riding some of the other properties.

Brad, Thank you very much for letting Cody take your bike for a spin... So darn hard to decide what should be the next bike. Riding one of the canidates helps a ton.

[spacerabbit]

Hey no problem. Cody took it a little too easy on the WR so I don't know if he got a real impression of what it can do. It likes to be opened up. (I know he was just being respectfull which I appreciate, cause I know he can flat out tear it up on that KX).

Was good meeeting everyone, we'll have to ride again soon. I vote Crooked Creek or Cherokee ;)

BT

[chiricahua]

Here's a pic of the thorn that was in my front tire after I pulled it out of one knob. Still have one in my rear tire that I got on the first couple of laps but the tire still has air in it.