Make sure to check out www.tractionerag.com/ and thanks to them for an amazing (if unexpected) experience! Also - if you want to buy my dirtbikes email me at videos@yammienoob.co
Hey @yammiwnoob to be completely honest I don't watch many of your videos, but today I'm glad I clicked on this one. I understand where you're coming from in this video I've felt that way in other areas of my life as well couldn't have said it better bro. Great video Man 🤜🏽...
I grew up riding dirt bikes in the high desert (started at 8 years old, 58 now). In summer, we rode all day every day. It wasn't Erzberg, but it wasn't easy riding, either, and it was on 1970s bikes with crappy suspension, riding in jeans, sneakers, sparkly helmets while carrying canteens. I couldn't do it now but they were some of the best times of my life. I wish I could do it again. Physically unable unless I trained for two years. To me, having done all types of riding, harder single-track enduro that requires great balance, reflexes and clutch/throttle/brake control is second only to trials in terms of making you a better rider. Those skills really tranfer to other styles and can save your life. They saved mine on many occasions. Hopefully you don't give it up forever. Take smaller bites and have fun. It should be fun.
Well, I think you jump from level 40 straight to level 100 and the extreme difficulty just wears you down completely. If you have slowly progressed by upping the challenges bit by bit, you might still be doing off-road riding. Anyway, try to do everything well is extremely taxing and yeah, you are right to focus on what you are capable of handling.
Yep, you have to walk before you can run. 5 days of enduro in a row is crazy, I've been riding for 200hrs+, and two days in a row is about all I can handle. My guess is I'll need to put in another 200-300hrs before I'd be even close to ready for a trip like that, and would need to train for mths leading up to it. Jumping from 20-30m trail rides, into a 5 day ride like that, he never stood a chance.
I feel your pain BUT, what’s wrong with going out for a few hour ride? You don’t have to do these marathons every time you go off road. I mean this in the most positive way- I believe that you truly enjoy off road- that trip sounds like a bit much for anyone who has never experienced something like that. great channel- thank you much
@@RookCustomsIn his defense he has like 3 other motorcycle avenues he seems to enjoy more that don't put his body through the ringer, and he's been riding king enough to know what he likes from it. If he wants to put down offloading, I don't see an issue
There are levels to this. I’ve raced mx , and have ridden off road my entire life. Skill wise I can do near any type of riding at a fast pace, however at my current off road endurance level I would know immediately that no way am I riding for 6+ hrs a day, 5 straight days on the type of off road I like to ride. I guess I’m skilled enough to know how physically exhausting that is. It would take me 6 months of preparing riding off road to get my endurance to that level again. I’m am still skilled off road, and enjoy it ,but you will not see me signing up for a pro hard enduro race. Neither would your rough experience with little sleep make me quit! There are many of us that are very skilled who don’t have endurance on that level atm ,but know real off road well enough to know not to push it until endurance is up to par. Don’t completely quit over this man!!
Yeah, just because you didn’t enjoy that, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the dirt. I just bought a crf450l to start a little trail riding. But hours of technical doesn’t interest me at all.
Some of us are just made for it,others not so much.... Even at 45 with a plethora of injuries that cripple most.... I can hop on an ATV or dirt bike and ride until I decide not to. Then again I was a state champ wrestler two times, hold a few power lifting records in my state, did MMA, boxing and jujitsu. Started riding at 5 years of age, all Enduro day one until current. It ain't for everyone.... Once had a bunch of pro football players that were training for a new season want to go riding with me and my ex pro hockey best buddy Mark. They lasted less than 20 miles on a planned 100ish. To be fair highly technical trails. They never said anything again about how easy riding was compared to football 😂
@@johnnyringo35 💯 you have it because you’ve been at it your whole life. I started young just not as young. I did multiple sports as well. My endurance today isn’t what it once was though. I could make it out of anywhere, but wouldn’t choose to do a pro hard enduro with my health the way it is. I can still kinda easily go 35 miles though. Idk I’m not a quitter. Don’t need to be hard core to enjoy it. Especially when still green to it. Racing mx was more taxing than football for sure.
always remember: those who mind; don't matter. and those who matter; don't mind. that sounds like some feel good delusional bullshit that you tell yourself to avoid accepting the reality that you suck, but it only has proven itself more and more truthful over the years of my life. the people who are going to shame you for being last are people who are so immature and small you are better off not having their respect or friendship.
