BDR-X PA Wilds - lessons learned

Dirt_Dad · Sep 9, 2022

Rode route 4 today and learned some significant differences between X and the MABDR.

I think the most important differences is, do not expect the route to end at a gas station. I believe at least 8 of 9 MABDR routes end at a gas station. Route 4 ends in the middle of the woods. First fuel I found by leaving the route was about 10 miles away.

Also recommend not thinking you can ride the route as published. A bridge out on the route caused me to make multiple attempts at creating a detour. Fortunately PA appears to be invested in keeping riders out of trouble and put up a sign on the most obvious detour route.

Bottom line, fuel in your tank is good. After all, this is Adventure riding. I probably went an extra 20 miles over this one.

It's a great route, really enjoyed it. There is one drivable trail on it and it does stand out as rougher and wetter than every everywhere else on route 4. Not terrible, but you notice it.

Overall route 4 took significantly longer to complete than I had anticipated.

As always, RideBDR group has put together a great route. Looking forward to checking out the out new route sections (2&3).

Dirt_Dad · Sep 11, 2022

After giving the gas caution one day earlier I nearly pushed it too far on Saturday.

Gate closed on the the good stuff after the PA Grand Canyon...detour.

Never did find Ridge Road the GPS told me to turn on...detour.

And of course:

2022 must have been a very rough year for PA bridges...detour.

Also, starting on section 2, my 665 Zumo gave me 5 different "go 1/2 mile then turn around, then turn around" instructions. Never heard that one before.

So I can't say I'm seeing everything they intended riders to see, but what I have seen is pretty great riding. There is a good amount of 2 track on section 2.

Lots of riding near streams. Both from elevated and up close.

Wonderful twisty pavement sections.

There are some areas that make you think it could get challenging if wet.

Overall good variation on type of surface, scenery, elevation changes, just a fantastic section. My favorite so far.

Today, section 3...in rain

thughes317 · Sep 11, 2022

DD, have you looked at the CPAAT (Cross PA Adventure trail) yet?

Great ride put together by Arthur W. and several others, worth a peek if you like the PA riding scene. The guys do regular group rides that are a blast, good bunch of folks.

Check them out at on FB at facebook.com/CrossPennsylvaniaAdventureTrail

PineLaneRider · Sep 11, 2022

This BDR-X may be on my short list now.

True Grip · Sep 11, 2022

DD I’m gonna try and ride the PA section of BDR and the X route to make a loop after the Romney event in May. My 690 came with the safari tank and I hated it. I bought the 2 gallon giant loop armadillo bag and really like it. When I gas up in morning I fill it and strap it to seat after I ride 100 miles I empty the bag roll it up and put it in side bag. It weighs maybe a pound. Gives me a 250 mile range.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 11, 2022

Nice. You'll be good with that range. Twice I've gotten into the 140s on this loop. I get alert when I have only 1/2 gallon left on board.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 11, 2022

Mark, I should mention the 690 is a fantastic bike for the X. Absolutely loving it on this route. Perfect power, makes you feel like you are cheating it's so good.

This will likely be my last big ride for the 690. Although I love it in the dirt, I have to travel too far to get to good riding. It's the travel part I don't care for with the 690.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 11, 2022

Some days don't turn out as you anticipate. I knew to expect rain and possibly muddy trails, I never expected a dead bike at my first gas up. But that's where I found myself.

So in keeping with the theme of this thread, there was a lesson learned. When your bike unexpectedly dies, don't keep it a secret. I'm sure we've all experienced the brief pleasantries people say to a motorcyclist at a gas station. I threw in a 'the bike is dead' to the first person who said a few words to me. That's all it took for that person (Carl) to spring into "help mode.' At first with a phone number and an offer.

After my troubleshooting yielded no answers, i put in a call to Carl and he showed up with an ATV and towed me to his company garage.

He owns the gutter company there in St Marys, PA. The perfect place to get out of the rain and figure out my battery was dead. I'm awful glad that happened at a gas station and not somewhere in the middle of section 2 the day before. Massive appreciation to Carl and his willingness to help. If you guys around St Marys need gutters, I have a strong recommendation.

Of course all of this resulted in not starting section 3 until after 2:30 today. Everything is different in the rain.

The first leg was standard full gravel forest roads. Uneventful, easy stuff. Initially signs of mud were few.

Unsurprisingly I found two more of these.

Can't imagine how many of those signs PA must own.

Eventually I started seeing more mud and less full stones covering the road.

Did see different wildlife on this section. First a large turkey.

Later at this point ELK!!

By the time I got the bike stopped, camera out, glove off, they had all moved about 30 yards into the woods. I was glad they seemed afraid of me and not showing any aggression like the similarly sized bison out west. As I rode along I could see them trotting staying even with me. At that point the road was pretty greasy and staying upright had most of my attention.

I realized due to my late start and slow going in the mud it was not wise to think about making it to State College. I exited about 55 miles before the end and found a hotel.

I knew i was a muddy mess and did not want to shock the the front desk staff. Fortunately there was a car wash close to the hotel. Here's another lesson learned, you can use a credit card in a car wash now.

I sprayed off my pants and boots, and pointlessly gave some of the bike a no pressure hose off. Then went and checked in as a seemingly respectable citizen.

Not sure if that was the end for me or not. I'll have to look at weather and make my call tomorrow.

PineLaneRider · Sep 12, 2022

They must have run out of "Bridge Out" signs near State College. This was the first turn onto dirt on my trip a couple weeks ago. D'oh!

Dirt_Dad · Sep 12, 2022

X loop, with detours, complete.

