Rcmc 500

[Nighthawk22]

So, the RCMC 250 was interesting, anyone up for the 500?

Date: Saturday, May 12th.(a Breakfast Club day)
Place: W.D.Jackson Armory (North Portland off of Columbia)
Time: Sigh-in is 04:30-07:30, last out at 08:00.

Club ride or 500? I could go either way, depending on the group.
What do you guys think?

http://www.rose-city-mc.org/RCFrameset.html

[mcdstrom]

I'm thinking about the 500 - just to see if I can do it and then say that I've done it. Let's hope for better weather than we had for 250!

[Mr. Fisherman]

I would love to... but I will be about 36 miles West of the Pacific coast in search of Halibut (White Gold).
Maybe I can bring some fish and chips for the camp out?

Take some pics... I will too...

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=SeaLion&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&page=1

[bigpapa]

I would like to try to 500 as well. Count me in!

[Raevyn]

I would love ot do this ride. I missed the 250 because it was a Sunday. Just a question or two. As I have never done a ride like this before what are some of the things to expect? Do I have to PreReg?

[NW Strom]

I would love ot do this ride. I missed the 250 because it was a Sunday. Just a question or two. As I have never done a ride like this before what are some of the things to expect? Do I have to PreReg?

Raevyn,
I rode the 500 last year with a friend, it was my first time and it was most enjoyable. All you have to do is show up and register. You can pre register but it is not essential. The great folks at RCMC give you a route sheet with check points and little trivia bits to look for on the route. I met a bunch of really nice riders with all brands and styles of bikes. If I'm not mistaken one rider even did the 500 on a moped, now thats hard core! keep in mind it is not a race and you can take it at your own pace. I was a bit intimidated at the first thought of 500 miles but everyone I met made you feel right at home. We rode it in 9.75 hours with stops for breakfast and a snack. I say go for it! Prep your bike,get a good nights rest,Pack some bottled water and enjoy 500 miles with a bunch of new found friends.

Hope to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve NW Strom

[Berserker]

Sending the registration in today. The 250 was fun even with the snow, rain, sleet, hail, etc. I hope the free donuts aren't frozen this time!

This time I am bringing my heated gear! At least that'll make sure we get decent weather!

Carrying water is a good idea as well as a few energy type snacks. Take a break when you need to.

Everyone should ride at their own pace and skill level-always! Keeping up is not worth a wreck and if anyone gets behind, you just catch up at the next check point.

500 miles is a long day in the saddle if you're not used to it. Try to get some saddle time to build up your stamina.

Advil is good before AND after. :D

[ratspike]

I'm wedding free that day so count me in. Guess I'd better get my pre-reg in the mail.

For the navigationally challenged such as myself, how does it all work? I'm useless without my gps so do you just make your way to the checkpoints following whatever route or is there a set route everyone takes?

[Berserker]

I'm wedding free that day so count me in. Guess I'd better get my pre-reg in the mail.

For the navigationally challenged such as myself, how does it all work? I'm useless without my gps so do you just make your way to the checkpoints following whatever route or is there a set route everyone takes?

It'll be pretty easy to see where to go. There's plenty of navigator's! They'll have info when you get there. We didn't get lost that much on the 250. ;)

[mcdstrom]

Put my registration in the mail today.

I'm almost afraid to ask...what time are we going to depart from the armory? Figure we'll need to subtact about 30 minutes from that to get through registration/sign-in and get everyone together. Something tells me it is going to be earlier than a normal Saturday!

Is a 6AM meet and a 6:30 departure a good time? I'm afraid to go later given that it took us 8 hours to do the 250, but don't really want to get going too much earlier either.

[Nighthawk22]

If it's anything like the 250, we can plan on meeting at 6:00 and leaving at 6:30, but it will probibly closer to 7 before we leave which, I'm thinking, would be the lastest we should get started. I'm for meeting at 6.

[Nighthawk22]

Registration sent.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Plans have changed. I am all in for the 500!
It looks like the plan is to get together at 6:00 for a 6:30 departure?

[Nighthawk22]

Couldn't be the weather that has you landlocked. Still, glad you will make it. 6am meet is the latest word. Remember, it's not at Bob's, it's at an armory off of columbia (not sure why).

Reminder, bring that extra sweatshirt you wished you had on the 250, mornings can be brisk, although chance of snow is low. Those who have 2-way coms, bring it, it helps.

[Mr. Fisherman]

I think I'll wear my tee shirt and my heated liner :mrgreen: .
Was plenty brisk this morning.
The offshore weather is indeed why I am not Halibut fishing this weekend. 25 knot winds, combined seas at 10 feet and above and a short period under 10 seconds. Not fun.
Looking forward to a ride. This is the best mood I have been in when the weather has kept me off the big pond. Kewl.:D
Lets RIDE!

[Berserker]

Dang, didn't even know Saturday's had two 6 o'clocks in them! :(

Are Starbuck's open that early? Double shot white mocha please! 8)

Fisherman's got it right...heated liner and socks! :D

Waiting on the new gloves from Warm n Safe!

[mcdstrom]

Optimistically, I pulled my liner out of my suit after Monday's heat wave. Now I'm thinking I need to put it back in. 'Twas a wee bit chilly this morning. Fortunately, it isn't looking like we're going to be getting Monday temps again for a while so I shouldn't end up cooking myself on Saturday.

[mcdstrom]

Bummer. I've been ill all week and had to stay home from work today. No way I can handle 500 miles tomorrow. If I should have a dramatic recovery, I might get up early and ride with y'all for a little ways. But don't wait around for me.

