BMA Long Term TEK VEST REVIEW Bytown Motorcycle Association
NEWSLETTER JULY 2009
Published by riders, for riders.
r e m i r P e i Calabog Read this or
Die!!
Woody’s 2 Hour!
WEC Enduro
Bringing Sexy Back
RIDE WITH THE DEVIL SOX THAT DON’T
STINK FREE
VOLUNTEER POWERED!
IN THIS ISSUE: STOCK: DIRT FROM THE PREZ THE VIEW FROM HERE BMA EVENT LISTINGS UPCOMING EVENTS EXHAUST NOTE
BYTOWN BYTOWN MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION
www.bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca www.bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca
Dave “Woody” Percival Dave “Woody” Percival Fearless Leader President Mike Hillier Hillier OtherMike Fearless Leader Vice-President Carolin Lueders Carolin Lueders The Dough Treasurer
More Stuff in This ISSUE:
misadventure in calabogie - there’s a fly in my motor oil calabogie primer - live to tell about it what’s in your tool belt? - ktmkevin whips his out don’t ride naked - please? TEKVEST long term review - initial thoughts socks or SOX? - get excited about sox lying in the dirt - a nOObs perspective. woody’s 2 hour - everybody wins, but who wins faster? what does the devil ride? - don’t assume it’s red! lachapelle riding school - learn to ride, and we mean RIDE! WEC says enduros are fun - they are fun!
Mike O’Rielly MikeStuff O’Rielly Writes Down Secretary Dave Phifer DaveProdder Phifer Cattle Volunteer Co-ordinator Andrew Jasiak Andrew Jasiak Head Counter Membership Dallas Shannon Dallas LaysShannon It Out Newsletter Editor Kaveri Gupta Kaveri Gupta Grade 9 Gwammer Copy Editor/Art Director Carolin Lueders LarryMcAnanama Murray Matthew Randy Smith Dmitry “Demon” Tsvetkov Doug Hunter Kevin Eastman Contributors Barry Isherwood Larry Murray Carolin Lueders Contributors Doug Hunter SteveMcAnanama Garnsey Matthew Randy Smith Dmitry “Demon” Photographs Barry Isherwood Photographs Dallas Shannon Advertising Sales Dallas Shannon Advertising Sales To the BMA Membership Suggestions (please!) for To contactadvertising anybody aboutsales. anything please email us at: offroad.newsletter@gmail.com If you would like to receive the newsletter by email please contact: offroad.newsletter@gmail.com
FREE DEMO! - The BMA is doing a long-term test review of the TekVest. See page 14 for the first installment of our review. If you are are a BMA member and you are interested in being given a TekVest to demo, please email: offroad.newsletter@gmail.com
Written Writtenpermission permissionmust mustbe berequested requestedto toreproduce, reproduce,or orreprint reprintall allor or portions portionsof ofthe thecontent contentcontained containedherein. herein.
© © Bytown Bytown Motorcycle Motorcycle Association Association 2009 2009
DIRT FROM THE PREZ This past weekend was the OFTR Algonquin 2 day. Very special to me, as it’s always a challenging ride, and our youngest boy, Davey, is coming along. This year he grew 6” in record time and graduated to a 200 XC-W. He and Ken, his older brother, are quickly becoming accomplished riders and there is no end to the references of the slow old guy. Thus the Algonquin trip, a long arduous trail ride, sometimes takes the wind out of young lads sails. We will see.
• A once around on tires, condition and pressures, 15 lbs, front and rear for rocky terrain. Brake pads, I use a solid rear disc, as it pays for itself in pads saved. • Rock both wheels side to side at the top to check for bad wheel bearings, do this before every ride and keep spares in stock. • Chain and sprockets, keep an eye on the teeth, and pull on the chain at the rear sprocket. If it lifts off the sprocket, it is wearing and should be replaced as a set soon. Even if your chain condition and tension is good, you must keep an eye on your master link clip for wear. For example, on the pre-2009 KTM’s the rear chain guide will bend inwards if you hit it hard enough (metal cage) and begin wearing on the clip. This has potential to be nasty, so there are a couple of solutions. Putting on a peened link is best, master links are unnecessary. You can epoxy your clip as well, in the middle of the clip. Also, there are all-plastic chain guides available, a good but expensive solution. • Don’t forget to look for residuals oil on your fork tubes, and rear shock shaft as well. • Check your rad and for summer heat, put in a glycol replacement to help bring down running temps, particularly in 4 strokes. • Spare plugs, and levers are a good idea. • Check spokes now and then - more regularly on some bikes.
photo: Carolin Lueders
The important part before you load up your bike is what to do to prepare it. By now, we’ve all gotten pretty good mileage on (I hope), so we need to check and prep for a ride like this. Here’s what I do: The Prez at the 2 Hour Harescramble: Woody is never too busy to say hi.
• Bikes with rear shock linkage systems need put on a stand and checked for play, by checking up-play on the wheel. Also check your swing arm for play, in this position, side to side on the back wheel at swing arm level. It is amazing that some bike come out of the factory with no grease on major bearing surfaces. • Finally, while on the stand, check for steering head bearing play, or roughness in steering movement. • For my 2 stroke, a regular tranny oil change and frequent air filter services are a must. Change your brake fluids once a year, and use Motul RBF 600 for best results. • As it heats up our 2 stroke bikes run richer. A 10 degree temperature (F) increase or decrease = 1 size of main jet for optimum performance. Four strokes are not too fussy but can get “lazy” in the hotter parts of the summer. High engine temps are better resolved by getting the glycol out of the engine. • A quick walk about, with some blue loctite, on the really important nuts and bolts, is worth the piece of mind, as well.
Woody
A couple of hours well spent in the shop.
THE VIEW FROM HERE Adventures in Calabogie “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best”. My father used to say that. Being a typical son, I don’t think I could have repeated the phrase 30 seconds later. Being human, it’s natural to not heed other peoples advice...so listen closely. Halfway up a gnarly, rocky climb, deep in the Calabogie bush, is no place to be working on your bike. That’s what Kevin Eastman and I were doing at 1 PM on a sunny Sunday afternoon. All we needed were a set of lawn chairs and a few icy drinks to really set the scene.