“I’m not a quitter” immediately quits and sells everything. I will say you are right, you don’t have to be good at everything motorcycle related. We’ve got Fortnine for that.
This is probably my favorite video you've ever made. Not because your quitting enduro, because something I love broke a competent rider like yourself. I mean no offense in any way by that comment. It just goes to show the hardcore enduro crowd are a rare breed that seriously enjoy the challenge this sort of riding presents. I've been broken myself and riding 5 days like that in a row I believe would break most people. It's a lot to ask of any persons body. I don't think you should quit personally just stick to shorter or milder rides.
i'm 39 and i can't see myself to stop !! i love a hard make your own road kick you down type of ride i go out 2/3 days a week i would do 6 days but got'a work to pay for all of it lol
I'm 51 and just got back from riding in Idaho for 6 or so days. It's funny to look back at this video. Being from the midwest we don't see terrain like Idaho and the biggest hurdle for me was the sidehills. It was more mental than physical. I even had a 50ft fall but lucky for me I was not injured bad and was able to continue on. It's funny how after so many days in a row you start to get used to it. Kind of like Yammie said being conscripted into the army. But I'd for sure go back if the opportunity presented itself.
As I was watching I kept remembering Yammie saying in another video, "If you go out to your bike and it doesn't feel right, if your mind isn't in the right place, don't ride."
I really wouldn't underestimate how much your lack of sleep hindered you. We do so much of our learning and skill improvement while asleep. It can also be very mentally taxing to be in a group where you feel embarrassed about your mistakes. When learning to ride, my skills were mich sharper when it was 1on1 with an instructor, rather than in a group, simply because I was embarrassed about being the worst.
I'm quitting offroad as well. I used to be a pretty decent motocross rider back in my teens and 20's, but the problem for me is that I'm not anywhere close to my previous skill level, but it's difficult not to try to push myself to my old level. I've decided that it's more likely for me to get injured offroading. Especially since trails get a bit boring, and lots of trails are coupled with motocross tracks and I can't keep myself from riding tracks.
I'm 52 now and I'm just as good as I was when I was 20. I sucked then and I still suck now. I just ride for fun and I don't ever take it too seriously.
Walked up mt fuji touristing in japan tried to sleep a lil at a stop cabin.... was just sick af for a while til i adjusted not much sleep but still great in overall
Yammie Noob: Guys, I am not a quitter. Seal Team 6 Trainer: We’ll see … Congratulations on hanging in there and making it to the end, even when it was tough. I know I’ve watched videos of hard enduro riders ace sections that looked absolutely impossible to me, it didn’t even look possible and yet somehow they make it look effortless. There’s definitely different levels of skill of riders out there.
I have had girl friends give me the same speech while breaking up with me. "I need sleep, i still hurt from the first date, my soul is crushed" Yep, you sound just like a woman.
Hopefully you can recover and at least take a dual sport to go sightseeing in the woods on dirt roads. That's way different than pushing a bike on a single track.
This story and Spite's first off-road trip early on from his channel are actually inspiring. That thing that guy is doing IS hard and DOES require skill and practice and it's OK if I suck at it for a while. Thanks Yammie!
