RCP Compound

[RCP57]

Well I must have stopped at the right time yesterday because I was tired when I quit but not sore this morning! I only rode for about 15 minutes total so that's pretty lame but I'm old and fat.lol It's been a long time so I would rather ride often for a short time than try to over do it end crash because I was tired and made a big mistake. I was pretty nervous for a couple of laps yesterday too which makes a guy hang on too tight. Greg is right about the track as it was getting greasy. I didn't ride long enough to sweat but I'm sure the fat was oozing off of me somewhere.lol It actually was slippery though. Usually this time of year is really good when it isn't frozen but we've had so much rain that the ground is very soft even though there isn't much standing water on the track itself. It doesn't help that the bike comes with intermediate to hard pack tires installed. When the rear is worn it will get tossed in favor of a soft to intermediate tire which will work better here for most of the year. Last night it froze so we'll see if I get to ride later or not. At least the sun is out today so frozen or not, things will start to dry out a little. Too bad there is another storm in the forecast...

[andyathome]

that's a nice track you have there, and the bike goes well . showed the wife the video and got a very quick "NO."
so I guess she knew my next question, "can I build a track in one of the paddocks ".

one day it will happen.

cheers andy

[RCP57]

Thanks Andy. I think our wives are just trying to protect us even though it seems like they are sucking all the fun out of life.lol Actually mine is very supportive as I'm sure yours is as well. She takes xrays for a living and I don't think she wants to see me at work.lol

We started building the track around 1989. It only had a couple of jumps pushed up by the farm tractor and an oval track for the Honda Odyssey we had back then. I started to hang out with a kid my age that lived just down the road around that time. He raced MX, was/is very good on a motorcycle(me not so much) and was riding all the time. We became besties in a very short time and he got me more interested in MX. It wasn't long before the track started to grow and my parents were helping to support his race efforts. In the spring of 1991 my parents bought a 955K and we got the old Euc going so that we could haul in more material for the track. The unfortunate part of having flat property is that everything has to be made and you can't take advantage of any natural terrain. Anyway, the track wasn't the best practice for high speed but it was always filled with jumps so it taught us a lot about technique and timing. I never really got into racing but I have done hundreds if not thousands of laps around this track.lol My friend retired from pro racing in 1995 when he landed a full time apprenticeship as a heavy duty mechanic. He was #3 in Canada that year in both 125cc and 250cc classes. Unfortunately even with his talent, at that time there wasn't any money in racing here and it cost a lot to travel across Canada for several months on top of maintaining the bikes. A few years later things were a little different and with his skills he could have made some good money racing. Timing is everything I guess. Since then over the years the track has sat dormant most of the time but I try to keep it maintained. I got back into riding around 2001 when I started to hang with some younger guys. We rode a lot on mini bikes as well as the full size stuff until around 2008. The Fiddy fad passed and my riding buddies moved away for work leaving me with no one to ride with on a regular basis. In November of 2010 I almost bought a new bike to replace my 07 but my wife and I decided that to build our shop instead. We all know where that has lead me... Now I'm at home all the time in the shop so I need some fresh air now and then. My ex pro friend bought a new bike in the spring and another one of my old riding buddies has just got back into riding in the last month or two(has been racing carts for a couple years). He has it bad and even though he bought a new enduro bike in October, he just ordered new MX bike last week after hearing I got mine.lol Hopefully we get some good rides in together over the next few months and it will all be worth while!

Reg

[Cooper]

Oh that does bring back memories,, this is/was one of my memory boxes, some big wins or big hospital bills in that box . My sister always asks after all the staples, hardships, and now developing post injury aches and pains , would you do it all over? Answer is always a big yes!!!!! Lol!! Probably trained harder/smarter!!! Lol!! My hats off to ya buddy!! Had a tough year in 2001, keep trying not to look back but guys like you make it hard!!! (In a good way).

[RCP57]

Nice box of goodies RW. I have a few of those somewhere but not that many. My bikes usually ended up with 2 stroke drool coming out of the silencer because I never revved them enough. The new bike won't be any different probably.lol You can use me as an excuse to get back in it if you like. It wouldn't be the first time I've been threatened by a friends wife when they bought a new bike because I did. I have always just enjoyed riding and pushing myself within my comfort zone. I've broken and dislocated some body parts over the years and I didn't like it back then so I really wouldn't like it now. I know it's a risk involved with the sport but I do my best to stay safe. I'd like to think I ride about the same speed as before(never was fast) but if I don't feel comfortable now I just back off because I'm not trying to get faster. The major difference for me is that I used to be able to ride for hours and now I can only ride for a few minutes.lol In my mind I'm still 15(ask my wife. she calls me Peter Pan) but my body is 40. I played hooky from work this afternoon and groomed the track for a couple of hours instead of riding. I figure if the track is well groomed it is more fun and also safer. It also has the added bonus of making you feel like a superstar because the setup looks professional. It's starting to look more like how it should now but it will take a while. The last major grooming it had was in 2010 and then it didn't see a bike from Nov 2011 until early last year. It was starting to disappear under 4' tall alder trees so I had to clear it off before I could even ride on it in 2014.

It doesn't look anywhere near that bad now so if I put in a day or two worth of time in it should be lookin good again!

[DADSGARAGE]

Enjoyed watching the ride....wish I was there doing the same thing...once you have a dirt bike you can't get it out of your system...even after crashing...riding a street bike it ok but just doesn't compare to a dirt bike....took my sons dirt bike for a ride this summer...one ride and you get hooked again, didn't want to give it back to him that day...heehee. I did notice that I rode a little bit more on the tame side, crashing always did suck but now that a fella is slightly older the time to heal up would be years not weeks...

