April 3-6, 2008: April Fool's Ride in Arkansas!

[MoRidin]

Crickets...crickets...

Man, I just realized we are THREE WEEKS OUT!

I took the 450 out today down the levy road and to some marginally legit trails probably owned by some mega mining/gas company...judging from the tracks, I am not the only one back there. All I can say is this bike flat out RIPS!

I can also say I am VERY rusty. Three miles into the trails found me on my arse twice...luckily it was rock free. I need to work on that...

[Stu]

I was shedding rust yesterday like a worn out coastal steamer. Went out for a brief zip around only to find that I hit trees, slid out in mud, crashed trying to plow thru little ditches and came home with sore knees and back. Mo Ridin, you are soooooo right! I'm ready to go but then again, I'm not....

Stu

[hawkeye]

Troy/Sean,

Can you guys give me a tip or trick to allow me to open the grb route files. I have version 2 of Mapsource software on my laptop and you have created these files using newer software. Versdion 2 cannot open. Can you post with an earlier version or am I sol?

Thanks,

Hawkeye

p.s. don't go to a lot of work - thanks!

Dennis

[MoRidin]

You can upgrade your old version for free from Garmin.

Here:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download ... jsp?id=209

However, I can email you the old version (,mps) if you would like. It only takes a sec to convert. ust PM me your email addy.

Sean

[Hayden]

Sean, can you tell me how you set up your Scotts for trail riding. I have a new damper and trying to get some settings on Sweep and stiffness.


Hayden

[chadman]

You can upgrade your old version for free from Garmin.

Here:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download ... jsp?id=209

However, I can email you the old version (,mps) if you would like. It only takes a sec to convert. ust PM me your email addy.

Sean

I have a Magellan Crossover. Anyway I can import the route into it? Chad

[MoRidin]

I have a Magellan Crossover. Anyway I can import the route into it? Chad

You should be able to use the GPX file...that one is cross-platform.

Do you have Mapsend (I think that is Magellans software right)? If so, I think I can make one of those too.

[hawkeye]

You can upgrade your old version for free from Garmin.

Here:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download ... jsp?id=209

However, I can email you the old version (,mps) if you would like. It only takes a sec to convert. ust PM me your email addy.

Sean

Sean,

Thanks for the info and link. I did the download and routes opened and are saved.

Thanks,

Dennis

[tom reiner]

Troy,
I notice on the first post you have some routes posted
and more here http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?p=4073#p4073

Are those all the routes? or will more follow?
I just wanna start getting my ducks in a row

[devro]

Troy,
I need to sign up two riders who don't have the opportunity to connect with RideForm via cyber space.

Jeff Gaston (jgas)
Chris White.

Both will be arriveing on Thursday, maybe together. They are both camping but I do not know yet if they are going to camp in the forest or on Mulberry Mt. property.

Jeffro wants to eat BBQ both Fri and Sat nights. I will pay for his meals but I'm not sure about you knowing he is paid if I pay it.
Is it possable for me to buy another BBQ ticket and you make note to mark Jeff Gaston as paid for meals only?

thanks,
devro

[troy]

Guys, sorry I was silent last week. I was on a ski vacation at Lake Tahoe. If you've never been to Lake Tahoe, make it a priority. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

THE RIDE
I've tried to provide all the important details in the first post of this thread:
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=533

Every time new riders sign up or new information is made available, it is added to the first post.

PLEASE go check the first post--if you are not listed or you are marked NOT paid and think you are paid, LET ME KNOW.

The route file listed in the first post is the "official" route file for this ride. However, I also provided a link to download a route file that I've compiled--thanks to help from others--that you are welcome to enjoy. I plan to have all these routes loaded so that if something planned does not work out (dead end, water too high, private property, closed, etc) we'll have options. This is a bit of an adventure. It is not a professionally guided tour--the people leading the groups will probably not have ridden many of the trails before.

The route files are provided first in Garmin GDB format, but sometimes also in the generic GPX format. If you need files converted, you can use this free, powerful conversion tool.
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/

We now have 32 people officially needing beds with at least 2 more people I'm told will "probably" come. The lodge is full! If you have not sent payment, it is time to get your money in or lose your bed.

I've had inquiries from people wanting to post the ride on AdvRider and elsewhere. Thing is, we now have at least 37 riders signed up. We don't want a lot of riders showing up at the lodge who are not actually staying at the lodge because we have a $500 deposit to lose if anyone spins a tire, rides a wheelie, does not stay on the driveways, etc. If we have 20 riders meet us for the start that have nothing to lose, it could hurt us and leave a bad impression with the Mulberry Lodge.

We will be doing the routes in smaller groups--probably at least 2 or 3 groups. Other riders are welcome to download the routes and ride...but for the reasons outlined above, we don't want a lot of "outside" riders showing up at the lodge.

Those of you camping or RVing at the Lodge--remember that you are on your own to make those reservations.

