Rawhyde Adventures....East to West..and back

Did he make it back? How was the class?

Damn, this is worse then waiting for the next season's shows on HBO

Great RR.
Could you give an address or contact info for the BMS place in Ventura that did your seat.
I live close by and I'm looking to redo my seat.

Thankx
M

BUMP

Would like to know if you survived Rawhyde?

Well, I'm headed out there for their "Next Step" class on March 22nd.....I'll look and see if he's still there

Sweet!

This has all the makings of a really good Ride Report.

First. I really like how you have lovingly customized your bike.
Second. Heck, let's ride cross country in three or four days in January.
Third. Lots of good food pictures.
Fourth. The "performance" award in Texas.

Seems like you have what it takes.
Subscribed.

Good work.
Q~

Well what happened. Did he just get tired of posting? Interested to see how his experience at Rawhyde went. His profile shows he is still active on the ADV site.

Day 10 and 11

Rawhyde Adventures Camp

Unfortunately, Rawhyde Adventures did not resemble the expectations had thought during my 3,600 miles across the country. It blew my expectations, dreams, and fantasies AWAY!

Being the lone Yamaha in the group, I felt needed pressure to perform (similar to my sex life…WHY GOD, WHY!?!?) Here the bikes are parked in the “paddock” area Saturday morning. Can you spot the Lone Yami?



The night was a good sleep in the bunk house with a bed electric bed warmer just in case you get cold.

My Bunk:



My home for the weekend:



As I said, the weekend was amazing. Maybe it was the other riders there, but I am willing to bet every RawHyde weekend is the same. There were 2/3 groups there: 1) us intro newbs, 2) the next step show-offs, and 3) the people I want to be, aka a group going to Africa this year. All in all, it was worth the time to just shoot the poop with the other riders about their experiences, where they have been, where they want to go, and life in general. Well, that and the food.

Saturday morning started out with a lecture from the man…the myth…the legend…Mr Hyde himself…on body positioning and the “deliverables” for the weekend. The information is presented in bit by bit facts that you then get to try out for yourself. Most rental bikes were already “prepped to sleep” with mirrors, turn signals, and windscreens off. I quickly relieved mine and we were off down the dirt driveway…riding one footed and sidesaddle at times! The lessons learned Saturday were confidence inspiring as we trained on dirt, gravel, grass, and mud; including uphill, downhill, and even sidehill (if that is a word…?) Through Saturday, I went from rigid, stick up the butt on dirt roads to gumbee (well, as best a 30 year old out of shape athlete can be) being able to ride under 1 mph without a stall!


Prior to moving onto Sunday, let’s just have a moment of silence for Andy Chang’s family jewels. They were lost in the gravel pit as we were practicing panick stops. That poor BMW Tank never wanted that close of a relationship with Andy…but it got’em.


The food at Rawhyde. Let’s just say, I have paid more for 3 night stays at a resort with supposed 5 star menus that did not even compare to what we ate (and drank) at Camp RawHyde. Here are photos to wet your whistle:









Wine Anyone?



Onto Sunday

To infinity and Beyond!



Sunday was a “put it together and let’s make it more difficult” starting out with some figure 8’s on a sloped, wet, grassy surface to going beach style up near the tower. I am not sure how, but somehow I am (semi) able to ride through sand without issue (well, not sugar sand). With the intro group split into two groups of about 8, we ran through drills from tight uphill and downhill switchbacks to different ways to attack a steep downhill section to very tight upty-ups.

A quick pic of my accidental but not really skid sstop..yea, I am master zen level rider now:



Cresting a muddy hill






All in All, the weekend was amazing.


My Rawhyde thoughts:

Coming into Rawhyde, I was very apprehensive. I have only ridden on dirt once with Cornerspin (good course by the way) and managed to highside a 100cc dirtbike and break my foot. I do have significant experience on the road/track and even cashed out for the Yamaha Champions Racing School. I would consider both these venues to be the gold standards of their specific intended educational purpose. However, Rawhyde trumps the YCRS in value and a bit in ambience. YCRS is a 2 day school which costs $2,300. This only includes 8 hours of instruction and track time. Rawhyde’s 2 day course includes lodging and meals, along with a group ambience that cannot be beat (everyone eats together in the “cafeteria”), that only costs $1,400. For both programs, you will get the best of the best training and, unless you have memory issues, you will go home satisfied. Nevertheless, I would (and plan on) participating in Rawhyde Adventures again….and again……and maybe again.

