New Year's Hangover Ride 3.0

[DirtyDog]

A handful of FF's from Tulsa, OK and nearby had our 3rd annual New Year's Day Hangover ride at Camp Gruber OHV Park.

It was the biggest turnout yet. Here are the players-
ADVRdrWannabe - XR400
Dirt2007 - Husky 450
Tomski74 - DR650
Newner - KLR650 (green)
RedDirtjoe - XT225
Throttlemeister - XR200R
DirtyDog - KLR650 (black)
FatBob - TE610
Krabill - Super Tenere
Z50StartedIt - WR250
JumpJet - KTM 400

Pretty casual day. We rode a bit, broke for lunch, and rode some more. My camera was one of several used throughout the day.

Krabill met us at the start of the day, but because he broke his foot the previous day, it was a brief visit on his road bike.


FatBob was gracious enough to allow ADVRdrWannabe to borrow a bike for the day. Bob was enjoying the hangover ride in a special way.




His was called SOB hill. From the bottom, it looks way more difficult than it actually is. Other hills gave us more issue.


Lots of nice views.



Most of the terrain was quad trails, but we had some occasional singletrack.



The trails crossed a creek numerous times. Some places were deeper than others. Some riders (ahem) don't bother to scout deep crossings.





Here is the offending creek. Looks innocent enough?



Way more than 200cc of water came out. No idea where it was storing all that water.

Oil change was necessary. Oil looked like paint.


Cheap ass KLR rider in action. Foamed crankcase oil = free chain lube


Make sure you lube that swingarm too.


Fun day, fellas. Hreat way to ring in 2012.

[reddirtjoe]

Xr200 DO NOT Float

[reddirtjoe]

This one was steeper then it looked

[reddirtjoe]

[reddirtjoe]

[reddirtjoe]

[tomski74]

It was a good day. Too bad that cold front came through and after a 72F Saturday, mercury only climbed to 55F today

Thanks to Dirty Dog for catering our lunch

[Krabill]

I need to start my story from yesterday. I went to Arkansas for the pre-race day festivities at the Annual New Year's Day Almosta race. The big race is on New Year's Day, but they wanted to have a trials exhibition and just some general goofing around on New Year's Eve, so we made the trek to Arkansas to do some goofing off.



And some rock climbing



And some obstacle playing



We had been riding all day and it was getting to be late afternoon. Celtazon asked me if I wanted to go play on the concrete toys some more before we left and I told her that I really don't have a problem climbing concrete pipes, what I need to work on is my simple off-camber turns, so I headed off just behind the truck to a little hillside to do some nice, easy, slow off-camber turns. About 20 minutes into practicing and I turn to head up the side of a hill and catch something with my foot. A rock hidden beneath the leaves jumped up and smacked me hard enough to break my little toe.

I high-tailed it back to the truck to start loading gear as fast as I could before the pain set in and I actually got two bikes loaded and tied down before my foot hurt too much to even stand on it Celtazon was left to load the last bike and all of our gear by herself while I sat in the truck and whined like a baby

We get home last night and I couldn't put any pressure on it at all. Celtazon found me a pair of her old crutches in the shed so I could at least get around the house by myself. I figured my New Year's Day riding was out the window.

Well . . . when I woke up this morning I was surprised to find that when I got out of bed I could stand up all by myself . . . on TWO FEET! That's it . . . I'm going riding!! But, I still didn't want to risk it by riding my dirtbike on the rocks, so I decided a nice, leisurely street ride on the Tenere would do just as well

First stop . . . out to meet the guys I was supposed to be riding with today.

My steed for the day



DirtyDog unloading





Kick starting a cold XR



Jump starting a 610 with a dead battery



Warming up the 'ol XT



Texting those who are late



Checking air pressure



Then JumpJet shows up



Then I get the people who are here somewhat on time to line up for a group shot before I hit the road again.



I left right after that to head back to the Almosta Race in Arkansas since I had a few friends racing in it. Took the scenic route

I pulled up right while the rider's meeting was taking place and pull my Tenere right in the middle of all the race bikes sitting about.



These are the guys I came to watch.



One of my friends bought himself a brand spankin' new KTM 500 for Christmas



This is a different kind of race. There are no classes and it is run in a team format. There are two groups. A and B. One person from the A group is put on a team with one member from the B group. Totally random. The A group started the race, ran their lap, then passed off their "baton" to their B group teammate, who runs their lap, repeat until you're worn out

The starting line



One of my friends during their baton pass



I tried to walk around to some of the race course where I could get pictures of my friends, but while riding the bike and standing in one spot wasn't so painful, I found trying to walk through the woods was simply more than my broken foot could take

I decided to get geared up and mosey my way back home again.



My gps says I rode 266 miles today. Not a bad start for the new year if I do say so myself

[JumpJet]

A few highlights from the ride.
And Yes, the sun played hell with a lot of the video.

[Throttlemeister]

Awesome video Ralph, I loved the clip with me bashing through the puddle

I'm going to have to learn how to edit and produce video to the likes of you. I'm continually impressed with your production skills

Great time @ Gruber with a great group!

[Throttlemeister]

What a fine way to spend one one two one with a great group of friends, Tulsa area plus Joe from Stillwater contingent is one great moto crew


Thanks to JD for bringing in the chili and all the fixings

And thanks to Joe's trailside tools and Jason's oil and tools along with plenty of muscle from the group made for a classic super simple swamping excerise Could have been with a better group. Glad a nice demo in deep sixing could be had on a nice warm 1st day of the new year.

Had a great time running the little tractor like xr in the hills and rocks. Me and Brain peeled off in the first session of the morning. Here along the bluff at Gruber OHV area on the navigation channel that allows Oklahoma's access to the US's most interior frost free port IIRC. One day I'm going down it at least to the Mississippi River and hopefully taking a little bike in the boat with me




Lots of good cleared right of ways for the powerlines with good hillclimbs for all:


After the lesson in how to properly swamp your little xr in the cool creek, it took Tom nearly as long fiddiling with his worn keyswitch Plenty of good help to be found.


After the little swamping me and Jason split off back for headquarters and found the highway ROW to be quickest to the parking area for a little quick oil change to get rid of the gray matter, the others quickly arrived soon after we arrived.


One of the many powerline ups and downs, lot of respect for the those guys on the big bikes, I was getting tired on my little XR and wouldn't have been worth a damn on a big bike, you know it was the hangover ride after all









Nice of Bob to loan out his XR400 for some tough trail testing Here in action:



Everybody did great


Everybody getting loaded up and headed for home before a great sunset and cooler temps set in:


Was a very successful New Year's Day ride complete with a swampping, good chili, and great pals Perfect time at Gruber, was a good first visit

Now you should all go and watch McGruber and Brain's new little doggy friend needs that namesake

[DirtyDog]

Regardless of what Newner says, the pup will be known as Macgruber.



He says pics are forthcoming.

[Newner]

Originally Posted by DirtyDog

Regardless of what Newner says, the pup will be known as Macgruber.



He says pics are forthcoming.

Let me introduce the freeloader, MacGruber, McGruber, or Gruber. He is a bottomless pit in addition to couple of bowls of dog food he has knocked out a half package of hot dogs... Anyway, I would take any help possible in finding him a home. I am not taking in any non-paying roommates.

[Nightstalker]

Nice ride!!

[AdvRdrWannaBe]

Yes, I was the one bumming a ride to the park and at the park. Bob, I can't thank you enough for lending me your XR!! That is an awesome bike!! It did everything I asked it to, it really brought back memories of the riding I used to do way back when. I'm going to have to look for one of those to add to my stable.

Thanks again Bob!!

Greg