Fall 2010 Slimey Crud Run

[bajakirch]

Today I took part in my second big group ride. It’s called the Slimey Crud Run and takes place each spring and fall. You can learn more about it here: http://www.slimeycrudrun.com/.

Got up this morning to brilliant blue skies…and temps in the mid-30s. Undaunted, I prepared for my ride by making sure I had the liner in my jacket and my heavier leather gloves.  Here I am ready to take off.

Do these pants make my butt look big?

[bajakirch]

I left the house around 9:30 with the hopes of getting there around 10:00 for what was reported to be the peak time for bikes at the kick-off point – the Red Mouse Bar in Pine Bluff, WI. Did a little photo-tagging on the way, so I arrived later than planned, at around 11:00. But, as you can see, there was certainly no shortage of bikes.
 
Here is a shot of just one of the numerous parking areas, as well as shots of both directions on the main road.

Also a shot of my bike parked in one of the lots. I didn’t realize this until I got home and looked at my pictures, but that Ducati parked next to my ride also ended up parked next to me later in the day, even though we left at different times and took different routes. I think he was jealous...

[bajakirch]

I spent about an hour wandering through the area ogling the vast collection of bikes. By my extremely unscientific estimate, there were about 1000 bikes in attendance. I asked someone for an official count but no one seemed to know. They said they had about 3000 bikes at the spring ride, and there were about half as many this time. I suspect the cool morning temps kept the fair-weather riders at home. Alright by me, fewer obstacles in my way on the road.
Just walking through the area to look at bikes was a challenge, because they were coming in faster than a person could see them. But here are a few that I found interesting:

Honda Transalp – this was the first of 3 I saw. One guy had his really tricked out and told me he spent $5k just accessorizing it. That was after he spent a fortune getting it on the ‘gray market’. He said he raced rallies and that the Transalp was, in his opinion, superior to just about any other bike for that.

Honda CBX – Dig that crazy inline 6!

I love this side car. It looks like something James Bond would use.

Honda 919 – I know there are several here that really like this bike. I can see why.

Honda CB1000 Special (I think) – Really clean and I think the pipes look pretty cool.

[bajakirch]

Honda 750 Four – Can someone tell me what this mod is all about?

Nighthawk 750 – The first I saw. How ignoble, using such a regal steed as a coat rack. For shame!

Victory cruiser – I’m normally not a fan of the retro styling, but something about this bike really spoke to me. Kinda reminded me of something that would be on the road in the 1930s.

[bajakirch]

So, I finally jumped on my bike to take part in the ride part of the ride. I got about 10 minutes down the road and realized that I shouldn’t have had that big cup of coffee right before I left. So I pulled over at this C-store for a quick potty stop.

I finished up, jumped back on the bike…and it wouldn’t start. I ended up draining the battery down trying to get it to turn over. Luckily, I was only 5 miles from home. So I called my wife to bring me the jumper cables. Only I found out she decided to take my absence as an opportunity to go shopping. She was 20 miles away. Rat-farts!

I was contemplating trying to bump-start the bike in the lot, when I decided to try some back-up instead. I called a kid that was one of my Boy Scouts and lived just a few blocks away. He was around, had access to a car, and had a pair of cables. Sweet!

As I awaited his arrival, I realized I’d been trying start the bike without it being in neutral. DOH!

Here’s a shot of my stranded ride, waiting for its savior. He showed up about 5 minutes later and we easily got it going.

Back on the road!

[bajakirch]

I would say this ride was a stark contrast to my first, a Diabetes Foundation ride in July. Those differences included:

There were probably 2-3 times as many riders for SCR.

The July ride was 99.9% HDs. Understandable, since it was organized by a local HD dealer. SCR had an extraordinarily diverse mix of bikes. Sport bikes, dual sport, antiques, cruisers, choppers, UJMs, adventures, sport tourers, art bikes – everything was pretty equally represented. I felt much more accepted for my ride choice at the SCR.

As seems to be the case with any large collection of HD riders, fully geared-up riders were in short supply in July. Now I’ll admit that some of this may have had to do with the fact that it was 90 degrees for the Diabetes ride. Even so, I just don’t see a lot of gear on Harley riders. Must be part of the mystique that I don’t get.  For SCR, riders without gear were almost non-existent. Again, weather obviously had something to do with that, but it was clear that these riders were much more of the ATGATT mindset. The vast majority had at least helmet, jacket, gloves and boots, and hundreds were walking around in riding pants or chaps. I even saw a couple of guys wearing full head-to-toe one-piece leather racing suits. Definitely more my crowd.

There was no set start or end time for this ride. It was pretty much show up when you want and leave the same way. Much less pressure for me in trying to make it somewhere by a certain time.

