Cyphers FR3

decied that i'll post up the report that im doing for another site.

whilst writing it up i found there was so much that i just didnt have room. for those of us who attended we'll know how good it was, for those that didnt attend try harder next time

Travelling and 1st days riding.

For those that don’t know I ride a Husaberg and in 2007 I spent a week riding around Moab in Utah with a bunch of like minded individuals.
Whilst there it was decided that we’d try and do similar every two years, so it was on 15th September 2009 I flew out of Heathrow headed to Gunnison Colorado for, to give it its full title, Unofficial Husaberg Enthusiasts Free Ride 3; Gunnison 2009 or simply FR3.

On arrival in Denver I met up with my travel buddy, Brad Blois, aka Maddtrapper, currently the
Pilot / manager of a company flying planes around the artic, You Tube star and owner of various toys including 2 650 Husaberg’s and 2 WW2 BSA’s.

We picked up the hire car which had morphed from the ford focus I had booked when I was travelling by myself into a Hummer H3 - looked good but a pile of crap - and made our way via a less salubrious Denver neighbourhood, bloody Sat-Nav, to the hotel for the night.

Next morning following our first American breakfast, pancakes and blueberry sauce, we travelled the from Denver to Gunnison following the 285 a lot of the way which follows the route of the original narrow gauge trans-continental railway and passes through South Park Basin, yes that South Park, and Fairplay, the home town of one of south Parks creators and supposedly his inspiration for the town in the show.

Cruise control set to + 10 the speed limit, music and sunglasses, life is good as we travelled across the sweeping vistas that make up the central plains region of America.


A stop at the top of Monarch Pass for photos, coffee and fudge then push onto Gunnison.


5 hours after leaving Denver we arrive in Gunnison and call by the Tall Texan Campsite (TT) to see who is already in town, lots of trailers that could probably swallow 2 or 3 UK caravans are on site but the only people about are Seth and Candy, a mad bike riding couple from Arizona, who have just arrived and are setting up camp.

After saying our hellos it’s off to town to Gunnison Motor sports, the business of multi time US ISDE team member, and ISDE medal winner, Fritz Kadlec. Brad needs to buy some kit as he’s come direct from work in the artic and has no riding gear at all. We say our hellos and are given a warm welcome in the shop whilst Brad drools over the new gear, trying to decide what he wants.


In the Shops smallest room is a poster for the 1982 ISDE held in Builth Wells, which fritz rode in; it shows Geraint Jones on a Maico. I have with me the TBM issue with the ‘Jones the esteemed’ article in it so give it to fritz to read.


Once sorted we head off to find our campsite, the 3 rivers resort, unfortunately its not as nice as the name or the website makes it seem, and its just as well we went for the deluxe mountain Chalet as when we meet up with Berger and his buddy Tom, a US GasGas rep, who has 3 broken ribs from a crash earlier in the week. The chalet is a little bit smaller than we though it was, but its got beds, a shower, a fridge full of beer and access to a hot tub. Nice.

Luggage dumped its back down to Fritz’s shop for a first night get together and rider briefing. A couple of coolers full of beers appear along with more people and hellos are said to friends old and new.

DaleEO, whose 550 I’ll be riding, gets the ball rolling with a few introductions and a run down of the plans. After a few more beers people start to drift away to get a good nights rest before the fun begins.

Thursday dawns bright and crisp, bikes loaded and all kitted up, plus with a banging headache - beer at nearly 8000’ has a bit more of an effect on those not used to the altitude - we all meet up a Fritz’s and get directions out to the local natural MX practice track.

On arrival at the track Clay Stuckey - Husaberg US sales manager, Charles - Husaberg US technician and Rod - Friend of Clays helping out, have set up a line of brand new 2010 Husaberg’s for us to play with.

2 x FE 390’s. 1 with a rekluse semi-auto clutch, 2 x FE 450’s, 2 x FE 570’s, 1 x FX 450 and Clay’s personal bike, an fe450 with just about every bit of Husaberg bling and a rekluse clutch on it.




