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Building You’re Riding Skills and Staying Within Your Limits OR Riding with Faster People Without Killing Yourself

I’ve been involved with off road riding now for only 4 seasons… first year or so on a Suzuki VStrom 650 and the last couple of years on a DRZ 400. During that skill building time, I’ve been very fortunate to ride with a partner who is much better than I will ever be. Why he wanted to train such a complete NooB as me, is the subject for another article. However, I was faced with the task of keeping up and building my skills without employing the most common advice I heard which was “Twist The Throttle you BABY!!” After a number of get offs including one high side, twisted saddle bags, two fires and a bike that looks like I should just throw it away, I have some hard earned advice that will transform your skills.

Are You Protecting Your Hearing?

The riding motto ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) should not only apply to protective body gear, but should also be extended to hearing protection. While motorcycles have been around since the latter part of the 19th century as a mode of transportation, it has only been since the mid 1970’s that studies have demonstrated the relationship between hearing loss and wind noise in motorcyclists [1]. Despite this well-known relationship, many motorcyclists still do not take appropriate measures to protect their hearing.

ATGATT

Have you fallen yet, “crashed and burned”, or logged some unexpected airtime off a slick corner? Has your bike then re-joined you when the yard sale stops, by pinning you to the ground? I’ve experienced all this and more, and it nearly takes all the fun out of dual sport riding.

Motorcycle Camping – Cooking Equipment

When considering cooking options for motorcycle camping, you must weigh convenience, weight, bulk, durability and cost. Cooking options run from the super convenient Jetboil, to the super cheap penny stove… and everything in between. In this segment, we’ll review a few of the most commonly used cooking systems and explore their pros and cons.

Combating Riding Dehydration and Hyponatremia

n the previous two issues of this newsletter we have discussed how dehydration contributes to rider fatigue and potentiates both hyperthermia and hypothermia, all of which are real risks that need to be managed when adventure riding. Since we are in the hottest portion of the adventure-riding season – July and August – it will be worthwhile to briefly review dehydration and hyponatremia and how to manage these two riding risks.

The 2010 IAMC Challenge

The 2010 IAMC Challenge provides an exciting way for adventure riders of all levels to explore the Idaho outdoors. As a newcomer to dual sport riding, I view the Challenge as a good encouragement to get to know the surrounding country, by bike and myself.

Riding Solo in the Outback of the Owyhee’s

So now you have that new or at least new to you dual sport motorcycle and are just itching to go on a great adventure into the wilds of our backyard…the Owyhee’s! Well let’s put this in perspective, how many are aware that the county of Owyhee is 7,697 square miles that in itself is nearly the size of the state of Massachusetts at 10,555 square miles, and Owyhee barely has a population of over 10,000, so I guess you wonder where I’m going with this?

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia In Managing Motorcycle Riding Risk

In this issue we will briefly review two more risks common to our sport – hypothermia and hyperthermia. Our marvelously created bodies have the ability to thermo regulate, remarkably maintaining our core body temperatures at 98.6 °F plus or minus 1.4 °F under a wide range of conditions. When our ability to thermo regulate is overwhelmed by thermal extremes and/or contributory factors, we can develop either hypothermia or hyperthermia, both of which can be potentially lethal.

Suspension 201

Many assume their new bike is ready to ride as delivered from the factory to the showroom floor. Then, to increase performance most riders focus on adding power, but do little to actually tune their suspension. Motorcycle manufacturers commonly build bikes using a “one size fits all” approach. But you can often significantly transform a bike’s ability to perform, as well as improve safety, by making a few simple adjustments to the suspension and geometry.

Motorcycle Camping – Sleep System

Overlooking your sleeping bag and sleeping mat is a common mistake to new motorcycle campers. However, it’s an essential component to a successful and comfortable weekend. Your sleeping bag should keep you warm, while your sleeping mat keeps you comfortable. They work in conjunction with each another, and each component is equally important.