More tomorrow. Now turn to the 300 mile ride home with thunderstorm in forecast.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 12, 2022

think the GPS is wrong
Should be less than 300 miles

Checkswrecks · Sep 12, 2022

So would you do it again on the 1290?

Just curious

Cycledude · Sep 12, 2022

True Grip said:
DD I’m gonna try and ride the PA section of BDR and the X route to make a loop after the Romney event in May. My 690 came with the safari tank and I hated it. I bought the 2 gallon giant loop armadillo bag and really like it. When I gas up in morning I fill it and strap it to seat after I ride 100 miles I empty the bag roll it up and put it in side bag. It weighs maybe a pound. Gives me a 250 mile range.

looks like a very nice way to carry some extra gasoline but according to the website its illegal to use for carrying gasoline in the USA ?

Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon - Parts Giant

Buy Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon starting at $125.00 plus free shipping at Parts Giant.

www.partsgiant.com

thughes317 · Sep 12, 2022

Cycledude said:
looks like a very nice way to carry some extra gasoline but according to the website its illegal to use for carrying gasoline in the USA ?

Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon - Parts Giant

Buy Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon starting at $125.00 plus free shipping at Parts Giant.

www.partsgiant.com

So is jaywalking.

True Grip · Sep 12, 2022

Cycledude said:
looks like a very nice way to carry some extra gasoline but according to the website its illegal to use for carrying gasoline in the USA ?

Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon - Parts Giant

Buy Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon starting at $125.00 plus free shipping at Parts Giant.

www.partsgiant.com

I wonder if it’s illegal because it doesn’t have one of those safety nozzles. It has a regular nozzle that fits in a pocket. It also says not for long term storage. I only fill it if I know I’ll run 100 miles. My guess is I’ll get busted doing a ton before anyone even figures there is fuel in it.

Sierra1 · Sep 12, 2022

thughes317 said:
So is jaywalking.

And riding wheelies. But of course, D_D doesn't do that either.

Checkswrecks · Sep 13, 2022

Cycledude said:
looks like a very nice way to carry some extra gasoline but according to the website its illegal to use for carrying gasoline in the USA ?

Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon - Parts Giant

Buy Giant Loop Armadillo Liquid Reservoir Bag 1-Gallon starting at $125.00 plus free shipping at Parts Giant.

www.partsgiant.com

It's a fancy ruggedized version of the Starbucks bag.

Legally they both fail DOT-approval for a number of reasons.

Requirements for storage and handling of gasoline on a construction site. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

www.osha.gov

and

DOT Approved Gas Cans | How to Safety Store and Transport Gas at Work

Gasoline is commonly used in many workplaces. Learn why DOT Approved Gas Cans are the best way to store and transport fuel. Keep you and your workers safe.

www.absorbentsonline.com

Dirt_Dad · Sep 13, 2022

Checkswrecks said:
So would you do it again on the 1290?

Just curious

You mean my bike with no skid plate and 90/10, easily punctured tires? Yes I would on the overwhelming majority of the X in dry conditions.

I would not do Walter Road on section 1 (MABDR-8), and I would not do the drivable trail mentioned earlier. Outside of those two roads, I'd have no hesitation to ride the X with my 1290. I might want a fresh 90/10 because a worn one will puncture with little provocation.

Due to all the detours I can't say I saw everything, I suspect there's a good 30 to 40 miles I missed. What I did see was primarily an enjoyable, entertaining, scenic ride on nice forest roads that could be done by almost any bike by anyone with some comfort off the pavement.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 13, 2022

On Monday the weather held out enough for me to complete the remaining part of section 3. Riding back to the X from my off route hotel you could see it was dry with low clouds.

This last 60 miles before State College started with a lot of pavement. Both nice twisty primary back road pavement, and also beat up pavement through the woods.

Here's a lesson learned - it is impossible to ride the X without a GPS. It is also very hard to stay on course without audio from your GPS. For the 3rd time in 3 years, my Sena 50S crapped out. Sena has replaced it twice under warranty, but not sure if they will cover yet another one for me. I'll try, but if not, after more than a decade of buying multiple different Sena headsets, I'm probably going to give up. Tired of this dying in the middle of a trip. Anyways, without audio warnings you have to keep pretty close attention to the screen for the next turn. Yesterday I looked down and found I was off track. Stop, zoom out and saw this:

Knowing I was looking at a forecast of "sever" thunderstorms on the way home, and keeping in mind how many times I was forced to detour, I decided to not go back for this section. This was my second unforced detour. The first being searching for gas after section 4 left me in the middle of the woods without a gas station. On that one I skipped Walter Road...which didn't break my heart.

I picked up the route again at some lake.

It had been several hours since the last rain and the roads had dried out nicely. This was the worst I saw on Monday and it did not feel bad at all, at least not on knobbies.

The closer you get to State College the roads turn to all pavement, then city streets.

The ride to home did land me directly in a thunderstorm. My wife was watching the tracker and yelling at the screen to tell me to stop you're heading into a massive storm. Unfortunately, due to the dead Sena that's all she could do. That storm was the most dangerous thing I did during the entire trip. The BDR-X was never anything I would consider dangerous.

It's a great route. It's an isolated ride with very few other rides or anyone seen during the full loop. Get out there an enjoy.

Dirt_Dad · Sep 13, 2022

Other lessons learned:
I ended up finding hotels off the route more frequently than on the route. That meant sometimes I had to ride as far as 25 miles off route. That was a bit of a hassle, but it also allowed me to stay in this hotel in Williamsport, PA. The old City Hall.

A unique conversion to say the least.

Now that I'm no longer required to type on my phone, here's a few other pictures that didn't make it before.

There's a lot of horse and buggy traffic on Sections 4 and 1. Here's a parking lot I found on section 4.