Friday and Saturday Rides!

[twistedcricket]

I know many of you are experienced riders, but if you live in an area that doesn't have these types of winding and twisting rodes that you have been practicing on a bunch; then you need to consider another ride.
123 and Push Mountain have some very technical areas to them....10 MPH Hair Pin, Off Camber, Down/Up Hill turns. I certainly am not telling you how to ride but want everyone to have a good and safe ride.

I live in the flatlands. While I made it through several nice twisty roads in the Black Hills of SD, and through Rocky Mtn Natl Park, I'm not as experienced as most riders. My concern is that I tend to be a little slower than most on the twisty roads and I also tend to leave pleeeenty of room ahead of me. I do get a little nervous of someone riding close enough to read the tiny print on my registration sticker

So, I don't get on and stay on the throttle, but I do want some of these nice twisty roads since I have...um, do interstate on-ramps count? :blink:

It sounds like a lot of fun, but I might have to pick a group that isn't going to blast through the roads

 

[vandy]

But this is exactly the kind of info that we need to see so we know what rides to hit or miss..

I myself would be a pile of rubble if I tried to keep up even riding solo.

Thus I will be with my pillion looking for a small to medium group doing a more leasurly pace.

Growing up in North Dakota I was not aware that some roads were actually built with curves built in.

That didnt give me alot of practice for Ark. style roads.

You may not be looking for as slow of a pace as me or not but there should be enough of us so there will be several groups at all paces from snale to wot.. snale being 1 and wot being 5 I'm looking for a 2 or 3 group.

 

[fjrrider]

It was not my intention that these rides be interpreted as "WOT" or some kind of race. Merely for those that like the all day kind of ride in a place (Arkansas) we dont get to ride very often. Remeber Michele (fjrchik) picked Arkansas as the home for SFO for a reason. Both of these loops have the BEST roads in Arkansas, and keeps us off main highways. If you look at the map you will see it is very easy to cut off many sections and still have a very nice loop.

Joey had it right leave at 7:00 or 7:30 and be back by 5:00, that gives us a couple of hrs for a few stops, gas, eating, a couple of senic picture taking spots etc.. and 8 hrs to make the loop. IMO thats a heck of a few days on a motorcycle, and THE main reason I'm going. I know there are those that really dont want that much riding, but there are some that want all they can get, so here we go!

 

[flapsup]

Joey, Scott,
Didn't you guys do this route last year with Fencer and Borrec?? They were back in plenty of time and I remember they did leave very early. I coulda swore they did 400 miles.

You can also take a look at the Push Mtn loop I did at 292 miles. A little alteration can add in 123 Mt Judea and still get you roughly the same mileage for the day. Just a thought.

You are correct, Fencer, Borrec, Flapsup, FJRider, and myself did the Push Mtn loop. I remember being drained at the end but it was worth it!

This was a really nice ride. Never scraped a peg, plenty of stops for food, fuel, water, directional conferences, etc. A demanding day with a brisk pace that never got stupid. I don't think I ever got to 8/10ths of capability. I was tired at the end of the day, but made it back with time enough to shower and change and chill out a little before supper. For those of us who have to genuinely hunt for a few curves and hills that don't consist of on-ramps, SFO is time to ride. If I want scenery, I'll go to the beach!

 

[raclow]

Flapsup:

I agree that SFO is a time to ride and ride is what everyone should do. I wouldn't sleep very well if I didn't voice my concern for every bodies safety. There are plenty of states that have just as challenging, if not greater, roads in them.

Like I said before....it is just information. It is good to know what you might be faced with while riding at SFO and in Arkansas.

To All SFO Attendee's:

Come and be prepared to have a good time and great rides.... :yahoo: :yahoo:

There will be plenty of people to have many different groups and levels of riding.

I want to enjoy the ride and not be so up tight that it wears me out. I like to stop and take in the beauty and sights...I live in this state and still I find new things while I'm out. I ride to relax....I have enough stress with my work. The last thing I want to stress me out is something I do to escape the stress.

So with that said.....ANYONE who wants to ride with me is welcome and I hope the same is extended to me.

LET'S HAVE FUN and ENJOY THE NEW AND OLD FRIENDS WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE.

 

[BwanaDik]

But this is exactly the kind of info that we need to see so we know what rides to hit or miss..I myself would be a pile of rubble if I tried to keep up even riding solo.

Thus I will be with my pillion looking for a small to medium group doing a more leasurly pace.

Growing up in North Dakota I was not aware that some roads were actually built with curves built in.

That didnt give me alot of practice for Ark. style roads.

