Looking to ride on 6/30 or 7/1, out of or around Olathe

kchusky · Post by **kchusky** » 23 Jun 2007 22:29

Anyone have any thoughts about a ride on 6/30 or 7/1 out of Olathe or there abouts??? Looking for good gravel routes with hopefully some off shoots with some climbs or single track riding on them?

MesaLC4 · Post by **MesaLC4** » 24 Jun 2007 23:46

I may be up for a ride this weekend. South and West are my favorites. North to Leavenworth & Atchison is okay, but not as wide open. I prefer to avoid pavement if I can.

Troy has some good GPS routes I bet he'd post here. I'm in the process of putting together some of my own. But if you head South on Pflumm toward Osawatomie and then work your way NW to Lawrence you'll have a nice little loop.

kchusky · Post by **kchusky** » 25 Jun 2007 19:06

MesaLC4, that's kind of what I was tentatively thinking about doing.

MesaLC4 · Post by **MesaLC4** » 25 Jun 2007 20:42

Sounds good. Probably won't find any single track unless we hit the harescramble course in Carbondale. But there's definitely some No Maintenance Roads out there that are challenging.

I was going to head out that way last Sunday but my GPS shot crap. Don't know if I'll have that resolved by this weekend. Saturday is a no go, but Sunday is wide open.

kchusky · Post by **kchusky** » 25 Jun 2007 21:02

Sunday works for me. Anyother takers??

MesaLC4 · Post by **MesaLC4** » 30 Jun 2007 06:45

I'm in! When and where? I'm open to suggestions. Starbucks (119th & Blackbob) at 7:00 or 8:00 or ...

kchusky · Post by **kchusky** » 30 Jun 2007 08:54

7:00 is good at Starbucks. As far as a route I like the idea of going South and back up and around towards Lawrence and from there? I don't have GPS yet

, usally just ride gravel road to gravel road . My bike has pretty good range on gas so that is not a issue usally. If you have a route you like that would be fine.

MesaLC4 · Post by **MesaLC4** » 30 Jun 2007 11:08

Sounds good! I'll see ya there at 7:00. I have GPS so I'll put together a route. I PM'ed you my mobile if you need it.

Anyone else want to join in?

kchusky · Post by **kchusky** » 01 Jul 2007 21:56

I'd like to thank MesaLC4 for setting up and guiding our ride today. Me and MesaLC4 left out of Olathe about 7:20'ish am headed South and then West went by Hilsdale lake over towards Carbondale. Staying South of Baldwin, up towards Topeka. Then East towards Lawrence. had to run on reserve for a short while. Filled up in Lawrence then headed North, then East. Come down through DeSoto and back into Olathe. The temp made for a great ride, just right with a light jacket on which helped to keep the mud off. We hit a little bit of drizzel on the first leg of our ride. Found a few dead end roads, along with a few muddy ones also (which were a blast in them self). All total about 200 miles. With a guesstimate of 65% of it gravel or muddy dirt roads. And we made it back home around lunch time. I have to say it's fun to leave from home without having to loading up and driving some where to do a little dirt biking.

As for the Metzler six day enduro tires (DOT) approved that came on my bike. So far I am liking them, the front is showing a little wear (looks like a MT32) the rear is down to about half nobby height. I've used the tires at Walters ranch on the single track twice once in the in mud & rocks right after a rain. And the last time was mostly dry and rocky. This was the second gravel road trip today, with the last one being very dry. Also, riding around town including to work and back. 405 miles on them so far and still going.

MesaLC4 · Post by **MesaLC4** » 02 Jul 2007 13:55

Thanks for joining me, KCHusky! Had a great time. Even dogpaddling the big Adventure through the mud was kinda fun. Favorite parts: the long section of gravel South of Lawrence/Topeka – GPS showed top speed of 83; and the twisty gravel section NE of Lawrence. My route kind of fell apart after this section. I'll have to work on that.

I'll post again next time I'm planning a ride.

Post by **troy** » 02 Jul 2007 14:23

Glad you guys got out and had a good ride! Thanks for sharing with us.

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