DigDug

Real or fake? http://www.dump.com/2010/12/23/the-clay-pigeon-golf-shot-video/

No worries... I'm not trying to soapbox, and I agree, there ARE valid (albeit illegal) reasons to open up a radio - but if all you're wanting to do is listen, no need to do that. Opening a radio only allows you to transmit on all frequencies it receives. One good reason (still illegal to modify a ham radio) is to access the "DOT"/MURS frequencies - frequencies in the 2 meter band that require no license to operate. DOT Frequencies Link MURS Frequencies Link I'm pretty sure the RED, PURPLE, BLUE, and GREEN frequencies are all in the range of an opened VX-170.

If all you're going to do is listen, no need to modify your radio - the mod only allows you to transmit on those frequencies (It will recieve everything without modding). Keep your radio legal and don't mess with this. It only opens you up to accidentally transmitting on a frequency you shouldn't (firefighting/police/etc).

In. I just made reservations and they said I was the 8th under that code (leaving two more). I didn't ask for a spot number - I suppose I'll figure that out when I check in. I'm off Monday (MLK Day), so I made reservations - checking in Friday and out on Monday. I figured why drive the 3 plus hours each way for only a day and a half of riding?

I think I'm going to try and meet up with you guys out there. McCain sounds like a good spot to spend a few hours without making the entire trek out to the desert. See you tomorrow!

Dear Mr. Offroader, Thank you for your email, but the Sierra Club donates more money to my campaigns, so sell your toys and get ready to bend over and take it. Also, may I take this opportunity to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. Best regards Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein United States Senato

It's the mobile skin, a lighter version of the website that is optimized for slow connections and small screens. You could always upgrade to an Android device:

And they did it again in November - even AFTER that video was posted all over YouTube and had made him (and his district) the laughing stock of the nation: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/home/headlines/Hank_Johnson_retains_District_4_congressional_seat_106588619.html Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... yeah... or something like that.

It's going to happen!!! Hank's office just did a computer simulation!

The 76 has buttons above the map screen, which is a PITA when you can't see the screen as you push buttons. ... and the built-in antenna is nice, but doesn't make up for button placement (IMO). It's not that big a deal. You put your hand on the side and hit the buttons with your thumb anyways. The real beauty on the 76 series is that the mount is BULLET PROOF! Every person I have seen with the 60 series Ram mount has a zip tie holding it on. I know people who have lost their 60s when they fell out. Now, don't get me wrong, I leash mine to the handlebars just in case, but I have never heard of a 76 coming out of the Ram mount. Heck, I have seen bikes flipped over, land on the handlebars and snapped the ball of the Ram mount, but the holder didn't release the 76. Ask some people here if their brake cables have ever snapped the antenna off their 60 series. I know of a few who will say yes. The software, screen, memory, etc are identical! Just a different case is all. Price wise, if you can get a great deal, go for the 60. But if the price is close, I would go for the 76. Just my opinion. Oh, and the s models (sensors, compass and altimeter) are not necessary for the casual dualsporter. If you get a great deal on the Cx models, gram them. You wont miss the sensors. And I'm a navigator by trade!

FakeName singing again?

I've got a friend from work that wants to try out his new dualsport. We've got a nice long 4-day weekend so Friday is what works for us. We're thinking about meeting at the Carl's Jr (Google Maps link here) in Fallbrook at 7am for breakfast then heading out riding by 7:30. Doing the Fallbrook-Corona ride from past runs. This is a good run for beginngers or guys on bigger bikes, but the views from the northern areas are great - so anyone will enjoy it. I'll be on the 950. I'm thinking right now that we'll do the ride up to Ortega highway, then down into Lake Elsinore for gas (if needed) and food (to avoid the Hell's Kitchen slowness). Back up Ortega and hit North Main Divide road and go as far north as we feel like before backtracking on the dirt. Here is a gps file for those interested: FallbrookCorona.gdb And a google maps link with the routes overlayed: LINK HERE I'll post updates as we get closer.

Great pictures Chris! Good job to the kiddo. I just got back from Scott AFB last week and was thinking about Jarrett as I drove by the KC-135s there. He's going to have a ball. So, did you ever think that your son would grow up and be making a living by "passing gas"? (That's what they call it, I didn't make it up!)