55+ years of riding on road , off road, MX, Enduro, etc. Off-road riding is not what you experienced. Forcing someone to ride beyond their ability is nothing but an ego trip for the owner, “ let’s make you feel bad . Because I’m so much better “. It’s about riding the fire roads to the top of a mountain for the view, it’s about riding the single track to the pristine meadow. It’s not about day after day of torture. Be wary of people who think they know.😢
That sleep deprivation would definitely contribute man. I wish you wouldnt sell your dirt/DS/ADV bikes tho. Going on a light dirt trail now and again you still may enjoy. Also: All suffering arises within our thought. With our thought we shape the world. - Dhammapada
My wife and I have enjoyed your videos for more than a year, and this is your best video yet. The reason, I love the honesty and vulnerability you show here. We started our adventure riding about 4 months ago and made a choice not to approach single track anytime soon, but forest roads to those hidden natural vistas, old mining camps etc and frankly just to get out in nature away from the rat race is our goal. Interesting you said you have no problem at high speeds on the track but 185 heart rate dodging trees -- that is the inverse for many. You did mention several times your enjoyment of the vistas, the hidden mining camp - so maybe you are wrapping hard-core single track into a broader bucket of riding that doesn't require such technical work and calling it 'off road' - that is a bit of a misleading term. Sorry you had such a rough time, great vid clips though and your candor is awesome here.
"It started becoming like I was a soldier conscripted for duty." My man, you were almost there. You were almost to the point of learning the absolute most valuable lesson in life. The best things in life come after you realize that your brain holds you back more than your body. You can do more than your mind tells you you can.
Thank you for sharing your embarrassment and being vulnerable. I had a similar experience. I consider myself as a motorcycle enthusiast and did adventure riding, then technical riding ect. Just last month I was invited to be on a Baja riding team. Then, I got invited to a 2 day single track ride on my 500exc. My Ktm was the biggest bike there. Everyone had a tricked out hare scramble 2 stroke with cut down bars…. I broke myself in the 40 miles. Crashed several times then I got hurt. My endurance was awful, my skill was the worst in the group. My confidence dropped. I just don’t like single track. But don’t cross off “off road” forever. You spent years having a blast ripping 2 track. That’s all.
Sad feelings. Dont give up on riding off road occasionally. Too much of anything will make you lose your taste for it. Also had you been properly informed of just what this 5 day trip was I think you would have said " Hard Pass" . You got blind sided. It was designed to be a torture test designed to break you/everyone not a real offroading fun trip. It makes me very sad to see you this way. Stay strong brother.
I’m going the other way…fast approaching 60 and I am tired of the road. Seems like every time I’m on the road, someone tries to kill me at least once. Off-road, it’s solely when I run out of skill that endangers me….lol
So amazing adventure you lived there, beautiful sights, I'd love to try some day an experience like that in off-road to se if that would be something for me. No shame on recognizing one's own limits, it is for brave men, and sane ones, to embrace and accept it.
Nice video! But I have 3 constructive criticisms... 1. Please tell us where you went! Saying "northern Canada" is akin to saying, "somewhere in Africa"...Which city did you fly into? Which province/territory were you in? You highlighted the scenery but gave no useful information about it... 2. Your tractionrag link is to a magazine...not the outfit you stayed/biked with. Not useful to someone who wants to share your experience & support that business that was so kind to you... Do you have a better link? 3. I feel like your "quitting off-road biking" conclusion is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater... OF COURSE, your experience was awful: 5 straight days of HIGH-intensity physical + emotional drain PLUS 5 nights of completely inadequate sleep?? Recipe for disaster. The more logical conclusion you should make: 1-day off-road adventures only! [Maybe 2 days (on milder trails) if you've slept properly & well-rested...]
I've been a road/street rider all my life (now well into my 60's) and last summer bought a crf 250 to hold me over until the crf 300 rally showed up at the dealer. A whole new ball game. I could barely touch the ground with the elevated seat height which was very disconcerting and all I could think about when I first started was planning the stops. Like the first time on ice skates - very humbling. I have now received the 300 and am enjoying the backroads. Not quite ready to tackle the single track and dirt bike venues. A little gravel and sand to out of the way vistas, some moto camping and I am satisfied. Still hard to beat the feeling of smooth highway twisties on a litre bike. I feel your pain. Just wish I could find 30 yeaqrs to glue on.
