Joshua Tree National National Park - Geology Tour Trail

[BusyWeb]

Joshua Tree National National Park - Geology Tour Trail

This riding is the field test of my Astro Van Bike Loading project.
And, it was a succeful riding; a very good success.

To test, I had to find a place for easy trail, and pretty good distance from my home.
So that I could feel how the astro van handles when bike is loaded on the cargo.
Meet these test list:
1. Van performance test for long distance
2. Available camping site; optional
3. Easy off-road trail; required.. ha ha ha

At the Joshua Tree NP, there were couple of dirt (4x4) trails.
And the easiest one is the "Geology Tour Road", so to go for it.

The road (trail) condition is very nice and extremely easy for me.
Straight long hard graded dirt road, and not that short nor long.
Total loop distance is about 25 miles long, and road is very close to the camp site which is Jumbo Rock camp ground.

My (as noob) only difficulty on the riding was "Sandy" condition.
There were many places on sand and little rocky mix conditions.
Otherwise, it was a very happy riding.

Here is the photos and short video slide show to share..


[youtube:36d1u7nv]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=det5KBCz5L8[/youtube:36d1u7nv]


Thanks

[blaine]

As always,very entertaining.Looks like you are getting much more confident riding in the dirt.Thanks for sharing.
:2tup: :rawk:

[alanmcorcoran]

Hey Busy,we missed each other by seven days. I was at Jumbo Rock the previous weekend. Hopefully yours was cooler.

[mrlmd1]

How's the grip in that soft sand/dirt with those wide tires? Does it slide around at all? Have you ridden a dirt bike or dual sport with narrower tires to compare it to?

[Moedad]

Good show, Busy. I bet it was hot even with our cooler weather lately. Joshua Tree is usally pretty warm into mid-October.

[Water Warrior 2]

Looks like a pleasant and successful weekend. Glad everything worked so well after all the mods to the van to increase the riding adventures. And SAND.....that stuff is fun but also a lot of work with the wrong bike. The TW seems to work well without skittering around too much. The best of course is an off road bike with very aggressive tires but that would defeat your purposes too much. Carry on and keep the adventures coming.

[BusyWeb]

Originally Posted by blaine

As always,very entertaining.Looks like you are getting much more confident riding in the dirt.Thanks for sharing.
:2tup: :rawk:

Thanks...
I got little just little bit better on the dirt after each riding, however, still with big tension while on the saddle.
And try to keep slow... ^^;

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Hey Busy,we missed each other by seven days. I was at Jumbo Rock the previous weekend. Hopefully yours was cooler.

Yes, Mr. Alan.
I made decision to go there after reading you riding report..
Yes, little bit lower temperature than your days I guess, and I rode at the late afternoon which helped little.

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

How's the grip in that soft sand/dirt with those wide tires? Does it slide around at all? Have you ridden a dirt bike or dual sport with narrower tires to compare it to?

As, I don't have real dirt bike handling on the dirt, I can compare it.
But these are my feeling about sandy riding.
When higher speed, this bike's rear tire seems more dancing around. (?? does not flow over the sand ???)
Slower speed, it really grips the sandy road well, my guess is it has more wheight (this bike is little havier than dirt bikes)
If I sit down little closer to the gas tank, I almost do not feel if it's on the sandy road.
If I stand up, I got little better on the sand.
Need practice, practice... ^^;

Originally Posted by Moedad

Good show, Busy. I bet it was hot even with our cooler weather lately. Joshua Tree is usally pretty warm into mid-October.

Thanks, Mr. Moedad.
Late afternoon riding helped little bit over hot temperature.
Still, hot enough that I drank almost all the camel back (2 liters)...whew..

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Looks like a pleasant and successful weekend. Glad everything worked so well after all the mods to the van to increase the riding adventures. And SAND.....that stuff is fun but also a lot of work with the wrong bike. The TW seems to work well without skittering around too much. The best of course is an off road bike with very aggressive tires but that would defeat your purposes too much. Carry on and keep the adventures coming.

Thanks Mr. WW.
I was little worried over Van (loaded with bike) riding on the highway, and especially unloding bike myself alone.
But, it worked pretty well and not that hard.
For now, I'm very happy with TW ventures.
I might have some chance to riding real dirt-bikes later on after good amount of TW riding parctices.
Hopely, soon >> couple of years ha ha ha