[Nighthawk22]

Got a little piece of intel during lunch. The southern most point of the ride will be Reedsport. Clam chowder anyone? Unfortunately, the weather is supposed to be coming from that direction, too. Can't be any worse than the 250, just twice as long...guess that is worse. Fun is in the eye of the beholder.

[ratspike]

I hope you guys all had a great ride for the remainder of the day. Yesterday was a really rough wedding that went pretty late, and in hindsight I shouldn't have tried the 500 today. :rolleyes: When Nachodaddy and I pulled off for gas at Waldport I knew it was time to pack it in...so...damn...tired. Now I understand why I was hating those twisties so much.

I'm getting a healthy dose of "I told you so" over this from my wife, who obviously knew getting up at 5am to ride my bike all day today was a bad idea. :mrgreen:

[Mr. Fisherman]

Had a great ride! wasn't sure I would even make it past the start after picking up a nail in my brand new rear tire :mad: .
I think my favorite part was teh twisties just before Elsie... fantastic!
It was nice to go coastal again too.
Good company and a great ride, looking forward to the next one.
I will have my coms sorted out before the Reno trip for sure.

[Nighthawk22]

It was a great ride and a personal challenge. As I approached the homestead, I saw that I would be short about 50 miles, so I gassed up and hit Skyline and headed west. Eventurally, it turned into gravel, but decided to keep going. After going 5+ miles on ballbearings, I finally hit blacktop again. Rode a neat twisty backroad into Scappose, then home. Pulled into the garage with 502.3 on the trip odometer. Another challenge met. All in all, I think the lessons learned on the 250 helped with the 500. Other than forgetting to take my Aleve before leaving, I think it went well. Next challenge-Reno.
Not many pictures, but will post them soon.

[mrltt]

... I gassed up and hit Skyline and headed west. Eventurally, it turned into gravel, but decided to keep going. After going 5+ miles on ballbearings, I finally hit blacktop again. Rode a neat twisty backroad into Scappose...

I'm curious about the road you hit after Skyline - I ride Skyline a lot (live near it) and know where it ends and that gravel road shoots off to the left. is that the one you rode to another gravel road? How was the surface (aside from the gravel...)? If you backtrack about 1/2 mile from the end of Skyline and head down to the east, that road drops you just South of Scap. Does your new road double back over the ridge on asphalt or dirt? Thanks

[Nighthawk22]

mritt:
After hitting the end of the hardtop, it was slick, hard dirt with a thin gravel top. At the first intersection, you could do downhill, probibly to Hwy 30 or go uphill to ???. I went up. I can't believe there were houses up there. I kept going and went passed some spur roads that were marked "deadend". Towards the end, it became a steep and twisty downhill (pucker time). At the bottom, there was a stop sign, left was a deadend, so I went right. I came out on the Northwest side of the DQ parking lot.

[Mr. Fisherman]

I took the right gravel road downhill when I did that... It wound up on the same twisty road. I loved that road.
The gravel road was a bit of a pucker but I just took it slow.
I need to try the gravel now that I have my fork brace and custom seat. The bike handles lots better than before.

Looking forward to the pics.

[Nighthawk22]

When I pulled in to the armory (late due to nav errors) Ray was having "Challenges" due to a big nail he picked up on the way there. With the nail pulled out, Mark pulled out his electric pump.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5169/strom001zf3.jpg
Unfortunately, the electrical plug wouldn't fit anything, so "adjustments" were made.
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/9013/strom002xa2.jpg
If you look at his eyes, you can see the sparks.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6855/strom004ag0.jpg
So with Mark(Sparky) providing current and Ray watching the gauge, the flat spot was rounded out.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7149/strom005ph6.jpg
So with everyone registered and repaired, it was time to jet.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5903/strom009jf5.jpg

[Nighthawk22]

Sorry for the quality of some of these pics, still working on technique.
Heading south on I5.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2765/strom011js4.jpg
BigPapa(Steve)
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5765/strom014pv7.jpg
Berserker(Mark)
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7025/strom016oz8.jpg
Ratspike(Bob).
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4599/strom013em9.jpg
Never did catch up with Mr. Fisherman(Ray) until we stopped at a rest stop, he sets a fast pace.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7268/strom017bt0.jpg
Off of I5, heading for the first check point.
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7079/strom021ik2.jpg

[Nighthawk22]

First check point. Time to stretch...
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/563/strom025zi6.jpg
and have some breakfast at the local resturant.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8689/strom027ur2.jpg
With bellies filled and second leg directions in hand, it's time to take off.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2670/strom028zx7.jpg
We hit the coast at Walport. I got gas and Bob decided the couple hours of sleep he got after the wedding he attended the night before was just not enough to be safe for another 300 miles. He headed home. And then there were four.
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5778/strom030hw9.jpg
101 curves
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4885/strom033hu2.jpg
Southbound to Florence.
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/7390/strom036ay1.jpg
I'm not sure why, but I quit taking pictures. Go figure.

[mrltt]

Nice pix - for those of us not involved, what was the final route?

[Nighthawk22]

Florence was the most southern point. Unfortunately, the group got off course and didn't finish the 3rd and 4th leg. Had a nice lunch at Buster's in Salem. I did a side trip to get 500mi (502.3 to be exact). Don't burst my bubble by bringing up the odometer error, I have a fragile ego and a tender butt.

[Berserker]

And another great effort for the Getting Lost Gang!

Should I change my handle to "Lost in the Woods"? :D

[Nighthawk22]

Your still the "Leader of the Pack" in my book. Next time I'll keep track of where we need to go as backup. I had gotten into the "follow the leader" mode and didn't catch it. Next trip Ray should have comms, too.

[Mr. Fisherman]

My next trip is tomorrow... oh wait... today...
Headed to Seattle in a few hours.
Still waiting for my cable to arrive...