5 days, kill me. I did a 3 day hard-core single track tour in Colombia. Had the same experience except with food poisoning. I still don't think I've mentally/emotionally recovered from that torture test. It was 4 years ago
To me judging by the shot at 9:16, this looks like Kamloops BC. Im relatively local, so I've spent time riding the in this area and can attest to how increadibly gnarly some of the single track can be around here. For someone who has never done this type of riding, I can see how spending 5 days doing so could suck the fun out of offroad riding. Its pretty damn challenging. I only ride the hills around kamloops a handful of times a year, and only one day at a time. Its so taxing on the bike and rider, that I honestly couldnt imagine having fun doing it for 5 days straight. I would be absolutely beat haha. Maybe if your a full on hard enduro guy, but most average riders aren't.
Better change that “Die Trying” tat, maybe a kitten or something along those lines. Dakar guys and Baja guys do this for weeks at 100 mph. This is what we ride for……just saying …
you did your best and pushed yourself. overall it sounds like a great experience but very humbling to other, but similar, styles of riding. Keep up the good work man! Besides, it's more impressive to succeed when you've failed time and time again. Or failed hard. Yet succeeded in the end. You're a great example of that in that you didn't quit right away but pushed yourself and kept going.
Often when riders have a 'horrible' off-road experience like this, all they can think about is getting back out there and doing it again. It's hard for me to even imagine not enjoying the huge challenge, the overcoming difficulty, the pushing beyond limits, ignoring the suffering... I love that sh*t! I guess it's a certain gene.
Well Selling two mint dirt bikes is compelling enough to tell the story, you bit off more then you could chew. The small clips of you ridding on the dirt bikes would have told me right away you are a beginner dirt bike rider and that you had no business ridding on a 5-day ride, You set yourself up to fail. No hate here I do enjoy your videos.
I respect the hell out of you for trying it. I have ridden 1000s of hours on the trail, from dawn till dusk. I climbed hills and jumped streams, so many questionable things. It all feels normal to me. I jumped on my first street bike in 40 years a month ago and I feel like I have never ridden before. The thought of an interstate terrifies me. I’m going to beat it, but it is so different. I road street from trail to trail but it’s not the same. Thanks for sharing and I hope you jump back in. I’m pushing my limits at 45 I know you have it in you and are a much better rider. Best of luck and I hope you always have fun.
Yeah as someone who lives in England most of our riding is done within an acre or a couple of acres. So I’m mostly used to setting up a bbq,going and having a ten minute mess about on bikes then come back,smoke some weed,go have another ride etc etc. the idea of riding hours on hours 5 days in a row is wild to me because if I did that here I’d have put a rut in every inch of the local field 😂
ride within your limits those are hardcore trails ride easy trails if that's what you enjoy. You don't ride for the sake of riding you ride for the fun of it don't quit after 5 days of continuous riding.. which you'll never do again in your life keep pushing keep striving to better yourself do not fear failure, Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up
I think that you were on a ride with expert. While you are a beginner/ intermediate. Please gain experience then go back and ride with them. I’m sure that your experience will be a lot different.
Quitting after one negative experience is just an exercise in justification. Seems to me you never actually liked off road riding, and are relieved you don’t have to pretend you like it. Admitting it’s not for you is ok. It’s not for everyone.
I remember my first hare scramble race very vividly lol it was raining, cold and one tough course. Was about 15 years old and riding my rm125. It was the most soul crushing motorcycle experience of my life. I only made it about a lap and a half before my bike was so mud packed I couldn't even hold it up, I wasn't experienced enough to know I needed to go faster and I would unpack the tires and have grip. It was a constant slip and slide picking my bike up over and over and over. I trained so hard to be ready for this but the rain was just an unexpected element that completely changed things. I was so exhausted but so determined to keep going. In the small areas that had people around, they were so helpful getting me back up on my bike and back in the race but it hit a point that I just couldn't do it. I had to bail from the race. It crushed my soul. I felt like there was just no way I could race like this. I had been riding since I was six but this was my first time racing. As a young teen everything lead up to this moment and I fought so hard to get there. The ride back to the truck felt like all these years of riding were a waste and I would never keep up with these guys that had been racing since I had just started riding. I ended up making friends with one of the racers and training with him for a summer on his property, came back and killed it over all for a season. Long story short, don't give up because of one bad experience. Sometimes you gotta make it through the toughest of times to show you your weaknesses and allow you to build your strengths. Keep riding and don't give up.
lol don't be a quitter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i will be a off road rider 4life my street bike is fun but nothing like the wide open no people no rule's just peace.......
