EddieEarl

Really sad. Full scoop. http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/three-deaths-confirmed-at-2016-baja-500-include-8-year-1780670922

right on - good call on big bear, too - my son and i plan to get up there in late summer i may get it just for that reason alone - thanks for the feedback

will try to make

Beauty - bummed I missed it. Great pics.

Nice - thought you guys were riding tomorrow but I guess the 6th is today, huh? So, how was the trail? I may head out there solo tomorrow.

What kind of bike you riding? Pace?

it's mother's day this weekend bro-hah ... what days are you thinking of?

Took a solo ride from Poway up to Black Mountain yesterday via Black Canyon. Tuesday 2'fer kinda stuff. Trail was a bit rutty, but perfect otherwise. I don't usually ride solo but have to admit yesterday was pretty enjoyable ... I settled into "my" pace ... gave riding a little different perspective and I picked up on certain things in the bike, and my riding, I may not have noticed otherwise. The weather was gorgeous and the 500 EXC ran great. I was reminded how blessed we really are to do what we do. Big shout out to @Suspenders for all his help and advice. Suspension felt better than ever. The variable 7.5/8.5 rear shock worked perfect. There' just something special about the top of this little mountain. The view never gets old. There's been a rumor or two about getting something for locating one of these little guys? Urban legend?

link worked for me

sounds like a blast - i'll confirm TUES eve

Always sucks to fall, but it especially sucks to fall in the dark. Hope you recover fast.

Hmm ... 85% of the time in 3rd is not the kinda single track i was thinking this was. I could do that. I'd put my stock tank back on and take the wolfman's off. Hmmm mmm mmm. May have to rethink this one. So, how long do these 50 miles of "heaven" take the average rider? How "un-fat" do I need to get?

Well, let me take that back. It looks like I'm out now. Sorry to flip flop. My older brother coaches a nationally ranked High School basketball team, and they just won their semi final game. They’re now in the finals and play the #1 ranked team in the country, for the Southern Cal championship … on Saturday night. It's about as big as it gets in high school basketball. I need, and want, to be there. Bitter sweet for sure. I'll get with you guys next time.

Jim, I'm in. Sounds like a blast. Thanks for leading. And Benny, thanks for riding sweep. Super cool of you guys. I have a buddy who rides an '07 CRF 450X. Great rider. Bike's good to go. His name is Rob and if there's room I'd love to invite him. Just an FYI on my bike/gear: * On my '13 500 EXC I ride with Wolfman's (E-12s) all the time. I love those things. I have tubes, tools, food, and first aid at all times. It's really nice not to have anything on my back if possible. * I have a couple motorolas I can bring if needed, along with a short wave Yaesu (probably overkill, yeah?). * As you know I have a Sena so it'd be fun to test comm range every now and then. * I use a phone app called ViewRanger for GPS and love it. Great app. I used it in the back country of Montana last fall during an elk hunt and the app not only carries great GPS signal w/out cell coverage, but you can pre-load highly detailed satellite maps while off network - really nice feature. I just put my phone in 'airplane' mode, stick it on my Ram mount, and start recording. On this trip I'd love to load up a previous track for the same trail we're going to ride to see how well it works for following a track. With the Sena I'd also like to find out if the app will talk to me while I ride. Might be kind of cool to put my phone in a pocket, turn on music, turn on ViewRanger and have my helmet tell me where to go next. Oh yeah, I'll need to figure out where this infamous gas station is you guys meet at. Any idea of the address?

prime visual example of the 2014 version from George, for reference purposes. And there's only one way to get better at it----ride it more. Not cool man. This is a video straight from the Matrix. Single track is not easy, or fun, like this vid. Don't do that to people. We all took the blue pill. We know the truth. LOL! Hey, I actually wish I could not just keep up on a ride like this, but I'd love to have the skills, the right bike, and be in good enough shape to ride the shniggle outta trails like that. How fun would that be?! I've seen Jarvis and Birch handle bikes in crazy terrain like they're walking a stroller along the beach, but for me it's like pushing a plow, up hill, in the mud, in a hurricane. I'll add this ride to my bucket list and maybe one day ... just one day ... I'll hit this up. Good on you for going - be safe, and have a blast.

Oh S***. Yeah, that'd be me, like 50 times in 50 miles. People would hate me for going. I'm out. Give me 6th gear on flowy 2 track. But, single track drop with drop-offs? Yeah. I'm an insurance claim in the making. Have fun boys!

I suck at single track ... like really, really suck. I'm as good at riding single track as kayne west is at being liked. I could probably walk the 50 miles of single track faster than I could ride it ... and by walking I'd show up w/out any broken bones. So, the question is ... how "single track" is this really? Like, "trials" riding kinda single track ... or maybe more like woods 2nd / 3rd gear kinda single track.

Very cool - thanks.

Roger that. So, I'm a complete baja noob as you're about to see. I know there's Ramona's, Mike's, Coyotes ... from what I understand Coyotes in on the coast and Mikes / Ramonas is a little more inland and elevated ... up in a pine forest, right? Can you give me an idea for mileage from Tecate to Ramona's and back via the Pines and RSV? And, what does RSV mean? I've heard of the 'Compadre Trail', but not RSV. I'll look for tracks on the forum to see if that'll give me an idea.

Jim, you're out for the weekend of the 5th and along with the rest of the guys we hope your wife heals up fast, but what day are you referring to for the long day ride out of Tecate and meeting at 7:30am? I might be up for that.

I've got a couple Motorala walkies I can bring. Great idea. The streaming music thru the Sena while riding is absolutely killer ... no other way to ride. It's interesting you didn't think the range was good on the Sena ... it worked well for me and a buddy out in Ocotillo a couple weeks back, dust and all.

Great write up. I grew up riding out there in the Ocotillo off road park got into plated riding just a couple years ago. I continue to be STUNNED at how much more there is to do and see out there!

nice work

oh yeah ... ready weather is so nice this week ... still might make a trip up there

good ride guys! wish i could have come i'll look for the next one