March Dual Sport Ride Planning

[WildTurkey]

Winter is waning and Spring is about to sproing!
It's time to get those BMW knobbies dirty or muddy or maybe even a little snowy!

I'ts still too snowy, icy and muddy to go North so I'm looking at at least one day trips to the desert south to do some exploring in the next month.

C'mon, we have this beautiful dirt covered state all around us! LET'S GET OUT AND RIDE!

A Saturday would be my preference. How about a day trip on one or more of these dates?

3/13 Saturday
3/20 Saturday
3/21 Sunday
3/27 Saturday
3/28 Sunday

All bikes welcome...R1200GSA to DRZ400.
All skill levels welcome...

By April, some of my desired exploration in the North may become feasible. If not, I'll probably be looking for at least one southern 2-day in April with an overnight in Socorro, TorC or even camping if the weather and overnight temps wanted to cooperate.

[WildTurkey]

I thought there were at least a couple dual-sport riders in this club!
I've got to get out and ride some dirt this Saturday, 3/13. Hoping to be able to do a day trip from Santa Fe to Magdalena and back.

Slab through ABQ
West on I40
South Hwy 6
South Alamo Rd
South Buricito Rd (New to me)
Lunch in Magdalena
North NF 354 (Riley Rd) (Rode it only once)
Explore a little along Riley Rd
Eventually hit the slab back home

I know there are a couple water crossings and I'm curious if anyone has any good insight into how passable they will be this time of year with stuff starting to melt and some of the mountain rains. I've been across the Riley water crossing once with pretty low water in the fall. I've never been down Buricito Rd and it looks like there's a crossing there over the same wash as the Riley crossing.

I'll be sporting my new HD Helmet cam for the first time to get some practice footage.

Anyone want to come along on this one?

[derf]

I did some riding south of the slab (40) between luguana res and the turn off south from old 66. the area was dry. I could meet you on the turnoff from old 66 if I get a aprox time and date. As I live in grants I will return to pie town and north.

[Eurobiker]

Too early, cool your jets. There's lots of snow down south, too. Here's a low snow period back in 04 on the Riley Road.

[WildTurkey]

Too early, cool your jets. There's lots of snow down south, too. Here's a low snow period back in 04 on the Riley Road.

Chicken!

I'm going! Roads should be fine after a day and a half of sunshing. If the Buricito Rd crossing of the river is too much then we'll just pick another route and avoid the Riley crossing as well.

I've already proven that my GS can FLY! Now I have to prove it can FLOAT!

[WildTurkey]

Plan is coming together for 3/13 full day ride.

Meeting a few other riders at Route 66 Casino Gas Station (I-40 and Rio Puerco, Exit 140) at 9:00am.
Depart there no later than 9:15am.
West on I-40 to Hwy 6 (Exit 126)
South 2 miles on Hwy 6 to Old Route 66.
West on Old Route 66 across the railroad tracks and onto the dirt.
We'll stop at the dirt for some of us to make ABS & ASC adjustments.
If you're coming from the West on I-40 you can meet us at Route 66 Casino Gas Station at 9:00am or across the railroad tracks on Old Route 66 where it turns to dirt. If you aren't meeting us at the gas station, you'll need to be at the dirt part of Old Route 66 by 9:30am or miss us.

Derf, let me know if and where you plan to hook up with us. You have my cell phone number via PM, so you can leave me a message on Saturday morning prior to 9:30am if necessary.

[derf]

I will be at the railroad crossing on old 66 prior to 9:30 and will meet you there DERF

[Jonh]

I will be there...9:00 am 66 gas station on my DS Bike....Let me know is you Chicken out

DS Jon

[WildTurkey]

I no is Chicken out this morning...


Why tomorrow be I Chicken out?

[RJ Mirabal]

Turkey and fellow dirt riders: I was down in that neck of the woods today on my buggy. Down the Riley road and surrounding countryside, it was dry and pleasant, not a patch of snow anywhere except up on the mountaintops.

Where the road goes around Ladron Peak (the big one out there on the plains west of Bernardo) and then up the little pass on the west side, there's a road to the left (has a nice sign pointing to "Riley" to the right, N 34 28.498; W 107 08.68) that wanders around the west and south sides of the peak. Some roads are rocky (but not loose) and a few ruts, but generally "GS friendly."

Even if you're not going into that specific area, I think it's a good indication that the dirt is good with mud or snow rare or nonexistent. So have a good ride.

[WildTurkey]

Thanks for the update RJ. It's going to be a blast. Of course, I'll have a full report. Now...time to go out to the garage and put a new HID bulb in my high beam.

[WildTurkey]

8)

Turkey and fellow dirt riders: I was down in that neck of the woods today on my buggy. Down the Riley road and surrounding countryside, it was dry and pleasant, not a patch of snow anywhere except up on the mountaintops.

Where the road goes around Ladron Peak (the big one out there on the plains west of Bernardo) and then up the little pass on the west side, there's a road to the left (has a nice sign pointing to "Riley" to the right, N 34 28.498; W 107 08.68) that wanders around the west and south sides of the peak. Some roads are rocky (but not loose) and a few ruts, but generally "GS friendly."

Even if you're not going into that specific area, I think it's a good indication that the dirt is good with mud or snow rare or nonexistent. So have a good ride.

About 8 miles down that road is Riley and a fun river crossing. You ought to take the buggy there one of these days and get yourself a nice cool bath.

[RJ Mirabal]

I've already been through Riley a couple of times and, when I went, there was about an inch of water. Piece of cake, made we wonder what all the talk was about. I'll have to try it during the rainy season or spring run-off and then see what I think. The buggy doesn't get stuck too easily, in fact I haven't stuck it yet, but when something looks a too "iffy" I skip on it--that's why the buggy has a reverse!

That being said, I've gone through some pretty boggy terrain as well as miles of deep,loose arroyo sand, but I just hate to get the mud all over me and the buggy (I know, I'm a mud wimp!). It's great on snow especially if it's cold enough the snow isn't melting (more mud, you know!).