I worked at a mine in AK as a mechanic 12 hr days & I was the oldest guy . The problem was the third week , I could do 2 weeks but that last week was a killer .
Your story reminds me of basic training and how my 6-minute-mile was an 8 under that abuse. I couldn't keep skin on my feet, i wasnt recovering well. Then you get imposter syndrome and focus on what you can't do rather than what you can. You question your motives and reasons for being there. you make 3 times as much in your civilian job that 3/4 of these idiots couldn't do. Then you can't process it so you dissociate from it by removing the act and the memory. The effects of truama remain long after the memory of it fades. Xanax... disconnects your feelings from your body and mildly suppresses the central nervous system allowing you to sleep 9 hours. Doesn't matter what you think, you go to sleep 😴 . As time passes, you'll remember the thing you walked away from and you'll challenge yourself to return for no logical reason
Probably one of the best things that you have done. You’ll look back on this as one of the best, although worst, experiences that you have earned. Give it time but don’t give it up - it does make you a more knowledgeable motorcyclist as a whole and we benefit from you sharing your knowledge. Respect.
This is a good watch. Thanks for sharing your experience and honesty about how you felt about that ride. It's true about the mental barrier, and I think breaking through that is one of the hardest things to do. There's no person that enjoys discomfort, but I'll tell you, your tolerance goes up. I can guarantee that even now, on your track rides or any other ride, you will feel like it's so much less effort. And when you get to a point of struggle, then you are able to handle it much better than usual. Like you said, these types of stuff really push you to a breaking point, and I think that's probably the goal with that. To see how far you can push it and not compare yourself to others, but know how far you have pushed your own limits. And that's where you can say, "I deserve that pat on the shoulder because I went way past my comfort zone."
Difference between extreme and hardcore. This video reminds me of when Yammi totaled his 675. Back of the group, straggler in the back and trying to compare the level of intensity to others. Hardcore people keep/live by a standard that seeks harder experiences before they can make it a non risk factor. Extreme people are trying to reach the limit that the bar can go, negating risk altogether, they enjoy the adrenaline. Yammi, your neither of these, your mindful, humble and diverse and conscientious of safety. You sorta admitted to this with Gixxerbrah weaving through traffic at high speeds, that's not your style.
We have common ground - I too have decent cardio (not in your league but not bad for an old guy) but this kind of riding is a different animal as you fatigue from the intensity. I recently bought a '23 FC 250 and went out "trail" riding: some of it was A loop stuff (I haven't ridden in years, many years). Couldn't believe some of the trails these guys ride - was pretty gnarly. My brand new FC looked about 2 years old after that ride, the maiden voyage, with me tipping over, looping out,... you know, fun stuff. Thing is, I could ride a lot of this stuff on my nephew's FX 300 equipped with mousse(s) front and rear, the appropriate sticky Dunlop tires and recluse clutch - it makes all the difference. The B loop trials I can ride on the FX but looking for a bike for both track and trail. It was fun, I'll give it that but when you are laying underneath your bike with fuel dripping on your polyester suit near a red hot header pipe; you have second thoughts. Next bike is a fuel injected 2 stroke with an 18 inch rear wheel. I'm in southern BC btw. Cheers
So take an easier route next time. I'm also a beginner on motorcycles in general, I think I'm on my third year now. Last year I joined a local motocross/enduro club, and this summer I joined a trial club, to challenge myself further regarding two wheel handling, and that has helped me insanely regarding attention, stance and balance. But I can admit that I still suck. My workouts these days are all about legs and lower back, shoulders and neck to match my body to endure a few hours on the bike. If you are curious about off road, go at it, but in a positive way. Not like when I was a kid and my mom forced me into playing violin only to impress our relatives. I hated every minute of it. Offroading is what I wanted to do ever since my next door neighbour got his little red 50cc dirtbike. I wanted one so bad my stomach hurt but instead I got a home computer. Now my mom's dead and got three dirtikes and two trialsbikes, and I aim to breath the dust, eat the mud and snap any tree coming my way with a laugh.