First up I grab a 390. The track is between 3 to 8 ft wide and winds around a sandy area, in and out of a little gulley and over and around a small hill.

First lap I blow a couple of corners as I get used to the rear brake being lower that I have mine set then second lap its off to go, the 390 feeling so light to throw around and with plenty of power , even at this elevation with my bulk on it, it’s a fun bike which impresses’ straight away.

End of the second lap I can hardly breath so pull in, grab a bottle of water and find a corner to lie down in. its my first indication that we’re not riding anywhere near sea level as I’m used to.

20 minutes later I’ve recovered and grab the fe450. What can I say very nice. Don’t have to rev it as much as the 390 but you can tell that it’s a bigger bike that the 390. The corners of the track are starting to rut up and in a couple of them the ruts are so nice I am having to get the inside foot forward as I’m dragging the inside peg in the sand. Hero!

This time it only takes 10 minutes to recover from riding, must be acclimatising to the altitude, and I grab the fx450. Definitely a more focused bike than the FE it’s well suited to the track, the close ratio box allowing me to easily keep the engine spinning and the stiffer suspension feeling better than the FE for me.

One thing I did notice though was that I found the front of the FX pushing a bit more in the corners that the FE, now this was probably down to me not getting far enough forward on a bike not set up for my weight, but it did seem that the FE held a nicer line that the FX.

Whilst I expected the new Husaberg’s to be completely different from the Pre ’09 bike the actual difference is so dramatic that it’s shocking.

After a drink and a sandwich about 20 of us head off for a ride around the desert area surrounding the track. Lots of single track and some two track linking between large desert rocks that we ride over like some sort of Disney land trials section. I’m on the 550 and it just feels like an overweight trail bike after riding the 2010’s - sorry DaleEO.

Whilst the desert is wide open due to land restrictions and not wanting to tear everything up the single track is only 2-3 ft wide and it takes a little while to get used to the idea and technique of riding this as it snakes its way across plains of sage brush, up and down gulley’s and over rocks.

After about an hour we’re back at the track and its time to pack up and get back to Fritz’s. DaleEO asks me to ride one of the 2010’s back to the shop. The bikes not plated and I suspect the ‘lets stick the foreigner on the bike as the police might let him off’ idea has cropped up.

I’m happy to do this but in the end we load it onto Berger’s trailer for the trip back to the shop.

Back at the shop we prep for an afternoon trail ride. Berger and Brad head back to the cabin to chill out; I leave my helmet in Berger’s truck so borrow a helmet off of One of Fritz’s mechanics. As I’m sitting on the 550 Clay comes across and tells me to go and grab one of the 2010’s. He doesn’t have to tell me twice and I find myself setting off on a 2010 FE450.

This was such a good ride with some of the best twin and tight single track that I’ve ridden for a long while, made more fun by the group I’m riding with as we chase each other through the trails with the odd stop to regroup.


High lights of this ride included chasing the riders in front, Nathan I think, through the twin track in the trees, and catch and passing the Honda rider on the tight single track along a gulley.

Then after we’ve split at the top of the mountain and the serious group have gone off to do a ‘AA’ descent, riding the twin track across the loose rocks, all 4th, 5th and 6th gear going, either hunting for a smooth line along the edges of the track or just picking up the speed and going straight across the rocks which vary in size from that of an orange to a football. The new bike just floats across everything and I also find that the steering is so accurate I’m steering between rocks that on other bikes id just ride over. This feeling would be reinforced over the next few days,

Riding along one section of rocky twin track Sethro and Charles are behind me and another local rider is to my right when he hit’s a rock which almost throws him from the bike and into me, I let out an unprintable expletive and slow as he must be hurt, but on looking behind I see that some how he’s still on the bike and riding.

We carry on our speed only restricted by having to stay behind the leader, which in hindsight was just as well.

Learning to jump the water bars, basically earth bars of between 1-3’ high that cross the trails to prevent water erosion, then hitting them faster and faster., talking 40+ mph here. Life is good.


