The Wilds of Idaho: R'Idaho GRIT3 Trip Report

Wrycque

Wrycque = Rick
Awesome trip! Really nice of you guys to clear the trails like you did. Try packing this type of hand chain saw for the larger logs. The 36" version is really too short so get the 48" version instead. Two guys can rip through a large log in a few mins and it's small and light enough to pack for a ride like this. :thumbup
 

thedub

Octane Socks
Awesome trip! Really nice of you guys to clear the trails like you did. Try packing this type of hand chain saw for the larger logs. The 36" version is really too short so get the 48" version instead. Two guys can rip through a large log in a few mins and it's small and light enough to pack for a ride like this. :thumbup

I've used those before on our local trails here. You can definitely get through a bigger log, but it's also a lot of work; makes my arms super tired. Making/using go arounds is no good for the trail, but unless you are carrying a chain saw, at some point you just have to decide how much time you are willing to spend sawing. I think using the hand saws to get the smaller logs when we can is a decent compromise.
 

Cabrito

cabrón
Good shit Wiles! This report had everything except maybe bears...

I carry a folding saw, but it's only good for branches and maybe the smallest sapling.. What size Silky do you use?

The bike repairs, and the rider fortitude stuff, plus all the great scenery and riding is freaking awesome..

Thanks for removing me from my work hangover this morning!
 

doc4216

Coastie who high fives
Great trip and awesome report! Good on Evan for knowing his limits. Glad it was a successful trip!
 

thedub

Octane Socks
I carry a folding saw, but it's only good for branches and maybe the smallest sapling.. What size Silky do you use?

The Bigboy 2000 w/ XL teeth. Aka the one with the yellow handle.

http://www.silkysaws.com/Silky_Saws/Folding-Curved_2/Bigboy-2000-XL-Teeth#sthash.7B1YYqeb.dpbs

They retail for almost $100, but street price is much less.

They are a Japanese saw so they cut on the pull stroke, and as the name suggests, they really are silky smooth. They work remarkably well.
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Really well done... dedicated to getting through the ride. :thumbup

And... a super ride report. Excellent!! :port
 

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I'm glad that you liked Idaho. :cool

Now I know a bunch of trails to avoid on my fat pig bikes. Your photos make the BDR routes look like stuff you could ride on a Goldwing by comparison.

Many of the dirt roads don't get cleared of fallen logs before June and even then only enough has been removed to squeeze a truck past. I should probably stuff my little saw thingy into my tail pack before heading out at the start of next season.
 

CycleNomad

Middle Aged Padawan
Badass! Ride looks awesome and your report is fantastic. Thanks for scouting what the Ridaho routes are like. Seems I’m going to need more skills before heading up there. And a bigger saw!
 

peterhively

Well-known member
Really great ride report! Thank you for sharing.

Can you tell us more about your nav gear? Devices, mounts, maps, apps?
 

thedub

Octane Socks
Can you tell us more about your nav gear? Devices, mounts, maps, apps?

I use Locus Maps Pro running on an Android phone. I just happened to have a Galaxy S7 Edge lying around, so that's what I'm using right now. The two base maps I use most often are the USGS map and Google Terrain. I also referenced the Forest Service MVUMs via Avenza a couple of times.

To mount the phone I use the Perfect Squeeze with the bar tab mount; it's never fallen out.
 

peterhively

Well-known member
Thank you thedub!

I've used Avenza with the MVUM maps in Humboldt-Toiyabe NF between Tonopah/Austin/Eureka area, and around Georgetown...pretty cool!

Also down south I use the CTUC app with maps for Jawbone and many other places. Nice to have the official map and be able to see right where you are.

I run all this on an iphone. I've used the perfect squeeze with a ram mount, works great but the vibration killed the camera. Then I get their buzz kill vibration isolator, which worked great for a few days then the buzz kill broke. So thinking of a cheaper/ruggeder android phone for nav, and keep the iphone safely tucked away.

I also have a garmin montana which works fine, but is not as user friendly as the phone apps.

What was the other rider using? Looked bigger? Obviously custom mounted. I've heard of people using ipad minis.
 

thedub

Octane Socks
Yeah the thumpers really kill those cameras. Or so I hear, no problems with the S7 Edge.

Evan also runs Locus. He was using a Duraforce. He uses a cheap-o Chinese eBay mount. Every time he lands a jump or crashes the phone falls out. He has it on a tether so it doesn't get lost.
He has a custom fabricated rally style nav tower on his Beta. It's nice cause the phone is much more high and forward than it would be on the bars to it's easier to see while riding. On the other hand, it's much more vulnerable. He crashed at the very end of the trip on Warm Springs trail and the mount broke off the tower. Luckily we were pretty much done navigating at that point.

My favorite thing about the perfect squeeze is that it's so low profile. It's really tucked in tight against the bars. I've had some pretty dramatic crashes trail riding with the phone mounted, including my bike tumbling down a big rock feature, and the phone was unscathed. I don't like the buzz kill or a ram mount because it makes the phone stick up higher. Just get a $100 android phone off eBay then who cares if the camera stops working.
 
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