Who wants to ride?!

[troy]

Troy,
I need to sign up two riders who don't have the opportunity to connect with RideForm via cyber space.

Jeff Gaston (jgas)
Chris White.

Both will be arriveing on Thursday, maybe together. They are both camping but I do not know yet if they are going to camp in the forest or on Mulberry Mt. property.

Jeffro wants to eat BBQ both Fri and Sat nights. I will pay for his meals but I'm not sure about you knowing he is paid if I pay it.
Is it possable for me to buy another BBQ ticket and you make note to mark Jeff Gaston as paid for meals only?

thanks,
devro

Just send electronic payment or a check. Your post above is all I need to make sense of the payments. Thanks.

Btw, I'm treating everyone the same--you are marked NOT paid until I actually receive the payment regardless of anything you've told me.

[katbeanz]

Troy, please put me down for the two meals only, camping. I just paypal-ed funds, if it's past the deadline on meals, don't worry about it. Thanks, Dean Kinne

[troy]

Troy, please put me down for the two meals only, camping. I just paypal-ed funds, if it's past the deadline on meals, don't worry about it. Thanks, Dean Kinne

Got the payment, Dean added, first post updated.

[devro]

Troy,

Lake Tahoe, cool place.

Anyway, I just paid via PayPal for the BBQ for Jeff Gaston. When you sign him up as an attendee you can mark him as paid.
I also paid for Chris White's BBQ dinner. Mark Chris a paid also when you get it.

I know that all of us who are camping in our group are fully aware of how bad it will hurt our wallets if we screw up at Mt. Mulberry.
As far as "outside riders", you are right, that could get tricky.

thanks again for all you have done,
devro

[rxcrider]

Troy wrote:
I've had inquiries from people wanting to post the ride on AdvRider and elsewhere. Thing is, we now have at least 37 riders signed up. We don't want a lot of riders showing up at the lodge who are not actually staying at the lodge because we have a $500 deposit to lose if anyone spins a tire, rides a wheelie, does not stay on the driveways, etc. If we have 20 riders meet us for the start that have nothing to lose, it could hurt us and leave a bad impression with the Mulberry Lodge.

We will be doing the routes in smaller groups--probably at least 2 or 3 groups. Other riders are welcome to download the routes and ride...but for the reasons outlined above, we don't want a lot of "outside" riders showing up at the lodge.

Those of you camping or RVing at the Lodge--remember that you are on your own to make those reservations.

To that point, I suggest that anyone staying somewhere else meet us at the gas station or at a trailhead. I'm assumiung that we'll be riding the twisties to fuel as our morning warm up. (imagine a smiley with sparks coming off his pegs here or your travel trailer with sparks comming off the frame if you prefer)

[troy]

To that point, I suggest that anyone staying somewhere else meet us at the gas station or at a trailhead.

That is probably a good idea, but may not be necessary. Let's see how many riders we end up with and how many of those riders are NOT staying at the lodge. If it's only a handful, no problem. I don't want to make it sound like if you don't stay at the lodge, you are not welcome to hang out--we'd love to have everyone hang out in the evenings to enjoy dinner, talk about the ride, etc. We just can't risk having 20+ additional heads hanging out--the lodge may notice too many people and want to charge us more, and if any of those people breaks the lodge rules, it could cost us $500.

SO, everyone is paid EXCEPT a few of the Oklahoma crew. What's up OK?! Nobi, you know these guys? Go knock em around for us.

Unfortunately, a couple of the riders have had to back out. I just want to let everyone know that if you can't make it, let me know as soon as possible--I can refund your money. If you wait until the very last minute, though, I may not be able to refund 100%---it just depends on when we actually make the order with the caterers, pay the lodging bill, etc.

[rxcrider]

Troy - are they ok with guests? 2 years ago they wanted to charge for any guests that joined us and wanted them out by a certain time - 9PM I think

Craig (CAW on KTMTalk) will be coming down as well. He isn't on your list yet and he promised he will send you money today or tomorrow.

[MoRidin]

Troy - are they ok with guests? 2 years ago they wanted to charge for any guests that joined us and wanted them out by a certain time - 9PM I think

Craig (CAW on KTMTalk) will be coming down as well. He isn't on your list yet and he promised he will send you money today or tomorrow.

Jonathon, I think we are ok on guests...new owners. They know we were there before and did not burn the place down, so we should be ok. I also think the campers can sleep in the Star barn and pay the $20 rv fee...that would be nice as they get power and water plus the bikes stay dry.

So our videographer is coming??

[Nobiman]

SO, everyone is paid EXCEPT a few of the Oklahoma crew. What's up OK?! Nobi, you know these guys? Go knock em around for us.

Yup, I know 'em alright. I mention it to 'em everytime I see 'em. I sent our $$ in after waiting as long as I dared for them. I'll call them right now and give them notice.

Randy.