I think this is one of the best videos you have ever done. It takes a lot of courage and humility to post something so brutally honest. I’m not a dirt bike rider and at 65 don’t plan on exploring that facet of motorcycling. I’ve done numerous cycling centuries and countless hours of mountain biking but quit a track day on my RT after 2 of 3 scheduled sessions because I was just mentally and physically done! I hope you reconsider selling your dirt bikes. Just because your not a Navy SEAL, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a day at the beach.
The loss of personal pride, when you realize you are the battler and bottler, is confidence destroying. I remember bEing adreanlised to the hilt heart rate through the roof and forearm pump. Just stopping in deep sand, not being able to pick the bike up in Zimbabwe 42-degree heat, and switching off sitting down, pouring cold water, and realizing we dont have to near die to enjoy ourselves.
This is like doing the Ghost Pepper Challenge and hating it so much, you never order Taco Bell hot sauce ever again. This trip was hard for the sake of being hard, just stick to what's fun! None of this sounded fun.
Riding tough terrain with people who are way better than you sucks. I'm not going to beat around the bush. Then you come home, recharge, get back on the bike and go ride with your usual friends. All the sudden they are scratching their heads wondering how you got so good, and you are getting all kinds of compliments. It's a major boost to your confidence and a ton of fun. Then after you get bored riding with them you go do the tough terrain with insanely skilled riders again and again its absolutely agonizing and the cycle repeats. There is a reason successful pro sports teams play struggling teams at the beginning of the season and destroy them. We need that thrill of victory to keep going. My point is its ok to do both. If you are getting worn down ready to quit because the group you're riding with makes you look like a noob then go take a weekend and ride with some actual noobs. Not to belittle them but to see how much you've actually improved. That being said I totally respect your decision. The older I get the more peace I find in focusing on one singular thing rather than trying to do it all. Mastering something is far more rewarding than scrambling to be just ok at everything.
I rode Hare scrambles when I was a little younger, 40 years old .you needed to get on a purpose-built Enduro. KTMs are fantastic for that. And I found a rekluse auto clutch was a lifesaver,plus electric starter if you did stall which usually doesn't happen. I had a KTM 300 xc-w which I also equipped with a flywheel weight. I am 65 years old now and no longer ride because I had terrible cramping after riding but I only sold my bike about 3 years ago and do miss it. 5 days in a row is probably too much for almost anybody. Definitely a test of your endurance butt no longer fun after the first or second day I'm sure
At 53 I decided I was going to get a dirt bike and start off road riding after 30 years of street riding. I did well for my first 3 outings. I crashed a bunch but was still into it until the 3rd trip and tore up my knee... that was it for me. Im selling my 2023 crf 450 rl at a loss and am counting it as the price of knowledge that im not going to learn to ride in the dirt on a motorcycle at my age...
There's more to dirt riding than bombing trails at breakneck speeds and balancing on mountain crests. It can be fun tractoring around on dirt roads just enjoing the scenery and a beautiful day out.
Sorry the experience went down like that. I have seen traction e rag and ive heard of that riding. It probably wouldn't have fixed the whole experience but for hard enduro, you shouldn't have been on a crf250rx ( basically a MX bike) OR a CRF250L (a toy of a bike). Maybe don't start by going directly back there but if you ever have a chance to ride single track on a purpose built enduro 2 stroke, take it. You'll never look back
Appreciate your humility. Takes guts. You mentioned being a cyclist...do you have a video that talks about your transition or journey from a cyclist to a motorcyclist? That would be the boat I'm in. If not no worries but I figured I'd ask.
Not sure, but I think he was a motorcyclist before getting into cycling. I think the last time I was on a bicycle was 2012, and I got my motorcycle licence in 2021. Don't need to transition from bicycle to motorcycle :)
Watch a lot of your videos and I enjoy them all. This was great because of your honesty and integrity with regard to your own personal desires and limitations. We all have them and we all need to recognize where our strengths lie. Thank you for your content.
