Spring 2017 - Romney, West Virginia - May 5 - May 7, 2017

Dirt_Dad

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The 2017 Camp N Ride/Charity event is officially on. Romney Cycles is hosting the 6th Annual Camp N Ride on May 5 - May 7, 2017.

I think we've been doing this long enough that many of you already know how the guys at Romney go out of their way to make us feel welcome. They remain interested in growing their involvement in the Adventure market and are pleased to hosting the event again in 2017. If you haven't yet joined us for a Camp N Ride event, please take a look at that great time people are having each year.

Link to 2016 event
Link to 2015 event
Link to 2014 event video
Link to 2013 event video
Link to 2012 event video

When: May 5 - May 7, 2017
Where: Romney Cycles in Romney, WV
What: Camping on the grounds of the dealership, or staying at local lodging. Then riding some fantastic West Virginia roads.


Factory Trucks
I'm pleased to say we will have the Yamaha and Suzuki factory demo trucks. Kawasaki does plan to participate, but they do not yet have a schedule ready to publish for their demo trucks. It could take a few weeks before we know if we are getting a Kawasaki demo truck for 2017. With or without the truck, Kawasaki will be at this event. Awesome to have such huge factory participation in our Camp N Ride event. Thank you Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki !!!!

Professional Off Raod Training
Once again xplor-int will be offering training at the 2017 Camp N Ride. We are extremely pleased Alain has agreed to join us again, and like before, offer a great rate. Look for the information to be appearing on the xplor site in the near future.

Charity
In 2017 Romney is proud to continue supporting the community with this event. To date our Camp N Ride riders have contributed over $7,800 to charity. This year Romney Cycles has selected The Potomac Center as the charity for 2017. The Potomac Center has a 36 year history of providing residential assistance and support to both children and adults with developmental disabilities as they learn the skills needed to live successful lives.

I know the staff at Romney is very pleased to select The Potomac Center. In a way, The Potomac Center has been a participating in the Camp N Ride since the beginning. Most everyone who has setup a tent for the Camp N Ride has done it on property owned by The Potomac Center. They have always been generous with us using their property for the Camp N Ride and it is great we have an opportunity to recognize and support them in they work they do for the community.

Additional Info
Romney has recognized that as this event grows there are more people are coming from greater distances. For the people who want more time to take advantage of the fantastic roads in the area, Romney is happy to have people arrive on Thursday, May 4. Do be aware that they are still in normal dealer operation mode on Thursday, so not all weekend amenities will be in operation. Meaning port-a-potties will be there, but showers may not be operational until Friday. For everyone else the usual schedule has been most everyone arrives at some point during the day or evening that Friday. Saturday is ride day, and everyone headed their own way on Sunday. The dealership provides the camping area in a nice field next to the dealership, portable toilets, showers, water, ice, a coffee maker for the morning, plenty of wood for the fire each evening, a gas fireplace, and they sponsor the meal on Saturday evening. They also worked out a group rate at one of the local motels.

In 2017 Romney is again interested in expanding the food options available on site. If you know of a good food vendor that might be interested in joining us for the weekend have them call Larry at Romney to discuss the details. Romney will once again be sponsoring the dinner on Saturday evening.

For the non-campers
Koolwink Motel
South Branch Inn
I know we usually sell out the Koolwink. Peope love that place. I know we had a good number of riders at the South Branch as well. Never heard any complaints about any Romney motel/hotel.

Last year Microtel in Keyser offered Romney special room rates for all their events. I do not have confirmation on that for 2017 yet, but will put out an update when I hear something. Keyser is about 30 minutes away.

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
70 N Tornado Highway
Keyser, WV 26727
Phone: 304-597-1400

As far as Saturday rides... it's open. Talking around the fire Friday evening was how most people hooked up with who they would ride with on Saturday. Attendance at this event in the last couple of years has been well over 100. Even with rain last year we had 120 riders sign in. If you think you have some good ideas of what would be a nice ride and you are willing to take some people with you, please do.

In 2015 we found the newly implemented "In Case Of Emergency" (ICE) document and sign in procedure to be very useful. Let's face it, who is going to predict a tree falling on a rider? The sign in, wrist band, ICE process will continue in 2017.

Just like 2016, we will also put out the call for volunteers to help keep the event running smoothly in 2017. This worked very well for us with volunteers helping get everyone signed in and shirts distributed. Friday was the busiest day and having 3 or 4 volunteers worked great. Saturday was a bit less hectic, and 2 or 3 would be able to cover everything. Volunteers received free t-shirts and much gratitude for their assistance. If you would like to assist on one of the days please track down either Checkswrecks or myself.

Romney is centrally located to a lot of great riding. If you do want to explore on your own here's a few ideas along with the approximate mileage from Romney.
65 miles Rt 72 video
83 miles Spruce Knob
54 miles Dolly Sods
16 miles Oldtown Low Water Bridge video
57 miles Black Water Falls
62 miles Seneca Rocks
52 miles WV/VA Border Crossing near Mathias, WV
74 miles Harpers Ferry video

If you want to bring your significant other, but they don't want to do a day ride with a bunch of sweaty guys, the The Apple Blossom Festival will be in full swing during the event. It's located about 40 miles away in Winchester, VA.

Romney Cycles will want a ballpark figure on how many to plan for, but obviously it's way too early for anyone to commit this far in the future. When time gets closer I'll try to get a headcount. But until then post up if you think you may attend, have any suggestions or questions.

So mark your calendars and plan to start your early spring season in beautiful West Virginia.

This following is not an obligation, more of a way to see how many and who may be coming. Post to this thread or send me a PM and I'll add/remove you from the list. When we're a few weeks out we'll try to get a more official headcount so Romney can make their plans.

