Solo dirt missions

Cowboy camping near Truckee, CA

No matter the length of the ride, solo riding can be incredibly rewarding. And incredibly dangerous. But that’s where half the experience comes from.

All of my moto travels up to this point in writing have been solo. Not saying that I wouldn’t want to do a group trip of some sort. But this part of life has been heavily focused on some self reflection. Long hours riding unknown terrain have done nothing short of deliver the reflection I was searching for.

If you’re a dual-sport or Adventure bike rider and you are not familiar with Backcountry Discovery Routes (often referred to as BDR). I highly recommend checking out what they have to offer. It is an easy place to find prebuilt routes and it has established a great community of riders. I personally use these routes, or sections of these routes to form offroad trips that fit my destination. Not a paid advertisement, its just a reference I use for some navigation aids. (www.ridebdr.com)

Goler Canyon, Death Valley, CA

Here’s the great thing about a solo trip. YOU set the pace. You decide where to stop, when to eat, when to take in the views, rest, etc. I understand group rides (paid or not) have their benefits. The largest benefit is not being reliable for the majority of it, or at least the portion that went wrong.

Solo however, you are responsible for any hell hole you thought was a good idea to test yourself in. Dropping your bike in a mud hole can quickly turn into an endurance event that challenges you mentally and physically. No one knows you’re there except maybe some animals, standing by mocking your efforts.

Getting launched off your bike during a water crossing you misjudged. Soaking wet and fighting to get your bike out of the mossy rocks. Exhausted and sore. Right when you think you’re about to get out of it, you drop it again. You want to leave it there, but that flowing water is just searching for a way into your air intake. You have no time to waste.

Charging up a hill just to find out it’s way beyond your riding ability. Cursing into the wilderness. Sitting with yourself and your bike alone on a random forest hill. Deciding whether to give up and walk to the nearest town, or calm yourself down and find another way to solve the problem.

This might sound terrible, or it might sound like a great part of the experience. Whatever side of the fence you stand on, you’ll still come out with something learned. Go in prepared, have a satellite device for true emergencies.

I think what I enjoy most about these situations, is that they can rarely be replicated in a controlled enviornment. You can watch all the motivational content, prepare yourself mentally and physically. But you won’t really know until you’re there, in the shit.

That’s where you’ll find your truest self.