firffighter
New member
Thought I would share another ride report from the great Northwest.
Did the Shelton Valley Enduro on Sunday and what an amazing event. It is held on private land that is only used twice a year for events. This is premier singletrack and is about as good as it gets in the Northwest. This is an old fashioned time keeper enduro, which makes it even more fun!
My brother and I and a friend signed up the the long course (85+miles), got our minute, loaded extra fuel on the gas trailer, sound checked and off!
We were early by 1 minute on our first 2 checks and the conditions were perfect. Flowing singletrack in between 2nd-3rd gear, loamy soil roots everywhere and the Gasgas performing flawlessly.
Hit the fuel stop and we rested a bit and lost 5 minutes on the 3rd check, but we were just out for a fun ride, so no big deal. Weaving between trees with lots of tight turns marked the 3rd check, very fun.
We rested again just before the 4th check and we were still feeling good and having fun. Out of the 40 miles at least 30 was singletrack! Amazing!
Then, at mile 40, they decided to amp things up. Nasty tight deep woods with LOTS of mud! Tough ups and downs with roots everywhere. I've never abused the clutch so much in my life! I hit the wall hard (had a bad cold and found out I had a bit of a fever) and stalled several times and bit it a couple times as well.
I finally made it to the short and long course split at mile 51. We decided to cut this thing short and we were 30+minutes off by now! I rested a bit and found the spring on my kickstand had come off, but was able to get it back on with no fuss.
The last 9 miles were more torture. Deep woods, mud, roots and lots technical ups and downs. Found a guy who blew a corner and was way down in a ravine, found a guy on a Husaberg looped out and totally spent and I tried to tow in a Husaberg 390 (no fuel) with about 2 miles to go, but towing in mud bogs and singletrack just dont work.
Made it in and was totally spent, but a huge smile on my face. I would say that out of the 60 miles, at least 50 of it was true singletrack! No loops, just mile after mile of pristine singletrack
My '03 Gasgas EC250 performed flawlessly the whole 60 miles! Grunted up, down and through the nasties without a hickup. It sliced and diced the singletrack nicely and my Ohlins suspension worked spot on. I love this bike!
Long course next year (90 miles) for sure. Autoclutch will be added first though
BTW, lots of comments on the bikes (my brother has the same bike), and we pitted next to a guy with an '11 EC300 Six Days. What a beautiful bike! He did the long course and said the bike was perfect as well.
Gasgas and the Northwest are a perfect match!
Did the Shelton Valley Enduro on Sunday and what an amazing event. It is held on private land that is only used twice a year for events. This is premier singletrack and is about as good as it gets in the Northwest. This is an old fashioned time keeper enduro, which makes it even more fun!
My brother and I and a friend signed up the the long course (85+miles), got our minute, loaded extra fuel on the gas trailer, sound checked and off!
We were early by 1 minute on our first 2 checks and the conditions were perfect. Flowing singletrack in between 2nd-3rd gear, loamy soil roots everywhere and the Gasgas performing flawlessly.
Hit the fuel stop and we rested a bit and lost 5 minutes on the 3rd check, but we were just out for a fun ride, so no big deal. Weaving between trees with lots of tight turns marked the 3rd check, very fun.
We rested again just before the 4th check and we were still feeling good and having fun. Out of the 40 miles at least 30 was singletrack! Amazing!
Then, at mile 40, they decided to amp things up. Nasty tight deep woods with LOTS of mud! Tough ups and downs with roots everywhere. I've never abused the clutch so much in my life! I hit the wall hard (had a bad cold and found out I had a bit of a fever) and stalled several times and bit it a couple times as well.
I finally made it to the short and long course split at mile 51. We decided to cut this thing short and we were 30+minutes off by now! I rested a bit and found the spring on my kickstand had come off, but was able to get it back on with no fuss.
The last 9 miles were more torture. Deep woods, mud, roots and lots technical ups and downs. Found a guy who blew a corner and was way down in a ravine, found a guy on a Husaberg looped out and totally spent and I tried to tow in a Husaberg 390 (no fuel) with about 2 miles to go, but towing in mud bogs and singletrack just dont work.
Made it in and was totally spent, but a huge smile on my face. I would say that out of the 60 miles, at least 50 of it was true singletrack! No loops, just mile after mile of pristine singletrack
My '03 Gasgas EC250 performed flawlessly the whole 60 miles! Grunted up, down and through the nasties without a hickup. It sliced and diced the singletrack nicely and my Ohlins suspension worked spot on. I love this bike!
Long course next year (90 miles) for sure. Autoclutch will be added first though
BTW, lots of comments on the bikes (my brother has the same bike), and we pitted next to a guy with an '11 EC300 Six Days. What a beautiful bike! He did the long course and said the bike was perfect as well.
Gasgas and the Northwest are a perfect match!
My friend Carol in awe of my Gas Gas off to the left, love it! Ha Ha yeah she rides a KTM too!