After picking myself off the ground and getting the fuel turned off I realized my chain was lying on the hill behind my bike. Ahhhh crap. The master link had let go. The chain, under hill climb power, slammed into the clutch slave cylinder, shearing it off completely. The chain then hit the engine casing with enough force to punch a small hole in it. Engine oil was bleeding all over the skid plate. By the time Kevin turned around and came back to get me I had all my gear off and was daydreaming of spending the night in my own bed. Kevin seemed relieved that I was walking and not badly hurt. When I said the phrase “catastrophic mechanical failure” his faced slowly changed expression and I’m sure he was wishing it was me and not the bike. With the master link missing, clutch destroyed and engine oil spewing - it could have only been worse if it happened deep inside “Daughter of Tantrum”, a well known Calabogie trail. Oh yeah...that’s where we were. This story defines what this month’s newsletter is all about. Calabogie is world class riding. People that ride all over the world tell me this and I believe them. Underpopulated, huge elevation changes, great vistas and a massive riding area, Calabogie has a great mix of trail type, with endless options in terms of what kind of riding you’re looking for. There is really something for everyone. The BMA is lucky
photo: Dallas Shannon
Kevin was in the lead, I was behind when Calabogie decided to kick us in the cookie jar. Powering up a steep climb with Kevin a good 2-3 minutes ahead of me (I took a wrong turn - he’s not THAT fast)! I heard a metallic ping, then a loud bang. I immediately lost all power and my clutch suddenly disappeared. Without power, I quickly got out of shape, started to roll backward and ditched. It sounded bad. Did I blow the clutch?
Ingredients for a stressful day - bits of clutch cover...
to have this in our own backyard and it’s up to us to protect it (but that’s another issue). This newsletter is all about being prepared to ride Calabogie. Calabogie is backwoods riding. A place where you can ride all day and not see another rider. A place where you can make one wrong turn and be lost for hours. This issue is about proper gear, proper preparation and being ready for anything. Check out page 7 to see what happened to Kevin and I on our “Misadventure in Calabogie”. I hope you enjoy our Calabogie theme issue. And now, some parting wisdom: “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin Maybe if my father would have said that I would have remembered... Heh heh. Enjoy,
offroad.newsletter@gmail.com
SOMETHING TO SAY? Photos, product reviews, ride reports, are all welcome. Gwammer, spwelling and punatuation are all optional (we have a GREAT copy editor)!
EMAIL! dallas.shannon@gmail.com
Friends of the Bytown Motorcycle AssociAtion will receive 25% off a day of riding at Trail Tours and Dirtbike School. Visit trailtour.com to book your loved ones ride today. While you’re there, book one for yourself. Limit one coupon per rider. pLease indicate your discount upon booking.
Upcoming Events Limerick Forest Family Ride Limerick Forest Family Ride - Sunday July 12 For kids of all ages, non-competitive, and focused on fun. Trails are always well marked for different riding levels, including a kids loop suitable for 50cc bikes. All bikes must be quiet, plated and legal. Sign in 9-10 am, start time 10:30 for more info call Mike Hillier 613-2581164 or Larry Murray 613-926-2522.
Other events happening in Ontario: SCORRA - Ladies Only Training Day Sun Jun 28 - SCORRA Ladies Training Day SUNDAY, June 28 2009 - 10am to 3pmRider Training for Women by WomenFun, Fellowship, and Skills Development YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT!! Maximum 25 Riders - Pre-Registration REQUIRED, Sign-in 9:00 a.m. RallyRaid Ontario July 18-19 - Join us for an adventure rider’s weekend bonanza – a FREE introduction to the best terrain Ontario has to offer. The format – 2 day ride and camping weekend. Each rider is responsible for their own accommodations, navigation, safety, food and supplies. Visit www.RallyRaid.ca for complete information. Northumberland 2-day Ride Sat Aug 1 - Sun Aug 2 - Location: Cobourg, Ont This ride
travels from the Cobourg area up to Gooderham withan overnight stay at the OFTR HQ.Gooderham’s annual Horseshoe Days weekend is on and there is a big dinner and a live band on Saturday night. Mid Summers Dream Trail Ride Sun Aug 16 - 6th Annual www.greatpinetrailriders.com Mid Summer’s Dream Trail Ride n the Ganaraska Forest, Some of the best trails in Ontario Part of the Ontario Trail Ride SeriesLocation: Ganaraska ForestDate: August 16th, 2009 Date: August 16, 2009 Gooderham Trail Ride Sun Aug 23 - Gooderham Trail Ride Part of the Ontario Trail Ride Series START:Gooderham Recreation Centre Home of the OFTR !! Gooderham is 15 minutes from Haliburton. FEE:$50
If you would like your free listing here, please email your event to: offroad.newsletter@gmail.com
MIS
ADVENTURE IN CALABOGIE
story and pictures by Dallas Shannon
If you’ve read “The View from Here” at the beginning of this issue, you already know what happened. Kevin Eastman and I had what was supposed to be an idyllic day of trail riding go bad when my master link let go and Ginsu-ed my clutch slave cover and engine case. With engine oil dripping and all hope lost we return to the story...
With Kevin deftly loosening the rear axle and preparing to install the spare master link I suggested that we use the Quicksteel to plug the hole in my engine casing. He agreed it was worth a try because there was no way we were pushing this beast out of the trail. The hill we were perched on was very steep and this was only one of many we climbed to get here.
I have often thought of the possibility of spending the night in the bush due to mechanical failure or a buddy getting hurt. Usually these thoughts happen at work, while someone drones on in perfect monotone. In my dream I would pull out the proper survival gear and after toughing it out in the bush overnight I would lead the group to safety and forever be a part of BMA urban legend. Now I know I was daydreaming because the day it really happened, it didn’t go as smooth as my own Hollywood version.
Deep in the dirt, with flies, mud and crud all over us we put the bike back together and plugged the holes. I could only see a small amount of oil in the sight glass and for good measure we poured Kevin’s 100ml bottle of 2 stroke premix oil into my bike. I aimed the bike downhill and when I started it I could see it was still dripping a small amount of oil. I got on the bike, started rolling down the hill and with no clutch, kicked it into first. Riding with no clutch is really fun. I was determined to get the bike out of this trail and back to the road at all costs. Let’s just say that I was unconcerned about how rough the ride was and just went for it. Feathering the clutch is overrated. Once I kicked it into second gear there was no slowing down or looking back. Git Er Done as they say.
