PHOTO DUMP

The pics are rolling in pretty steadily.

I just add them to my personal flickr.com page as it seems to be the easiest way to organize such a huge amount of photos. Plus, you can order prints, download them if you want, whatever.

Flickr.com

If you want to send me yours to put into the dump, you can send me a disc at:

EDR PHOTOS c/o Bill Bryant
27570 Commerce Center Drive #129
Temecula, CA 92590

Just know that any photos you send in may be used to help us promote the event, and we've got so many contributors we won't be giving photo credits or any of that fancy stuff. Thanks to the people who have submitted already.

Low Standards = High Times

Well, we're home, but lot's of weary riders are still making their ways north and east. Godspeed to you, hope you don't hit too much weather.

Thanks to everyone who showed up, you guys made the event what it is. I counted about 175 bikes Friday morning in Ruben's and Kiki's campgrounds. That doesn't count any bikes out in town at hotels or ones that showed up later so I'm putting our gestimation at about 200 bikes. Many of them super cool machines. From a '49 Indian with zip ties for an axle nut and a brick for a kickstand to Rich Phillip's wild show-quality boardtracker, there were lots of cool bikes to check out, and all of them ridden over some roads that wouldn't have looked out of place in Afghanistan.

My Triumph made it the whole way except the 30 mile leg from Ojos Negros to Ensenada. Thanks Fredo for letting me ride your shovel (great bike!) through that section and thanks to Trent for putting my roach in your trailer. My pants caught on fire twice but luckily the leaky petcocks and the burning jeans didn't get close enough for any real danger!

Found out Sunday morning with generous help from Wes and Nick that the input shaft to the mag had rounded itself out and was slipping. Thanks Nate for letting me cut two inches off your 3/8" allen key to make a new one. Thanks to Balloonman for the new mag cover and to George for the new points and condenser.

Other than that issue and the one fork seal blown and a rocker box leak, the bike did great for what it is. Not a single crappy weld of mine broke, unbelievable. After some good hard hours in the saddle I don't want to change a thing except mess with gearing a little and do the maintenance it now needs.

Much thanks to our sponsors for this event;

Trent at Atomic Customs

Chris at Biltwell

Caleb at Cro Customs

Trent at Four Aces

Jason at Flyrite Choppers

Nate and DeeDee at Nathan Bradley Plumbing

George and Wendy at Spartan Frameworks

Nick at Trumpnut Parts

Without the generous support from this core group we wouldn't have been able to have quality enhancements like 400 free beers at each stop, so if you are in the market to get anything from used parts to complete bikes built, hit these guys up first!

Also thanks to our chase guys and advance set-up guys, tattoo artists and t-shirt chicks, everyone worked hard and played hard and we appreciate everyone's patience and positive attitudes. Thanks to McGoo for bleeding for this stupid idea and Scotty for putting him out when he caught on fire! McGoo's bike made it with zero trouble and really showcased how good he's getting at building bikes. Good job, Hal!

We'll get some photos and details on show winners, etc up as soon as possible. If anyone would be kind enough to burn me copies of their photos and send them to me on disc I would sure appreciate it. I'll put together a giant album on flickr.com with them so we can share them with everybody. The address to send to is:

EDR PHOTOS c/o Bill Bryant
27570 Commerce Center Drive #129
Temecula, CA 92590

And yes, we are already planning next year...

-Bill

The Route

Hola, El Diablo Runners,

Two days and a wake up to go! I can't wait!

There has been a slight change from last year's route if you are riding with us from Temecula. Highway 78 is closed for a couple months, right in the middle of our route. Thanks, CalTrans! It doesn't matter much, there's an easy way around it that still has some great scenery and a perfectly paved, twisty downhill that will make for great photo-ops for you photogs out there. The route is completely described below. Please know the route so I don't have to answer "How far to the next gas?" every time we stop. Also, in case you want to ride faster than some of us guys on old bikes, you will know where the hell you're going. We don't have an official "road captain" on this deal, it's every rider for himself. We plan on pulling out of Temecula Denny's at about 8:00AM, and if you want to ride with our pack, cool. If you want to lag behind or run ahead, cool. Whatever, just know that we are leaving at 8:00 come hell or high water. We'll probably stop at each gas stop along the way for idiots like me and Chris with peanut tanks. You guys with better capacity can haul ass by of course.

We'll stop at the Pizza Hut in Calexico (the US border town) and eat, gas up and get everyone Mexican Insurance. We don't want to screw around here too long and roll in after dark like last year. We'll spend about an hour and a half here, and then we're hitting the road south. 400 free beers await us at Ruben's and I for one KNOW I'll be thirsty.

