10guy — former dirt racer, highly experienced rider, Saturday coffee buddy, and all around good guy — on how to learn how to ride in sand and deep gravel:
Slide your butt back in the seat, give it some gas, and get used to the feeling of an imminent crash.
The women’s only Adventure Riding Camp I’ve signed up for is only 3 weeks away. I can’t wait!
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As someone who never rode dirt, gravel makes me nervous. I would like to get some off road training. That could be beneficial.
Awesome. I think that is the same school Kristi Martel (Racer, and Instructor for California Superbike School) went to for her article in ‘Motorcyclist’. I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself, and learn some new skills.
And as usual, we anxiously await a ride report.
You’re going to have a blast! You may as well start shopping for dualsports now
Your friend sums it up pretty good. Enjoy your off-road class, it will open up whole new world of riding opportunity’s.
@Mike P.: Experience has gotten me somewhat comfortable riding the SV on hard packed dirt and/or loose gravel (think marbles) but the deeper stuff (sand, deep gravel) is outside my comfort zone. The SV inspires no confidence on those surfaces.
@Carlos: Of course!
@tedder: My wallet is already trying to hide.
Darn! I wish I’d known about this class before it filled up!! It looks fabulous. Do they offer it regularly? I learned to ride on a 125 dualsport in the deep sand of West Africa. I was hooked from my first get off!! It’s so much fun!! I can’t wait to take the GS out and get it dirty.
Excellent sentence summing up dirt riding. I don’t like feeling a crash is imminent. I like feeling a coffee shop stop is imminent or another photograph is imminent.
I’m not really a rider. I must be a pretender.
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Imminent is a good word to describe things. If the dirt bike is solidly planted all the time you’re not doing it right. Although, sometimes the crash becomes one step beyond imminent! That’s what vice grips are for.
I grew up dirt riding. These days I think it’s best for me to not ride dirt bikes. My macho ego is bound to write a check that my joints can’t cash.
Don’t forget to have fun in your class!
@Allaina: They hope to make it a regular event, yes. With the interest as high as it has been already, I’m sure it will be!
@Steve Williams: Nah, you’re just someone who’s content with a staid existence. And I mean that in a good natured ribbing sort of way.
@irondad: “That’s what vice grips are for.” LOL!
I don’t know… I could see you on a majestic R1200GS, cresting the top of a majestic sand dune in a remote desert locale with the wind blowing majestically through your perfectly coiffed hair…