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LAB2LV

And lots of great single track.
 

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Awesome everywhere I looked.
 

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Rman, cool pics. Makes me feel like I am still there. The funny thing is, your 25th pic is my trailer with 3 bikes on it. That is the parking lot at the host hotel in Palmdale. We did not unload them until Friday morning. Then had breakfast buffet in the hotel, then rushed over to the bike shop to get set up.
It was a crazy hectic morning, lines all over the place, one for toys for tots donation, one for rider packet, one for gps, and they all ran together and overlapped. But it was well run nonetheless. And I am in your 32nd pic in the store that morning.
I don't know you guys, but recognize each of you in the pics, I think we might have even talked in the parking lot the first night.
I think i have the picture posting worked out & will be doing that here shortly.
Howdy BiggerHammer, welcome back to TWT! We must have met in the parking lot, we hung around about 45mins after dinner and talked to everyone. Cool pics as well ^^^. :clap: Oh yeah, I forgot about the Toys For Tots line.
 
Great reporting Rman. It's like I'm :rider: with you.
 
The roll charts were crazy long, but had to be for that many miles each day. The best thing is to just cut it in two, and wind only the first half, then switch out later. It was a non-issue for me though, since my odo went out right off the bat, I didn't really ever get to use the roll chart.
These pics are of some of the enormous rocks everywhere. And of the husky monument out in the middle of ?
There were many people here, roaming around and visiting and checking stuff out. A whole group was here on side by sides, and some Jeeps as well. I stopped and looked over the wackiness of the monument, then moved on quickly before getting behind any 4 wheel vehicles headed out.
Some pics show bikes all over the place, but it really was spread out after the mornings. So the dust was not a problem unless you were close behind or passing.
 

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See the old mine up on the hill behind my bike? I hiked up there to check it out. It was actually 2 shafts, but neither went in very deep. It would have been a good spot to shelter if necessary. The pics are small, but it was much further up than it seemed, I think you can tell in the last pic.
 

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Well we didn't get too many pics on Saturday. Here we are leaving Barstow. You can see Thrasher taking this pic in my 'Leaving Barstow' vid on pg 2.
Me
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Meriden
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We decided this was the longest, sandiest road on earth. :eek2:

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We'd only ridden about 80 miles when we ran into some mechanical problems and broke down just outside of Baker. What happened was M's footpeg/centerstand bolt had come loose and his battery wouldn't hold a charge. We were able to fix the foot peg good enough with some spare parts I was carrying. Notice the orange bolt? Before I left Texas I painted every nut, bolt, washer and tool with fluorescent orange so there was no way I could lose anything out on the trail.

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But the battery was a problem so we had to call it for the day and slab it the rest of the way into Las Vegas and find a bike shop before everything closed. M found a battery and stayed at the hotel to work on his bike. I had to buy a new mirror as well. :mrgreen: :doh: :lol2:

One of my bucket list goals on this trip was to ride over Hoover Dam so Thrasher and I took a little road trip. :trust: :rider:

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I've always wanted to do this and finally I did!! :sun:

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It was dark by the time we got back but the fun was just starting. :chug:

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Here we are at the banquet held by the District 37 guys. Very entertaining and we had an absolute blast!! :rofl: :clap: Met lots of characters, folks from all over the world, raffle, auction, food and DRINKS (lots of drinks). :chug:

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Lots of people and a very well done event.

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M even won a helmet. A child's helmet. :trust: :rofl: He donated it back and they auctioned it off. :thumb:

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Thrasher took off back to his room but M and I got invited to an after banquet VIP party in one of the suites. Lots more drinking and lots more fun! :party:

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But to top off the night we had to go blow some $$ at the casino. A whopping $5 each in the penny machines. :eek2: :lol2: Neither of us gamble but we couldn't come all the way to Vegas and not blow a little cash, right? :shrug:

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The view from the room...

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The next morning we were off to Death Valley and a short detour to find Thrasher's lost phone.

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We had gone maybe 50 miles when Thrasher got a flat in the absolute middle of nowhere.

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M and I took turns holding up the bike and helping T. We had it changed in no time. :thumb:

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This is also where I went to start my bike and the kick starter broke. :argh: Luckily it was only broken at the clamp holding it on the shaft but it was tweeked at an odd angle and wouldn't return all the way so at the next gas stop I just removed it altogether.