After the “BIG BANG” happened, I deduced that the master link let go, my clutch slave was sheared off and I was dripping engine oil. Using adrenaline, I muscled the bike over and put it in a position to stop the bleeding. We were in the trail deep and my bike already felt like it weighed 1000 lbs. so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I didn’t have a master link and what were the chances Kevin had one to fit my bike? Even if he did, what would we do about the hole in the The replacement clip we put on didn’t even make it back to the truck - can you say LUCKY? engine case? Hope was quickly turning to despair as I waited for Kevin to realize I was no longer making any forward progress and come back to get me. The truck started to seem much farther away than it did only minutes earlier. What I didn’t know while waiting is that Kevin is the president of preparedness, the wizard of the tool belt. He announced that he had a master link and we could repair the chain. As he unveiled a plethora of well-maintained tools from his tool belt I rooted though my “toolkit” pushing aside half-eaten granola bars and moldy cheese turds looking for anything metal. I came upon an old grey tube of “Quicksteel”, a product I thought was very cool on paper but unlikely to ever need or use. It turns out, this is product is designed to plug holes in metal and alloy. How convenient. Fending off bears in Calabogie, while my wife dialed 911 seemed a bit less likely.
As you probably guessed, I made it. Once on the road, I clicked (rammed) into a higher gear and got back to the truck. Both Kevin and I were both counting our blessQuickSteel. Think of it as a free ride home. I do. ings. It was PURE LUCK that we made it out of the bush that day. Having a master link that fit, having Quicksteel in my bag (even Kevin didn’t have any) and enough oil left over to crawl out of the trail and back to the truck was all very lucky. Not to mention my superb clutchless riding skills - LOL. They say that bad things can happen to good riders. I’ve proven that bad things happen to bad riders. Whether you consider yourself bad or good, I suggest you check out KTM Kevin’s tool belt article on the following pages and put together something that works for YOUR bike. Or don’t. Just make sure you invite Kevin along for the ride!
Calabogie Primer Some suggestions for riding Calabogie:
Read this or Die!!
1. To prevent pinch flats on the rocks 16 p.s.i in the tires is mandatory. 2. You need to carry drinking liquids; if you don’t have a camelbak (or something similar) you should get one. 3. You need to pack a snack with you as you may be having lunch on the trail. 4. A plate and insurance is highly recommended. If you choose to disregard this advice you may be ticketed. 5. YOUR BIKE MUST BE QUIET! The BMA prefers to keep our riding areas open. 6. Calabogie is REMOTE. If you or your bike get damaged, you could be spending the night in the bush. 7. Be Prepared! Pack a proper tool belt and survival kit - read our toolkit article in this issue. 8. Do not ride alone! 9. Tell someone roughly where you are going. Calabogie is a big place and it WILL be difficult to find you.
“So, What’s In Your Tool Belt?” story by Kevin “KTM Kevin” Eastman
photo: courtesy of Mrs.Cooper
This is a question that most people don’t look forward to hearing from their riding partner while stranded in the wilds of Calabogie with a bike malfunction or, heaven forbid, crash damage. Your buddy has just dived into his/her fanny pack (tool belt, butt bag, whatever you want to call it) and come up with a fossilized granola bar, a very used spark plug from a previously owned bike that doesn’t fit the current model and a large crescent wrench that has rusted into a permanent 18.5 mm position. No pressure, right? Fortunately, you are well prepared for this sort of situation and have a carefully thought out tool pack to keep this minor inconvenience from becoming a major disaster (i.e. spending the night with the bears in the bush). With the influx of relatively inexperienced riders into the BMA lately, I thought an article covering this area might be helpful. So I’m going to go through my tool belt just to demonstrate what I carry and why. This is most definitely NOT meant VET BMA rider Glen Cooper shows us his toolbelt - SPICY! to be the last word on what EVERYONE should carry; I can just hear the laughter from some of the veterans But first, a word on buying tool bags. These are usuregarding the stuff I carry. I merely want to get you ally a stocking item for most well equipped dealerthinking about what YOU should carry to stave off ships that cater to the offroad crowd. Good belts are Anybody see him? disaster. manufactured by Moose, Thor, Ogio and a number of
other companies. As my spouse has often postulated; “size really does matter”. I think what she means is that you should buy the biggest tool belt that you can comfortably wear. It may surprise how quickly you can “fill up the space”. (Oops....am I still G-rated?) Also, it might be a good idea to take your chest protector along when trying on tool belts to insure that the two items don’t interfere with each other too much in the standing and seated position. So, here we go; I wear an Ogio belt available through KTM. This has multiple compartments and my explanation of these compartments may be confusing but, remember, it is the actual contents that count. Also keep in mind that I ride a two stroke KTM so some of the stuff I carry is application-specific. My belt has two separate small zippered hip pockets. The right side pocket is alleged to be water resistant so I always carry my keys and wallet in this compartment. That way I always have my documentation with me.The left side contains a small rigid plastic spark plug carrier holding TWO plugs. That way you can comfortably lend someone else a plug and still have a backupfor yourself. The whole “main” part of the belt is covered with a large latching flap to keep the two zippered compartments secure. The outermost zippered compartment is somewhat smaller and I prefer to carry “soft” items there. It contains: 1) A variety of cable ties (zip-ties); what you can do with these is only limited by your imagination. 2) A clean rag; for clearing hands, grips or goggles and, in a pinch, a first aid item. 3) A packaged tow strap; I’ve never used this myself but have lent it out. 4) A packaged space blanket; this item is actually quite small and can be used to comfort a wounded rider or for yourself should you have the misfortune of spending a night of unplanned “camping”. 5) A piece of emery cloth; I learned this trick from Wise Old Sage Glen Cooper. A fouled spark plug can be brought back to serviceable condition if carefully cleaned with the emery cloth. The moral of the story is to keep your air filter clean so as not to burn through two plugs on one ride; my bad! The large inner compartment has a “fold down” mesh zippered bag and a “fold out” flap with elastic loops to
secure tools while the main compartment also has multiple loops. The mesh bag contains: 1) Various bolts specific to my bike including a side stand pivot bolt; it’s a KTM thing. I also carry a spare bolt to secure the kick starter. I have seen people lose this bolt or the entire assembly.
