At the rate days are flying by I’m going to be as old as Methuselah before I know it. I flubbed once again so we have the April President’s Corner in May.

As I was pondering what to write, I thought about the beginning of our riding season.

About three years ago Steve, Roger, Roy and I decided to ride our dual-sport 650’s in Baja. After a couple days, we arrived in Guerrero Negro well after dark, and decided to take a day off to go whale watching. This departure from our ride was an awesome experience, and I made a new friend, Baby, who was about the size of a stretched passenger van.

We had an uneventful couple days after meeting Baby until we headed to El Arco en route to San Francisquito on the Sea of Cortez. After El Arco and as we climbed into the mountains, the effects of the hurricane that blew across Baja from the Sea of Cortez the summer before made its presence known many months after it dissipated over the Pacific Ocean in the form of washed out roads, deep ruts and most riders nemesis, deep sand. What once was a valley suitable for grazing cattle was a sand wash from side to side with just enough big rocks and ruts to foreclose any hope of getting enough speed up to stay on top of the sand. By late afternoon we were exhausted, dehydrated and psychologically spent. More significantly, we only were about half way to San Francisquito. As we approached the spine of Baja in the mountains at dusk on what barely passed for a sandy Jeep trail, we were contemplating how we could spend the night in the middle of nowhere without camping gear. We decided to press on just a little bit more, and were saved by Rancho Piedra Blanca where we rented rooms for the night, took a shower, ate fresh fish and steak dinner, and drank about a case of cold beer. In every respect, the Rancho was paradise.

As we ramp up the riding season and embark on our travels, take a day off to pursue a different venture. It may lead to an unexpected new friend. When you are at your wits end, look around the next corner and you may find paradise. When you get home, share your photos and experiences by submitting a photo journal or article for the Newsletter.  

Salud!

Thoughts / Suggestions / Insults / Welcomed / Appreciated

Jack

Last fall, someone asked me if we, the club, do anything. I was flummoxed, knowing all we do as a club and the effort volunteers invest in their events. I went through a few past events, and a few scheduled. I dedicate the March PC to events past in anticipation of another great year. 

The rest of the initial conversation was:

"I looked at your web site and the last post was like eight years ago. I had to ask if you (RCB) do anything other than breakfast and the monthly member ride."

The lesson learned is we are terrible, me included, about taking a minute to take a few photographs during our rides and events. Let’s make a pledge to grab our cell phones and take a few pictures. They can be shared on our new web site. We are getting closer to going full in, full time. Details to follow.Thoughts / Suggestions / Insults / Welcomed / Appreciated

Jack

Many apologies for being late. We had two trials in mid-February and March 6. Getting ready for trial is a bit like getting ready to take your life on the road – you must be prepared, know your route, stops and destinations well, be prepared for everything, and be sufficiently flexible to change direction at any moment. Any ride is more fun.

My daughter finished and passed her Basic Rider Course. Now what? Here are a few notions I jotted down for her. As we start another riding season, perhaps we all should ponder these notions.

 TURNS:

-     Vision/Perception, Braking, Shifting and Decision-Making

      - Get any of these wrong and you may experience some anxiety. Get it really wrong?  Panic? NO!! Relax, Focus on the exit, and the bike will go there.

Tactics

-     Reference Points – Vision – Look through the corner to the exit

-     Actively Gage the Topography

-     Ex.: If the road is cut out of a hillside and all you see ahead is sky, there is a near certainty the road turns toward the hillside, perhaps sharply.

-      Reduce Tasks – “Ride The Motor” eliminating shifting and use engine braking

-     Plan Ahead – Get Braking, Down Shifting Completed Quickly and Early

-     Develop Skills/Confidence to Carry More Speed

Goals

ID What You Do Well – Practice / Reinforce Those Skills

ID Weaknesses – Build Skill

ID “Bad Habits” – Break Them

            -   When You Make a Mistake, Try To Do It Again. WHAT? Yep, then you have an opportunity to ID the mistake and Break the Habit

Thoughts / Suggestions / Insults / Welcomed / Appreciated

Jack