ok so today i get out and really for the first time just let it rip playing in the desert. i had a blast but found my self looking for another gear thats easy to fix but was wondering what tips u have that can help me go faster safer?
today i only put on guessing 25 to 30 miles but i was alone so didnt want to get too far out from help if needed.
i am looking to get in shape to hopefully ride the course of the baja 1000. not to race but to at least ride it and see everything.
i think it would be great to put together 15 to 20 people together to go ride it. and i think with that # we should be safe if we stay in a group to just be able to enjoy outselfs and not deal with bad people.
what do u think? or am i just crazy lol.
dan
Full Version: Desert Riding Tips
gearing and taller tires. there are alot of places you can ride hundreds of miles at a time legally. a fun ride is from mexicali to san felipe!
tips to riding the desert faster, ride more. try to find a group of more experienced riders. when you get tired of riding, keep riding. till the thing is out of gas. then you can take a break.
The thing about the desert is you can get lulled into a comfort zone very easily and then a drop off comes up. Don't ride 100% through terrain that you don't know very well. You can come across a dry creek bed, gully, dirt mound, or rock so fast that you don't have time to slow down or even think. Stand up alot. You can use your legs for suspension and to see over the terrain a little better. Assume there is someone coming at the same speed as you at every crossing. Most times there won't be but every once in a while, there will be.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
Be prepared to take some spills. You will learn from every one of them. 
QUOTE (Fireballsocal @ Jun 8 2009, 07:59 PM) 
The thing about the desert is you can get lulled into a comfort zone very easily and then a drop off comes up. Don't ride 100% through terrain that you don't know very well. You can come across a dry creek bed, gully, dirt mound, or rock so fast that you don't have time to slow down or even think. Stand up alot. You can use your legs for suspension and to see over the terrain a little better. Assume there is someone coming at the same speed as you at every crossing. Most times there won't be but every once in a while, there will be.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
yea i found my self standing most of the time, as i am feeling it today lol. i might try to hopfully start riding my quad more then once a year here soon
QUOTE (danno333 @ Jun 8 2009, 08:48 PM)
QUOTE (Fireballsocal @ Jun 8 2009, 07:59 PM)
The thing about the desert is you can get lulled into a comfort zone very easily and then a drop off comes up. Don't ride 100% through terrain that you don't know very well. You can come across a dry creek bed, gully, dirt mound, or rock so fast that you don't have time to slow down or even think. Stand up alot. You can use your legs for suspension and to see over the terrain a little better. Assume there is someone coming at the same speed as you at every crossing. Most times there won't be but every once in a while, there will be.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
Never go out alone. Ever, as tempting as it may be. You can break somethig on you or the bike and the places we ride are usually well out of cell phone range.
As Captain Havoc above me said, ride alot. As much as you can and if you go with guys that push your skill level, you will get better fast.
yea i found my self standing most of the time, as i am feeling it today lol. i might try to hopfully start riding my quad more then once a year here soon
oh stretch alot before you go ride, and after. pop a couple tums. go on atvrideronline and they have tips in a pass issue to prevent arm pump.
Bananas! The things are great for arm pump!
QUOTE (Fireballsocal @ Jun 9 2009, 05:34 AM)
Bananas! The things are great for arm pump!
powerbar and a banana before every race
QUOTE (Fireballsocal @ Jun 9 2009, 05:34 AM)
Bananas! The things are great for arm pump!
i would think they would just make u slip and wipe out
good info guys keep them comming. 
Best advice in the world is ........Barbed Wire is invisable at 55mph and some roads go directly to abandon mine shafts.
try doing an AMA district 37 race or a WORCS race and see if you can last an hr or couple. Baja is dangerous. reason why WORCS was created. safe enviorment for racers. D37 will be on local trails but is not closed course. the thing you could hit is truck, bike or spectator crossing not paying attention. just things to think about. ride at night too. if your goign to do baja, dont fear the night.
As GWTT said ride till it's out of gas, but I never considered that break time 
You will learn a different way to navigate terrain than the dunes, and when back in the dunes you will find things that others can't even conceptualize just riding the dunes. Use ruts and such as ways to help you through a turn or rev up the motor instead of using the clutch. Those are just a couple examples. The desert is my home on a quad, if I can ever make a trip you plan I will be there.
You will learn a different way to navigate terrain than the dunes, and when back in the dunes you will find things that others can't even conceptualize just riding the dunes. Use ruts and such as ways to help you through a turn or rev up the motor instead of using the clutch. Those are just a couple examples. The desert is my home on a quad, if I can ever make a trip you plan I will be there.
Look what I found! Danno - Hard pack desert riding is all Tony and I do here in the Summer. We mostly stick to Blaisdale, but if you know any other spots we'd love checking them out with you. Even if I'm busy with errands or whatever - Tony is seriously ALWAYS up for riding. He makes me ride till I'm ready to tip over then he drops me off at home (we live next to Blaisdale) and goes out for at least another hour but he has to stay where I can hear or see him so if you came along he could go further out.
This weekend will be perfect weather....we usually go out in the AM. Give me a call or shoot me a PM or comment if you are interested.
Oh and do you ever workout? You've seen me - not a whole lot of muscles going on here. I started working out because the bike tore me up. I do weights to work on my arms and upper back and as many squats as I can handle to help strengthen my legs. It will help with soreness the next day and give you more stamina while out.
This weekend will be perfect weather....we usually go out in the AM. Give me a call or shoot me a PM or comment if you are interested.
Oh and do you ever workout? You've seen me - not a whole lot of muscles going on here. I started working out because the bike tore me up. I do weights to work on my arms and upper back and as many squats as I can handle to help strengthen my legs. It will help with soreness the next day and give you more stamina while out.
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