If you can backtrack and find the kick starter then you can remount it.
2) Some loonies and toonies; can be used to purchase snacks, fuel or to make a phone call from the pay phone in Ompah. 3) A 520 O ring masterlink; I have never seen anybody lose one but I hear that it does happen. The “fold out” flap carries: 1) A Freddette wrench; this is a handy bike-specific tool (available for a wide variety of bikes) that fits axle nuts, the spark plug and the float bowl drain plug. BTW you should always carry something to fit that drain plug. A badly drowned bike often needs the float bowl drained to get the water out and the bike started. 2) A quarter inch drive ratchet; the rest that goes with this to follow. 3) An eight inch crescent wrench; NOT rusted. 4) A six inch version of needle nose pliers; for reaching into difficult spots. The “main” and largest compartment contains in the elastic loops: 1) A five inch visegrip; you can do a lot of things with visegrips including replacing a lost or busted shift lever. 2) A disposable lighter; it would be nice to be able to build a fire if you end up “camping”. Check regularly to make sure it works. 3) A three way allen key tool; this is actually a Y shaped bicycle tool that covers 4, 5 and 6 mm allen
head bolts. 4) A three ounce snap cap plastic bottle “borrowed” from work that contains: a) 6, 8, 10, 12 (for Jap bikes) and 13 (for KTMs) mm quarter inch drive sockets b) a three inch extension for the quarter inch drive c) a valve core tool for the tires 5) A “Leatherman” style multitool. 6) A 37 ml container of bug repellent; think about it. 7) Two small double end screwdrivers; this gives me two different slot and philips sizes. 8) A 10mm/13mm combination wrench; I have no idea where I got this but “KTM sizing” is handy 9) A spare clutch lever; I probably should carry a brake level also. The main compartment also has, carried loosely: 1) Disposable plastic gloves; great for squeezing water out of ail filters while keeping the oil off your hands. I usually do this job at least once a year. For other riders, of course. 2) A four foot length of fuel hose; once again, at least once a year, I end up refueling another bike from mine to limp home. I simply remove my fuel line at the petcock then attach the hose while lying the recipient bike on it’s side and draining fuel into it’s tank. Ain’t gravity wonderful? So, this is what I call my basic “Limerick” setup. It weighs about five and a half pounds and is not overly noticeable when riding “Aha”, you say, “he forgot about tire tools!” Actually, no. I don’t carry tire equipment on me in Limerick because I figure I can limp back to the truck from anywhere in that Forest. I also don’t usually wear my Camelbak there either for the same reason; I just head back to the truck once in a while for a drink. That brings up the next phase; the Calabogie pack. In addition to the items listed above I add: 1) A map and compass; I’m not GPS fluent so I figure if I have even a rough idea of where I am I can get back to someplace I know with these two items. 2) 50 ml of premix oil in a small, soft titration bottle again “borrowed” from work. This is the correct amount of oil for me to put in three liters of gas. If you ride a two smoke you NEED to carry oil in Calabogie in case you have to bum fuel or end up in Ompah to buy fuel.
3) Tire tools; after losing my rear fender mounted tire tool kit last year I now carry this stuff on my person. My TekVest has large spacious front pockets so I carry four (!) pouched seven inch tire irons in one pocket and a very nice eight inch bicycle tire pump (which inflates on both strokes) in my other pocket. BTW don’t cheap out on tire irons; buy good brand name irons that won’t frustrate you by bending at the most inconvenient times. 4) An eight inch folding pruning saw; I bought this last year at Lee Valley and although it was very pricey, it is vastly superior to the Crappy Tire variety. I carry this in the pocket along with the tire pump. 5) A spare tube; I carry a 21 inch tube zip tied to my Camelbak. Note that a front tube will fit in the rear tire but a rear tube won’t fit in the front tire. So that’s what I carry. Hopefully, in my usual long winded manner, I have got you thinking about what YOU should carry. And remember; it has been my experience that you are much more likely to come to the aid of another rider than you are to get yourself out of a pinch. Because if I have to bail you out at the side of the trail...
YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO HEAR THE END OF IT !
Don’t Ride Naked. Please. Wear gear. It’s important. Unless you are a pro-rider, or a member of the “temporarily retired”, you probably need to get to work on Monday. Wearing gear will increase the odds of paying your bills.
TEK VEST REVIEW review by Dallas Shannon
TekVest is letting the BMA take their Off-Road Rally vest for a long term product review. We’re going to see to it that the vest take a serious beating over the riding season. We will have updates as to how the vest is holding up, what we love, what we like and what we would want improved. Other riders with TekVests will also weigh in. Here my inital thoughts...
The TekVests arrived by courier just days after I ordered them. Prompt, no hassle service, just what I like. The vest was neatly packaged and was in good order. The first thing I noticed is that they are made of heavy duty fabric. Thick material, with heavy duty stitching seems like a very good thing for an off-road product. The vest was well made with a lot of attention to detail.
There were so many built in features it took me a while to notice them all. What I’ve done in this “initial thoughts” article is to outline the features that I’ve found, briefly
Heavy Zippers: These are big, heavy duty zippers. It locks together easily and zips up tight. I don’t think dirt will bother these zippers - time will tell.
Hidden Zippers: These zippers are on each front pocket. They are not as heavy as the main zipper but are protected from dirt and grime by a flap. I love that they zip “up” so it really holds the contents in well. Pulling a zipper down to open it always seems easier than zipping it back up so you can always get into these pockets with one hand. Handy.
Heavy Snaps: These snaps are on the front pockets. There are two front pockets with top access. There is a flap protecting the pockets from debris. Both pockets seem easy to open and access althought they are a bit tight. These pockets would be best for thin items - paperwork, money, maps, etc.
Velcro Closures: The velcro on the shoulder straps are better than average. It has a 3 part closure system which is much more secure and resists coming off. I’m so tired of my single strap knee-guard velco coming undone. If my knee guards were designed with a 3 part closure I don’t think it would be a problem.
