My newest adventure: sand (thanks google maps)

[Nimbus]

I thought I'd share about my ongoing 'adventures' with the Tenere. I think that I've learned more in the 4,000 miles on this bike than I have in the past 100K on my other bikes. This weekend, I continued my exploration of the hinterland roads that connect to my favorite quasi local road ride. I've long taken notice an appealing looking dirt road (Heartquake road) that has a green sign and an official number. I wanted some idea where I might be exploring so I cued up google maps. It looked quite straight forward, a couple miles down, a couple of left turns, down by the river, and right back to the main road. Real life isn't a google map. It didn't take me long to realize that the pine straw was concealing...sand!...so that's why my TC light was on so often. I realized quickly that the 'road' wasn't a road at all, but mostly a rocky and sandy path with some "long" and deep sand washes. Made it through (standing, leaning back, staying on the gas in TC2). Stopped at a fork that I didn't recall from Google and hoped that I might find a real road soon. Instead, I soon found a "Private. Violators will be persecuted" sign on an open fence. The other fork looked worse so I got to run the sand gauntlet again. I was never so happy to see pavement again. Does anybody else do this stuff, or do you all already know how to ride off road like pros?

 

[GrahamD]

Yes, but since most of the riders I know are big pussies who keep buying road bikes I am usually on my own so I don't push it too hard.

I also consider it a bonus part of the weeks workout. Soft sand is not Super Easy on the Super Tenere. Pumping up the front tyre constantly is also good for the cardio system.

Riding on sand is like the "drop and give me 20" of the bike world.

 

[Wanderer]

Hi,
Me too. Hit a lot of sand on the Rockingham Rail Trail in NH. Struggled through and made it without crashing. Once home Googled "sand riding" and of course I did everything wrong but did come up with some good suggestions for the next time out. If you carry a 12v air compressor or other means to reinflate your tires you can air your tires down to 20 psi which should help traction. Also the trick (hopefully I will have the balls to try this!) is to keep on the gas and try to keep the front tire as light as possible on the sand and use the pegs to steer.
Later,
Norm

 

[bloodline]

The problem with riding a big bike in the sand is that you will eventually have to slow down.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

A few years ago I ventured off to Mexico to take a four day "Learn To Race Baja" course on a Honda CRF450X. The main thing I learned is that I suck in sand and have no business riding in Baja. It was humbling, but a good lesson to learn.

I've had the Tenere in a tiny amount of sand. Which is way more than I intended. I know my limits.

 

[HoebSTer]

would it hel in these sandy situations to place feet on rear pegs for more of a rear weight transfer to get more of weight off of front end?

 

[eemsreno]

Would you please vidio that Hoebster when you try it, I'd sure like to see that one done.

 

[lewisclarke]

Riding in sand on a CRF 450X is a dream come true compared to what it must be like on Super T with 600 pounds and no knobs. Air the tires down, stand up and go as fast as you can-safely (relative, I know). Never, ever get your feet off the pegs. And get knobbies before your next venture out.
My $0.02.

 

[MidlifeMotor]

I thought I'd share about my ongoing 'adventures' with the Tenere. I think that I've learned more in the 4,000 miles on this bike than I have in the past 100K on my other bikes. This weekend, I continued my exploration of the hinterland roads that connect to my favorite quasi local road ride. I've long taken notice an appealing looking dirt road (Heartquake road) that has a green sign and an official number. I wanted some idea where I might be exploring so I cued up google maps. It looked quite straight forward, a couple miles down, a couple of left turns, down by the river, and right back to the main road. Real life isn't a google map. It didn't take me long to realize that the pine straw was concealing...sand!...so that's why my TC light was on so often. I realized quickly that the 'road' wasn't a road at all, but mostly a rocky and sandy path with some "long" and deep sand washes. Made it through (standing, leaning back, staying on the gas in TC2). Stopped at a fork that I didn't recall from Google and hoped that I might find a real road soon. Instead, I soon found a "Private. Violators will be persecuted" sign on an open fence. The other fork looked worse so I got to run the sand gauntlet again. I was never so happy to see pavement again. Does anybody else do this stuff, or do you all already know how to ride off road like pros?

I believe what you did is called putting the Adventure in Adventure riding. I think this was pretty cool, at least it makes for a great little story. I do this crap all the time and yet at the same time not often enough.

 

[dcstrom]

I was looking for a free campsite a couple of days ago, after a couple of nights of motels. This came up in my "free camping" POI

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_City

I'd read a bit about Slab City, and thought it might be a good place to spend the night. Sounds like some "interesting" people hang out there! I told the GPS to create a route for me.

As is often the case for me, this was already late in the day when I decided on my destination for the night, and I just blindly followed the GPS. It routed me up a dirt road, sand covered but with a firm bottom (we always like those!), so no problem I thought. At the next turn the road was closed, so the GPS rerouted me to follow Coachella Canal. Now I started to get sandy holes with no base. I was able to skirt around them most of the time, but they started getting longer and wider and I was forced to start riding through them.

By this time it was dusk and I was starting to think this was a bad idea. The (fully loaded) Super Tenere was doing ok if I kept the power on, but the front wheel kept following different grooves or creating its own, none of which necessarily went in the direction I wanted to go. It was only a matter of time and I was going to be on my arse and I wasn't looking forward to picking up the loaded bike. If I went slow and paddled my way through there was a chance of getting bogged. Fortunately I have new K60s and was impressed with the way the rear churned through the sand, and I was able to drive out every time it bogged down.

