Making 2020 Rad

From the cancellation/postponement of MRANN races, the Virginia City Grand Prix, RAD meetings,  RAD rides, and trail work due to COVID, fires and everything else this year has hurled at us so far… I know everyone else is as sick of 2020 as we are.

Despite 2020's unique challenges, Sierra Trail Works pushed through with the professional trail work funded by the Nevada OHV Commission this summer. Because of this project, we now enjoy less whoops, more flow, less ruts, sustainable water crossings, and a new rock obstacle.  By the way, to stay within budget, Kevin Joell donated 170 hours of his time to this project.

And we are also extremely thankful to all the firefighters who saved the maze from that very close call, especially after all the work which was done.

With the Forest Service’s blessing, we marked a course designed by Vice Prez Richie Burr (who always nails the logistics of the funnest RAD rides) for our second annual scavenger hunt member ride in the Peavine Maze.  The 15 mile main loop featured the single track we maintained as part of the grant project as well as trails we haven't touched yet.  With easy, intermediate and optional difficult sections, this ride had something for everyone. We were pleasantly surprised by the substantial number of new RAD members and families who showed up to see what we are all about, as well as many familiar "OG" members.

The first stop on the ride was at a popular scenic point overlooking Long Valley (known to everyone as Ewok Village), where we celebrated RAD's adoption of the maze trails by having each member scoop a shovel or two of dirt for the installation of our sign.  Having our RAD members take part in this very cool milestone so that everyone can have a little sweat equity in our trails was very special and symbolic of our commitment to maintain this area for dirtbike use for years to come. #keeptrailsrad

Inspired by the classic movie On Any Sunday, the sign was designed by RAD's President, Mike Marcum, and constructed by Richie Burr.  And if you're wondering how that very tall sign and the 100 pounds of Quickcrete and water made it all the way up the moderately technical single track hill... you can thank Phil Fell, Brad Moore and Corey Hansen for that slave... er, I mean, skilled... labor.

From here we sent our members onward to collect the tokens of the 2020 apocalypse at various checkpoints: viruses, murder hornets, fires and aliens.  Extra credit if you could retrieve a square of toilet paper staged at the top of an optional tricky hill climb.

RADmins swept the ride and enforced a strict check-in/out process to ensure all riders made it back to enjoy their free pizza hosted by RAD.  In exchange for bringing back the 2020 trinkets, riders were given raffle tickets.

Thanks to our supporting local shops, Big Valley Honda, MotoSource, Reno Motor Sports, Michaels Reno Powersports, Specialty Automotive and PJ & Co., we had more raffle prizes to give away at this event than we ever had before.  About half of the riders went home with rad things like goggles, gear, chest protectors, shirts and hats, tools and gift certificates... and probably new riding buddies too.  

It was a full-circle, feel-good day for the RADministration team. It might look like just a home-made ride put on by a bunch of amateurs (... which it is) ... but in the big picture, this is the fruit of our many labors: building relationships with land managers and businesses; raising club money; pursuing, securing and executing a state-funded trail maintenance project; educating ourselves and being involved with land use issues; engaging and building a sense of unity within the rider community (and extending olive branches to the non-riding community); countless hours of Facebook messenger group chats; and generally pushing the ball forward to build our organization and have a bigger footprint. And at the end of the day, seeing our members having fun, making friends and feeling like they belong to RAD family is at the core of what motivates us to do more.

Thank you to everyone who showed up on Sunday, and to all those who support us.