Eventually we hit a dirt road and make a halt for the tail enders to catch up. Whilst we’re waiting the ‘AA’ group join us and I swap the 450 for a 570, as I jump on the bike I turn to Sethro and comment that “this could end in tearsâ€Â

Cypher...what are you doing, crashing like that....Taffy stayed at home and you took over his habit of crashing loaner bikes..that's quite a reputation the Brits are starting to earn. Glad you are ok, and I hope John gets well soon.

I'll await the rest of your report...pissed that I missed it, but...too many places to be

cheers

fry

Finally a story/report about FR3.

I unfortunately wasn't able to make it to FR3 and like many other members, I have been waiting for info.

Sorry to hear about JohnF3 - fell better soon!

I look forward to the rest of your report Cypher. Glad you had a good time.

Thanks,
Mike

excellent report!

maybe john was in his slipstream and got sucked over the edge....

last of the late brakers, or should that be breakers (ouch!)

regards

Taffy

DAY 2; Friday 18th September.

Day starts bright and early as we all gather at the Tall Texan campsite. The plan being to ride out from here to Spring Creek where Husaberg will have their van set up and the bikes available for a small, hour long, test loop.


The group now has an extra member as Oliver Goring, Husaberg world wide sales manager, has flown in. Chatting with him it turns out that he rode the Welsh 2 day this year after doing a tour of Wales with his wife prior to the event.

Plan is to ride the 550 but its suggested I ask if I can use one of the test bikes, feeling a bit cheeky asking my request is met with a “yeah , no problemâ€Â

Day 3; Saturday 19th September.

Saturday morning dawns fresh and bright and after a meet up at Tall Texan we all truck up to Ted Colvin’s place on the outskirts of Crested-Butte.


This is the small place, a ranch split into several lots of about 8 acres, of which Ted owns two. It’s got stunning views


And a trout pond.


Todd Colvin, Ted’s son, who rides the Enduro Cross series in the US tells me they also own a 1700 acre ranch up in the mountains that, backs onto thousands of acres to which they have access. Though it’s only accessible by snow mobile in the winter.

Three rides for the day are planned. Fritz is going to take a shout 1-2 hour ride. Colby (Cheeseburger) is going to lead a longer scenic ride with a couple snotty bits and Ted Colvin is going to lead a ride over Taylor Pass to the town of Aspen which should take about 4-5 hrs.



I’m torn between Aspen and the scenic ride and go for the group which is the smallest, the Aspen ride.

I Jump on DaleEO’s 550, as even I haven’t got the cheek to ask for a 2010 for the 3rd day in a row. We set off and after the normal dirt road warm up the trail narrows and we start to climb up through the Aspen trees, the golden colour of the leaves contrasting beautifully with the blue sky. This time I’ve got my mountain gear with me.



Todd is riding sweep on his dads KTM. Unfortunately Ted looks a far bit slimmer than Todd and runs light weight tubes. This results in the first puncture of the day for Todd.



A bit of trail side servicing and it’s off to go again. Single track winds its way up the mountains alternating between rocky, rooty trails though the trees with a couple of fallen trees to wheelie over and sinuous single track across high meadows.

After the trickiest bit of trail we stop in a meadow for a regroup.



I get a photo of Oliver, typical; it’s the only time he’s not smiling all weekend.


That’s better. Husaberg dominate the group, which is just as well as this is a Husaberg get together.


Others also use the break to chill out


From here its single Track to the top of Taylor Pass, where we have to wait for a group of mountain bikers to come up the trail as there is no place to pass when going down. For a mountain top in the middle of the Rockies it’s rather busy.


Once the mountain bikers have made the top we have a quick chat, a couple of our group turn back and the rest of us tip over the edge and carefully wind our way down the contours of the mountain destination Aspen.


Halfway down the trail has been wiped out by a landslide. I’m ok right up until I go to dab with my right foot, miss and start to topple down hill, luckily Todd is there to grab the front wheel and stopping me being dashed on the rocks.


We carry on and regroup down the valley. In the photo we’ve come down from the little saddle to the right of Centre.


