The Ventura County Adventure Ride Series: '10 Adventure Day Ride 09/18

THE FINAL VCARS RIDE

What
When
Where
To Register
Registration Fee

Dualsport Ride, R4, full day
Meet Saturday, 18 September, 7:30 AM
Meet @ BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
email EarthRider
$25.00

First, the good news:
This will be the last VCARS ride.
Now, the explanation of why that is good news: BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County is now able to provide GS-oriented rides in-house! BMWoVC Service Manager Howard Rantz will be leading monthly adventure day rides from the shop, beginning in October. Even better, shop rides will now be free! You have yet another monthly organized ride available to you.
Meantime, the VCARS repeating series of rides of gradually increasing challenge will continue as well, at least through the end of this year. Furthermore, this change will create time for the reinstitution of EarthRider's well-received Skilzdrills series, last offered in 2009. Follow the EarthRider site for future updates on the Skilzdrill series & other day- & multi-day rides.

See you on the 18th!

VCARS' last ride in this area

Los Padres mtns lunch stop

This ride will take us through mountains, valleys, and plains. We'll cover a lot of miles; bring snacks to hold you through the last part of the day, after our early restaurant lunch stop in the Los Padres mountains on our outward leg.

As easy as it looks?

Challenge of the Month:
The vast majority of this route is R2-3 & even R1, with only a few short sections where the ruts we met in July combine with loose substrate, or become so deep or thick on the ground, to warrant an R4 rating. One short curving off-camber descent may also pose a challenge. What turns this from an R3 ride with a couple extra-challenging bits to a full-fledged R4 ride is the open nature of the terrain: In many places, the lay of the land welcomes speedier riding than is usual for beginning off-pavement rides. Effective line selection is not only more mentally challenging at higher speed, but more crucial. Rider speed is as always the choice of the individual, but it is the fact that the option of higher speed is available that warrants a solid R4 rating for this ride.

For the more experienced riders in our community, this route offers multiple opportunities to choose alternate, more challenging routes (up to about R6), close to or within sight of the main group.

Meandering through the foothils

Brilliant mtn slab riding

Any time you have questions en route about how to meet any of these challenges, the ride leader is eager to help you out.

This is the most challenging ride of this iteration of VCARS - In October we will be going back to basics! Expect a shorter-than average, easy day enjoying our local mountains. We'll be starting off easy, and stretching our endurance - the next iteration of the series will go to R5.

R5 ability, especially solid sand riding skill, opens the door to vast unpaved riding opportunities. Ready to move into the realm of solid intermediate level adventure riding? Have a look at the more advanced ADRs offered on EarthRider's main site. Ready & willing, but not sure you're able? Fear not: Private instruction and in-depth, skill-specific classes are also available.

RIDE ROSTER

Blake "Towstrap" Hill
ER - '10 Spring Mojave 3-Day