Some people just aren’t built for certain things. I grew up in AZ always riding our bikes in dirt, then dirt bikes, atc’s etc. Dirt is just more fun for me.
As tough as it sounds, I now want to go try it and get my own ass kicked. That trip sounded insanely fun, but I am sure I wouldnt make it much past the first day haha
I started off road. Had many bikes, (RM125, 250, CR250, etc…), and didn’t ride a street bike until several years later. I think that’s a great way to go. It’s just my opinion, but if you start out as a dirt bike rider, you’ll develop a great skillset that will apply to street riding. There’s definitely some skills that apply to street riding you’ll need to learn, but your dirt bike skills will pay off big time when you start riding on the concrete. That’s my experience.
It's a shame dude, you kinda ruined a good thing for yourself. Even the best of things need to be consumed with moderation. What you basically did was eat cake into you felt sick and swore off cake forever. lol If you went track riding from morning to night five days in a row you might feel the same way about track days etc. My last late autumn ride in 2019 I rode Calabogie forest ALL day because I wanted to get as much riding in before winter. Didn't even feel like riding anymore but kept going. I sold my KTM 500exc the following spring because I still felt sated from that ride so I kind of understand where you're coming from. lol
FOREVER? Bro. Hold up. That shitty experience was not representative of the fun that can be had, and it's not because you are somehow deficient or can't handle that type of terrain. It sounds more like you had a perfect storm of "don'ts" which you did, and they weren't even really your fault. If you're riding single-track in the woods (PNW mountains), there are a few things you have to make sure of: 1) Don't be sleep deprived, hung-over, dehydrated, or short on calories. This was the game-ender, and you were dead before you started. Your faculties were diminished and then placed under extra-high demand in an unfamiliar environment that requires extreme physical strength, endurance, balance, and dexterity. Of course you were going to fold up mentally after FIVE DAYS. At high elevation (!). 2) Don't ride for hours at a time until you're in shape. 30 mins or an hour at a time, then rest, calorie up, hydrate. Maybe head home if you're gassed for the day. Seems obvious now, I'm sure. And easier said than done when you had to drive for 2 hours just to get to the trail, which simply sucks grizzly balls. 3) TWO STROKE, BRO. I cannot BELIEVE Dallas put you on a motocross bike and then a wimpass 'nother 4T. Are you sure he doesn't hate you? Maybe he thought you needed to be humbled? The difference in weight distribution and suspension action, fast-revving, resistance to stalling, and generally power delivery -- especially under wheel slip conditions -- makes the hugest difference in all sizes of hill climbs and all mountain single-track conditions. The modern EFI two-stroke is the answer. I suppose it's something that you're just not used to the mountain environment, because going from flat Texas to high-elevation Canadian single-track is like...well, it's like going from a bmx bike to a turbo Busa! As a sportbike rider, after riding a heavy four-stroke in the woods for a bit, I finally got on a two-stroke and WOW. A 2T lugs better WITHOUT STALLING EASILY, first of all, and secondly: you want/need the fast-revving action of the 2T to get a shitload of speed suddenly over a short distance in order to get the momentum to get up and over steep things because you need that momentum BEFORE you're halfway up the steep part, or you just spin out and fall down. You really have to try some sub-gnarly, flowy single-track without being sleep-deprived and on a super light two-stroke to get the actual good experience which IS there. Fuckin CRFs, jesus christ, gimme a break. Yeah, a motocross veteran can ride a motocross bike in the woods, but he'd rather have a KTM 300 2T which is specifically designed for enduro riding. Anyway, give yourself a chance next time. On a two-stroke, not sleep-deprived, and not past the point of exhaustion. I bet the next time will be easy after that ordeal. You've been through the crucible in an unnecessarily hardcore way, and if you try again on a light and peppy bike in some mellower terrain, it's gonna be downright easy and fun as hell. And if you're going to high elevation, give yourself 3 days to adjust and run up some stairs to make sure you're not gassed after 5 seconds of exertion.