From here on in I start to suffer with the effects of my crash the day before, the arm is swollen and bruised and the pain killers have little effect, to start with the arm had gone numb but now feeling is returning and every little rock and stone makes it feel like I have a pendulum of flesh swinging from my forearm.

It gets so bad that I probably end up riding half the trail with just my right arm holding on.

Fast going and up hills on the gas are ok but slower going is taking its toll and sapping my resolve. If only I can catch up with Bob and Oliver, who are riding the 2010’s, a 390 with Rekluse for Bob and the FX450 for Oliver, perhaps I can knock one them off and steal the bike.


The trails open up into rocky twin and jeep track and all is going well, though I’m still doing a lot of one handed riding, until I hit a series of Big braking bumps into a bermed Left hander, where I accidentally stamp on the rear brake and stall the engine which results in the bike going into a massive tank slapper. Buy pure luck the bike bump starts when it hits the top of the third whoop and I manage to get it around the corner.

Todd, riding sweep, who was behind tells me he thought that was going to be the end of the trail ride for the pairs of us as my wildly flailing bike nearly took him out as well.



At the regroup there is a sort of mini-mutiny, the original plan is to ride back the way we’ve come but several are suffering, me included, and due to having to wait for riders whilst climbing to the top of Taylor pass time is getting on and we are likely to end up riding in the dark. Not something any of us really relish.

Ted Colvin explains that the other route is Pearl Pass though he hasn’t been over it for 10 year but should be easier and faster than going back over Taylor pass. Luckily it was only after we get back to camp later in the evening having completed the ride that Bob tells us that several websites are saying that Pearl Pass is unrideable.


We set off again and its jeep track all the way into Aspen. A couple miss a turning but as its all down hill to Aspen Ted is confident we’ll meet back up in town.


Todd gets another puncture and I push on. I’m riding one handed again and a lot slower than the others so I carry on so that they don’t have to wait for me too much.

The closer we get to Aspen the more hikers and bikers appear. Some wave and say hello. Others don’t even smile.

Waiting at a junction the gang catch up with me, Mike on a Honda and Dalton Dietz, Nathans son, are doing side-by-side wheelies. Unfortunately Mike loops out and lands flat on his butt in the road, the Honda shoots out and crashes onto Daltons rear fender sending him towards the ski catch fencing that lines the inside of the track, luckily he saves it and manages to avoid going over the edge.

Making our way into town we find a garage and fuel up, whilst there the missing riders turn up and we all head to a nearby Mexican restaurant. It’s now about 1600hrs and we’re way behind schedule
As were walking through town attractive young ladies in posh motors wave at us and people say hello. I look to the locals and they just say that’s the way Aspen is, the people are friendly and treat dirt bikers like royalty as long as you not being an idiot.



After food, which I can hardly eat as I’m feeling so rough its back to the bikes. I just want to say “leave me here, I’ll book into a hotelâ€Â

More brilliant photos Cypher, looks a bit like Wales' bigger brother with less green. Not had time to read it all yet but the photo's have taken me back 20 odd years to my last trip through Colorado............ Awesome stuff.

cheers Carl

Day 4; Sunday 20th September.

The final day of riding dawns and everyone is a bit slower to get going than at the beginning of the week time soon comes around to mount up and head out to cement creek, near Crested-butte.


The plan for the day is a couple of short rides of about an hour or two. Being a weekend the Husaberg guys are expecting some more people to come to test the bikes out and fritz plans a short ride to take the bike testers out on.


Good byes are said to a couple who wont be riding today including Oliver.

Eventually we set off up Cement creek Colby leading followed by Dalton then the rest of us.


As we make our way along the jeep and twin track that makes up the first part of the ride the group spreads out. Rounding one corner the track splits, with tread prints going in either direction. I stop for a second then head around the corner on the main track, I can see Colby heading up the valley a few 100 meters ahead so turn aroud to go back and direct the rest of the group. Dalton has had the same idea so we go back and find the bulk of the group waiting where the trail splits.

Turning around I follow Dalton, crossing up the front wheel as we hit the water bars in the trail. At a little water crossing I’m too close to Dalton and get a good soaking. Great fun.