I've included the route instructions on here, as well as the revised map. You can also download .pdf versions on the site at





PLEASE NOTE THIS DISCLAIMER:
Be self-contained. Know the route. Take care of your own shit. Stop to help someone if they need it, you might be the next guy on the side of the road. Provide your own chase if at all possible. We're here to help with anything, but are not babysitters. Any douchebags will be treated as such. Enjoy.


Temecula to San Felipe Route

Temecula to Warner Springs (GAS) 40 miles

Start: Denny's
28915 Rancho California R, Temecula, CA
Tel: (951) 676-5886

We'll pull out going south on Old Town Front Street through old town Temecula.

At the end of town, turn left on the 79 South. The 79 goes through a few miles of town and then turns into country two-lane road. There is gas at Warner Springs.

Warner Springs to Borrego Springs (GAS) 21 miles

Continue on 79 South for about 3 miles to San Felipe Road (S2) turn Left.

Continue on S2 for 4.6 miles, turn Left on Montezuma Valley Road (S22) for 18 miles.

Follow detour signs into town, Turn Right onto Palm Canyon Drive (S22)

Borrego Springs to Ocotillo Wells (GAS) 24 miles

Head south on Palm Canyon Drive to traffic circle, take first right off of circle towards Ocotillo Wells (S3).

Continue on S3 for 11 miles.

Turn Left at the Highway 78 Junction. Approx. 13 miles, on the right side is the "Blew Inn" gas stop.

Ocotillo Wells to Westmoreland (GAS) 27 miles

Continue East on 78, turn right (south) on highway 86 into Westmoreland.

Westmoreland to Calexico (GAS) 30 miles

Continue on highway 86, which becomes Imperial Ave. Stay on Imperial Ave. to Highway 8.

Go East on Highway 8 for 5 miles, exit at the 111 South.

Stay on 111 South for about 6.5 miles.

On the right side of the road, just before the Border Crossing there is a Pizza Hut. We'll stop here for lunch, Mexican Insurance and to top off with gas before crossing the border. We will leave this Pizza Hut no later than 1.5 hours after arriving.

Calexico to San Felipe

When you cross the border into Mexicali, do not take the sharp right. Instead, go straight into downtown. About 2 miles into town there is a fork in the road: veer right and follow the signs to San Felipe on Mex Highway 5. If you get screwed up, just keep heading South on any bumpy old street you find. At the end of town there really is only one way out, and that's on Highway 5.

The last gas before San Felipe is a Pemex station on the right, about 28 miles south of the border. You still have about another 100 miles to go before the next gas station in San Felipe. There is a military checkpoint and a border crossing on this leg of the journey, so don’t carry anything stupid. Just on the south side of the Federales check point is an old shack called Three Poles where we can stop, grab a drink and top off gas from chase trucks if you need it.

Note: During this leg of the trip it would be advisable for riders to go single file on the highway. There are some BIG potholes and riding in a tight staggered formation makes it hard to avoid hitting these monsters.

When we pull into San Felipe there is a Pemex station immediately on the right. Then continue down the main road through many Alto signs. Turn left when you hit the beach and follow the little beachfront bar/strand area to the end. Turn right at the stop sign. Go right again at the next stop sign, towards the lighthouse. Turn left at the last street at the top of the hill. Follow this street almost to the end, where you will see Ruben's and Kiki's campos on the right.

Party Time!

The pre-ride shindig starts around 4:00 on Wed. Beer and chicken is being provided.

Here's a link to the mapquest page for whomever needs directions.

Map Quest


Also here's an overview photo thanks to Google Earth.

Satellite Image


And the silly bar at the end of our industrial complex even has a website. Jeez, what next?

Hard Hats


-Bill

Room for bikes

Got this from Dugzilla on the Jockey Journal tonight. Just in case someone needs it...
Bill,If you are, and you hear of anyone breaking down or needing a ride I will be heading down 44 then over to 40 through TX, NM, Arizon into Cali. If anyone heading over to meet up for the EDR has problems feel free to call me, I have a trailer that can hold at least two more bikes and I am traveling alone so I can give rides as well as pick up the bike. My cell is 812-207-4155, and I am heading out in the morning (Sunday) Should hit TX late afternoon. Just thought I would try to help out all I can.
Dug

Weather or not

OK, I couldn't help it. I just HAD to check weather.com. Everything looks good for the first couple days, then Ensenada looks like we may be in for a repeat of last year. We'll have to check the weather again in San Felipe to see if we can get an hour-by-hour forecast. It may be worth getting up at oh-dark-thirty on Saturday to roll out before the showers hit the Pacific side. We'll just see what happens. At least the San Felipe side looks like it's going to be sweet. Just cross your fingers, waterproof that magneto and bring some goggles!