And there was also no planned route. The ride begins in Pine Bluff and goes to a wide spot in the road with a couple of bars and a park called Leland, WI.  By the most direct route, it’s probably only 30 miles or so, and that’s because you have to go about 10 miles out of your way one way or the other to cross the Wisconsin River. But there are all sorts of county and local roads in between, with lots of terrain change. So you make your own route. For me, I had a planned route that would have taken me about 40 miles one-way. But I ended up following a group of about 10 riders and they chose some roads that seemed more interesting. It made for a slightly shorter ride, but the roads were much more twisting than those I had planned. Fun!

[bajakirch]

I did the ride to Leland and, as mentioned earlier, had some fun riding the winding, hilly roads of the Wisconsin River Valley. There were some beautiful scenic photo ops along the way. But honestly, I was having too much fun riding to stop and take pictures.

Upon my arrival, I was once again amazed at the number and variety of bikes on display. Here’s a quick shot down the main drag, showing maybe 20% of the bikes on hand.

[bajakirch]

Some shots of Leland and the countryside.

[bajakirch]

Of course, the obligatory money shot.

Course #1 – BBQ pork sammich with chips.

Course #2 – Standard Wisconsin brat with sauerkraut, dill pickle, mustard and ketchup. And a sody pop to wash it all down.

[bajakirch]

More bike gawking at Leland.

Honda NH550 – Mah bruthuh from anothuh muthuh! I saw this bike on the road and followed him for about a mile before he turned off into a gas station. I would have pulled over to meet him, but it seemed sorta like stalking. I saw the bike parked at Leland and got a close-up. The windscreen looked like he’d just come off a cross-country tip…or he hadn’t washed the bike all summer. I made a couple passes by the bike while there, but never saw the owner again.

Honda NH700S – I was surprised I only saw 1 of these today. There seem to be a number of them for sale on CL in our area, so I expected more.

Old Honda – Not sure of the model on this, but it was so clean it looked like it’d just come off the showroom floor. I don’t think that was a stock color.

[bajakirch]

A couple of random cool shots.

I loved the translucent tank cover on this Buell.

And you have to admire the second rider’s ingenuity. Riding temps in the 40s? No problem, just zip-tie hand-warmers to your grips. Genius!

[bajakirch]

I saw this bike in Pine Bluff and Leland, and it always had a crowd around it. I guess this is what you’d call a rat-bike; I think it looks like something out of Mad Max. Regardless, a pretty sweet ride, and I liked the rider’s sense of humor.

[bajakirch]

Finally it was time for me to make my way back home (I decided not to go back to Pine Bluff, because my house was on the way, and it was getting to be mid-afternoon). I saw a group of 4 riders leaving, all riding 70s-era CBs. I figured I’d tag along with them to see where they were going, as long as they were heading my direction.

Along the way, I looked down and saw my odometer was reading 19,998 miles. I couldn’t miss this. So I pulled off on a side road and rode slowly until just that point…

[bajakirch]

…and BOO-YAH! – I just doubled the miles the bike had on it when I bought it.

[bajakirch]

Finally, I made my way home, keeping the flood-swollen (but receding) Wisconsin River to my right. I figured my desktop needed a new background shot, so I snapped this final shot along the way.

All in all, a great day for a ride even though the temperature was a bit chilly. I only ended up putting 80+ miles on the bike, but spent the better part of a full day either riding, looking at bikes or talking with other riders. All under an azure October sky.

That’s a win in my book.

[fishmeister]

Splendid!  It's not always about how far one rides, more the enjoyment of the ride taken. 

[Hangster]

Awesome pics and a sweet ride    Wisconsin is only a block away from me  (figuratively speaking ) , should have dropped a line down as i was ready to ride this weekend .

[flynrider]

Honda 750 Four – Can someone tell me what this mod is all about?

  That appears to be a CB750 that someone has modified with a turbocharger.

  Great report and great pics!  Thainks!

[cmyers]

Great report, thanks for sharing all the photos and stories

[JB1290]

Great report, Baja. Sad I couldn't make it. 

[SirSeanSean]

Thanks for the report. Love all those bike. especially the BMW side car.

[bajakirch]

Great report, Baja. Sad I couldn't make it. 

May 3, 2011. I've already got it on my calendar.

And happy to host any others that would like to take part. Give me advance notice and I might even be able to provide some overnight accomodations -- I've got 3 spare bedrooms available.

[fishball]

Great report Baja.  I love that custom orange Honda cafe racer.

[JB1290]

Great report, Baja. Sad I couldn't make it. 

May 3, 2011. I've already got it on my calendar.

And happy to host any others that would like to take part. Give me advance notice and I might even be able to provide some overnight accomodations -- I've got 3 spare bedrooms available.

Sounds great. Putting it on my calendar now.

[hppants]

Nice job Baja - that turbo CB is sick.  Hope you got the owner's phone number.  When Loki sees this, he is gonna go nuts!!