I laugh and tell Dalton at the next stop, I think he and Colby think I’m complaining and I have to point out I’m not, its just a good laugh and if I’d been 2ft further ahead it would have been him getting drenched.


The trail then turns off the twin track up a couple of steep loose dirt climbs and across some whoops.

Now the trails got slower and rougher my arm starts to play up again, particularily as I hadn’t taken any tablets that morning.


From a mix of pain from the arm and tiredness after 3 full days of riding I decide to call it quits and have a quick word with DaleEO to say what I’m doing and head back to the trucks. A decision I’ll regret later in the evening when I see some of the video footage Dale shoots of the single track they go onto ride.

On the way back I get the chance to take some photos of the beaver lodge and dam that we had come speeding past on the way up and some of the single track that’s available in the area.




As I’m heading back a rain shower comes in and the skies start to grey over.


The Husaberg guys are entertaining themselves back at the rig. Rod and Clay having a bet which one of them can start a fire just with what they can find in the woods and 3 strikes of a lighter.


In the end neither get it in 3 strikes but Clay ‘bear’ Stuckey eventually gets it going with a mix of moss kindling and pine resin.

By now riders are starting to return to camp, everyone is looking a bit more tired than at the beginning of the week.

Colby suggests a get together at Mario’s Pizza later and I spread the word.

Squirrel decides she needs a rest and some tablets after coming a cropper and sits out the very final ride.


Its only the really keen that mount up for a final ride, especially as the skys are getting darker, and I’m not one of them.

The Husaberg Gang also pack up as Charles has to fly back to the Peoples Republic of California and president Schwarzenegger, whilst Rod and Clay have some stupid amount of driving to do to get back to Tennessee.

The goodbyes are said and I head back to the truck. Just as I’m driving away the heavens open. Looks like I made the right decision.

That evening we drive down to Marios, Tom stays back at the cabin as he says he’s feeling unwell.
A good evening was had by all and DaleEO shows off some of his video footage as well as copying peoples memory cards to create a photo disc.






We say our goodbyes at the end of the evening and head back to the cabin to leave the hardcore drinkers to head off to a local bar.

On arriving back at the cabin we find Tom with the tallest burger we’ve ever seen and very happy, at first we think he’s been tooting the weed, then we spot that the full bottle of Tito’s vodka is now less that a quarter of Tito’s vodka. Oh well at lest he’s a happy drunk though when he falls over and nearly breaks his other ribs on the open video cabinet door we all wince. Luckily no damage is done and we settle down.

As Berger and Tom have to leave early.

That’s the end of the last riding day.

Day 5; Monday 21st September.

Waking Monday morning Berger and Tom are gone, apparently they said goodbye to Brad but I was so far out of it I didn’t hear a thing.

Colby and Matt call buy to load up their spare bikes, which have been kept at our cabin. They reveal the basics of what went on at the bar after we left but the details come under ‘what goes on in the bar, stays in the bar’, though handstands and cartwheels are mumbled about.
They seem well chuffed when we give the a box full of goodies that we have left in the fridge. Brad had gone a bit mad in the grocery store as he doesn’t see much produce in the artic.

After a lazy breakfast its into town to gas up the truck and pop down to fritz’s shop to pick up a OGIO flight vest. Though I also pick up a TLD SE2 helmet.




After buying half the shop in my head and looking at Fritz’s trophies and some of the old bikes in the top of the shop we head into town to buy pressies then up to tall Texan to see whos still about, most have headed home and only DaleEO is about.




We arrange to meet up for a meal later as he’s now not going till Tuesday as snow and ice have been reported on his route and towing a monster trailer he’s happy to give it a day to clear.

A phone call to Dale to confirm what’s going on reveals that we’re now going to a local steak house with Fritz, Vikki, Nathan and Bethan Dietz.
A good time and a nice steak is had with a couple of beers and photos of what happens when you leave a heavy duty sprinkler going over a freezing night are shown around, which causes a good laugh.

