I know. I know. I should be doing the ride calendar, but it's so beautiful out. Gotta ride!
Yes it is a nice day. Just got back back from a short run. On Sunday I am going down 88 to Jackson and explore some side roads down there. So far I am not impressed with any thing I have seen. Still a lot of sand.
Kevin
KKM, I'd agree with that. There are some roads that could have potential, but the ones I've been on are lined with houses. Who wants to step it up when there are playground balls flying across the street? There was another road east of 49 near New Melones, I believe. Looked great on the map. It was good on the north side of the bridge, but the south side had a ridiculously slow speed limit and the road surface was rather spotty. But hey, if other people love 'em, good for them!
So. Between Sattley and Yuba Pass is still covered with light to heavy patches of gravel/sand. :surrender :squid They sealed the cracks and use the sand to embed into the tar. That'll be better for grip after it cures. So be careful.
Almost perfectly clean everywhere else. 80% pace and puck polishing wasn't a problem today. Although, I cheated. To be safe, I took it slow on the first pass, then on my second lap (Yuba Pass west) I took it up to normal speed.
Lots of softball sized rocks in the road throughout too. I say lots, but about a half dozen or so and there are sharp splinters smashed in places. If you stay on the lookout for them, you shouldn't have a problem.
And there were two LEOs staking out the D-ville route and one going back and forth between Truckee and Sierraville. Dunno if some of that had to do with SCR's group ride today, but they would have had to pass two of them going in both directions. Saw what appeared to be there group in Downieville, but I was just passing through today.
The weather was splendid! :chilling
Hell maybe it would have better to just go to RFR this weekend. I dont think they sand the track there do they? Anyhow I will go to Jackson and just try to have fun on the back roads tomorrow.
Kevin
I might check-out my fav - CA108 (Sonora Pass) on Sunday (via Monitor). Since it's closed in winter, there should be minimal sand. Just the usual hairball right corners where some marooon cut the shoulder and washed gravel into the traffic lane. Will probably take my 4-wheel sportbike this trip, since she is less finicky than MilleR about road sand (and I can take more photo gear in S-Car).
I appreciate the earlier SSA reports from Monitor, sounds like TOO MUCH FUN. Will try to be back in Malarky-ville ~1pm for lunch @ the sandwich shop, in case any SSA folks are hanging out.
Everyone have a great HOT Sunday!
Its kind of funny that everybody is heading to all points trying to find some good roads.
Kevin
With so little snow this winter, heck, I'm considering doing the SSA Fecta Ride (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-80+E&daddr=Topsy+Lane,+Carson+City,+NV+to:NV-88+S+to:Kingsbury+Grade+Rd+to:Wentworth+Springs+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:CA-49+N+to:Christian+Valley+Rd+to:Christian+Valley+Rd+to:Witt+Rd+to:Blue+Grass+Dr+to:Ridge+Rd+to:Co+Route+S620+to:Oroville-Quincy+Hwy+to:Quincy,+CA+to:Quincy+La+Porte+Rd+to:Quincy,+CA+to:Beckwourth+Calpine+Rd+to:Sierraville,+CA+to:I-80+E&hl=en&sll=39.361909,-120.528259&sspn=1.2911,2.90863&geocode=FYohWwIdn07b-A%3BFcLGVAIdw2_c-ClPVfRhxqGZgDG2tA_jWCmyOw%3BFe4QUgIdgE_c-A%3BFXCkUgId_Dra-A%3BFb4mUgId7-_S-A%3BFRAdUwIdqujO-A%3BFf5mUgIdkiXI-A%3BFZyfUgIdBiXJ-A%3BFXzvUgIdf5HI-A%3BFfriUgIdoF3I-A%3BFcCGUgIdM1bI-A%3BFYp1WQIdp2DJ-A%3BFZ6sXQIdZPLO-A%3BFVAJXgIdetzE-A%3BFURjYQIdGH7K-Ckj48MIYlycgDERPeGrPcDrBA%3BFc7CXQId4DTK-A%3BFURjYQIdGH7K-Ckj48MIYlycgDERPeGrPcDrBA%3BFeLQXgIdkkfT-A%3BFaIWXAIdfFjT-Cl3SkPo5_ebgDFkbEFSWol1GA%3BFZwVWwIdeAnb-A&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=9&t=h&z=9) here in the upcoming weeks. Do it while it's relatively cool out. The wildcards will be La Porte and Bucks Lake. Not sure if they're open and ready to ride.
I considered going out to RFR, still might. Just don't want to go during the week nor when it's so hot out the tires turn to grease.
Ralph and I took a 300 miler Saturday and our entire route was clean of sand with just a few very small patches of snow melt run-off here and there up towards the summit of hwy 88. Oh wow, how nice it was to see green hills and pastures again on the other side of the mountain! A fantastic canyon carving day it was. Our day started out by heading up and over hwy 50 to the Sly Park exit at Pollock Pines. Then twisty fun on into Placerville, turning south on hwy 49 and passing through Jackson to Mokelumne. Then the real twisty stuff started on route 26 on into West Point, Pioneer and eventually out onto hwy 88 and home again. We usually go on to Angels camp and back home via Ebbetts Pass, but that's still closed. Route 26 is one of the best rides out there kids, I highly recommend it when you're in the vicinity!
