- Jan 25, 2000
- 1,822
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I arrived at the Prospectors enduro site at about 1PM, completed sign ups and entered the Poker run. After the run, it was clear that I was just a teeny bit faster than my last outing, so I was jonesin’ for the next days enduro. I went into Ridgecrest to get a motel room, but every motel on China Lake Blvd was booked. What gives? It turns out that there‘s a dog show that weekend and many people are also staying to see the flowers in Death Valley. They all claim that every motel within a 2.5 hour radius is booked. A chilly stay in my truck looked inevitable, and all because of some kooky dog show and a few posies, but I cruised around Ridgecrest until I found a room at the Heritage Inn. Pricey, but beggars can’t be choosers.
The next morning looked good - a bit chilly, but very tolerable. Sitting on my row waiting my minute to come up, I noticed that I was the only one on my row with any time keeping equipment, and there there didn’t appear to be any time keepers on the row behind or in front either. I casually mentioned that I usually couldn’t keep pace anyway, so my timekeeping comp was more ornamental than practical.
When we took off, it became apparent that I was the fastest guy on my row. What gives? I’m always the slowest, so these guys must be either terminally slow or waiting for me to lead them. This is their lucky day. Hit the first check right on time, but for the second check, I figured I’d ride ‘telligent, keeping nearly two minutes ahead of schedule (the possibles were .7 miles apart, so I thought I could scout ahead). As we approached a hill, I noticed a gaggle of riders gathered at the bottom. But my computer showed that the possible had just passed, so I stubbornly went through the pack, right into a check on the other side of the hill (two minutes early). What gives? I probably took a slight detour somewhere and this added to my mileage. I dragged at least one other rider through the check early as well. This was his lucky day..
Somewhere during the middle of the enduro, I began to hear a “cling cling ba bling bling ca ching” sound. What gives? Is my motor about to blow? When I stopped, someone pointed out that kickstand was falling off – the upper mounting bolt was gone. I had to decide at this point whether to quit or risk cartwheeling though the desert. I decide to continue. At the reset, a fellow Kawasaki rider offered the piece inner tube that he used to hold his spark plug wrench. It worked perfectly. :cool:
About a half mile from the finish, there appeared to be check by trail, so I slowed because I was running slightly ahead of schedule. It turns out the the people beside the trail were photogs (not a check). Infuriated, I went WFO to finish. “You're early”, the checker said. WHAT GIVES? She was right – in my blind haste to the finish, I forgot to check my comp and was about two seconds early. :bang: The guy behind me was about 5 seconds back, so I dragged him through right on time. I feel so used. :(
I was about 45 seconds late at one check (~1:45), so I can add that to the 6 early points dropped.
If all the “family fun” enduros were like this one, I’d attend them all. Realistic first loop speeds and terrain for slowpokes - my kind of enduro.
The next morning looked good - a bit chilly, but very tolerable. Sitting on my row waiting my minute to come up, I noticed that I was the only one on my row with any time keeping equipment, and there there didn’t appear to be any time keepers on the row behind or in front either. I casually mentioned that I usually couldn’t keep pace anyway, so my timekeeping comp was more ornamental than practical.
When we took off, it became apparent that I was the fastest guy on my row. What gives? I’m always the slowest, so these guys must be either terminally slow or waiting for me to lead them. This is their lucky day. Hit the first check right on time, but for the second check, I figured I’d ride ‘telligent, keeping nearly two minutes ahead of schedule (the possibles were .7 miles apart, so I thought I could scout ahead). As we approached a hill, I noticed a gaggle of riders gathered at the bottom. But my computer showed that the possible had just passed, so I stubbornly went through the pack, right into a check on the other side of the hill (two minutes early). What gives? I probably took a slight detour somewhere and this added to my mileage. I dragged at least one other rider through the check early as well. This was his lucky day..
Somewhere during the middle of the enduro, I began to hear a “cling cling ba bling bling ca ching” sound. What gives? Is my motor about to blow? When I stopped, someone pointed out that kickstand was falling off – the upper mounting bolt was gone. I had to decide at this point whether to quit or risk cartwheeling though the desert. I decide to continue. At the reset, a fellow Kawasaki rider offered the piece inner tube that he used to hold his spark plug wrench. It worked perfectly. :cool:
About a half mile from the finish, there appeared to be check by trail, so I slowed because I was running slightly ahead of schedule. It turns out the the people beside the trail were photogs (not a check). Infuriated, I went WFO to finish. “You're early”, the checker said. WHAT GIVES? She was right – in my blind haste to the finish, I forgot to check my comp and was about two seconds early. :bang: The guy behind me was about 5 seconds back, so I dragged him through right on time. I feel so used. :(
I was about 45 seconds late at one check (~1:45), so I can add that to the 6 early points dropped.
If all the “family fun” enduros were like this one, I’d attend them all. Realistic first loop speeds and terrain for slowpokes - my kind of enduro.
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