Think an artic scene of broken ice encrusted plants and trees surrounded by greenery. I promise not to mention Fritz’s name in relation to this……oops.

In the end the staff are cleaning the resturant around us and its time to go.

Final goodbyes are said, 3rd and 4th time for some people and we head back to the cabin.

Day 6; Tuesday 22nd September

The day dawns gloomy and overcast. Fall has arrived.


We load out and hit the road headed for Denver.

A stop at the top of Monarch pass is in much different conditions to those we had on the way to Gunnison.


After that it’s a straight forward run to Denver airport with a couple of stops to do a bit of Geocaching, including dropping a TB off at one.







On the way there we go back through the South park area. Can’t remember if I posted up the phot so will do it again.


Fairplay is where one of Southpark’s creators is apparently from.


Once at the airport Brad and I say our goodbyes and head our sperate ways.

That’s the end of another fine riding trip to the US of A.

Many thanks are due. To those I rode with, To those that did the organising and to those locals who helped with the guiding.

The End.

Fine report Fraiser..........infact so good I dont have anything to add.

Thanks
Bob

Bumped into Mr Jones at the Natterjack this weekend Cypher, he looks just as fit now as he did when he was racing.

Just saw your ride report Cypher, nice job & pictures. Saw that you are a Geocacher, ("a couple of stops to do a bit of Geocaching, including dropping a TB off at one.") we are too, just went caching last weekend. It's addictive isn't it?

First of all........

Cypher, what fantastic ride report, very well written indeed. You really captured the event with your verbiage and photographs. Well done!!!

Second. What is geocaching?

PSSSSSST hush up about the ashkay geokay
I do it too


Cypher I just read this again and was grinning about the trip to Aspen. It truly was a GREAT day on the trail. Thanks for the memorys there and here

Dale, Do a search for "geocaching" these guys have way too much free time !!????

DaleEO said:

First of all........


Second. What is geocaching?

Click to expand...

Hi Dale! :hello2:

Here is a link http://www.geocaching.com/ where you can check Geocaching out if you want to But, in case you don't want to, I guess the short definition of it is, it is a "World Wide" treasure hunting game. There are little treasures or caches hidden across the globe at specific coordinates that you can get to with a GPS. On the geocaching web site you can find them from right next to your house to Wales. There are about 7 in less than a mile from my house. Some caches you have a grueling hike to & others are hid along the road side or in cites & can be found in a few seconds. Once you find a cache you open it, sign the log book, if it is not a micro cache you look through the little objects inside, take one & leave one then hide it exactly where you found it. All while trying to leave no trace that you were ever there.

DaleEO said:

First of all........


Second. What is geocaching?

Click to expand...

Hi Dale! :hello2:

Here is a link http://www.geocaching.com/ where you can check Geocaching out if you want to But, in case you don't want to, I guess the short definition of it is, it is a "World Wide" treasure hunting game. There are little treasures or caches hidden across the globe at specific coordinates that you can get to with a GPS. On the geocaching web site you can find them from right next to your house to Wales. There are about 7 in less than a mile from my house. Some caches you have a grueling hike to & others are hid along the road side or in cites & can be found in a few seconds. Once you find a cache you open it, sign the log book, if it is not a micro cache you look through the little objects inside, take one & leave one then hide it exactly where you found it. All while trying to leave no trace that you were ever there.

The other thing Dale, about geocaching, it is all about getting the average inactive boring person off their couches & to stop playing video games & watching TV, to see the most amazing features of our planet, seeing things where there are no roads or trails to or,just to public but little known gems of places to educate, intrigue& to amuse us & to exercise our minds & bodies.
We love bikes & ride a lot but, we do anything that has to do with being outside & experiencing nature & life & geocaching is just one of
many avenues that brings us happiness. & happy we are :BIG:
You should try it some time, I know you already know how to use a GPS so it will be simple if you want to take the time to give it a go.

WOW !!!
Great ride report. Excellent pictures.
Thanks for taking the time to write this. You did an excellent job of capturing the event.

Thanks again to you and the group for allowing us to ride with you guys. Dad and I had a great time.