Chest Buckle: The buckle that adjusts the chest size is heavy duty. It’s a bit difficult to adjust but once you get everything adjusted it does not slip or move around.
Rib Protection: Argueably the best reason to own this vest. It’s got double overlap rib protection and it fits together really well. Your entire rib cage is protected and this alone makes it better than a roost guard.
Back Flap/Loop: The backpack section is protected by a snapped rear flap. It should prevent debris from getting into the bladder section of the vest. The loop is heavy duty and is ideal for transporting and hanging the vest.
Drain Ports: The bottom of the bladder compartment has two small drain ports. Talk about well thought out! When condensation builds up or it’s very wet or raining, the fluid has a way to get out.
Bladder Tube Guide: The collarbone section of the vest has a build in guide for the bladder tube. It’s soft and well constructed. The tube seems to hang in a very convenient location while wearing the vest. Did I mention the design of this vest was well thought out? Initial Thoughts? So far, I love the vest. I usually wear chest protection and a bulky backpack. My backpack is not well designed for regular off-road use and the zippers consistantly fail. It’s hard to clean, not comfortable when worn over my chest protector and it often pulls quite a bit when loaded. Although expensive ($419.99) the TekVest provides protection combined with functional features for trail riding. It is essentially 3 pieces of gear in one - protection, backpack and water system. There are many different sized pockets for storage and these pockets spread the weight of the load evenly thoughout the body. The fit is excellent and once sized properly you can barely tell you are wearing it.
Bladder System: This is one of those nifty keychain quick release catches. Great idea. The bladder is not supplied, you’ll have to provide your own.
The BMA has a TekVest that is availble to “test ride”. If you are interested please email:
offroad.newsletter@gmail.com
Garlic Mustard with your Zebra Mussels? Might sound good on a dinner menu but this dish isn’t very palatable.
- Ken Hoeverman - OFTR
Invading species are one of the greatest threats to the biodiversity of Ontario’s waters, wetlands and woodlands. We have all heard about the Zebra Mussels and Sea Lamprey. The two main concerns in Ontario forests are “Garlic Mustard” and the “Dog Strangling Vine”. The seeds from these plants can live in the dirt we collect on our motorcycles/ATVs and can then spread when we travel to other forests. Invading species from other regions of the world invading species can have devastating effects on native species, habitats and ecosystems. They can also spread when people dump their garden waste in the forest under the misconception that it is just good organic material. If you see someone arriving where you ride with a dirty OHV or dumping garden materials, have a chat with them and let them know they may be affecting the natural habitat. Dirty Dirt Bikes and ATVs aren’t as cool as they used to be, so wash your bike after each ride, especially if you are traveling from one part of the province to another.
FREE STUFF! If you think of a product you would be interested in reviewing we can try and get it “donated” for review. If you write the review, and the manufacturer will let us keep it - it’s yours! (unless it’s a Christini - then it’s mine)
Talk about SOX! - review by Dallas Shannon
I care about socks as much as the next guy. I just pull them out of the drawer in the morning and ninety-nine percent of the time it takes less than a second of consideration. If my wife insists they match, it may take a bit longer. Socks are not something that my buddies and I discuss over beer and a bit of bench racing. About 2 years ago I bought a pair of motocross socks. All I was looking for was something that was long enough to reach the top of my riding boots to protect my lower leg while riding. They do the job and I’m satisfied, case closed. A few months ago I read a review about a Canadian sock company that specifically made socks for motocross. The reviewer was enthusiastic and I wondered – why the big deal? They’re socks...jeez. Curious (but cynical) I contacted Nancy Mayer at Tech Sox and asked her to send me a pair to review for the BMA Newsletter. As promised, they arrived a few days later in a padded envelope. When I opened them the first thing I noticed was the whack of literature included in the package. Honestly, there was more documentation in the sock envelope than there was when I bought my Tech 8 riding boots. I have never read so much about a pair of socks in my entire life. These socks have more features than my Trail Tech Enduro computer.
Above: Required reading from the Advanced Socks 101 course.
A few days later, I took them for a ride. There is a left foot and a right foot. This immediately makes them the most complex sock I have ever worn. When I put on the first sock, my hot feet felt cooler right away. This sensation occurred within 10 seconds. The next thing I noticed was the compression. I could feel different compression points in different areas of the socks. On the top of my foot I could see how thin the socks were and as I moved my foot around I could feel the air flowing through.
during and after the ride. I was so impressed I wanted to read more about them, so I went to the website [www.techsox.com] to find out more. I was pleased (and relieved) to see there are plenty of people (men) who are just as impressed about these socks as I was:
Even putting my boots on was different. Normally, I have to pull, stomp and curse my way into the boots. Once I buckled up my boots and stood up, it felt like I had a brand new pair of boots on. The fit was amazing. A pair of socks transformed how my 3-year-old boots felt.
—Andy White, Team Manager, KTM Canada
I can’t express how great my feet felt before,
“In over 10 years as a team manager, I’ve never seen riders so fanatical over a small product but they fight and try to steal each other’s socks— thankfully the riders’ socks have their numbers. They really love these socks and say they make all the difference when training (8–30 minutes motos per day) and racing.”
I recommend this product highly. For $21.99, these socks will offer the highest value of any piece of gear you own. What sweetens the deal is that this is a Canadian company making a world-class product in our own backyard. Buy some Tech Sox. Tell your riding buddies. But let’s not discuss it at the next beer night…they’re only socks. Jeez.
FALLING DOWN Confessions of a True Beginner
Barry and his sons just started riding and are going to write a monthly column on what’s it’s like to be green as the grass. Most of us have gone through some of what we’ll read here - unless we’re too old to remember!
