Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127826
'RESENT degrees when the first of the riders followed their roll charts north out of Ridgecrest toward Kelso Valley, a secluded area between Jawbone Canyon and Lake Isabella. The trails were easy at the start of the day, with a lot of graded roads and jeep trails to warm up on, making the ride perfect for novice dual sporters good for experienced riders who had taken a month or two off over the cold season. The easy-going morning run was punctuated by two hard-way options that combined nasty uphills and downhills to get the blood flowing. "That part was more like the Hi Desert 250 National Enduro" Larry Woodruff said. "There was snow, ice, mud - all at the same time, and I got really wet socks. When that stuff comes off your front fender, it hits your pants and dribbles down into your boots. And that's not the only problem I had. On the first downhill, 1 did a big face plant. Thank goodness nobody was around to see me. Axle-deep snow lined most of the trail through Kelso Valley, but the resourceful dual sporters took it in stride. "1 didn't fall down," Tasha Whitmore said. "When I don't fall down, that makes it a wonderful day. [t was great because 1 learned something, too. I learned how to ride in slushy snow. You just pretend it's deep sand and everything works fine." Fred Syrett learned something too: You should be very careful not to wash out on slick roads. "Saturday's ride was very good until 1 fell down and hurt my right foot," Syrett said. "Kelso Valley Road had snow on it and the bike just washed out from under me and down it went, and 1 got my leg caught under it. It was a good day other than that." Lunch consisted of a hamburger special at the Jawbone Canyon Store, then it Was back in the saddle for a 10-mile qrone up Highway 14, followed by a roller-coaster ride along the ridge tops, where crystal-ciear air made for spectacular views. Riders enjoyed a 360-degree view of the desert, and a bird's-eye look at Honda's secret test track - a sevenmile· paved oval in the middle of nowhere. The riders got together to discuss day one's 140-mile ride at a banquet and a prize giveaway that netted them such goodies as a TravelCade gel seat, two sets of Bridgestone tires and a Quick Jack courtesy of Progressive Suspension. "One guy fell off on one of the downhills and cracked three ribs, and we had one guy bum out a clutch on the uphills but that w""" about it - nothing major," event organizer Langley reported. "When it's wet like that, it makes it fun and exciting, and the guys really liked it because there was no dust." Alfred Jorgensen admitted to having a great time out on the trail and was full of praise for his Husky. "Riding in the snow added a new dimension to it and 1 liked that," Jorgensen said. "1 had no problems in the snow because I ride a Swedish bike." Alfred's brother Anker Jorgensen, who was visiting from Denmark, thought the snow was no big deal but was fascinated by the wide-open spaces. "I really envy you guys that you have the area to do things like this," he told his fellow riders. "We don't in Denmark. I have a Husky 250 back home, but I could never do anything like this on it." Sunday dawned almost as cold as Saturday but the riders and the air tem- THE A N INAUGURAL D CLAYTON FOUNDATION CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC Tuesday, March 4, 1997 1 P.M. II Indigo Lakes GoH Club Daytona Beach, FL --CALL NOWSPACE IS LIMITED For Information on Individual/Team Entries and Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Call (770) 934-7850 or e-mail: golf@cyclenews.com 27