Getting Close...

Okay fellas (and a few brave ladies), the last minute questions are pouring in by phone, email and PM's. A lot have been answered on the questions page. Please read through that long-winded attempt to spread the baja gospel. If it's your first time in Mexico on two wheels, it should answer many of your questions and paint a decent picture of what to expect. None of this stuff should be rocket science, just having a good attitude, a decent set of man-skills and some common sense will be enough. Do yourself a favor and print out a map of the route, google the weather or anything else that can be found on the interwebs and show up prepared. Here's a few recent (real) questions and the best answers I can dream up.

What about Banditos?
I've never had a problem, but recent reports tell of some activity on the lone stretches of the highway between San Felipe and Ensenada. I think we generally represent a pretty hard target and any dumbass bandito that picks some of this crew to try and hold up is going to pretty suprised. Chase trucks, don't stop to help locals on the side of the road unless you have a decent crew with you and feel like pushing your luck. The Tijuana area is not worth stopping in. You are guaranteed trouble unless you are lucky, smart or both.

What's the weather like?
You have the same google I do, figure it out. The worst weather San Felipe gets is usually wind. The weather will change from coast to coast and is generally warm in the low spots and colder in the mountains. weatherunderground is a good resource.

What should I wear?
A bunny suit would cool. Actually from the east coast guys, this is not that odd of a question since from the photos you would think it is all flip flops and surf trunks. That's not always the case. On the ride you most likely will need a leather jacket in the high spots. We go through mountains as high as 4000 ft and briefly it gets cold by wussy California standards. Amazingly the desert is warm, if not downright hot. Often windy. The pacific side can get foggy and chilly but is generally the same as weather for San Diego, which is to say nice. It did dump rain on us the first year, but that was in March, not April.

What about prescription drugs?
I would bring some sort of proof of a legal prescription. I have no real experience with this. Generally the feds are looking for bricks of hash or coke and aren't too worried about your asthma inhaler. But, if you go out raising hell and piss off a cop I suppose he could fuck with you for it if he wanted. If it's a life or death deal for you, find someone on the run that speaks Spanish and buy his drinks so he'll help translate if you get your tit in a ringer. Other drugs? It's a big risk when there are lots of other ways to enjoy yourself and not risk a Mexican prison!

What are the laws about blinkers and lane splitting in CA?
Good question now that we have so many coming from out of state. Here's a list. It can also be found by searching ABATE websites.

Can I buy EDR shirts on the run?
Yep, we'll have some of the official EDR shirts plus sponsors shirts in one place both in San Felipe and Ensenada. This is the only vending allowed and the staff is all volunteer so they appreciate tips in either cold cash or cold beer. When you meet someone who is a sponsor of the EDR, please realize that they have to have done the run at least once to be a sponsor and had to ask if they could sponsor it. We never solicit sponsorship and these are people who are into it for the ride, not the hype, and deserve your support.

Are the college girls coming back?
Man, I hope so. Last year was nuttier than squirrel shit. I kind of doubt that it will ever be reproduced like that, but it is spring break, so even if they are not in camp with us, there should be a few out in town if that is what you are after. No promises though.

What's the deal with chase trucks?
We've covered it over and over, but please don't depend on us to chase this many bikes. It's just not possible. That being said, look for Matt Frick driving the big white Biltwell van with a black flatbed behind it. Matt is no biker but he's my best friend since high school and knows baja better than me. He is going to do his best to stay in the very rear of the column and help out stragglers. If you get stuck with a broken bike and he's still got room on the flatbed, he'll give you about ten minutes to trouble shoot your pile and then load it up or you are on your own. He'll have plenty of gas if that is what you need. If you are just stopped taking a piss or having a smoke, wave him on so he knows you are OK, otherwise if you stop he'll be trying to help. Have a plan in the back of your head for what to do if your bike shits the bed. Have tie-downs with you. Buy Matt a beer at the preparty and get his cell phone number. (Call your cell company and turn on international calling before you leave). Don't get off the highway with any problems, how can we find you then? If you want someone to drag your gear down there, pick someone else to bribe. Matt's van is going to be full of shit and it may be midnight before he rolls in depending on who he's helping, etc. Most of all, and this should go without saying, if someone is broke on the side of the road, STOP and see if you can help them out. Unless they are waving you on, you need to stop and lend a hand, tool or spare part. This goes for you guys driving trucks in support of someone else. At least stop and make sure the dude has something to drink and offer whatever you've got to help. This has worked great the last two years, and no one has been left for dead that I know of, so keep the vibe straight and help a brother out, it really is what it's all about.

Where do I put my clothes?
Are you fucking kidding me? Soak them in race gas, roll them up and shove them up your ass. If you are asking this sort of question, please don't come. Seriously it takes a little more self reliance than that and everyone is tired of hearing it from me. Also, please don't ask McGoo anything. You are not going to get the answer you want, he will flame on you. Figure it out some other way. I'm kind of screwing him and Chris and everyone else who "organizes" this thing by leaving a week ahead of time and going the long way to get there, so McGoo will have his hands full with lots of other tasks and won't be a good one to ask for sunscreen. Just a word to the wise...

What's with this East Coast Invasion?
Man, our bud Walter put together a crazy crew of dudes coming from the East. Jersey, NY, Mass, Virginia, you name it, he's got a giant trailer bringing out 20 or so die-hard rider's bikes, and they are stoked to be riding this thing. I can't imagine that many guys spending that much hard-earned cash and vacation days just to go on our silly run! It's the biggest compliment we could be paid. We met most of these guys on the Gypsy Run last year and to a man, they are stand up guys that I'm proud to have on our coast. Please, if you see a guy bellied up at the cantina with a Jersey accent, buy that fucker a beer because he worked harder than any of us So Cal miscreants to get here and deserves some props. We've got way more riders coming from the midwest, Canada, the Pacific North West and even overseas, so treat these guys right and flow the baja spirit of relaxed good times, good friends and good bikes.


This is Matt. He likes cigars and cold beer. He'll be driving the Biltwell short bus (big, white, E350 van) and trailer. He is a 25-year Baja vet who came on last year's EDR and was hooked. Now we just gotta get him on two wheels... Thanks Matt!


A quick word about riding in packs.
Boy, nothing spells cluster fuck like a hundred dudes hopped up and ready to ride the wild thunder. This is compounded by no one knowing each other or the route, bikes not shaken down yet, first time in a pack, new people, etc. Do yourself a BIG favor - pick a few guys that have bikes that are about your speed and vow to stick together. Military convoy rules apply here: EVERYONE KNOWS THE ROUTE. Bring a map, study it, write it in sharpie on your tank, follow someone who knows it, whatever it takes. It's easy after we cross the border and make it through town, there is only one road south. We don't have road captains and all that stuff that makes riding in a pack easier. It's a total disaster and you should know that before it starts so you don't get frustrated. It's funny how the first day starts like a crack-fueled hare scramble and the next four days go like clockwork. Once you settle into a groove over the border and get out onto the wonderful Mexican highway system, open your interval between bikes and ride single file unless you are with guys you trust and have experience with. When someone dies on this ride it's going to be from riding too close to unfamiliar riders and something either coming off a bike, or a rider running out of talent in front of someone else. This ain't the highway back home, and we are in NO hurry, so slow down and spread out.

Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to go on this run, it's not easy on anyone and that's kind of the point. We appreciate your involvement and I personally look forward to seeing you ugly bastards in San Felipe!

-Billdozer