Pennsylvania Wilds BDR-X Route: Four Tips for Tackling Tiny BDRs

[MotoNews]

Published in: Rides

What makes an adventure? It’s highly personal. An unimaginable experience for one may seem rather mundane for another, and that’s why it’s important to have choices for everyone.

That’s what Backcountry Discovery Routes does with its new BDR-X mini-maps. These new options open up opportunities for riders with different time constraints or levels of challenge.

The big cross-state BDR routes are amazing, but many riders don’t have the typical seven to 10 days to complete them. Even if vacation time isn’t a problem, riders might not have the endurance for a sustained week-long, dirt-in-your-teeth journey. Moreover, new or returning off-road riders may not be confident enough in their riding skills to tackle a longer adventure.

While they still offer some of the challenges of a full-scale BDR, BDR-X routes can be completed in two or three days, which also makes them easier on the body and budget.

I learned a lot recently as I got to ride with the BDR crew on the Pennsylvania Wilds BDR-X route (PA X-Wilds). If you’re anxious to do your first multi-day off-road trip, or just want to take a break from the norm, the following are a few tips you may find useful.

• Get in Shape Before Shipping Out

It’s been said that the only sport that exercises more muscles than enduro riding is swimming.

Standing while riding utilizes muscles we don’t use in street riding or our normal, relatively sedentary lifestyles. Making a BDR-X as a goal isn’t just about the ride but all the other prep as well.

If you don’t exercise regularly, make hitting the gym or doing a regular workout part of a new routine… then stick with it. Even better, get on a mountain bike. Why? Because you’ll have a safer and more fun experience if you go into an extended off-road ride with your heart, muscles, and mind ready for the physical strain.

While exercising all muscle groups is important, focus on cardio, core (back, sides and stomach), and upper-body (arms, chest, and shoulders) conditioning. If you do much computer work, these are often the most underdeveloped and overstressed muscles that’ll need some beefing-up to escape being sore and stiff at the end of the day.

You may also lose a few pounds during both the conditioning and the ride. Although our PA X-Wilds riding days were rather long due to the filming, I ended up dropping five pounds over the course of the shoot.

• Have a Ball—Go Small

My Royal Enfield Himalayan was the smallest bike in my group, but that didn’t matter much in the off-road sections where slower speeds were required. The benefits of riding a lighter bike include reduced wear on your consumables like tires and chain, but also on your body.

If you prefer more challenging segments, like the Sharpback Hollow hero section, picking up a 350 lb. bike in mud will be much easier than a big-bore flagship that’s 550 lb. or more This is an especially important consideration if you’re riding the route solo.

Unless you choose to camp, cut some weight by stashing gear in your hotel room. You should still carry tools and other necessities for repairs, but this route’s shorter routes generally require less luggage.

• Group Up and Slow Down

If you’re in a large group, it’s a good idea to group up according to riding styles and skill levels. However, a cautious rider on a large motorcycle may be happy moving along at small thumper speeds. Likewise, a skilled rider on a small dual-sport may prefer to move faster than the large machines through more technical sections or hazardous conditions.

Whatever your comfort level, slowing down and riding at group speed yields many benefits. The group will travel in a more predictable manner, making it easier to keep track of everyone and hopefully avoid or lessen mishaps, damage, and the potential for injury. In the excitement of riding and having a good time with your friends, please remember: It’s not a race!

Jack O’Conner, route originator and experienced lead rider, notes that somewhere around 30 mph on average throughout the day is a good safe speed on these types of gravel roads for intermediate riders. Some may want to go faster or slower, but always respect the local rules and speed limits, especially when passing through towns. This average recommended speed includes pit stops for food, gas, and checking out the local hotspots.

The new Pennsylvania BDR-X map includes dozens of interesting stops along the way. Spend some time meeting locals, or maybe learn about a town’s history.

Taking in local cultures is one of the most rewarding aspects of adventure travel.

Be aware that you’re a guest and treat everyone and everything with respect, which will make future riders even more welcome in these same places down the road.

• Ride Right and Lookout for Wildlife

The BDR’s Ride Right mantra means making a habit of sticking to the right to avoid accidents. Unlike a racecourse, these routes are often public two-way roads shared with all kinds and sizes of vehicles. Riding on the right and slowing it down, especially around curves or corners, gives you and the oncoming traffic more time to avoid collisions.

Along the Pennsylvania route, look forward to seeing plenty of wildlife—but do it cautiously. We encountered several deer on this heavily forested loop, and while riding behind the lead bike ridden by John Putch, the PA X-Wilds film creator, a fawn cut across the road in front of him. Although there was no contact, the fawn’s mother was now separated from her baby.

As a result, she bounded along next to me for about 50–75 yards, and judging by the intensity in her eyes, was clearly looking for a break to cross the road to reunite with her young one. But… there was a line of motorcycles in the way. The momma deer then disappeared up a hill behind some bushes only to suddenly reemerge in front of another rider, who had to perform emergency braking to avoid an accident.

Deer aren’t the only critters; there are elk to see on this route as well. The Elk Country Visitor Center near Benezette, PA, is a fantastic place to visit and learn about Pennsylvania wildlife. Along the way, I also spotted one of the largest black bears I’ve ever seen!

• Adapting to Situations

In addition to wildlife avoidance, staying adaptive mentally is one of the best survival tools you can bring on this route (or anywhere else in life).

Although we experienced near-perfect weather, that won’t be the case for everyone who rides this route. The difference between a pleasant, dreamy journey and a terrifying road of muddy horrors is only a rainstorm away.

Know your limits. Follow your instincts. Riding with buddies allows for help when needed in tight spots, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re all equally skilled. If the weather has taken a turn for the worse, or you’re physically exhausted and dehydrated, don’t let the idea of becoming a hero lead you to costly decisions.

While we understand part of an adventure is taking risks, we also want everyone to make it home in one piece. Even on a relatively short route like this, there will be plenty of near-miss stories to share around the campfire, so have fun, and as we always say, “Ride your own ride.”

The same is true socially. As we visit new places, it’s not uncommon to spend time with others who have different worldviews and different concerns or priorities in their daily lives. It’s important to keep in mind that we are only visiting their turf and respect our differences.

* * *

The new BDR-X routes make it even easier to get out on the trails for adventures since they require fewer resources and time than the full-length expeditions. They still provide a good look at backcountry America while taking much of the guesswork out of finding interesting places to experience.

Riding the PA X-Wilds route with BDR president Tim James and crew was a great experience on many levels, and I can’t wait to do it again. The BDR-X routes are wonderful resources for the ADV riding community and born of tremendous passion and hard work. Now, more of us will be able to get out there and enjoy backcountry riding and learn about the world we live in.

For more information, tracks, and videos of all the BDR journeys, visit: RideBDR.com

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Carl Parker is ADVMoto magazine’s publisher since 2010. Having started his adventure career in a life of photography and travel on small bikes, Carl produced a feature-length film called The Return: Riding Western China, and recently started Far-Rider Adventures, the first adventure riding comic series by adventure riders. FarRiderComics.com 

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