Why R’Idaho?

“I guess I don’t understand rides like this?”

This style of riding seems to fit into a unique and rare category so even veteran riders find it tough to understand.

These routes are setup to increase the opportunities for the self guided, self supported, multi-day, cross country, dirt bike trail riding fan. See how many words it takes to describe? It is a trek-on-a-dirt-bike experience.   It is very hard to come by rides like this because it is so hard to develop the right balance of thru routes that challenges a good dirt bike trail rider with the maximum amount of rugged trails, while taking you to remote places that make your jaw drop for 5+ days. All within gas range and legal trail limitations and shunning long pavement sections.

Riding it unsupported is not required, but it makes a major difference. The challenge of being unsupported while riding rugged trails in remote areas for several days adds a heightened sense of adventure…and fear while you prepare for ‘What if…?’.   If you do this with a chase van, then it is a different breed of experience. Not a bad or lesser experience. It can be tons of fun to party every evening at convenient locations with gas, supplies, tool chest and spare parts. But that is not the pioneer or survivalist experience of self reliance that we focus on. Even races like the Baja 1000, Dakar Rally, and ISDE have it easier in two ways…they have pits with just about everything you need along the way. Then, if you don’t make it to the pit, someone will come get you within the day. But here, you are on your own to make it to the end with nothing except your wits, determination and what you carry or can find along the route.

The trail difficulty is similar to local enduros or 2 day ISDE qualifiers that I’ve ridden. So the trails are too tough for most anyone on a KLR650 to survive so don’t underestimate the route. And the trails are too voluminous for the desk jockey body to easily handle. Problems and crashes WILL happen along the route. But overcoming the inevitable struggles will be your favorite and proudest memories when you look back on what you did.

The duration and distance is in par with the ISDE. But one part is like the old ISDE rule where you had to keep your own bike running for 7 days or you DNF. I used to admire that self reliance factor so we place the unsupported rider higher in the Finisher order because it is simply more difficult. We have the “Explorer” category to recognize the chase van style of fun, as well as the guy who rides it in parts within a year. They did something difficult too, but the GRIT routes and training are not tuned for them.

Note: There is no recognition or encouragement for race speed riding on these public trails and roads. Pace yourself for the long haul and go at your own safe pace. The finisher requirements are challenging because they create long hard days for B level riders, but they do not require any racing.  If you are an A+ rider, then you can take the special test detours, camp on a river or lake shore and probably still have time to enjoy your evening and talk about the scenery and riding of the day.

We call it Extreme Dual Sport riding, because it is unique from ADV, Dual Sport and Trail Riding…. and “cross country survival endurance riding” is still too many syllables. We are all about helping people who want to discover or continue this style of riding because we did it, we love it, and working to help others enjoy it.