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Sunday, January 14, 2018

January Gravel Road Ride

So far we have lucked out with the recent weather in Oregon.  While it is winter, we haven't had any snow in Corvallis and the days of rain have definitely been less frequent than last year.  We'd been eyeing the weather forecast for this weekend and following three days of pretty good rain were a few days of sunshine.

We made a plan to ride to coffee and then tootle around some gravel roads after and see where the day would take us.

We left the house just after 9 am.  The temperature was 44˚F (6.6˚C) and the fog was thick.  The 5 mile ride to coffee wasn't that pleasant.  I had my yellow lensed glasses on to see better but the condensation on the visor (and my glasses) by the time we got to coffee was not fun.

We sat around and chatted until 11:30 when the fog burned off and the sun came out to play. Four of us were heading off together for a wee adventure:  Andy, aka Polar Bear was on his orange Triumph Tiger, Brad, aka Troubadour was on his Suzuki DRZ 400, his buddy Jeff, aka Lefty, was on his Suzuki DRZ 400. I Trobairitz was on my trusty mostly trusty Yamaha TW200.

(Brad, Andy, and Jeff getting ready to ride)

We took the back roads to Philomath and then headed west to Woods Creek Road.  It is a road we know well and enjoy its gravel and elevation changes. We meander up then down.  I usually worry about the downhill side as it doesn't see a lot of sun and can be quite muddy.  This time it was the uphill climb that was rather muddy, but the downhill side was fine. There were a few large puddles, probably the largest I've ever ridden through.  Nice to know my Sidi Livia Rain boots are still waterproof after all these years.  Jeff found out the hard way that his boots weren't quite sealed.

We made a few turns and stopped at a clearing where we've stopped a few times before.  It gave the guys a chance to water the tree stumps and take a break.  We were on a ridge so we could see the other hills around us.

(My TW 200 with tail bag - the packhorse of the day)

(A view of the coastal mountains)

(The view without the bikes)

(Troubadour's DRZ 400)

(From the left - Polar Bear, Troubadour, and Lefty in the helmet)
While we were here a gentleman rode up on his Triumph Scrambler Street.  Nice looking bike. We chatted for a bit and before he left Lefty asks him to take a group photo of us.


(Troubadour, Polar Bear, Trobairitz, Lefty)
From the clearing we rode into Burnt Woods where we could stop for fuel. Well, Lefty and I needed fuel, Troubadour has a Clark tank on his DRZ and Polar Bear's Tiger is a fuel tanker so they were good.

(Troubadour and Polar Bear)

(Polar Bear basking in the rare winter sunshine)

(Lefty after fueling up his DRZ 400)

At Burt Woods we turned East onto Highway 20 for two miles and then turned North on Clem Road. I was last out this way in May 2016.  In fact it was just after Clem Road when I hit reserve on the TW and was almost out of gas. (Notice I fuelled up at Burnt Woods this time).  I wrote about that ride HERE.  

It was a mile or so up Clem Road when the ride went a little pear shaped.  We were headed uphill after a left hand corner when I heard a loud "bang" and then nothing.  The bike was running but I had no forward momentum.  I called to Troubadour and Lefty on the Sena radios that I was stopped.  Polar Bear rode up behind me and said my chain had come off.  I said "my chain came off?"  Which the other guys heard in their helmets and turned around.  Polar Bear's battery had died on his Sena so they couldn't hear him talking to me.

I was sitting there with my hand on the front break not wanting to lift my foot off the muddy road to use the back brake. Troubadour had to steady the bike while I put the kickstand down and could get off the bike.  Nothing like being stuck uphill on a muddy road between two blind corners and the road doesn't have a shoulder.  I can't think of a safer spot, can you?

(Chain came off the rear sprocket)
While I was unlucky that the chain came off, I was lucky in two things:  1) the chain didn't come off at highway speeds a few short miles before; and 2) it didn't come completely off and kill the bike.  Troubadour has a nice little tool kit on his DRZ so the guys went to work.

(Troubadour and Polar Bear fixing the TW -  Lefty turning off the Go Pro)

(Troubadour working on the muddy TW)

(A view down the hill from where we'd been)

(Troubadour's DRZ and a view up ahead of where we were going)
The guys got my bike race ready - thank you gentlemen and we motored forward.  I couldn't believe in the time we were there not one vehicle came down that road.  Last time we were on it there was quite a bit of traffic.  Luck was on our side.

We linked up more gravel roads and took the back way into Fort Hoskins, where we used the restroom facilities and had a snack.  It was about 2:30 by this time.  Our destination was the Yeasty Beasty pizza place in Monmouth.  You may remember that name from our Polar Bear ride two years ago.  You can read that post HERE. Because of the time of day we decided not to take the longer gravel route, but to take some tarmac into Monmouth.