Burnout,man. I have rode for 8 or 10 days on the road. Can’t wait to leave,can’t wait to get home. Just don’t ride for a couple weeks and it will be good again. There is such thing as to much of a good thing. Stick to it buddy!!!!!!!!! RIDE SAFE!!!!!!! Not bragging,but I have probably rode 3/4 of a million miles. Slow down get away from people like it’s meant to be done,and it will be FUN AGAIN. GOD BLESS !!!!!!!!!
It was a humbling exercise, and you learned more than you think you did. Imagine if you could have gotten the sleep that you obviously needed and gotten back on the bike after falling off that hill and pushed through to the end you would’ve made a completely different video. I really hope you didn’t sell those bikes. Hopefully I missed the video where you went back and completed, the five days. I’ve been in a couple of situations similar to where I was bloodied and broken, but forced myself to finish and it’s like you said there’s no limit to what the human body and spirit can accomplish
Sleep deprivation is very dangerous as you discovered. It would have made more sense to take a break after loop one on day 3. Instead you kept pushing yourself. Next time say no! I have a 2017 KTM 1090 R for fast paced rides to easy trails, and a 2023 KTM 350 EXC-F for technical rides. Street bikes are fun, when living in So CA all I rode were 750/1100 sport bikes up Angeles Crest HWY, Ortega HWY, and PCH North of Malibu. After removing to a remote section of CO, dedicated street bikes have no interest for me, but my two KTM's give me the best of both worlds. Your trip would have been an awesome adventure if you had sleep. Too bad you forgot how to say no.
The good thing; you have so much experience. The bad thing; you have so much experience. Perhaps, next time, go a few days early? I think you're a very honest guy I always ride alone, on my cbf1000, so I wanted to try riding with groups. I know my bike pretty well, I thought. I couldn't keep up. At all! The bike was okay, I wasn't. So I walent on some .ore group trips, but it wasn't right for me. We tried! ❤
Wait!!!! Wait!!!! Wait!!!! Before you give up on off-roading or single track. Try riding a ktm/husky 300tpi bike. They make off-roading so much easier. The bike doesn’t stall as much and literally made me a better rider. Especially with the right tire and tube. Ride mine or someone’s. It will change your outlook.
Dude - I ride single track in Canada as a weekend warrior and it’s not something to try for 5 days if you’ve never done it before. You need to slowly build up to the technical difficult stuff. It’s a fun activity but definitely not for everyone - Dallas should have known that.
Did someone get sand in their vajaja? LOL. I realize that single track is not motocross, but motocross used to be the 2nd most demanding sport in the world next only to professional soccer. You might be "in shape" on a bicycle, but that's a different animal. I think you found out, you are not in as good of shape as you thought you were. When they asked the question how many have ridden 5 days straight? Did that for over 3 years straight when I was a pro motocrosser. You went in there with the mindset that you were in shape, you ride regularly and this was going to be a cake walk. You underestimated dirt biking/hard enduro, not a problem, it's an honest mistake. I also noticed most of those guys were way older than you and didn't look like they were in good shape, looks are deceiving. Remember: age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill...lol. Now, dirt biking gives you skills you can use in all aspects motorcycling. By ignoring dirt biking, you are just limiting yourself. I bet you have a new found respect for ISDT, Baja 1000, hard enduro and Dakar racers. I get it you were defeated - physically and mentally, but don't just throw in the towel. Get up, regroup, brush yourself off and get back on that horse. Instead of just pussing out, get your ass back on that dirt bike, hit a local trail or track and have fun while getting yourself back in shape. No one is Steve Wise, but we can all have fun in all aspects of motorcycling. So, what's it going to be? Everclear or Bud Light?
Some of the nicest scenery in the world getting up there from Vancouver. He'd have loved the trip if he had been on a street bike with a group of riders. 😊
Sounds like a really bad first experience in Canada. I hope you go back and try some of the awesome street stuff from Vancouver to Squamish or Whistler on two wheels. That's your kind of riding and the scenery the best in the world. The biggest issue would be cops because sport bike guys kind of made that area a hot spot. Actually riding just about anywhere from Vancouver is an amazing journey.