By this time I was 10 miles into the dirt section, with 20 to go and darkness rapidly approaching. No sign of the road improving so bailed out and went back the way I came. I was pretty happy to get back to the blacktop! I found another free camp about 60 miles further on.

I looked at the map later and found I could have gotten to slab city without going off road at all. My fault the GPS routed me on dirt, I'd forgotten to check settings in "avoidances". Doh!

 

[JonnyCinco]

link? I am in Richmond and wouldn't mind seeing this road.

Had a similar experience as attempted to find Dirt_dad, spklbuk, and others in the WV mountains. road changed to dirt and then became ATV like as the night got darker and darker.

All the while, my Squadron light sat at home, in the box.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

link? I am in Richmond and wouldn't mind seeing this road.

I haven't been, but it looks like the directions from Richmond are, head west, at Las Vegas turn southwest for approximately 450 miles (give or take 200 miles). If you make it to San Diego you've gone too far.

 

[JonnyCinco]

Will have to put that in as a detour in January. ::016::

 

[Nimbus]

link? I am in Richmond and wouldn't mind seeing this road.

Had a similar experience as attempted to find Dirt_dad, spklbuk, and others in the WV mountains. road changed to dirt and then became ATV like as the night got darker and darker.

All the while, my Squadron light sat at home, in the box.

So, this is my attempt to link to the map (Just google Heartquake Trail in Stevensville, VA). If you're familiar with The Trail (Rt 14), you'll find it. If you aren't familiar with Rt 14, then I'd love to introduce you to it. It's probably the most scenic and enjoyable road between VA Beach and Richmond. A couple of really good curvy sections, and some really interesting dirt roads that link up to the Dragon Run state forest roads. I'd be thrilled to ride with somebody who actually knows how to ride in the dirt. I'm getting more comfortable each time I go out, but would love some tips.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Heartquake+Trail,+Stevensville,+VA&hl=en&ll=37.627624,-76.835289&spn=0.045409,0.090551&sll=38.003385,-79.420925&sspn=5.781769,11.590576&oq=Heartqua&hnear=Heartquake+Trail,+Stevensville,+King+and+Queen,+Virginia+23091&t=m&z=14

 

[Dirt_Dad]

If you're familiar with The Trail (Rt 14), you'll find it. If you aren't familiar with Rt 14, then I'd love to introduce you to it. It's probably the most scenic and enjoyable road between VA Beach and Richmond.

I use The Trail when riding from Northern Virginia to my daughter's college in the Tidewater region. Very nice ride. Never jumped off on any of the unpaved sections, but I can't say I'm surprised to learn it's a sandy ride. It does look like that kind of terrain. I'll learn from your experience and stay on the hard top in that area.

As far as dirt riding tips, seems like you are doing the right things. Getting comfortable standing and riding is one best skills to learn. It's challenging to learn dirt skills on a bike as big as the S10, but it can be done. Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Nimbus]

I use The Trail when riding from Northern Virginia to my daughter's college in the Tidewater region. Very nice ride. Never jumped off on any of the unpaved sections, but I can't say I'm surprised to learn it's a sandy ride. It does look like that kind of terrain. I'll learn from your experience and stay on the hard top in that area.

As far as dirt riding tips, seems like you are doing the right things. Getting comfortable standing and riding is one best skills to learn. It's challenging to learn dirt skills on a bike as big as the S10, but it can be done. Practice, practice, practice.

In retrospect, I'm not surprised at the sand either. It's right down by the river on that side of The Trail. Also, unsurprisingly, the roads to the north/east are much less sandy. Iris road in the same area runs through the Dragon State Forest and hits Lombardy road. Neither is particularly challenging, but some enjoyable scenery. Truhart road is a bit more interesting/challenging.

 

[JonnyCinco]

sweet deal. I am no expert and I just learn by stupidity ::014::

 

[AVGeek]

I was looking for a free campsite a couple of days ago, after a couple of nights of motels. This came up in my "free camping" POI

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_City

I'd read a bit about Slab City, and thought it might be a good place to spend the night. Sounds like some "interesting" people hang out there! I told the GPS to create a route for me.

As is often the case for me, this was already late in the day when I decided on my destination for the night, and I just blindly followed the GPS. It routed me up a dirt road, sand covered but with a firm bottom (we always like those!), so no problem I thought. At the next turn the road was closed, so the GPS rerouted me to follow Coachella Canal. Now I started to get sandy holes with no base. I was able to skirt around them most of the time, but they started getting longer and wider and I was forced to start riding through them.

By this time it was dusk and I was starting to think this was a bad idea. The (fully loaded) Super Tenere was doing ok if I kept the power on, but the front wheel kept following different grooves or creating its own, none of which necessarily went in the direction I wanted to go. It was only a matter of time and I was going to be on my arse and I wasn't looking forward to picking up the loaded bike. If I went slow and paddled my way through there was a chance of getting bogged. Fortunately I have new K60s and was impressed with the way the rear churned through the sand, and I was able to drive out every time it bogged down.

By this time I was 10 miles into the dirt section, with 20 to go and darkness rapidly approaching. No sign of the road improving so bailed out and went back the way I came. I was pretty happy to get back to the blacktop! I found another free camp about 60 miles further on.

I looked at the map later and found I could have gotten to slab city without going off road at all. My fault the GPS routed me on dirt, I'd forgotten to check settings in "avoidances". Doh!

From your directions, it sounds like you were coming from the south. The Coachella Canal runs on the west side of the Algodones Dunes, aka the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, so finding sand there is no surprise! The dunes there are the largest in North America (by area), and run from the Salton Sea to the Gulf of California...I'll be out there for Thanksgiving, running the dunes on my quad...