2014 Around the Bend - a "Super" Ride in Big Bend

[Trail Boss]

Riders,

The 2014 Around the Bend rally is now in the history books and I'm enjoying a post rally beer. I thought it was a "Super" event.

Please share your ride report and pictures.

 

[DoctorXRR]

Thanks for the tons of effort put in by Richard, his wife, all the volunteers, and rest of the crew for this great event. Lonestar BMW put up some great door prizes, http://www.lonestarcycle.com/, and the awards for the Challenge and Adventure ride were awesome!

We had the honor of Uncle' his-self setting down with us and chatting, telling us how this started as a little ole' ride and now grown into an epic Terlingua event.

The expanded route included some incredible dirt roads, with everything you could ask for with sweepers, sand, and rolling hills. We were able to practice a lot of dual sport riding techniques on this road since it had great line of sight and let you could set up left/right combos.

Our crew included ThumperGirl, JetDR21, SWAanimal, and UlyBrad, along with about 5-6 others that tagged along. JetDR was sporting an awesome new KTM 500!

We started out cloudy and a bit overcast, but perfect riding weather the bikes were happy!

BlackGap was earlier, good to get the roughest done sooner!

Here is our HERO of Uncles! This awesome dude, 19 years old, rode 750 miles to Uncles, did both the Challenge and Adventure, and rode back home! A true inspiration......he handled everything Uncles threw at him!

Here he is, the HERO!

Maybe I should get out of the way....

ThumperGirl makes her approach! What an awesome day for her, the goal was to finish all 200 miles and she did it! No matter going down a few times, she pulled through to the finish.

Back at our campsite!

ThumperGirl and UlyBrad completed the Challenge, and the next day we spent some time railing, some of the Challenge route back roads, fantastic stuff!

Tasty way to end our first day, just outside of Terlingua.

Some worn out bikes and riders!

Beautiful end to a fantastic weekend!

 

[philipbarrett]

My troubles are fairly well known by now. Hung back for a long time to assist a rider on a street tired DL-1000 then terminally broke down on Black Gap. Still had a great time including a visit to Marfa;

Dropped off some dog treats to Spirit

Hiked the Cattail Falls with Elzi

And met this gnarly adventurer on his Postie on Black Gap, he was thrilled that I knew what a Postie was and stopped to chat for a while (since I wasn't going anywhere by that time).

 

[cdc]

This was found by the "Dirt Crawlers Duo", aka Bob and Nadeem at the River Road.

If you are missing it and would like it back, PM me.






From mobile

 

[The Bruce]

This was found by the "Dirt Crawlers Duo", aka Bob and Nadeem at the River Road.

If you are missing it and would like it back, PM me.

View attachment 29748




From mobile

Held on by zip ties? I suppose it may have sounded like a good idea at the time.

 

[swoody126]

MANY THANKS TO ALL, who are sharing with those of us who didn't/couldn't make it

sw & chili

 

[DFW_Warrior]

My troubles are fairly well known by now. Hung back for a long time to assist a rider on a street tired DL-1000 then terminally broke down on Black Gap. Still had a great time including a visit to Marfa;

I don't... what happened?

 

[Meriden]

Hey Philip,

Good to meet you and sorry we didn't have time to talk. Hope you get the spark issue resolved quickly.

m

 

[Meriden]

Any word on the rider air lifted to Odessa?

 

[JMZ]

Silverbullit, Me, RollingJ and Dirtorslab. I had a great time , and made some new friends.


Signatures ???? We don't need no stinking signatures !!!!!

 

[Tourmeister]

What is that behind Brad's shoulder? Is he now packing a walking stick/cane as standard gear for his DS rides?

 

[brewer90]

Any word on the rider air lifted to Odessa?

I talked to his buddy before he left yesterday and I'm not sure if he is active on the board so here is what he said. Reiner (sp?) was already making facebook posts about the hospital food he was eating so he must feeling ok or really bored or both. Damage was a broken pelvis, some ribs and a punctured lung. Maybe a shoulder too but I'm not certain on that part. They inserted a chest tube and he was going to have to spend four days in Odessa and then could be transferred home to El Paso.

 

[Chuck in IL]

How many people went down hard? I biffed it pretty hard on Bofecillos Rd. crossing a small wash filled with pea size gravel. It was pretty deep and had some big rocks that were covered up. I think I hit one going about 30 to 35 mph. I went down very quickly, and very violently. My buddy got it on his GoPro, so I will post a link to that when he gets it edited. The bike sustained some plastic damage, but the crash bars saved the radiator I'm sure. Picked it up, straightened the handle bars and carried on. A little sorer, a little wiser.

