1st Annual RideForum Enduro Skills Challenge!

[troy]

SATURDAY MAY 11
Forecasted Temperatures look Great, Rain chances look sketchy for the latter part of the week.

1st Annual RideForum.NET Enduro Skills Challenge

WHAT
RideForum member kc (Kyle) lives outside Manhattan, KS on 10 acres and has built a small enduro challenge course! He invites us out for a day of fun and some friendly competition!

The course includes obstacles representing various scenarios a rider encounters out on the gnarly trails:

• Balance beam
• Rail grind
• Rock garden
• Stair steps
• Step-up jumps
• Log jump
• Table top
• Steep ditch
• Etc!

WHEN
Saturday, May 4th, 2013
(This may conflict with your big Cinco de Mayo plans.)

WHERE
Kyle's place is called Longview Ranch (it sits high on a hill with a view for miles)
10430 Bechtel Rd
Saint George, KS 66535
N 39 14.734
W 96 28.376
Elevation 1300 (Those sensitive to high altitude should spend at least 24 hours in Manhattan getting acclimated before heading up to the ranch.)

THE PLAN
Riders show up around 9 AM with an hour to play on the course and ride the land.

Competition starts about 10 AM. There will be 2 or 3 judges. One rider will enter the course at a time doing each obstacle. Points will be awarded for clearing an obstacle with additional points awarded for style and skill. THERE WILL BE TROPHIES!

Lunch will be provided--most likely brats, chips, water & soda.

After the competition and lunch, we can ride the backroads over to the motorcycle trails at the Tuttle Creek spillway and play as long as we want. (Those with off-road only bikes can haul to the riding area.) Other options include some of the best minimum maintenance roads in KS, Randolph ORV area, or even head West to School Creek at Milford Lake.

MISC
Kyle has a guest room or 2 for those wanting to come out the night before or stay over through Sunday. Folks would be welcome to camp as well.

Unfortunately, Red Bull declined the opportunity to sponsor this event.

To help with lunch planning, please RSVP in this thread or directly to Kyle.

[ajayhawkfan]

That sounds like a lot of fun.

[Savage]

I'm in! And when I say I'm in, I mean I'd enjoy coming over and hanging out. Would it be a kid friendly day? If so, maybe I could bring my boys bike over.
Anywho, sounds like a fun day.

[Bob Morgan]

Have it marked on my calendar! I would probably camp out if others were doing the same.

Is there a place for a "small" camp fire?

[troy]

I'm in! And when I say I'm in, I mean I'd enjoy coming over and hanging out. Would it be a kid friendly day? If so, maybe I could bring my boys bike over.
Anywho, sounds like a fun day.

There will be lots of nudity and cocaine, so probably not family friendly.

Update: just talked to Kyle, and he said no to the nudity and cocaine, so I guess this is going to be a boring family-friendly event. Sheesh.

[KC]

I'm in! And when I say I'm in, I mean I'd enjoy coming over and hanging out. Would it be a kid friendly day? If so, maybe I could bring my boys bike over.
Anywho, sounds like a fun day.

Little ones are always welcome here. My day will be focused on the "competition" , however, and then I plan to lead a short back roads ride over to the Spillway and back after lunch. I know you have ridden everything there is to ride around here so you may not be interested in the afternoon ride anyway??

[KC]

Have it marked on my calendar! I would probably camp out if others were doing the same.

Is there a place for a "small" camp fire?

I have a fire pit ready to go. As of yet I have NO firewood. You may need to BYOW. I will post up if I come across some wood between now and then.

[ajayhawkfan]

Bob's idea of a small fire:

[Bob Morgan]

Bob's idea of a small fire:

SHHHHHHH!

It's a Surprise!

Actually, more like this........................

[Savage]

I'm in! And when I say I'm in, I mean I'd enjoy coming over and hanging out. Would it be a kid friendly day? If so, maybe I could bring my boys bike over.
Anywho, sounds like a fun day.

Little ones are always welcome here. My day will be focused on the "competition" , however, and then I plan to lead a short back roads ride over to the Spillway and back after lunch. I know you have ridden everything there is to ride around here so you may not be interested in the afternoon ride anyway??

I like that dirt road just North of you. I'd really enjoy a ride with some good fella's.

[kendall_smith]

This sounds like a good time! As of right now, I'll plan on being there unless something comes up.

I think I might ride the 990 on the skills course and then do the gravel road ride on the 350, just to be different. Surely, you guys will help me pick that beast up when I drop it several times on the obstacles.

[Rick]

Sounds like fun. I haven't broken any parts lately. Bob: I''ve got a chainsaw if you've got a place to cut the wood. We'll fill the trailer and head over.

[Bob Morgan]

Surely, you guys will help me pick that beast up when I drop it several times on the obstacles.

= Point, Laugh, and grab for the Camera.

[Bob Morgan]

Sounds like fun. I haven't broken any parts lately. Bob: I''ve got a chainsaw if you've got a place to cut the wood. We'll fill the trailer and head over.

I'm sure we can get something going for wood between now and then. Pallets make a Great camp fire! All you have to do is pick up the nails in the morning.

[ajayhawkfan]

This sounds like a good time! As of right now, I'll plan on being there unless something comes up.

I think I might ride the 990 on the skills course and then do the gravel road ride on the 350, just to be different. Surely, you guys will help me pick that beast up when I drop it several times on the obstacles.

I'll help you if you help me.


KC, I hope there is a large sand pit. I like sand and lots of it.

[KC]

KC, I hope there is a large sand pit. I like sand and lots of it.

I don't have any plans for a sand pit but I can sure make a (gs)Giant mud pit, just for YOU!

[Foster]

That sounds like a lot of fun. I don't think I would compete, but I would love to come out and spectate.

[FosterBUM]

I'll be in Manhattan anyway so i'll be there at least to watch. It doesn't loo like i will have an off-road friendly bike at that point though. If you need any help i am around Manhattan all semester at k-state, but some weekends i head back to Leavenworth to work.

[KC]

I'll be in Manhattan anyway so i'll be there at least to watch. It doesn't loo like i will have an off-road friendly bike at that point though. If you need any help i am around Manhattan all semester at k-state, but some weekends i head back to Leavenworth to work.

You and your Brother, Come on out! The course is rideable on a DRZ but a KLR would not agree with most of the obstacles.
Do you have your KLR when you are in Manhattan? I saw one parking near Bluemont Hall the other day that could have been you.? Look for me in a white Ford van with ThyssenKrupp Elevator all over it. I am hopping around from building to building at KSU all the time, that place keeps me pretty busy.

[KC]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbU43cQiqA0[/youtube]

Here is a video highlighting some of the skills needed for my little obstacle course. My obstacles will be much more challenging though...just kidding! My course is relatively small and will have 8 to 10 challenges. It is toned down to a beginners level and provides good practice for realistic obstacles we ride over on most trail rides. One of the skills from this video I am going to be working on the most to improve my riding is pre-loading the suspension in order to "hop" over logs and rock ledges instead of just powering the back wheel into them and launching into the air. My current technique usually results in strained neck and back muscles after a day of riding.

Spring is officially here, its March 24th, and I just shoveled a 2.5 ft snow drift off my driveway. (A technique which also usually results in strained neck and back muscles) WOOHOO