Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport weekend

[Windblown]

I attended the Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport event hosted by Washington Area Trails Riders this last weekend. Ground zero was the Natural Chimneys Park near Mt. Solon, VA. It was a well organized event and the weather was great.  We rode a bit over 300 miles of great routes along the WV/VA border. I was concerned by the shear number of riders how it would go but everyone spaced out and it worked out fine.  Many times the small group of 4 riders I went out with had the trails to ourselves. It's been dry in these parts so dust was an issue in some areas but a gentle breeze helped keep the trails clear. Crappy old cell phone pics follow...

Saturday morning with everyone starting to gather for the riders meeting. About 280 riders in all!


A quick trail side tube change just a few miles into the ride. The rider had his tire off, tube replaced, and re-installed in less than 10 minutes. Heck it takes me longer than that in my garage!


Lots of ridge-top views throughout the day.








This poor fellow opted to follow a WR250R exploring on his new GS1200. He went down  on the lead up to a nasty uphill section full of babyhead sized rocks in a fine sand like powder - Very loose.  I think the bike may have just said "FU" when it spotted the hill ahead. Lotta bike to handle in that situation.


Lunch stop in Brandywine, WV


This cool dog rode the trails with his master.


Saturday night the Great Pumpkin made an appearance.


Sunday I headed out solo because I was being lazy and didn't head out with the morning wave of riders at first light.  I started the day at about 9:30am with a bit of Saturdays route in reverse and then headed up to Bergton, VA for the official group lunch. I ran into a fellow from upstate NY after lunch and we rode south exploring and enjoying the views.  A few pics from Sunday:

This was pretty typical of the route I took before lunch. I was being pretty careful as I was solo and was not on the groups route.


More views




As of this evening the bike is still in the back of the truck. When I got home I threw a big ol'steak on the grill, pourd myself a drink and now am comfy on my couch. The bike can wait till tomorrow.

[Sport-Touring]

[R Doug]

I've always wanted to run that.  Thanks for sharing your experience!  Take some Advil and have a nice cold beer.

[garry]

My son was talking about trying that this year. He just started riding a DR650 a couple months ago and a co-worker that attended had room on his trailer. I suggested that he get a lot more experience on dirt roads and quad trail stuff before tackling that long a day, two days in a row. Plus his bike would need lots of mods in a short time to be off-road worthy. He wisely decided against it for this year. Next year I bet he and I do some AMA dual sport events together. So instead, I rode out to Reading on Friday and we rode together on Saturday, then I rode home Sunday.

So how difficult was the regular planned route (minus hero sections)? From what I've read, that event is mostly dirt roads, so it's easier than some of the more technical events.

[Windblown]

So how difficult was the regular planned route (minus hero sections)? From what I've read, that event is mostly dirt roads, so it's easier than some of the more technical events.

Yep, it's a fairly easy route. Most of the Forest Roads are in decent shape. Larger bikes have to pick lines a bit more carefully in spots. The regular route without the B, A, or AA options is big ADV bike friendly.  Saw a lot of KLRs, KTM adventures, BMWs, Vstroms, a Versys, and some other large bikes. A good 50/50 tire would be highly recommended to handle loose/muddy spots.

The "Hero" sections can be very unfriendly to big bikes or bikes without good clearance and bash plates.  In the picture above the GS had not even gotten to the tough section of the  "A option" route they were on (Union Spring to Flagpole - east of Reddish Knob).  

[bungie4]

Yep, it's a fairly easy route. Most of the Forest Roads are in decent shape. Larger bikes have to pick lines a bit more carefully in spots. The regular route without the B, A, or AA options is big ADV bike friendly.  Saw a lot of KLRs, KTM adventures, BMWs, Vstroms, a Versys, and some other large bikes. A good 50/50 tire would be highly recommended to handle loose/muddy spots.

The "Hero" sections can be very unfriendly to big bikes or bikes without good clearance and bash plates.  In the picture above the GS had not even gotten to the tough section of the  "A option" route they were on (Union Spring to Flagpole - east of Reddish Knob).  

Nice, looks like a great time! I did my first DS event this past Sept and had a blast. About 200 miles of back/gravel roads but we hopped off on the technical sections a few times.  I rode exclusively dirt for a lot of years and came back to it last year. I'm old now.

Here's a highlight of some of the technical sections. Me on the CRF250L crossing Lake Ontario. Huron52 (on this forum) on the WRR and a buddy on the WR450.
http://vimeo.com/74167186

[Virginian]

Great ride report of the Shenandoah 500. Now don't you wish you did that on your Multi?

Eric

[Windblown]

Great ride report of the Shenandoah 500. Now don't you wish you did that on your Multi?

Eric

Multi? No multi in the shed. I got a bunch of other ragtag bikes in there though.

[Virginian]

Multi? No multi in the shed. I got a bunch of other ragtag bikes in there though.

I thought for sure you had a Multistrada that gave you fits a while back? Carry on, sorry for the confusion.

Eric

[Windblown]

I thought for sure you had a Multistrada that gave you fits a while back? Carry on, sorry for the confusion.

Eric

No worries. I have two KTMs - that's all the occasional fits I can handle. LOL.

[Bowtie76]

Wish I knew you were there I would have stopped by and said hello, This year was my 7th year running the 500, it's in my backyard so hard not to do.

Next year

[Windblown]

Wish I knew you were there I would have stopped by and said hello, This year was my 7th year running the 500, it's in my backyard so hard not to do.

Next year

If the fates allow I will be there next year again for sure!  We'll have to get a pre-event thread started beforehand.

[Scratch33]

I attended the Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport event hosted by Washington Area Trails Riders this last weekend.

Ah, so that's what was going on.  Redfox and I rode our GSA's to Elkins for the weekend, and encountered a couple groups of ya'll along the way.   Looks like you were having fun.

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

Damn.  I miss my days of riding off road.  That's how I got into riding back in the 70's.  Those were some good times.  

[bomber]

Damn.  I miss my days of riding off road.  That's how I got into riding back in the 70's.  Those were some good times.  

never too old to jump back into the pool ;-}

[R Doug]

Anyone going to the 20th anniversary of this event this year?

[Bowtie76]

Anyone going to the 20th anniversary of this event this year?

Yeah I'm signed up again, always a good time.

I've got camping spot D5 reserved for our group at Natural Chimneys.

If anyone else is headed that way stop by and say hi.  I've got the old crappy (but fun) Dr350.

[R Doug]

I'm putting this on my calendar for next year and make sure I hook up with some of you guys.  

Sheri and I will be in Utah doing some hiking during this year's Shenandoah 500.

[Windblown]

Yeah I'm signed up again, always a good time.

I've got camping spot D5 reserved for our group at Natural Chimneys.

If anyone else is headed that way stop by and say hi.  I've got the old crappy (but fun) Dr350.

Thanks for the reminder! I'm signed up for the event but haven't secured a spot at the campground yet. I need to do that this evening.  I reserved a spot last year that I never bothered to use. I just pulled up next to a vendor that I knew and camped out of the truck. Maybe this year I'll actually take the time to locate the spot I pay for. LOL.

[Windblown]

I'm putting this on my calendar for next year and make sure I hook up with some of you guys.  

Sheri and I will be in Utah doing some hiking during this year's Shenandoah 500.

Bring the Ural!