The power difference between the two bikes is a lot, but I think my new mods and slight difference in rider skill make it pretty fair game. We got there Friday afternoon, just to camp and setup. The next day we were keen to ride. However not even after the first lap the brand new YZ had conked out — fowled plug. The mix was obviously too lean, but apparently it was what the service manual says. New plug and she was good to go. After some more riding, we found the wind to be a huge factor.

I have had zero experience with wind so I was a bit apprehensive about jumping the jumps. On the previous trip I was clearing all the jumps except for two – the largest table top and what I call the ‘skyshot’, since all you can see off the face is the sky. The wind was annoying so we stuck to the trails. The trails near the entrance were a lot of fun – nice and sandy soil near the start which was fun to rip on. We periodically went back to the track but the wind was very strong. Only a few good riders were going fast.

The wind was so strong it was starting to destroy our camp area. It had collapsed one area of our shade area, and then later blew away out Yamaha shade tent. Luckily for us some people secured it, as we pulled up. We had everything trying to keep everything stable but it seems like it was gonna give way – but it held. After messing around a lot we decided to hit more trails. Nearing the end of the day, and heading back to camp, the YZ again fowled another plug. Except the shop had no more plugs so cleaning was in order. I went on a few trails by myself which were fun, but I wanted to jump more the ride the trails.

Th next day we awoke pretty early. By the time the track opened we had everything packed away so we could load the bikes and go, if it turned out to be crap. It was still very windy, but today I was willing to take more chances. I headed to the smaller SX track, where the jumps weren’t as exposed to the wind. I could clear the two tabletops on the last straight. So I headed to the MX track and chased Sam from about 1/4 lap down. I felt pretty good, squeezing hard with my legs to control my bike in the air. Everything seemed to be working well. I had passed Sam but he was closely following. On the second tabletop, of the only double tabletop section, I took a tumble. The wind had blown me sideways, or perhaps I came of the face sideways too – probably a combination of both and I landed on a wicked angle.

Mid-air I was thinking “Stick the leg out” but quickly decided against that. The bike pretty much landed, hit the dirt, and I slid on top of it for a while. I ended up sitting on the front wheel. I remember sliding along, with the bike sliding as well causing the front wheel to spin, which was grinding away at my back. I got up pretty much straight away to turn off my bike which was revving out. The glorious 2 stroke took a good 3 seconds shut down, even with me holding the kill-switch down. I picked it up and pushed it to the side. I quickly discovered my front brake was broken (no lever). No biggy I thought, a new lever is $15 or something. On a closer inspection I found the master cylinder bracket had snapped off. I went and searched for (and found) my lever to limit the damage to my wallet. $200 for a new master cylinder as you can only get all of the parts in one.

After banging all my controls back, we headed back. Sam would later tell me he had applied his brakes before he hit the ground – that must have been scary. When we got back my thumb was hurting pretty bad. I couldn’t even grip the bars, pull the clutch or move my thumb. Turns out I sprained it which is lucky considering what good of been. I’m definitely purchasing a Leatt brace and chest protector. All in all it was a fun trip. I wish only more people would come and next time for the wind to be gone – it make the trip colder than expected, especially since I brought no jackets!

While we were riding the pit bikes my sunglasses were also broken some how. I suspect a friend of mine accidentally dropped their helmet on them causing one of the lenses to come out from the frames and needless to say I was pretty bummed since they were expensive too. I wasn’t gonna point the finger though, stuff happens right?

After the pit bike and sunglasses breaking I decided to try some mountain bike trails. When we ( a few mates) arrive at the start of the track I noted my gear shifter was missing 2 parts; A plastic cover and a plastic sheet with gear numbers on it. I was pretty annoyedto say the least since my mountain bike was fairly expensive. Anyway, I don’t really need the numbers so we continued and found a nice trail. I stop at the first jump to warn the others that there is a jump since I am blindly leading down this trail. I somehow clear the jump but my friend comes up short the first time and tries again. Unfortunately he lands on the sharp side of a rock which bursts his tyre. So that ended that.

So my most prized possessions are all damaged; My pit bike, MTB and Sunglasses. Now the good luck. I scored a free mouse-pad which was pretty cool despite the fact I haven’t used a mouse-pad for years. It has a picture of awesome smiley so I might use it. So after that I decided to try and fix my glasses. After wrestling with them for 20 minutes my thumbs were aching like nothing else. I decided to try a different approach the lens popped right back in. Well it didn’t even pop, I almost didn’t realise!  The next day (today) my cheque from Google finally arrived which was nice.