 

[Oscar]

I had to withdraw (no quit) the desert challenge, my bike was a little to heavy and riding it alone was not fun, next year I hope to be more "team" prepare.
The adventure challenge was more suitable for lone wolf riding and I had a blast specially the ranch section, here is my bike.

And here a photo of a sunset in Terlingua.

Enjoy the ride with you JMZ, I hope we can repeat soon

 

[JMZ]

We will Oscar

 

[BeemerlessBob]

I wanted to take this opportunity to do a shout out to TWTourist (aka Dave) that devoted much of his time helping others instead of getting to ride.

On Thursday, TWTourist was riding in the state park and came across SoloRider on Hwy 169 that had just experienced a blowout on his truck. Of course, Dave stopped his ride to help.

Then returning to Terlingua, he encounter me alongside hwy 170 and my Russian piece of do-do was broken down. Of course, TWTourist stopped to help. I had some sort of short and was blowing fuses frequently so TWTourist rode back to town to get me some more fuses.

On Saturday, TWTourist partnered with a less experienced rider for the Adventure Challenge. The less experienced rider was not able to complete the challenge. Because TWTourist is a good person and a good friend, he stayed with the inexperienced rider. TWTourist paid for the challenge and had the skills to earn a completion certificate but getting a certificate was not his priority. His priority was to his fellow riders.

I just felt the need to give TWTourist some special recognition as one of those that make this group of TWTers great.

 

[bigdon55]

TWTourist

 

[Rman of 237]

Great pics ^^^^ !!! Looks like I missed a great ride but I couldn't get away from work commitments.

Oh, and 3 cheers for TWTourist!

 

[DoctorXRR]

What is that behind Brad's shoulder? Is he now packing a walking stick/cane as standard gear for his DS rides?

Yes, Brad decided that was a needed injury farkle to have on hand just in case! And if he breaks the kick stand on his bike again, could serve as one in a pinch!

 

[bigdon55]

I thought it was the muzzle of an AR15!

 

[JMZ]

We ran across oddfellow on his xr650r with a hung float on old ore now. I unkowingly had lost my tool bag and as I was slowing down to stop for him, the end of my racthet strap threw my chain off and I came to a quicker stop than intended Luckily he had the tools to put my chain back on Then I was able to ride back and find my tool bag .

 

[sodapop]

Silverbullit, Me, RollingJ and Dirtorslab. I had a great time , and made some new friends.

It was great meeting you guys!

 

[philipbarrett]

I don't... what happened?

Although not TWTourist, I also hung back for most of the morning to help a guy attempting the Challenge on a DL-1000 with street tires. He probably dropped the bike at least 20 times on River Road, once even on a hill, straight into the rock garden, after which I had to ride it out for him. He was getting increasingly distressed, tired (as was I after helping him pick this beast up so many times), dehydrated and had cut his mouth. I eventually persuaded him to wait by the trail for the sweep team and recover.

So I head off, finally getting to enjoy the beautiful weather and trails. Hah Kemo-Sabe, this was not to last! About 8 miles into Black Gap the bike started stalling on me, finally dying on that gnarly little loose hill. I managed to get it to the top and after checking the usual suspects to no avail, told Ralph who was with me at the time, to head off & let Uncle know I was stranded.

Since I had loooooots of time I stripped the bike down and found I had no spark at all. Checked all the electrics but nothing seemed obvious but by now I have a flat battery too (I'm actually thinking my charging system is weak or defective although it meters fine).

After hanging by the trail for a couple of hours a family in a Toyota 4WD pickup stopped and offered me a lift. We had to re-arrange their entire load but got the bike in and I settled down in the bed, under a kayak sun shade, for the long ride to Rio Grande Village. Actually it was very pleasant lying back in the shade and I found myself nodding off! About that time the sweep crew caught up with me and after reassuring them I was 100% OK just chilling in the truck, they headed off.

After a couple of hours at Rio Grande uncle and Elzi showed up with the trailer and we made the long trek home underneath a beautiful sunset.

So...long story short, not much mileage (63 total) and no award for me, but that's why they call it Adventure Riding!

 

[Zephyr]

On Saturday, TWTourist partnered with a less experienced rider for the Adventure Challenge. The less experienced rider was not able to complete the challenge. Because TWTourist is a good person and a good friend, he stayed with the inexperienced rider. TWTourist paid for the challenge and had the skills to earn a completion certificate but getting a certificate was not his priority. His priority was to his fellow riders.

I just felt the need to give TWTourist some special recognition as one of those that make this group of TWTers great.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

So...long story short, not much mileage (63 total) and no award for me, but that's why they call it Adventure Riding!

Well dang... no good at all. Good on ya for sticking with the rider that was having troubles.