You may not be looking for as slow of a pace as me or not but there should be enough of us so there will be several groups at all paces from snale to wot.. snale being 1 and wot being 5 I'm looking for a 2 or 3 group.

I agree, I'm with the S.O. and want to see some scenery too. 3+ ought to do it for me. Plus some gawking at stuff along the way. No problems with the twisties, I practice on BOTH turns here in Hooton' on the way to work and back.

Thanks for the maps, there's a lot of possibilities for short cuts if the day feels like it's getting too long.

 

[FJRMGM]

I want to enjoy the ride and not be so up tight that it wears me out. I like to stop and take in the beauty and sights...I live in this state and still I find new things while I'm out. I ride to relax....I have enough stress with my work. The last thing I want to stress me out is something I do to escape the stress.

So with that said.....ANYONE who wants to ride with me is welcome and I hope the same is extended to me.

RACLOW - this is my ride plan too so we should hook up.

I hurry all week long so when I ride I don't like to hurry either.

 

[fjrrider]

OK! So this is coming together nicely. "raclow" being from Little Rock should know the area fairly well, and will take those who want a modest tour.

As for me, all I can say is this. Its not about the length of the journey, its the journey itself. I really enjoy riding this bike and all of its performance characteristics. For me to get the most enjoyment I have to "push" it a little, thats when this bike really shines.

Maybe one day we will have some kind of "Ride Rating System" where ever one will know exactly what kind of ride is being presented.

Using what "Vandy" proposed I would say I am presenting a 3+. But my 3 rating is probably not the same as Vandys 3.

I really like these "Sport Touring Rides" there certainly not "Hog Ralleys" and there not "Track Days" either. I have been on quite a few and the thing I see missing the most is info. on the "Rides"

I am sure there will be a least 6 or 7 riders out of the 70+ posted that want the full on Sport Tour Adventure.

Looking forward to it!

 

[BwanaDik]

I think "splitting the difference" is a good approach. I came back from a Pridmore Class at Willow Springs last fall and traveled to Santa Barbara by way of Frazier Park and Caliente Bodfish road. We were flying through the Park, doing our best head down, throttle up routine. By doing so, I missed some of the most beautiful scenery in that part of the country. I hadn't been over that road since I had gone camping there when I was a kid. I still kick myself for not slowing down and checking it all out because there's very little chance of getting over that stretch of road again. My Avatar is on the Serria Hwy heading toward Rosamond. Had I been flying, I would have missed the shot.

On the other hand, FM 149 through the Sam Houston Forrest is right in my own backyard. Good road with lots of fast sweepers so I fly through there. I can see it anytime.

So probably a little of both.

 

[raclow]

FJRMGM:

You can ride with me and whoever else wants to ride with us.

FJRRIDER:

Thanks for assigning me the leadership role........

Don't get me wrong, if the heat needs to be turned up in the twisties then I can add the fuel. It just isn't my typical ride I like to enjoy...what I mean is Peg Scraping in a 35 MPH curve at 60 MPH.

I like a moderate pace. I like to have enough time to react to a bad situation if I need to do so. Like I said before, each day I'm still alive is a great day for me after living the 80's pretty hard......I'll be damn if I'm going to die on a Motorcycle because I pushed my limits way further than I should have.....I already did that on two feet. I know anything can happen and that's what I plan for. ( I can hear the PUSS alert getting ready to sound....so what....it wouldn't be the first time.. )

We can talk about these routes Thursday evening over some beverages. Then ride Friday, and talk about some more routes for Saturday....over some beverages......

Whatever happens, NO ONE will be left behind unless they want to hang out in their room......which isn't a problem for me either.

TO EACH HIS/HER OWN.........this is going to be fun and safe.

Let me know if I can help any of you with info regarding the area.....PM me.

Take care.

 

[fjrrider]

Thanks for assigning me the leadership role........

Your welcome, but I think you did that yourself

So with that said.....ANYONE who wants to ride with me is welcome and I hope the same is extended to me.

Don't get me wrong, if the heat needs to be turned up in the twisties then I can add the fuel. It just isn't my typical ride I like to enjoy...what I mean is Peg Scraping in a 35 MPH curve at 60 MPH.

No peg scraping, instead take away some lean angle, a 35MPH curve you can do at 70 MPH on a FJR, no problem.

I like a moderate pace. I like to have enough time to react to a bad situation if I need to do so. Like I said before, each day I'm still alive is a great day for me after living the 80's pretty hard......I'll be damn if I'm going to die on a Motorcycle because I pushed my limits way further than I should have.....I already did that on two feet. I know anything can happen and that's what I plan for. ( I can hear the PUSS alert getting ready to sound....so what....it wouldn't be the first time..