We arrived and found parking out front.  It was now 3:30 so Polar Bear said his goodbyes. He had a longer ride home and was chasing daylight.  Troubadour, Lefty, and I went in for a bite of pizza. The food was not great, but we were hungry.  

(Mini Greek veggie pizza with no cheese)
While eating we discussed the best way to head home.  We were heading south to Corvallis, but Lefty was heading back to Albany, which is about 11 miles east of Corvallis. We decided to head back the way we came on Helmick Road until it intersected again with Highway 99.  Our goal was to do as little of the highway as possible and in that we succeeded.  After linking with Highway 99 we went about a block south and Lefty turned left onto Suver Road and we turned right onto Airlie Road.  About a mile in we stopped at De Armond Rd (a gravel road of course). We have passed that road a lot of times before, but we weren't sure where it went.  

When stopped Troubadour checked the map on his phone, while I took a few pictures.

(Troubadour checking his phone during the golden hour)

( A selfie with cockeyed glasses, I had to pull them out a bit to keep them from fogging up)

(Last picture of the day was the sun reflecting off a pond in a field while we were stopped)

I am pretty good remembering directions so Troubadour read them off to me - right on Rifle Range Road, right on Coffin Butte Road and left on Tampico Road, which would take us back to Highway 99 just a lot further south and mostly gravel.  Got it.  It was a nice little route that we will take in the future.  We popped out on Hwy 99 and continued to leapfrog side roads all the way into Corvallis.  It was just getting dark when we got to town.

We pulled in the driveway at 5 pm to 50˚F (10˚C).  Almost 8 hours since we'd left the house and yet only about 100 miles (160 km) on the odometer - most of them gravel.  It was a good day.

No one got hurt and everyone made it home safe.  I think everyone might be checking their chain tension today though.

Update:  As linked on Troubadour's blog - Lefty put together a short video montage of part of our ride.  It gives you an idea of some of the terrain.  A link to YouTube HERE.

- Au Revoir

" People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost." - H. Jackson Brown
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36 comments:

  1. Good ride report and kudos to Troubadour re fixing the chain. I've had the chain on my first V-Strom DL1000 come off at highway speeds from the rear sprocket, it hit the engine case while wrapping itself around the front sprocket. The engine case holes ended up causing the insurance company to total the motorcyle.

    Since then, and really during, have not been a fan of chain drive motorcycles. Simpler and easier to work on than a Final Drive to be sure but....

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    1. I was very appreciative of the fix. I can't imagine losing the chain at any kind of highway speed.

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  2. Sounds like a ride that's good for the soul after dreary winter days! Err..... who is responsible for maintenance on your bike? Not intending to stir things along, oh dearie me no ;-) . That's one heck of a chunky rear tyre you have on the bike - how is it on tar sealed roads?

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    1. It was good to get out on the bike again, it had been too long. Just happy we can still ride in winter when the weather cooperates. Technically I am repo sidle for my bike maintenance, but I rely heavily on my better half. He checked air pressure in the tyres before we left and I checked all my signals, but didn't even think of checking the chain.

      Rear tyre is fine. Goes through gravel like a tractor and on the tarmac corners better than the Gladius usually did. No notchy throttle and it doesn't wallow. Go figure. There is a bit of vibrating going on when you get it up to 55-60, but by then you are on the red zone on the speedo.

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  3. Nice photos. It looks like you had a great trip even though it was on the cooler side (fogged visor and glasses).

    Did Andy get another Tiger?

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    1. It was a great day, chilly temps and all. Funny we weren't really cold though. Had the heated grips on low at times, but even my feet weren't cold until the sun went down as we were headed for home.

      Andy had a yellow tiger that was totaled, and then his black one was stolen. He got a great deal on an orange one so now he and Brad have a matched set. If Brad calls his tiger Lucy, I think we should name Andy's tiger Ethel. They usually have some explaining to do......

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    2. I thought I remembers a black/gray one. Twins or two of a kind!?

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    3. More two of a kind with their bikes as there are subtle differences. Andy doesn't have a tail bag and they have different crash bags I think. I think people do a double take when they ride together. There is one more orange one around that comes to bike night occasionally too.

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  4. I need to have a crew of beefy men with tools follow me around. And then fed them vegan pizza. Cheap dates to boot.

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    1. I think if you hang out on the right streets you might find a few to follow you. :-)

      The dang pizza wasn't even cheap. Our two mini pizzas with two teas and tip was $27. Wouldn't be bad if it was better pizza.

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  5. Nice! That wet dirt road reminded my of my ride through Waikaremoana the other day. Glad that the chain didn't ruin the day and you got going pretty quickly.