So I’m returning to the forest tomorrow to try the trail once more, this time I think we’re coming more prepared. Then afterwards I’ll weld my suspension and hopefully have my bike ready. Then pit bikes the day after.

So here is what I got up to last week:

Today (Sunday)

Slept in til 1pm, did some Fluids work. Generally mucked about. Planned to go for a long ride but was too tired.

Saturday

Went for a few rides, almost learnt a 180 degree stoppie (stoppie, then rotate). Did the 2nd last question on my math assignment. Did some more website work. I have a few ideas brewing.

Friday

Did my maths assignment, except for one question and a section of another. Mucked about on my website.

Thursday

Did nothing the whole day I think. Went to Jono’s house for a while during the night

Wednesday

Hanged out at Danny and Jonesy’s new place. Fixed up my dirtbike some more. Now I need another spacer to make it complete. also watched Nitro Circus 3 with Director commentary (I didn’t know it had this til then). Also watched Rhys and Jonesy grimace while drinking their horribly unproportionate Long Island Ice Teas. Took Rhys home at the end of the night.

Tuesday

Did nothing. Probably should have studied but sometimes these things don’t happen.

Monday

Don’t think I did anything. Probably did some riding, I can’t really remember.

Sunday

Worked on my bike. Rewired it, got it to idle and installed the kill switch. Previously we had to kill it with the choke (how fitting). Stalling it might not work since there was no chain/tyre

So that was my week. Pretty boring huh? Well I am pretty brief in my descriptions but you’re somewhat right.

While I was waiting however, I had one of those moments where you think you see someone, but it’s not them. This person was sitting on a nearby bench and I did the classic look once, shake head, look again maneuver. I awkwardly did this about 4 more times and I think this person got creeped out since they walked to some shop and then looked at me. In any case, if I had talked to either the person I thought it was or the actual person, it probably wouldn’t have been welcomed.

Today I was walking to a study area and the same thing happened. Except I didn’t look at the person a billion times, only once. This usually never happens to me, perhaps it is just because I’m looking out for someone and not minding my own business with my face to the ground like usual. Either that, or I’m going insane. Hopefully the former.

It bothers me sometimes however, that some people don’t test themselves. For example, I used to play video gameslike any normal guy. Not a lot, but enough to be pretty damn good at some games. That was only 3 years ago and since then I hardly ever pick up a controller or load up a game these days. Why the sudden change you might ask? Well it got boring. Games are just long puzzles and most games are the same puzzle. COD, BF, Crysis and most other first person shooters are the same to me and hence I saw no challenge since learning this skill will lead me to no skill which I can use. I do however think strategy games are good thinking games but then they can get repetative. When I tell people that I don’t play games they ask me, what do you do on a computer? I can’t help but think what can’t I do, games are just great time wasters to me, I’d rather learn skills I can perhaps use later in life and enjoy while I learn.

So I challenged myself. I became a video editor. I got a YouTube Partnership and 3000+ subscribers and was mentioned to Travis Pastrana (from what he said). Well that was pretty cool I guess, what next. Then I became a Web Designer. Built a few sites and now I could have a site up and going within the day if I felt like it. Now I don’t know where to go next. The bike challenges are just to keep me at bay until I find something to try and master next. A big part of me wants it to be university and myself. But I think this would be a pretty hard challenge to take on but I can always try. I think my next challenge might be to master Photoshop. I’ve always wanted to be able to take some crappy photo and make it something awesome.

How do you challenge yourself? Or, why don’t you challenge yourself for some people.

I find it baffling when at least 80% of people driving with me have been on these roads before yet still don’t jump in the right lane to let people on the highway or get up to 100km/h BEFORE coming on the highway. I find that is usually the cause of most traffic issues. The downside of course is, I pay for my own petrol which isn’t too bad but now I understand why people were so pedantic with petrol money and now I am.

The upside is I can get to work now. Before I couldn’t which was a bit annoying since buses, for me, were rarely precisely on time which I needed for connecting buses and therefore I couldn’t make it to work for a 6pm start, after 6 hours or more of Uni.

For those interested I study Civil Engineering. Compressing that into 3 days per week was the worst idea ever. At least with monstrous gaps I was forced to study now I am literally burnt out every Wednesday. I usually go to sleep at 9pm wake up at 12am, then go back to sleep because of just how tired I get. Getting home at 7pm from those bus rides wasn’t much help either especially the somewhat cols nights waiting for buses.