Well you gotta die sometime!, just kidding!

I'm not calling anybody a PUSS, Ride how ever you want to.

There are at least 7 guys so far that will ride in my group, thats plenty for a group and we will ride both loops fully.

There are plenty of others (70+) that are coming to ride, I guess. I just hope they find a ride that they enjoy enough to come back next year.

 

[fjrchik]

OK..... let's move along here. Folks, do what you want, not what others want you to do.

I would recommend finding like-minded riders for your group. Myself and a coupla others worked diligently at that last year and we had great rides. 2 other folks that hadn't been a part of our conversation the night before, joined us at the last minute as we were about to leave. That was fine. But they didn't enjoy riding at our pace. So it was the right call for them to split off and go on their own.

For those of you who haven't been to AR before, generally the road signs in AR are very accurate for the moderately skilled. They are not like here in TX where is says 40 mph for a curve that you don't even need to slow down for. When it says 10mph, they mean it. Get down to 1st gear. I made that mistake on the switchbacks on 123 at Mt. Judea. Be sure your aware of those. They certainly caught me by surprise my first year there and it wasn't pretty.

 

[lotecredneck]

OK..... let's move along here. Folks, do what you want, not what others want you to do.
I would recommend finding like-minded riders for your group. Myself and a coupla others worked diligently at that last year and we had great rides. 2 other folks that hadn't been a part of our conversation the night before, joined us at the last minute as we were about to leave. That was fine. But they didn't enjoy riding at our pace. So it was the right call for them to split off and go on their own.

For those of you who haven't been to AR before, generally the road signs in AR are very accurate for the moderately skilled. They are not like here in TX where is says 40 mph for a curve that you don't even need to slow down for. When it says 10mph, they mean it. Get down to 1st gear. I made that mistake on the switchbacks on 123 at Mt. Judea. Be sure your aware of those. They certainly caught me by surprise my first year there and it wasn't pretty.

Michelle,

The switchbacks on 123 are pretty easy if you go South to North on 123. It doesn't really matter what gear your in...gravity will take over and get you down. :yahoo:

 

[fjrchik]

OK..... let's move along here. Folks, do what you want, not what others want you to do.
I would recommend finding like-minded riders for your group. Myself and a coupla others worked diligently at that last year and we had great rides. 2 other folks that hadn't been a part of our conversation the night before, joined us at the last minute as we were about to leave. That was fine. But they didn't enjoy riding at our pace. So it was the right call for them to split off and go on their own.

For those of you who haven't been to AR before, generally the road signs in AR are very accurate for the moderately skilled. They are not like here in TX where is says 40 mph for a curve that you don't even need to slow down for. When it says 10mph, they mean it. Get down to 1st gear. I made that mistake on the switchbacks on 123 at Mt. Judea. Be sure your aware of those. They certainly caught me by surprise my first year there and it wasn't pretty.

Michelle,

The switchbacks on 123 are pretty easy if you go South to North on 123. It doesn't really matter what gear your in...gravity will take over and get you down. :yahoo:

BINGO!! that was the problem! goin uphill, straight into the blinding sun. note to self, go downhill next time. :lol:

 

[raclow]

OK..... let's move along here. Folks, do what you want, not what others want you to do.
I would recommend finding like-minded riders for your group. Myself and a coupla others worked diligently at that last year and we had great rides. 2 other folks that hadn't been a part of our conversation the night before, joined us at the last minute as we were about to leave. That was fine. But they didn't enjoy riding at our pace. So it was the right call for them to split off and go on their own.

For those of you who haven't been to AR before, generally the road signs in AR are very accurate for the moderately skilled. They are not like here in TX where is says 40 mph for a curve that you don't even need to slow down for. When it says 10mph, they mean it. Get down to 1st gear. I made that mistake on the switchbacks on 123 at Mt. Judea. Be sure your aware of those. They certainly caught me by surprise my first year there and it wasn't pretty.

Chik:

I couldn't agree more.

Seems like my message all along. Sad that some people couldn't get that before.

Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.

Be careful on your ride up to Eureka.

Mine and ARFJR's arrival time has to be changed. We will arrive around the noon hour on Friday....just found out tonight.

TO ALL:

Have a safe trip to Eureka Springs. We are looking forward to meeting/seeing everyone.

 

[fjrrider]

https://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/Sout...t/AR/AR_2.shtml

This is a neat little article about "Push Mountain Road" taken from an earlier post somewhere.