Thursday, April 19

Temecula,
High of 72° Sunny

Warner Springs
High of 65° Sunny

Calexico
High of 85° Sunny

San Felipe
High of 82° Sunny

Friday, April 20

San Felipe
High of 80° Sunny


Saturday, April 21

San Felipe
High of 82° Sunny

Ensenada
High of 67° 40% Chance of rain

Sunday, April 22

Ensenada
High of 69° Mostly sunny


Our bikes are pretty much ready to roll. I got McGoo's tank back on after welding it up the other night. He's got zero shakedown miles on it, but he runs a tight ship, it should be fine. Mine has been getting abused all week and the few things that have come loose or broken have been fixed. Between chiropractor visits, Chris is thrashing on the dual Mikuni'd Pan. I've got tools, spares, fluids, etc all packed and staged. Chase Truck One is dialed and ready to roll. Several groups and riders are already on the road, from places like Virginia, Canada, Denver, Florida and St. Louis, some escaping snow and we sure hope they travel safe. See everyone in a few days.

-Bill

No Excuses

The weak are dropping like flies. I've got a rash of excuses from people this week on how something has gotten in the way of the ride for them. We've known about it all year, gents. You either really want it or don't. Bad roads bring good people they say in Baja... One fella who isn't taking "NO" for an answer is our man "FlyinSolo" from Austin, Texas. Broke his ankle last month and it's still in a cast. What to do? Buy a new Sporty, paint it with spray cans, borrow a floor board from a guy on the internet who've you've never even met, strap your crutches to the back, and RIDE that sucker! He's riding out from Texas and we should see him at the pre-party on Wed night if all goes well. No excuses from this dude.

LAST-MINUTE EDR CHECK LIST

The EDR pulls out of Temecula in nine days. First-time Diablo Runner William from San Diego stopped by this afternoon to ask if we had room for his 2-gallon gas can in our chase vehicle. I told him if he brought it with him to the EDR pre-party at Biltwell HQ on April 18th, probably yes, but only because he asked. His other smart questions prompted me to make this last-minute checklist for first-time guys on next week's ride:

1) If you think your bike might run out of gas, make your own provisions for bringing extra fuel, or be prepared to wait for our chase truck to arrive. If it does, be willing to chip in a couple bucks for the life-saving top-off.

2) If you think your bike might break down at any point during the run, bring your own ratcheting tie-down straps. We're providing one chase trailer, but it only has 2 sets of tie-downs and those are already called for, or will be occupied by other broken bikes by the time you hit the curb.

3) Bring toilet paper.

4) Bring money. I recommend at least $100 per day to cover shelter, food, booze, the police, etc.

5) Be self-sufficient, self-confident, self-aware and self-contained. We can't stress this enough. The EDR is a freakout hellride into the heart of Baja with a pack of outlaw bikers; not a field trip to Sea World with your ninth-grade science class. Whining, douchebaggery and sundrie other lame actions will be dealt with harshly by seasoned vets on the ride.

6) Be prepared to fix a flat or two. Mexican roads are especially shitty, and spring showers bring out the worst in Baja's legendary pot holes. I recommend two tubes, but one patch kit MINIMUM is a must.

7) Ride single-file on two-lane mexican blacktop, not side-by-side in some HOG-approved touring formation. Doing so will allow you to dodge road debris, pot holes, fallen comrades, etc. The EDR is not a parade, and it's definitely not a race. Our friend TC from OC pre-ran the San Felipe route two weeks ago and a rider in his group DIED becuase he hit a pot hole, lost control and plowed into the dude next to him. A yard sale ensued, and one guy didn't get up. We're SERIOUS.

8) Think three times before acting once. Stupidity in Mexico earns dubious rewards.

9) Be prepared to help a friend in need. He'll reward you in kind at the cantina...

10) Have fun. We're wound tighter than a bull's ass at fly time around here because we know this year's ride is going to be a blast. That is if any of us gets to ride. Chris is still building pipes, my gas tank's still at the painter and Andy Dunn is still tweaking on Bill's carb.

Fuck. Some things never turn out the way you planned...

See you April 19th in San Felipe.

Last of the Shirts

We've sold or given away just about all the shirts we had left. If you still want to get a shirt before the run, you can contact Caleb over at Cro Customs or Wendy at Spartan. Both EDR sponsors made their own event shirts and may have some left in stock. See you next week!