Glad to hear you made it back....

Looks like an awesome time....Can't wait for my class on the 22nd.

Any suggestions as to things you thought you should have brought but didn't?
or things you brought that you were glad you did?

Are you renting? If so, you do not need much. They provide a very warm sleeping bag, pillow, cot, etc. The bikes are fully ready to go. Some advil would have nice and some icyhot/biofreeze as well.

If you are riding down, then you will not need your panniers (or take them off) and windscreen/turn signals. Being the Yami doesn't have the sweet frame sliders like the BMW (aka the headers), I was a bit worried about the TT fog light and my signals. However, no damage to the S10 from my inspection (3 drops).

A good water bottle and rehydration type drinks. They do have water there (and plenty of beer/wine/liquor), but no electrolyte supplements. You do get a big liter water bottle, but nothing fancy.

Yep, renting, flying out next friday...
Advil was already on the list as well as a camelback

Thanks for the feedback....

Update and Review,

After the Rawhyde course, I took a little break to enjoy some western skiing. Unfortunately, my pic count went way down and I also hit a flu.

After breaking off from the group to head back towards Vegas and Utah, I started to not feel too hot....well, actually, I felt very hot. I had my heated gear turned all the way up and was still shivering.

FACT OF THE DAY: If you are looking for a Starbuck in Vegas, you will have to go into a Casino. Garmin managed to direct me to 3 different starbucks....all in casinos. So, Wendy's it is. I called up to a town in Utah where 15 and 70 break off. Booked the room and said I would be up there in a few hours. After munching down some food, I thought I should probably check on the weather. Called back and sure as poop, it was snowing there. Change of plan. Which turned out to be OK with me as my temperature only grew from there.

Called in a few favors from the board and ended up in St George UT. Found a place to sleep and konked out for 13 hours. Got up and rented a car to hit the open road to Aspen. Spent one day laying in bed while my better 3/4 skied with my friends. But, I am firm believer that flu shots only make your immune system weaker, and I stand by that. One day later I was out on the slopes and enjoying some high altitude beer.

After that little break, I was ready to be home, so hoofed it across I40 and made it home in 3 days.

Gear Review:
- Olympia XMoto Pant and Jacket - after purchasing my heated gear, I realized that the liners of the XMoto were very redundant and just added weight. Plus, I was not a fan of the "rain" layer. Basically I turned it into a shell. It worked very well with sufficient pockets and the integrated, removable camel back is nice. The pants on the other hand.....well, they ripped one morning when my leg needed some extra "help" getting over the bike. I would not recommend the pants, but the jacket (shell only) was perfect.

Sidi Adventures - I love Sidi and they have saved my feet many times on the track. These are very comfortable and well worth the price. I do not have the rains.

Arai XD3 - no complaints except for loosing a screw on the visor.

Held Sambia - LOVE THESE GLOVES!

Gerbings heated gear - Worked well with no hot spots. The pant to boot liner connection is not very well thought out, as you have to connect them prior to stepping into your boot..but you have to have your foot halfway in the boot prior to connecting them.

Powerlet heated glove liners - Holy shite, these things get hot

Protection Review:

I am running mostly Altrider stuff and it worked well. The only issue is the foot pad. Sorry Altrider, but ya got this wrong on the S10. With the low clearance, I was hiting it over every little bump off road. We were on a stretch of Mojave Desert road "cruising" along and at some point, I ripped a screw out.

D66 - Love the larger bag, EXCEPT the plastic loops to attach the top to the bottom bag. It broke. these should be metal. I am not a fan of the top bag, as I think the circumference is too small.

Bags Connection dry bag - Great replacement for the top D66 bag, but again, plastic clips SUCK! and one broke on my second night out.

Givi E55 - Great top bag, but I can see where it may not enjoy the back roads and higher speed bumps. Easy access and the extra lights are nice to have.

Trax side cases - one was leaky, but I used dry bags in conjunction with the panniers. Fairly easy on and off and I was able to get in them with the E55 attached without issue

Stock black plastic heat shield from Yamaha - well.....it melts well

Video Review Part 1

Video Review Part 2