Bicycle Phil's Mexico Cross Country Rally

Hi All,

I rode my KLR to Bishop, CA, on Tuesday to see Phil's
new KTM, and to watch him start his excellent
adventure to attmept to race the orange wonder from
Bishop to the dunes of Mexico.

As near as I can tell, Phil has been hanging out with
an intimidating crowd of Dakar-obsessed
fast-and-furious dirt bike racers. They are true
belivers, and they are out to recruit you, too.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

From Team Rally Pan America's website:
"Cross country rallies, unlike many other forms of
off-road racing, involve a lot of mental training.
You need to know how to manage your bike and body and
learn to navigate using only a roadbook and compass
heading.

"We run private training events for competitors
preparing for international rallies (as well as those
who want a 'taste' of what it's like!), where you will
learn from experienced racers all about navigating,
and keeping your head (and yourself) in the race."

Note they do not elaborate on what happens when you
fail to keep yourself "in the race" ...

There were about ten of these dirt bike beserkers at
the campsite at Bishop when I got there. Phil was off
riding his new KTM with Dave & Jen, the people who
helped Ethan with his KLR at the Sheetiron this year.
So, I was on my own.

These are the guys Phil is assocaiting with: One guy
had a bone sticking out from his shoulder from a
recent dislocation from a dirt-bike crash. Oh yes, he
was there to ride. Another had a cast on his hand from
hitting a cow in the dark down in Baja. On a dirt
bike. Killed the cow, got up, and kept riding, blood
from his broken nose filling his goggles. There was a
crew there with a custom H-D powered V-rod Dakar
side-hack, with three monster truck wheels and a rear
sprocket the size of a garbage can lid. There was a
Dakar finisher on his XR650, and the guy leading the
SCORE Baja points.

They were all very friendly. It was scary. They
offrered me a ride on the side-hack as the monkey. I
said "no sir" and prayed Phil would be back soon to
protect me ...

Phil soon returned, and everything was good. His new
bike is cool and the handle bars are festooned with
expensive navigation bits, and an extra gas tank under
the fancy aftermarket seat. New tires. Tow rope zip
tied to fork. Extra tube strapped to front
fender.Fanny pack full of tools. Camel Back. GPS.
Buttons. Switches.

I won't even get into the support trucks.

These guys are ready for anything, and ready to roll,
race, crash, get up, and do it again.

I'm pleased to say: Phil took off on Wednesday, did a
40 mile liason, raced 100 miles, climbed killer hills,
and came home in FOURTH PLACE! Woo-hoo!

He says he crashed, too.

Oh yeah, he got up and kept racing.

The EMT he went to last night said it looks like his
shoulder isn't broken.

"Ibuprophin and ice, and I'm off at 6 am on Thursday
for a 300 mile stage", sez Phil. And cook for everyone
when he's done racing for the day.

Repeat till you get to Mexico.

It's epic AND heroic.

Phil's bike looked great with Mickey's puppy-wing
sticker prominently displayed on the front number
plate.

See you in the parking lot,
-- John