Ok, I'm home, cleaned up. The bike is ready for the morning commute. I'll start off the writeup. We had 13 riders at the start - Beautiful day!!! Right at 250 miles for me by the time I got back home. Here's a few pictures: The group taking a break up on Rouse Ridge: Playing in the water: Another break, almost to the pavement in Idyllwild At Farview Pt, Black Mountain: At the end of the Black Mountain Truck Trail. I think Schwinn is sending a "Tweet" or something: Lunchtime. The mountain was busy!

yeah, but no motorcycle license!

Come on Roger, if you're going to do it, do it right! AVAILABLE HERE

What's that, a license to use the radio legally? I had a nice reply typed up to that effect and it "somehow got accidentally deleted"! The jist - take the $5 you'd spend on this card and get a license instead. Let's see how long before THIS post gets deleted too!! :lol:

The weather man says it's supposed to cool down quite a bit this weekend, might be a good time to head on out. I was thinking about taking the big bike and poking around up north a bit. Maybe meet in Anza and ride up Bautista, over to Rouse Ridge and down to the ranger station. Up Bee Canyon and over to the Idyllwild area. From there, up Black Mountain road to check out some awesome views. Then back to Idyllwild for lunch/gas before backtracking the same general route but on a few different dirt roads. I haven't done all of the roads, but the ones I have are all fairly mellow fire roads suitable for big bikes and beginners. Great views, and 90% dirt on the loop I'm looking at, but with plenty of pavement bail-outs if people get tired and/or late. I was thinking about just meeting in Anza since that puts us almost immediately in the dirt versus doing the whole loop from Ramona. Plus, that gets us up north earlier so we have more time to explore the mountains. I'd probably just slab/superslab it from home to Anza. Right now Sunday is better for me, but if the majority want to go on Saturday, I could probably rearrange some details and do it then. I've got some tracks I need to clean up and hopefully have something posted for people to look at. ------------Update Friday 8/27, 8:00am---------------- Ok, I've got the tracks pretty much all cleaned up. Garmin GPS file is here: LINK HERE From below, here's a link to the routes in a google map: LINK HERE Let's meet up at the Mobil Station in Anza and try and be riding by 8am. The Mobil is on the right as you're coming into town on Highway 371. It's the western-most gas station of the two in Anza from the GPS file above and right next to Dairy Queen. Here is a Google Maps/Streetview link of the meeting spot: LINK HERE There is a short, dead-end street right next to the Mobil that people should be able to leave trucks at (I'm pretty sure it's cool to stage there) if you're not up to the iron-butt from San Diego. I'm going to just ride the 950 up there on pavement. (Boring 1 hour Interstate/back-road trip from Escondido). The route, as planned, is about 75 miles to lunch/gas (can bail out prior to Black Mountain if gas is a concern) and about 50 miles from lunch/gas back to Anza.

I'll probably head out around 6:30 from San Marcos. Over 78, up 15 to 79 in Temecula, over 79 up 371 to Anza. I hope to be there by 7:45 or so so I can fuel up and be ready by 8:00. It's all interstate and freeway. If you want to meet up, just give me a time and location along that route... It's about an hour ride from Escondido.

The route, as planned, is about 75 miles to lunch/gas (can bail out prior to Black Mountain if gas is a concern) and about 50 miles from lunch/gas back to Anza. Pace will be based on the riders that show, I'd say it's more about scenery and enjoying the day than about blasting. I'd call it moderate just to make sure we can get the miles in before the day gets too long.

Would you be willing to help me? I can give it a shot. Might be time for a geek night!

Sunday it is. GPS file finalized and meeting time/location determined. See first post if you're interested.

Lucky man. I tried freezing mine all night and still nothing. That COULD be good news Don. Freezing does the same thing that it does when you freeze your bearings to put them in a wheel - shrinks the damaged bearings in the drive and allows it spin freely long enough to retrieve your data. Since freezing didn't help, that's one more piece of evidence that points towards the controller being bad. Let me know if you want help tearing into it.

What time are you thinking of meeting in Anza? I'd like to get a decent early start, but don't want to make anyone start too early if coming from south county. I'm thinking 8-ish... And it seems that Sunday is the preferred day so far. I'll give it tonight and update the first post with a plan tomorrow.

I've driven up Black Mountain Road in the truck. Nothing hard, but great views along the way. It seems like there were a few 'side roads' to explore also. It's still a work in progress (no Mapsource on my work computer), but for those thinking about it, this is what I'm thinking about: LINK HERE