KP

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by DADSGARAGE

Enjoyed watching the ride....wish I was there doing the same thing...once you have a dirt bike you can't get it out of your system...even after crashing...riding a street bike it ok but just doesn't compare to a dirt bike....took my sons dirt bike for a ride this summer...one ride and you get hooked again, didn't want to give it back to him that day...heehee. I did notice that I rode a little bit more on the tame side, crashing always did suck but now that a fella is slightly older the time to heal up would be years not weeks...

KP

Over the last few years I have made excuse after excuse not to go riding but on the occasions where I did go I loved it! Every time it would leave me with a big smile and looking forward to the next time. When the next opportunity would come however, I would make excuses again because I was building a model and couldn't stop.lol I got my street license a few years ago and like you said it is OK but if I never rode on the pavement again I wouldn't really miss it. I find it very boring but it could be because I'm riding a dualsport and it's not very comfortable. It's a fun bike to ride 5 min up the road and into a trail though so I keep it. I am definitely more afraid of getting hurt now than 20 years ago. Gotta stay on the bike now and not under it! I think you should get yourself a bike KP. Then we can complain about being old and out of shape together!lol

[RCP57]

Playtime again today! https://youtu.be/wDqc_S0YBOE

[TRUCKMAKER]

So you must be getting used to the new bike, the lines are deeper in the curves, the hang time has increased and the over all speed seems higher Keep the videos coming its a fun ride!

[Bo Wallen]

You're spot on Truckmaker and the best is.......it does not hurt at all.....sitting in my recliner with popcorn....ride on reg. ride on

[andyathome]

I found an old video of me on a trail ride here in NZ on the trusty YZ.
not so many jumps but a truck load of really steep hills to climb.


https://youtu.be/Qyu7T1taCRw

cheers andy
ps sorry about the average sound track

[Northern Farmer]

Looking good Reg she sounds great! Always been a dream of mine to have a track in my backyard

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by TRUCKMAKER

So you must be getting used to the new bike, the lines are deeper in the curves, the hang time has increased and the over all speed seems higher Keep the videos coming its a fun ride!

Yes, I am shedding some of the rust. I think I'm down to a heavy tarnish now after putting 0.4 of an hour on the clock.lol I'm not riding at my best that's for sure but most of the basics came back right away. My biggest thing is how bad of shape I'm in! I know if I can improve that then the rest will come and I can resume my former glory of being a fast C rider.

Originally Posted by Bo Wallen

You're spot on Truckmaker and the best is.......it does not hurt at all.....sitting in my recliner with popcorn....ride on reg. ride on

LOL. You're going to have something else to play with soon so it will be my turn for the popcorn while you're entertaining!

Originally Posted by andyathome

I found an old video of me on a trail ride here in NZ on the trusty YZ.
not so many jumps but a truck load of really steep hills to climb.


https://youtu.be/Qyu7T1taCRw

cheers andy
ps sorry about the average sound track

Nice Andy! Looks pretty dry there?

Originally Posted by Northern Farmer

Looking good Reg she sounds great! Always been a dream of mine to have a track in my backyard

Yes it's music to my ears! I am a very lucky guy to have a track right here that I can ride on. It was a lot of work to build it and a bit of work to keep it up but much nicer to do that than drive to the closest track and then pay to ride. I've always enjoyed building the jumps and grooming the track anyway. It's even sweeter now that I am working at home most of the time. I can take a break, go for a quick ride, clean everything up, put it away and be back working in an hour!

[Northern Farmer]

Always fun when it's your own track you can do whatever you want with it

https://www.facebook.com/mastersofdi...2708189371796/

[RCP57]

That guy is a million times faster than me! Some great elevation changes on that track and huge jumps that's for sure. I would say the worst part about having your own track is worrying about people getting hurt on it. First and foremost I don't want to see anyone get hurt including myself but also it could be a big problem. I can probably count the number of people I've let ride here over the years on my fingers and toes. They were/are all good friends and everyone signs a waiver but... In a perfect world where no one ever gets hurt and everyone is having fun it's great! As you said, you can make changes whenever you feel like and you only ride with guys you enjoy spending time with. It seems like for the most part though, guys show up, ride/BS until they're tired and then go home. I'm left with a rutted, beat up track that needs to be groomed... Maybe this isn't so great after all?lol

[Northern Farmer]

Don't see much grass left on the track now! lol Getting your rhythm back I see your clearing those table tops nicely. Have you thought about building up the corners higher so that you can exit them quicker ? Looking better then your buddy out there :P

[RCP57]

Yeah I've spent some hours over the holidays working on the track clearing blackberries and such. I fought with a fire for most of the day yesterday. It's tough to burn Salmon and Blackberry vines when there isn't any substance in the fire to create heat. I had it going good the day before but it went out overnight and it wouldn't stay burning after that. We have some cold dry weather here now so I will separate the pile and try again in a day or two. Some of the corners are flat on purpose. It increases the challenge and berms form more naturally. They are good for a few laps, then blow out forcing you to do something different. I'm definitely not better than my buddy but thanks for thinking that I am.lol He is just riding slow so I could keep up.lol He's the ex pro I grew up with so he has a lot more in the tank even though he's 41. It was great to ride with him though. We were talking and the last time we both had 250 2 strokes and rode together here was 1995. We've ridden together since then obviously, but we've both been riding 4 strokes for quite some time. I really like the new bike!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFg22XaJDWE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To3Yq2FVI3c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3uFei8QuJc

[Northern Farmer]

That's awesome having a riding buddy that long

[RCP57]

For sure. All of the other guys we grew up riding with have moved away or got out of the sport many years ago. I guess they didn't enjoy riding as much.

[RCLogger]

Whats up Reg ?
Where you hiding, hope your not crippled due to your new two wheeled toy ! !

Greg