    I also approve of riding less highway :)

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    1. I thought you might like this ride. We'd had a few good days of rain and the sun just doesn't get through the trees to dry out the dirt.

      Less highway is always the best way.

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  6. What an unusual sight this time of the year, Brandy. I mean the blue skies... wow! Glad your chain came off where it did. This could have messed up your day (and the bike) easily. Thankfully you had your repairman traveling along ;-)

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    1. We really have lucked out with the weather this winter. And we picked the right day to go riding, yesterday the fog didn't lift until after 3 and still no blue sky or sunshine. Woke to 34˚F (1˚C) this morning and fog. I am very lucky the bike wasn't toast and that I had the guys to help out.

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  7. Hi Brandy
    Even though it was cold from the photos you can't tell and looks like a fabulous day with some beautiful views in the background. Lucky you didn't come off when your chain came off. Good stuff

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    1. Hello Steve. It was chilly out but we didn't feel cold which was nice. I am lucky I didn't come off the bike - no sudden moves then the bang happened and I always like a bike where I can touch with both feet.

      That is twice now. Last time was on the Versys when the center stand spring came out and the stand dropped and was hitting the tarmac. That should be all the bad luck shouldn't it?

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  8. Mini Greek Veggie pizza with no cheese??? A contradiction on a plate if there ever was...

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    1. Trust me I was a big fan of feta back in the day (which is what was supposed to be on the pizza) but after not having it for over 6 years it really loses its appeal. Sorry Nikos.

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  9. Great you can get out for a blue sky ride in January. Love that back tyre - I want one for the tiger!!
    That Greek pizza sounds awfully expensive, and doesn't look that appetising either.

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    1. We have really been lucky with the weather. I shall not complain.

      The pizza was expensive and wasn't very good but we were pretty hungry so we ate it all. Unfortunately there weren't many toppings and there was supposed to be a garlic sauce under the veggies that we couldn't even detect was there. And they were a little heavy on the balsamic drizzle too. Oh well.

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  10. Sounds like a great day out in nice weather. I'm very jealous because there's not a lot of trail riding here.

    I've had a chain come off at highway speeds - the results were, eh, dramatic.

    Today we are having blizzards so no biking of any sort for a while I think.

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    1. Blizzards? Yikes. Hopefully things will clear and melt soon.

      Dramatic usually goes with painful. I try and stay away from both.

      We have trails here but they are all in OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) areas. We were on gravel country roads/forestry roads. You can see some of the clear cut forestry when we were stopped at the clearing with the view. The muddy one lane road where the chain came off is just a cut through between two paved roads that people live along. It is nice to be able to link them up though.

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    2. Luckily I walked away from the chain incident. I'll maybe make that the subject of a future post.

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    3. I think it is a story that needs to be told.......

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  11. Nice write up. And I really enjoyed that video. I just hope that song doesn’t get stuck in my head...

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    1. Thank you sir. Odd tune but we won't complain since we didn't have to put the video together. Hope your leg is healing up.

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  12. Lucky! That could have been a nasty little experience but glad it turned out well for you. Now it just makes it a memorable day out!

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    1. It was lucky, that is for sure. Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket after.

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  13. An interesting tale of a pleasant day out, nice photos too. A lucky break with the chain incident, I'm glad it all turned out well. With miles spent on two wheels there are bound to be a few hair-raising incidents, we just keep going and enjoying what we do.

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    1. Thank you Andrew. It was nice to see the sun and a good thing we took advantage of it. We've had days on end of rain now and several more in the forecast. I think there is a new chain in my future too. Troubadour has been doing some research and the consensus is the stock chains are crap and stretch too much with not a lot of miles on them. I think that bike has 1600 miles (2574 km) on it.

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  14. What a wonderful..and beautiful...day ride! I do sometimes miss my motorcycles for this very kind of day.

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    1. Thank you Barb. I am sure you miss your bikes at times, you put so many miles on them. More miles than I am sure I'll put on in my lifetime.

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  15. I was looking for some snow in photos but none - good stuff!

    Coldest winter in 48 years back home in Tokyo I am reading from here in the Philippines where winter means high 20's rather than low 30's (Celsius)

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    1. No snow in the valley this winter. It has been really mild, which is a nice change. Glad you aren't in Tokyo for the coldest winter. We saw a high of 60˚F (15.5˚C) yesterday and went for a nice 7.2 mile (11.5 km) hike. Feeling that uphill climb today.....

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  16. What a lovely day for a ride, the early fog excepted, of course! The scenery looks awesome and I am so glad you had your repair crew along! A good day had by all. :)

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    1. Yeah, the fog was wretched, but at least it was only about 5 miles to coffee. And it is always good to have your handy hubby with you.

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