I had always wanted a dirt bike when I was a kid. Or thought I did. It never happened and “too expensive” was the favourite excuse. I’m older now (almost 50) and I have a family of my own, including an ever patient wife, a daughter and two sons. My youngest son Alex (15) has always maintained that he would like to get a dirt bike. I often brushed that thought aside though: “Where would you ride it? Who are you going to ride with? How are you going to learn to ride?” You get the picture. Enter “The Guy Show”. An annual event held at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa in the spring. We had a stroll around the place and stumbled across a fellow with a bunch of orange dirt bikes. Calls himself Woody I believe. Alex was in seventh heaven. Dirt bikes! We talked with Woody for a bit and picked up some literature. He also mentioned that we could find more information on the OFTR and BMA websites. We found out about Limerick Forest and paid a visit there with my sons. What a neat place! Trails all over the place and it’s OK to ride there! But what about learning to ride? How do we do that? And what about if we go out and buy bikes, try it, and we don’t like it? That’s an expensive mistake! Enter the Canadian Motorcycle Training Services (CMTS). We found out about them through the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (OFTR). They were holding a special one day event where training is half price if you join the OFTR. After talking with Clinton at CMTS, I got myself and my two sons set up for some training. They provide the bikes, all the gear and a good place to ride. Off we go, the three of
us. Fools all. Spent the night at a local campground and readied ourselves for the next day. Alex hardly slept. It poured the whole next day. “Rain or shine” Clinton said, so here we are! We got ourselves geared up, chose our weapons (Yamaha TT-R 125L) and readied ourselves for a full day. And full it was. It was a no-brainer for the boys. But for me, never having ridden a dirt bike before, it was certainly a learning process. Clutch in, twist the handle to give it some gas, clutch out (but slowly) and that’s the front brake, but don’t use it, use the back brake (safer!), and get your feet up on the pegs, OK, now look straight ahead, use the foot brake to stop, pull in the clutch… I groaned as I ended up on the ground with my bike entangled with another rider.
Barry promised us he’ll have proper riding gear for next issue.
To make a long story short we made it though the day. I now know how to ride a dirt bike (so they say). Since the training day, we went ahead and bought a couple of Honda CRF150Fs we like to call “the twins”.
We’ve been out riding a few times and met some of the BMA members (I was going to say “run into you”, but that hasn’t happened YET). More about our first few rides in the next issue. There’s a lot more to tell, and so much more to learn. Watch for us out there. I’ll be the old guy picking his dirt bike up off the ground looking tired, confused and happy…
Woody’s 2 Hour!
story and photos by Carolin Lueders
The warm weather has arrived and along with that comes riding season and Woody’s Cycles 2-Hour Spring Hare Scramble. June 7th was the date this year, with roughly 70 riders signing up for the annual race. This year we had 5 different classes ranging from Pro to Youth. The standard riders’ meeting was held with Woody going over the rules of the race. Riders then lined up with the start flag dropping in the Pro catagory first, followed by the intermediate, Vet, Junior and then youth. There were 2 minute intervals between the start of each class. After a complete lap, the racers started coming through scoring with Allan Lachapelle
the first one through. As the race went on, a few riders ended up having private battles, such as Vet racers Woody and Lindsey Cave, both taking turns coming through scoring. One racer, Gille Lalonde, was racing in the junior class, so he could ride with his son, Ben, racing in youth. Gille likes to ride around with Ben to make sure that he doesn’t get stuck, or run into trouble. Well
things didn’t work out that way this time; the 11 year old left his father in the dust, or mud in this case. For 2 hours the racers continued lap after lap, even after the rain started. After the final flag was dropped, the racers made their way back to their vehicles, except for Johnny Hairdo, who wanted to do some more laps, just for fun, as 2 hours was not enough, and he was having a great time. Despite a few hiccups with scoring, the race was once again a success. Nobody was surprised when Allan Lachapelle finished first in the pro class, and first over all. Ken Beach, finished first in the intermediate class, and 2nd overall, with his younger brother Davey bringing home first place in the junior division. Home track advantage? Maybe. Woody and Lindsey’s private race ended with Lindsey winning the Vet class with Woody coming in 3rd (I guess someone sneaked in there when he wasn’t looking). After a short break, trophies were awarded, and the bench racing started. It was nice to see a few more BMA members taking part in the racing portion of this event, and maybe at the 4-hour we will have a few more. I’m sure Ironman Eastman will be there for that one. Woody is donating some of the proceeds from the race to the “ Get Well Andrew Trevitt Fund”.
RACE RESULTS!
THE DEVIL RIDES KTM
story by Dmitry “Demon” Tsvetkov
Demon races, We Watch. For as long as I can remember I’ve been a rider. I was hooked at the young age of 10 years old when I would be gone hours on end riding my BMX bike. As I got older, my passion grew with me and in 2003 I bought my first motorcycle, a Suzuki DRZ 400. I think that was one of the happiest days of my life.
As much as I loved riding, I never tried racing competitively until 2008. After my first Hare Scramble I found that the combination of my very competitive nature and my riding passion sparked a new obsession. I was hooked.
This year I signed up for my first race in the Intermediate class, with the intention to test my skills. With the support of some good friends who kept me company on the long drive to the race and who were cheering me on at each lap I made – I managed to earn a 3rd place finish and obtain my first ever trophy.
Although I was very excited about my first intermediate finish, I do realize my first few races weren’t without mistakes and challenges. Poor suspension set up, tire pressure, unsecured grips and overdose of caffeine before the race were all felt with each and every bump. However, I believe that this was the best and fastest way for me to learn. As they say, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
With the first three races of the CMA championship behind me, I am holding the 4th place in the total points count. I am determined to give all I have at each and every event. I become better and stronger with each and every race as my skills and experience grows. While racing isn’t easy – the heat, the sweat, the dust and the mud – I wouldn’t trade it for the world! This is my passion, my obsession, and I love it!
Follow along with new racer Demon, as he races in the 2009 CMA championship. His blog and entertaining helmet cam videos demonstrate what it takes to race in the intermediate class. He will be providing us with updates on his season in upcoming newsletters. His blog can be found at www.dirtybikes.ca
LOCAL RIDER TURNS 50! Active club member Kevin Eastman has annouced that he’s recently turned 50. Kevin mentioned that there will be fewer knarly rides, less crashes and a dual sport bike in his future. Kevin’s been spotted hanging out with Terry Young on several occasions. If you see Kevin riding this season please do not mention his age.