Possible headcount from yamahasupertenere

Dirt_Dad
checkswrecks
mbabc
trikepilot
patrickg450
Tony99
eemsreno
True Grip
TNWalker
Defekticon + 1
Sckill
twodogs
WrongLane
DonB
terrysig
steve68steve
Davesax36
outdoorsntn
MXTZS10
BigBob
Akrifay
SwampyVT
acv8130 + 1
Mikef5000
IBJim
Wncrider
Ossaboy2867 + 1
Andy-WV
Ishirock + 4

Additional headcount from other adventure boards (Stromtrooper & ADV): 82


Suggested Routes
Several volunteers have put together formatted PDF route sheets and GPX (GPS) files from previous year's rides and a few brand new ones as well. We think there's at least one route for every rider on just about every bike wishing to experience West Virginia's fantastic asphalt, gravel and/or dirt. See HERE for the map downloads.

Also here are some great WV maps for planning: WV DOT maps

Area info
If you are new to the area, or just want more info on riding WV, this was a 2014 briefing for the event: 2014 area briefing

Detailed Maps
If you're looking for detailed maps for WV, these are outstanding. They are very accurate, and you can see the type of road surface for all roads.

Shirts and prizes
Details will be posted as they get worked-out.
 

arjayes

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I will never make one of these (way too far), but I want to tip my hat to you guys (Dirt Dad and Checkswrecks?) who put in all the work to make it happen. I'm sure very few appreciate how much time it takes to organize something like this and make it look easy when everybody gets there. Labor of love no doubt. Have fun!
 

Dirt_Dad

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Thanks, arjayes. I won't speak for Checkwrecks and his motivation to work so hard on this event. As for my part, I'm proud to be associated with the people that attend and sponsor this event. It's a gathering of really great people. I've gained so many friends that I see one weekend every year. My participation is purely selfish.

I don't believe we've had anyone from as far as San Diego. Please feel free to reconsider and be our first.
 

trikepilot

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I am down to get dirty!!!! >:D

Need to find some more "true offroad" options for that area of WV. But like in 2014, I will be into joining a group of TBDBITW riders on a tour of the Canaan Loop Rd, Canyon Rim rd, and some of the other goodies we hit that year.
 

Checkswrecks

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I have a great time with this and in seeing how much people have gotten out of it. It's magical how it's grown.

Hopefully this is being announced early enough to give everybody enough lead time for planning. And spectacular weather for this year has been ordered, too! ::004::

Seriously, I just want to add two items to what DD wrote. First is that any of you who've been to this event already know the The Potomac Center charity, as you've probably slept on their property and the off-road training basic drills are held on their soccer field. They also have a couple of residential houses on nearby streets. We came to realize that while our previous charity is State funded, the Potomac Center has been operating on an absolute shoe-string, largely based in Medicaid and donations. The part that struck me is that they are "West Virginia's only intensive training and educational facility for children with intellectual/developmental disabilities and accompanying behavioral problems." Think about that in light of how big WV is, combined with the State's poverty. While the Center does try to make adoptions happen, we've been watched by a number of kids and young adults in their residential services. It'll be great to help the kids who are just on the other side of the grass from us, let alone help those who have been so good to us. They could use a number of educational (basic office stuff), clothing, and other supplies which folks in our group might already have and be willing to donate, so I plan to meet with them as we come out of winter.For more info: http://www.wvcca.org/providers/PotomacCenter.html#4

Second is that Alain with http://www.xplor-int.com/Pages/default.aspx is going to again do the $106 super special price for us!!! We heard RAVE reviews from everybody who rode with Alain last year and some of them already had been riding offroad. The class starts with slow drills on grass and moves up to some dirt/gravel that we've scouted out to slowly increase in challenge. And if you are wondering how cheap this is, do a little Googling. Alain just had one request in giving us this price, which was for students to consider donating to the charity. Thanks in advance Alain!GAME ON!!!
::003::
 

patrickg450

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whoo-hooo


I am excited, had a blast last year........whole shot.


Limey? True Grip? Who is in? I got off May 1st to the 10th.............
 

limey

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patrickg450 said:
whoo-hooo


I am excited, had a blast last year........whole shot.


Limey? True Grip? Who is in? I got off May 1st to the 10th.............
I'm in and hopefully some local guys and girls from Ontario and Quebec.
 

eemsreno

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Hope to be there again.
Hope wifey can make the ride out with me.
We have a new grand-daughter do end of April so we will see.
If you missed last years splash, here is what it was like.
 

Checkswrecks

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With all the rain last year, I wasn't about to try some of the stream crossings like this one:



It was really tough consoling ourselves with roads like this:



And beers by fire light.
 

True Grip

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I'm in and looking forward to seeing everyone again. Trike find us some new stuff if you can. Hope the Italian restaurant is still there one of the side perks for me. I'm putting on new shoes for this I'm not shorting myself any traction.

Checks another worthy cause and deserving for their hospitality.
 

TNWalker

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I am planning to make it back this year too. :) Hope to see you all there.



Steve
 

Defekticon

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My wife and I will be back this year. She might be on her own bike this year Looking at a WR250R for her. Maybe I'll buy it from Romney while I'm there!
 

Sckill

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I'm in. I've been wanting to attend this rally for years and will finally get a chance this year.
 

twodogs

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As always, looking forward to this event. Nothing better than meeting friends from the past and making new ones. Not to mention the great riding in the hills of WV. Plan on coming in the 1st of May and making a week of riding and fun. ::012:: ::012::
 

twodogs

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The pleasure was mine eemsreno. I had a great time working the registration as it permitted me to get to know a lot of folks. But now I'll be challenged to remember everyone this year. I have trouble remembering where home is..... that's what the GPS home button is for. ::) Per my better half. ;)

See you there, but please don't put me to a test. :-[
 
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