AZ-Charouleau Gap
 

HoosierTrailmaster was kind enough to put together this year's rendition of the Charouleau Gap Ride. 9 bikes and 1 Razr started out under blue skies and perfect temps. We postponed the ride from last weekend when it was 22*!!!:eek1 Good call HTM!

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YZFCathy with her new Jack Piner KTM 200 2T. She was flying today!
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Everyone's favorite Big E!!!
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Skip and Roger Razr asking who's truck is sporting the cool Oregon Ducks sticker.:Dhttp://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0011.jpg
Refokus preparing for battle.
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Wild Bill
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WAN on his trusty Husky.
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Big E shows the scars on his Husaberg from trying to pass me the week prior at Coke Ovens. I say Karma!:D
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The ride up to the Gap is pretty smooth and easy. Regrouping.
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The descent from the Gap was nice and smooth. Refokus and WAN
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Until we started hitting patches of ice and snow. John aboard his four fiddy playing slip and slide.
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Better temps! About time. Looks like a nice ride. :thumb

Cathy putting a little english on it.
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CG has lots of water crossings. Skip making a splash.
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Roger making a much bigger splash!
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Skip watching Cathy dance her way through.
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Skip showing off.:D
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Big E powering through.
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This climb out out the wash gave everyone trouble today. I don't remember it being that tough in the past rides. Probably storm erosion. Yeah, that's the ticket. Cathy showing WAN the line.http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMG_0073.jpg

WAN headed for another attempt. The audience grows awaiting their chance.
Boy these dreary winter days in AZ really suck, huh?:rofl
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HTM takes the pro line.
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Roger tells WAN to hop in, it's a piece of cake in a Razr!:loll
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The next tricky climb. Skip got off the line. Restarting in this loose stuff is work.
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True to his handle, Wild Bill came flying up this hill!
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Roger may have spilled some ice tea on this climb...nope, he doesn't break a sweat.
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Refokus and Roger. The weather couldn't have been better. I love AZ winters!:D
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Oracle and lunch are close.
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Lunch at the Oracle Inn. Cathy teasing Big E that she got her sandwich first.
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But not for long missy!
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The group split after lunch, with half slabbing it back to the trucks. HTM and I swapped bikes. Here he rides the CRF on the first part headed home. I was on his 300 2smoke. What a hoot!
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WAN cruising.
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Cathy still flying.
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John, styling on his KTM, made it all look easy today.
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Wild Bill
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The locals were not nearly as impressed with our riding skills as we were.:loll
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HTM's bike decided to take a nap on this nasty climb out of the wash.
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No one had trouble on this hill that gave us so much grief climbing this am.
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The long creek bed was another story. Fatigue was setting in. It took awhile to get everyone through here.
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Great ride with everyone.
 

This was a beautiful day for a ride even if it was a lot of work. I don't remember the last time I went down 4 times in one ride and I was a bit sore this morning. Also stopped by Cycle Gear on the way home for a new battery and tire pressure gauge.

Riding the Gap with 40 lbs in the front and 35 in the rear is a real test. I felt like I was on a pogo stick and usually heading in a seriously bad direction all day. Cathy did me a favor and tossed out our old tire pressure gauges.

Terry heading into the creek where things always get interesting.

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Nice form as always.

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Rodger and the Razr can make anything look easy

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Watercrossings too

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Brad coming through the trees

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and then stepping down into the creek.

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After battling through the water crossing this tough uphill grabbed Wild Bill's bike and tossed it down. As usual, he pirouetted away unharmed.
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From there on it was a smooth ride back to the trucks. While getting another shot of the beautiful scenery, I did mange to catch this UFO hovering above us. The aliens seem to be attacking in bee disguised crafts.:rofl
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Thanks to Hoosier Trailmaster and the Tucson crew for hosting this event for us!:clap

Cathy's out for another day and she has more good photos and a few videos that I'm sure she'll post soon.

But in the mean time here's the rest of mine. Pretty busy picking myself up and didn't get a lot.

Wan up on the pegs, nice

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And into the creek

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Nice body English dear

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John sure had no trouble with this ride. Made everything look easy

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Good to see Big E back in the saddle. Always great riding with you.

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And our fearless leader

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Thanks everyone, had a great time. Skip

Nice pics Skip!

I can't believe you had that much psi in your tires. No way you were getting a pinch flat. I noticed you had new rubber. Did you forget to air down after setting the bead?

It was great fun riding with you guys. Thanks for hosting us Phoenicians.:clap

Awesome pics, I am so glad that you missed all the ones of me on the ground. :rofl

Ooooh baby, I would love me one of those blue Katooms!!:D

Sorry I missed it
 

Looks like you guys had a great day! Sorry the weather delayed it a week. I would have loved to do the ride.

Is anyone riding tomorrow?