- Nov 25, 1999
- 7,926
- 43
What an unbelievable New Year's Eve day. Temps in the 70's and several Spodes out for a day of riding. OldMaiconut, Lorin, OKKX'r, DWreck, Treetalker, myself and a couple of new guys geared up for the day. I was first to start my bike. 3 kicks and Brutus came to life. Soon there after Brutus coughed and fell silent. After several more kicks and a few backfires, it was evident that I fouled a plug. So began the trash talk. While I began removing the seat and tank, everyone else finished putting the gear on and got the bikes warmed up. 4 mins later, I was putting the tools up, thru my leg over and gave a kick. In my haste, I forgot to put the plug cap back on. :yikes: So, I repeat taking the seat and tank off and reassemble this time about 10 mins. That 14-15 mins seemed like forever as I was bombarded by NTSP style, no holds bared banter. :eek:
Soon we were out on the trails. Lorin was in the lead and actually seemed to be running a good warm up pace, instead of his usual race pace. Things were going pretty good but I was having a bad time washing out the front end. I was staying upright but was really fighting in the loose dry sand. Finally, I went into a left hander, the front end pushed, pushed some more and then, grabbed. Full left lock of the handlebars with me nearly going over the bars. Draper 1, BSwift 0.
Up I go and we are starting to pick up the pace a bit but still not race pace. Lorin makes a right hander and I see out of the corner of my eye, a HUGE mud hole. Lorin only hesitates a second and FWO he goes thru with MAJOR sticky roost behind him. I'm able to slow to mis the roost, I look for my line and go to rail the high side of the mud hole. This is where I did my first ever Superman Mud Dive! :bang: My left barkbuster hit a limb and gave me a quick bump, I recovered and stayed on the throttle. The problem is, the branch broke off of the tree and was attached to the bark buster. Within a few feet, the branch wedged into the brush and instant full left lock resulted. I was leaned way right and on the gas as the bike lauched out of the berm. I went face/chest first into the abyss, Brutus decided to join me only upside down with the bars submerged 8". OKKX'r helped me upright Brutus and everyone got a good chuckle out the site. I wish this was the last episode of the day but luck was not with me. I washed out 6-7 more times. Nothing bad, all low speed but go-downs all the same. Draper 9, BSWIFT, muddy!
All and all I had a great time but I don't really know whether to change the tire or front end settings or just not ride Draper. I know I'll ride Draper again but that was very frustrating.
Soon we were out on the trails. Lorin was in the lead and actually seemed to be running a good warm up pace, instead of his usual race pace. Things were going pretty good but I was having a bad time washing out the front end. I was staying upright but was really fighting in the loose dry sand. Finally, I went into a left hander, the front end pushed, pushed some more and then, grabbed. Full left lock of the handlebars with me nearly going over the bars. Draper 1, BSwift 0.
Up I go and we are starting to pick up the pace a bit but still not race pace. Lorin makes a right hander and I see out of the corner of my eye, a HUGE mud hole. Lorin only hesitates a second and FWO he goes thru with MAJOR sticky roost behind him. I'm able to slow to mis the roost, I look for my line and go to rail the high side of the mud hole. This is where I did my first ever Superman Mud Dive! :bang: My left barkbuster hit a limb and gave me a quick bump, I recovered and stayed on the throttle. The problem is, the branch broke off of the tree and was attached to the bark buster. Within a few feet, the branch wedged into the brush and instant full left lock resulted. I was leaned way right and on the gas as the bike lauched out of the berm. I went face/chest first into the abyss, Brutus decided to join me only upside down with the bars submerged 8". OKKX'r helped me upright Brutus and everyone got a good chuckle out the site. I wish this was the last episode of the day but luck was not with me. I washed out 6-7 more times. Nothing bad, all low speed but go-downs all the same. Draper 9, BSWIFT, muddy!
All and all I had a great time but I don't really know whether to change the tire or front end settings or just not ride Draper. I know I'll ride Draper again but that was very frustrating.