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BMA Code Of Conduct 1. Do not trespass on private property 2. Ride on existing trails 3. Respect nature 4. Respect and be courteous to other people who also have the right to be on the trails 5. Remember that few other vehicles are as maneuverable as bikes, so give the others lots of room 6. Hunt camp owners do a lot of trail grooming - respect their efforts 7. Stop when you see a horse 8. Do not ride during hunting season 9. Comply with all legislation, bylaws and insurance requirements 10. Always wear a helmet and other safety gear (but take off your helmet if you talk to someone) 11. Do not litter 12. Leave the place better than you found it 13. Keep your bike QUIET. More sound = less ground!
Lachapelle Riding School 2009 story and photos by Carolin Lueders
On May 23rd & 24th, Woody’s Cycles once again hosted a Lachapelle riding school, with Allan Lachapelle and Warren Thaxter teaching the school. The both days were almost filled to capacity with 17 riders on the 23rd and 22 riders on the 24th. The days started out at the pit, with Allan and Warren going over some basic body positions that riders should be using while riding. Riders were then divided into two groups and taken out into the fields, where they did various skill development exercises. Warrens group was even riding around with hockey pucks taped to their seat to teach them to sit farther ahead on the bike. After a great lunch, the group discussed bike maintenance. The group returned to the field for a short period of time for some more skills training, before
it was done. It was the riders turn. Some opted out, but the fearless, took it on. Conquering the staircase was the final part of the day, and I have to say that most of the riders looked pretty tired by the end. All in all, everyone had a good time and learned a lot from Allan and Warren. Allan has donated healthy portion of the proceeds to the Corduro Enduro, that is held every fall. Woody’s Cycle would like to thank Allan, Ann, and Warren for taking the time from their busy schedule to travel down and teach the school.
heading up to the extreme cross track, where everyone got to watch Allan effortlessly navigate the track. Here he demonstrated how to use the skills that they had been practicing all morning. Riders had the option of trying the Extreme Cross sections. After some of the riders gave it a try, they all moved on to the large rock hill, in the bush. Here they took turns going up and down the steep rock face. After everyone had a go, they then moved to the stone staircase. Once again, Allan showed them how
Alan and Warren watch while Matt feels the torque of a modern 2-Smoke. Where else are you going to get this kind of personal attention?
Stoppies were taught to teach brake control and balance as well as some age old classics, such as the “toe-dragging vertical-wheelie” used for checking cloud cover. Excellent technique!
Left: Mere mortals put a wheel to the Endurocross section. It’s nasty. Right: Alan demonstrates how to he navigates the Endurocross section. With wings.
NOT YOUR FATHERS ENDURO WEC Breathes New Life into An Old Concept story by Matthew McAnanama
The 2009 riding season is upon us and this is the year of the Enduro. For the first time there is a true Canadian national enduro series (Canadian Enduro Championship). The CEC is a product created by the folks at World Enduro Canada (WEC) that consists of 8 rounds at 4 separate locations across Canada. In addition, there will be a regional WEC series in Ontario geared toward the amateur. In 2009 the Ontario Amateur Enduro Series (OAES) will consist of one event on July 26th at the Burnt River Off-Road Facility. The Dirty Bikes Amateur Enduro at Burnt River is a pilot event that will demonstrate how simple it is to create a WEC style enduro on a single piece of property. There are plans to have a multi round series starting in 2010. If that wasn’t exciting enough, international enduro champion, Jake Stapleton will be holding an enduro skills training school on July 25, also at the Burnt River Off-Road Facility. This school is open to all riders that are looking to learn from an accomplished enduro competitor. Hold on, what is an enduro? That is a simple question with many possible answers. The easy answer is that it is a competition to test your endurance. Well duh!! The more complex answer is that there are a variety of rules/ styles of enduros that have been utilized in recent history. For many years, the enduro events in Ontario were based on one long loop course (120150km), over a variety of terrain that had hidden checkpoints along the course. Each rider was assigned a “minute” they would start the event on (3-4 riders per minute). For instance, if you were given minute 5 and the event started at 10am, you would leave at 10:05am for there was no minute 0. The goal was to ride the entire course at a predetermined average speed, around 37.5km/h. Points were added for every check-
Juha Salminen lets his bike carry him up the hill.
point arrived at early or late. Being early actually was more costly then being late. The goal was to finish the enduro with 0 points. The complexity of these enduros came when the rider was late or early for a check as they were now on a new “minute”. Therefore, if they started on “minute” 5 and were 2 minutes late at the first check they were now on minute 7. The rider needs to arrive at the remaining checks at 10:07. In addition to timekeeping the rider also had to navigate the course with the use of route sheets rather then following arrows. Phew! Confused yet? Does the best rider win or the rider that is best able to do math as they compete? In addition, with the long single loop the
need to run part of the enduro on a road was necessary for many events and thus required the rider to have a blue plated bike. So even though this style of enduro can be a hoot and very challenging it also had many barriers to entry for the potential newbie. Another form of enduro is the WEC (World Enduro Championship/World Enduro Canada) and this is the style of enduro I am going to focus on for the remaindered of this article as it is the currently the newest style of enduro in Ontario.
WEC Extreme Test 2008 - Parry Sound
WEC Style Enduro A WEC enduro is similar to other enduros as it is a loop race where the start and finish are the same location. As well each rider is assigned a “start minute” much the same as a traditional enduro. The difference being, a WEC loop is typically much shorter, and is ridden multiple times. Instead of needing 150km of trail, only 30-50km are required. This is a great benefit when trying to organize an enduro, especially as our riding areas are shrinking. This method also eliminates the need for plated bikes, mathematical calculations, or buying expensive timing computers as there is only one number to remember and that is the time limit for each lap. Each event sets a time lap time limit; typically that limit is 1.5hrs. The big man tearing it up - D Knight. Hence, each lap needs to be completed in 90minutes or less. If not, a time penalty is assessed for each late minute. Each rider is allowed a total late limit of 60 minutes before they are disqualified. Sounds simple enough…just don’t be late! At this point, it may seem like a WEC enduro is simple and is like a long harescramble. Not so fast! I have yet to mention the cool part about these enduros, the part that separates the fast riders from the really fast riders…the test section! It is the test section where the rider is timed to the nearest half second and therefore must navigate this section of the course as fast as possible. Each rider is released into the section on 1 minute intervals, which means they are racing against themselves and the course, not other competitors. As a result, there is no “bar-to-bar” racing. Don’t be fooled though into thinking that it is not a competition. At the end of the day, the fastest rider in the test section will win the event.