Jimbo
Thanks for the road reports everyone. I'm hoping to go somewhere maybe Wednesday
Argh, you guys are killing me. The MSF can't come soon enough, lol...
In the meantime, I have to have fun vicariously through your trip reports. Thanks for the reports, can't wait to get enough experience under my belt to join you!
There was no sand (nor traffic/LEOs) on the race track this weekend.
Quote from: dub on April 29, 2013, 02:53:35 PM
There was no sand (nor traffic/LEOs) on the race track this weekend.
Speaking of RFR. I hear they have big plans to renovate, including a complete track repave, showers and garages. Seems hard to fathom given the history.
What course was setup this weekend, H or C?
It was C.
Yeah, the latest buzz is that there is a new guy who bought the dirt track and signed a 5 year lease on the road course and he has plans to improve. But we've heard that before. I'm reasonably certain that absolutely nothing will change, as usual.
I'm planning on going to the 18th n 19th this month. I'd be happy if they just swept it better
I had a great time at the bumpy RFR on Saturday,
for the first track day of the year.
Quote from: GreenMachine on April 27, 2013, 10:07:48 AM
I know. I know. I should be doing the ride calendar, but it's so beautiful out. Gotta ride!
Speaking of which, I went to the weekly ride sub-forum to check on what the ride was this week and I couldn't find a 2013 schedule. Am I looking in the wrong place?
Quote from: Tahoebrian5 on May 02, 2013, 07:45:36 AM
I'm planning on going to the 18th n 19th this month. I'd be happy if they just swept it better
It was perfectly clean last week. There are a few new bumps, though. I'll let you find them for yourself, it will be more fun that way!
Quote from: dr1150 on May 02, 2013, 08:49:13 AM
I had a great time at the bumpy RFR on Saturday,
for the first track day of the year.
You were out on Saturday, Dave? I didn't get to see you.
Yes I was, I will also be out there on the 18th.
Good to hear that you are out riding Dave! I don't keep up on the track schedules, but this early in the season would be ideal for RFR. If there were room for another bike I could have shared in the cost.
2013 schedule. Alright, already! I'll do it tonight, unless I have company, of course. So much to research. Dub, you're in the right place, I just haven't posted anything.
I've been looking at the classes offered by Precision out at RFR, and it looks like a good way to learn how to control the bike at speed in a safe environment (safer than Mt. Rose Highway or Hwy. 50 anyway). How much riding experience would you guys suggest before attempting the low-bracket class (class C I think)? I've been considering trying it next season, after 6-8 months of riding experience.
Dave, what were you riding at the track? Did you replace the Duc with another sportbike?
Quote from: RenoRider75 on May 03, 2013, 10:14:33 AM
I've been looking at the classes offered by Precision out at RFR, and it looks like a good way to learn how to control the bike at speed in a safe environment (safer than Mt. Rose Highway or Hwy. 50 anyway). How much riding experience would you guys suggest before attempting the low-bracket class (class C I think)? I've been considering trying it next season, after 6-8 months of riding experience.
You should have enough experience that operating the controls of the motorcycle, throttle, clutch, brakes, gears, is second nature. You should be comfortable on your bike and proficient in the basics. In other words, the track isn't the place to learn how to operate your motorcycle. After the MSF, continue to practice the basics in a big parking lot or a quiet street. Then do a few day rides. If I had to put a number on it, I would say
maybe 1000 miles of seat time should be more than enough. There's no need to wait until next season. Trackdays at RFR happen all the way into October; you will be more than ready by then.
Doing a couple trackdays is a great way to become a safer rider on the street. You will learn more about riding a motorcycle in one day on the track than you could in a lifetime of riding over mtn passes. The single most common cause of single vehicle motorcycle crashes is failure to negotiate a corner (they will teach you that in your MSF). What that almost always means is the rider came into the corner too hot, or the radius tightened unexpectedly, and they felt they 'weren't going to make it'. So they stood the bike up, target fixated, and ran off the road or crashed into something. What they don't know is that more than likely, if they had just leaned the bike over, looked where they wanted to go and continued to make smooth inputs to the bars and throttle, they probably could have ridden away with no drama. But they don't know that because they have no idea just how capable their motorcycle is and they have to idea how to manipulate the controls in order to get it to do what they want it to do.
Once you get it on the track you will be shocked at how capable even your Ninja 650 is. It's capability will far exceed your skill, at first. You will learn how far over it can lean, until it drags hard parts, then further. You will learn how hard it can brake before it flips it's self end over end. You will learn how hard and deep into the corner you can carry the brakes while increasing lean angle. These skills will translate directly on the street the first time you come into a corner with a little more speed than you intended.
Hello GM, I had a friend take me to the track, I can't get there on my own.
Hello Wiles, I sold the Duc, and replaced it with a GSXR 750 track only bike.