These guys run a new Beta shop in Palm Springs. I just met them last week and took them for a loop today. Great riders and those Betas! Ooo Those Betas! Dave & Mike both are fast. And all around good guys. Being a bit rusty from not riding for a month, I flailed all the way up this climb. Only to end up in a crumpled heap near the top. With a flooded bike... then a dead battery. Tried bump 'er to life on the way down. Three times No luck Ok, I gotta go out and water the trees before it gets dark. Then you'll get (in my best Paul Harvey voice)... "The Rest of the Story".
Luckily The Mighty 950 fixed itself. Just needed a little break. Dave enjoyed the hill It was getting hot so we found some shade at the Japanese Camp arroyo. Then up to higher/cooler elevations via The Switchbacks. Dave says," I don't need no Stinking Swithchbacks!" We rode some more fun stuff after that but all my energy was reserved for riding. I did document some sampling of the Orange Koolaid. Dave 1st Then Mike I think I heard one of them use the term "Goldwing" in his description of the experience. Different strokes for different folks. I on the other hand liked the Beta alot. They were both 450s. One in race trim the other more trail oriented in set up. Both Fast. I hope to get a chance to sample them again on some technical terrain. Thanks for riding with me today fellas. We split up at Pappy & Harriet's and as I rolled over the last saddle and dropped into the valley I live in, I thought to myself everybody says only a Fool would do a hundred mile loop in the desert in August! And I say to that... "Uhhhh, what's yer point?" Besides, it's still July.
That hill climb looks cool. Fun stuff. I got to ride out there next summer. At least they did not call it a "Oldwing" hehe. But I get the reference. How high is the high desert?
We started at 2900' and maxed out at 6200'. Trying to avoid the heat. I think we were pretty successful.