So what is a test section? Well there are three different types, a Cross Test, an Enduro Test and an Extreme Test. Each of these sections is part of the course loop with one addition; there is a scoring station at the beginning and end of the test. The tests are designed to test a rider’s ability to perform in different conditions. The Cross Test is typically on an MX track or on a course with a wide variety of turns in an open field. The Enduro Test consists of a combination of tight single track and natural terrain elevation changes. Finally, the Extreme Test is just as the name states, Extreme. This section is used to test a WEC 2006 Extreme Test - remember, bench racers, photos are deceiving. rider’s ability to overcome very tough obstacles and can be a natural terrain course, man-made, or a combination of both. The end result of a WEC style enduro - the fastest rider wins! For more information please visit DirtyBikes.ca or worldendurocanada.com Big plans are evolving for the expansion of the WEC style of enduro in Canada in the very near future. Many opportunities will arise to enter events that will enable you to push past your perceived limitations as a dirt rider. Stay tuned for the next WEC style enduro and sign up.
Challenge Yourself!!
Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC) • July 4 & 5 - Blairmore, Alberta • July 11 & 12 - Penticton, British Columbia • September 12 & 13 - Labelle, Quebec • September 19 & 20 - Parry Sound, Ontario
Ontario Amateur Enduro Series (OAES) • Jake Stapleton Enduro Training School July 25 – Burnt River Ontario • July 26 – Dirty Bikes Amateur Enduro at Burnt River - Burnt River, Ontario
BMA 2009 EVENT SCHEDULE BMA Club trail ride, Calabogie, Ont.
May 31
Watch the club web site for developments. This is a great area…lots of scenery and varied terrain suitable for most skill levels. Dualsport route is also being offered. For information call Doug McNeil at (613) 825-1444, mcneild@rogers.com
2 Hour harescramble, Woody’s, Perth
June 7
BMA/Woody’s Cycles club hare scrambles our annual spring pilgrimage into the forest. Usually a dust free event …there may or not be any mud. Always fun and challenging. Classes include youth, previous race experience with no bikes under 65cc,junior, intermediate, veteran (over 39 years old) or so and pro. Registration starts at 9am and practice till 11:15 am. Racing starts a noon .For info call Carolin or Woody @ 613-267-6861.or woody@woodys-cycles.com
Limerick Forest Kid’s Ride
July 12
Limerick Forest Family Ride. For kids of all ages, non-competitive, and focused on fun. Trails as always well marked for different riding levels. Bikes must be quiet, plated and legal. Sign in 9-10, start time 10:30 for more info call Mike Hillier 613-258-1164 or Larry Murry 613-926-2522
BMA Fun Day/Field Day at Woody’s
August 16
BMA Family Fun day @KTM Acres in Perth A day to kick back, ride, relax, play m/c games, and skill contests and really get to know other folks in the club .If you are so inclined we will have the property well arrowed up for the various skill levels for trail riding during the day. Bring a lunch and bug repellent. More details will follow. For info call Marlene Bleau 613-678-1676 mbleau@hotmail.com
Calabogie Boogie Trail Ride,
September 12-13
This is our clubs premier event of the year with 2 days of prime off road riding, arrowed routes to suit everyone from newbie to pro. Trailheads marked for mileage and difficulty, some dualsport friendly trails as well .One and 2-day packages, pre-registration are very advisable for this one. Watch the club website for updates and info. Pre-registration available thru Woody’s Cycles 613-267- 6861
BMA 4-hour harescramble, Woody’s
October 25
The Colin Snider Memorial 4 hour Team Scrambles. This is an annual favourite, with a low impact racing, format with an iron man class for the hardcore, a 2-man team competition and 3 to 4 man teams competing for individual honours. It is set on a course meant to be fun but reasonably challenging. A fundraiser for local charities and an excellent event for a family group to have… a really fun day and get some racing experience to boot No bikes smaller than 65cc call for info Carolin or Woody 613-267-6861
FOR A HARDCOPY, PLEASE PRINT THIS PAGE OF THE NEWSLETTER
BMA VET rider Larry Murray has opened his gear bag to let mere mortals take a look. After the smell died down and we caught our breath, we asked Larry - What’s in your bag?
This age old question has been asked of me time and time again? You will have many options, when packing for a trail ride... again - you will have many options when packing for a ride! You can only wear what’s in your gear bag, if you don’t have it, you can’t wear it. Packing your gear bag is the first step to a safe and comfortable ride. Here are some questions I get asked all the time:
• Elbow pads that I don’t wear. • Two pair of riding pants, I like the ones with a pocket and that fit over my boots when it’s raining. • Two pair of socks! They are heavy, they are long and they fit! • I also have been wearing a Tek-Vest since 2001 that I love! I will tell you more about that in future newsletters. You may use any good chest protector. • Some type of water supply system.
• Are you wearing your riding jacket, your rain gear, taking one or two pair of gloves? • Are you wearing elbow pads, knee braces? • Are you taking your fanny pack? • What’s in your fanny pack, this is a story by it’s self. (That we will never agree on!)
• Three pair of gloves, one pair cold weather lined/ thinsulate wind proof. Two normal pair. • Two riding jackets, ISDE or Tek-Rider and a MSR pac-jacket.
Here is what I typically pack in my gear bag before a ride: • Helmet and goggles - I only wear goggles in the heavy dust, snow or ice rain. I wear glasses and hate glare and fog. • Cotton tee shirt, no one needs to develop sensitive nipples.
• Fanny pack - there is a long list of things in this, too much to get into in this article. • Boots - if it’s a two day ride I take two pair of boots. • First Aid Kit (small) • Towel
• Two riding jerseys one heavy, one light.
• A vented laundry bag for my dirty gear on the way home.
• Two pair of “clean” dirt bike underwear, you know what I mean, the kind that have the brown stains that never wash out.
This is what I feel is the short list of what to carry in your gear bag.
• Shorts so I’m not running around in my underwear. • Knee braces that I wear.
Yes! You will need a big heavy gear bag. Larry will weigh in on the TekVest in future issues. He’s hinted how he feels about his vest but we’ll bring you the real scoop in next month’s newsletter.