Back on the road.

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The bottom of Death Valley, 190' below sea level. :eek2:

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Wish we'd had time to hang around but we were very pressed for time and still had 200 miles to ride. I will return someday though, I passed too many photo ops not to. :sun:

I went on reserve and we pulled over to fill up out of the aux tank. The other guys had just enough to limp to the next station about 30 miles further down the road.

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I probably could've made it on reserve too but with the broken kick starter I figured I'd better fill up while it idled.

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Well that's about it folks, we stopped in Ridgecrest so Thrasher could find his phone. He knew exactly where he lost it and it wasn't far at all from a highway access, he found it in no time. From there we headed on back to Palmdale and some much needed food :eat: and rest. :yawn:

The next day we loaded up and drove to Florence, Arizona and did the Coke Oven ride but that's another story. Thrasher started a different thread so if anyone hasn't seen it yet, here's the link.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79686

What a week, what an adventure! Thanks to Meriden and ThrasherG for helping make it happen. Also a big thanks to SilverBullet who unfortunately had to drop out at the last minute due to uncontrollable circumstances. He did as much planning as anyone and we sure missed him out there.
Thanks for all the replies as well!! :thumb:

Seeya next time,

:rider: Rman237 :rider:
 
I was looking through the videos, great BTW, and I was left in a bit of a quandary.

In the shots that showed Meriden I didn't see his turn signal on in any of the shots. :brainsnap

Did you and Thrasher pull the flasher on his bike? :twisted:

Was there an alien abduction and this wasn't actually Meriden? :eek2:

Or, was it just the wide-angle lens not showing the perpetually blinking turn signal?

Just thought this needed addressing . . . :duck:

:-P

I rode with my right blinker on for about 30 miles then switched to the left. When nobody raced to get ahead of me and give me the flashing hand sign, I decided that they didn't care in California so I just kept clearing it for the rest of the trip.

m
 
I rode with my right blinker on for about 30 miles then switched to the left. When nobody raced to get ahead of me and give me the flashing hand sign, I decided that they didn't care in California so I just kept clearing it for the rest of the trip.

m

I've always heard that Californicatorians were pretty easy going folks . . . :zen:

Flashing hand sign. Noted, for future reference. :lol2:
 
That looks like an awesome trip. One of these years DrMike and I are going to do this ride on the XRR's. I am putting it on the bucket list.
good write up :clap:
 
Q and I need more practice. Then we'll go with you all next year! Or the year after... As soon as I can benchpress Q's loaded weight so I can carry him when he gets tired of carrying me and falling over :lol2:

What a great time! Totally on my to-do list!!!
 
Can that route be ridden any time if you have the track? Or are parst by permit only.
 
Excellent pics and video. Congrats to those that participated. Looks like a great time. Couple of questions. How many miles each day and were the roll charts really needed? Could you have done it with GPS tracks only?
 
Can that route be ridden any time if you have the track? Or are parst by permit only.

AMA District 37 had to get permits for the event, but that may not translate into an individual needing a permit to ride the route. In fact there are copies of the track from previous LAB2LV events available on the web for the dillegent searcher.

Much of the route was in OHV areas that have high volumes of traffic anyway. Some of the route went through protected tortoise habitat with a 30PMH speed limit as a result. (This speed was trouble for riders because when riding in heavy sand the faster the better.) Other sections of the route was through designated wilderness and rules require the rider to stay on the roads, such as they were, at all times.

If planning a ride in the area, join either the District 37 message board or the California Region of ADV rider and check with the locals.

Chatting with SB about next years event made me think that some sections were better skipped. The powerline roads are no fun to ride, not very senic and dusty.

m
 
Excellent pics and video. Congrats to those that participated. Looks like a great time. Couple of questions. How many miles each day and were the roll charts really needed? Could you have done it with GPS tracks only?

Can't give you exact milage since I left everything in Rabbs Prarie, but it was over 200 per day and varied depending on the route.

Others may disagree, but I'm a convert to the roll chart as primary navigation. Off road the GPS will paint a line which may or may not be near the track. Also the GPS doesn't tell you that there is a dangerous wash coming, to cross the RR tracks here and not there, tortoise speed limit, or this is the turn off between the hard and easy routes. If I had been paying attention to the roll chart that photo of Rman and I on the hill might not have happened, since there was an easy route around the side of the hill. (Okay, I would have still tried it.)

