By: Dave Wonderly
Why would I want to do something like this, is a question I have gotten over the years for many different adventures, epics and failures? Sir Edmund Hillary was famously asked a similar question about risking it all to climb Mt. Everest. His reply was “because it’s there”. Now I am no Everest first ascent type, I want to think that I would have that much courage and determination but I’m old enough to know my limitations. My answer to a question like this is because I like the feeling of commitment in remote places and because I can.
The R’Idaho is spectacular, epic, hard and most importantly fun. Being committed deep in remote places no matter how you get there is amazing. I like how it focuses one attention on the situation. That focus and commitment is why I wanted to do this ride.
Arriving at a place where you honestly say “I want to” and “I can” takes experience and it’s different for everyone. People that have never gone on an epic moto ride will naturally have trouble imagining it as a possibility. Few would have it in them to buy a moto and go ride for seven day ride through remote places like the mountains of Idaho a few weeks later.
If the R’Idaho is something you want to do and think you can do then you probably already know what it takes to have your bike ready enough to most likely make it. You may well have already learned through experience the kinds of problems your bike might have and within limits what tools and spare parts to take to fix them. You may well learn something new about your bike no matter how well prepared you try to be. You should also have at least some idea what it might take to retreat from a remote place if your bike becomes unridable, and already have come to grips with that possibility and be mentally OK with having to deal with the difficulties if it all goes wrong.
It’s helpful if you already know how your body will react to that much riding. Finding out the hard way really is the only way you’ll know. Riding a bike loaded down is different. Carrying a big pack is hard. It’s better not to wait until the start of day one to find out. A fully loaded shake down ride is a good idea. Some will of course have no problem adapting some might not. Judge yourself carefully. Can you handle riding in the heat, or in the cold and wet? Never done it? You will most likely get all three on the R’Idaho.
If you have previous experience with big rides like this you will have loaded your pack with the things you’ll need many times. If not, do a dry run ride. No list can replace personal experience. Hopefully you will know or learn how to leave things behind since every pound will take its toll. You will want to know how much you can and are willing to carry on your back and bike. This knowledge will help inform the style of trip you embark on. Hotels every night or camping along the way. There’s no right way just the way that you can.
The most important thing is to know is how to ride relaxed. Riding relaxed will make all the above that much easier. You won’t get tired. You’ll fall down less, your bike will be stressed less, fewer things will go wrong and it’s more fun to ride relaxed. I’ve seen very fit athletes bonk within an hour from riding tense and using more energy than needed. Yet the old fat guy with years of experience can ride all day long without even breathing hard. I firmly believe that riding relaxed is the most important skill for the R’Idaho or any big ride for that matter. Knowing you can ride relaxed is critical.
You also have to be mentally relaxed about any big undertaking like the R’Idaho. Practice and experience with all the things above help make that possible. Thinking about that crash or high side you live in fear of will not help. Being mentally relaxed will lessen the chance of an accident. It also makes it easier to enjoy all the amazing things you will encounter along the way. Being stressed will only take away from those good experiences.
To accomplish anything difficult, you have to be committed. Once you decide to R’Idaho, be committed. Otherwise you’ll find ways to get derailed. Don’t commit until you mean it, don’t tell the world until you mean it. Nothing but a serious unforeseen circumstance should be allowed to derail the mission. That same level of commitment is required once you start the ride. Your attitude should be keep moving forward no matter what, figure out ways to overcome the road blocks along the way and never give up without a fight. Having experience with this level of commitment will help. On the other hand you also have to know when to pull the plug. Hopefully that won’t happen but good judgment is mandatory.
Finally judgement. Good judgment trumps all. No one’s judgment is a good as they might think. That said we still have to rely on it. Hopefully experience has informed your judgment. Someone like Steve Taylor made a conscious decision to trust his judgment and abilities when he rode the R’Idaho solo. I would imagine that he is able to do that because of his life experience. Use your experience to your best advantage. No experience? Go out and get some. You’ll have lots of fun getting it.
I know I make it sound so serious, but we don’t ride motos to be serious. We ride to have fun. The R’idaho can be amazingly fun if you’re ready for it. So if you haven’t already, give it serious thought, then get out and have a fun ride
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