The rules state you must have a roll chart, but one of our bikes passed tech without it.

With all that said, lots of guys rode the whole thing by GPS alone.

m
 
I am trying out this tapatalk thing recommended here and so far so good.
This event is run on blm land and for the most part is open all the time. There are some exceptions of course. I was told the permit stuff is required because of so many people entering.
I have used roll charts before but I actually liked the GPS. I had not used GPS before.
But I was using this event as a shakedown run to test some ideas and parts and tire combos for the NORRA race coming up in Mexico, and it uses a roadbook.
I think it worked out to be about 560 miles for this event. And any experienced off road rider should have a great fun time. And as I said earlier, there are alternates and highway access if needed.
A trial pic with this app. This is the beginning of the red rock canyon area that got bottle necked.
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This is just a cool rock ridge in the distance. Looks like a mine dug in on the right side. But that was actually pretty far away.

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Here are a couple of some cool scenery after the rock garden
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I am trying out this tapatalk thing recommended here and so far so good.
This event is run on blm land and for the most part is open all the time. There are some exceptions of course. I was told the permit stuff is required because of so many people entering.
I have used roll charts before but I actually liked the GPS. I had not used GPS before.
But I was using this event as a shakedown run to test some ideas and parts and tire combos for the NORRA race coming up in Mexico, and it uses a roadbook.
I think it worked out to be about 560 miles for this event. And any experienced off road rider should have a great fun time. And as I said earlier, there are alternates and highway access if needed.
A trial pic with this app. This is the beginning of the red rock canyon area that got bottle necked.
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This is just a cool rock ridge in the distance. Looks like a mine dug in on the right side. But that was actually pretty far away.

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Here are a couple of some cool scenery after the rock garden
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Howdy BiggerHammer, been on the road for a week and haven't had a chance to reply but thanks for the input and cool pics^^^.
It took me several days after getting home to come down from the 'high', looking back it seems almost surreal. "Did I really do all that?" :lol2: Seriously, that was the coolest thing I have ever done on 2 wheels!!! :clap:
I know for a fact that SilverBullet is considering a go at it next year but .... anyone else?? Personally, I have to do this ride again, one way or the other I will return for a replay.
Now for anyone else from Tex who may want to ride the Barstow, please pick our brains, we will save you time, $$ and effort! Half of our logistical possibilities became non-issues yet things we'd never even considered did. :doh: Next time it will go much, much smoother. :sun:
Incredible ride, Enormous adventure!!! :flip:
 
Excellent pics and video. Congrats to those that participated. Looks like a great time. Couple of questions. How many miles each day and were the roll charts really needed? Could you have done it with GPS tracks only?

I'm on the District 37 Dual Sport Committee. The mileage is usually 200 miles the first day and 250 the second day. This year was a little longer.

Next year we will try to stick as close to the 200/250 as we can.
 
Great stuff guys, love the TWT banner over Hoover Dam and BHammer that's quite a machine you were on.

Gary, if I don't see you down here in Central Oregon next year I'll be personally offended :lol2: Or, we can hook up at the Desert 100 in Odessa next spring.

Nice having a District 37 contact as well!

Justin
 
Hi Justin, I thought you where in Colorado not Oregon!! We will definitely becoming back to Oregon in our RV with the dirt bikes, we loved the ride across Oregon on the TAT and want to ride some more!! I will definitely hit you up for some ideas next year, it would be great to meet you :trust:

Gary
 
I'm on the District 37 Dual Sport Committee. The mileage is usually 200 miles the first day and 250 the second day. This year was a little longer.

Next year we will try to stick as close to the 200/250 as we can.

Yellowjacket,

The committee did a great job. I was thoroughly impressed with the cooridination of the event and the banquet.

m
 
I took these lessons away from this ride:
Get out there a day or two early, especially if you have never ridden in the area.
The most challenging part of the ride is not the terrain or the distance but the traffic, especially early in the day as everyone is leaving.
Tired tires were not a problem, a tired battery was. Check all the consumables on the bike and not just the obvious ones.
Read every single sheet of paper that the orginizers give you: roll chart, maps, instructions, everything.
Get an early start each day and don't stop for anything, unless you like riding in the dark or passing the same guys over and over and over again.

m
 
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