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The CycoActive/Touratech-USA GPS Ride is a self-led ride, created by the crew at CycoActive Inc, manufacturer of fine dual-sport products and the US Importer for Touratech AG.
About the ride: This TWO-DAY camping ride follows paved and un-paved roads through some of the most beautiful areas in the Cascade Mountains. We try to get off the pavement wherever possible, and head for the ridgetops where the views are the best, in search of the road less traveled.
A detailed description of the route is linked below. It would be good to print and read this before you leave on the ride.
About this year's ride: day one will require 6-8 hours of RIDING, so don't start too late, unless you have some serious lighting!
Who can come? Anyone with a dirt-road capable motorcycle, such as a BMW GS, V-strom, DR or KLR.
To participate, you will also need a GPS. The Garmin Mapsource routes are downloadable from this website. If you don't know how to use your GPS, this "trial by fire" will get you up and running very quickly! Don't have a GPS? Come to the kick-off party (see below) and you might find a riding partner with one.
Here's an overview of this year's route. 2005 GPS Ride
About the weather: The ride will go on as scheduled unless weather gets severe (snow or torrential downpours). That being said, all the off-road is on the Eastern side of the Cascades, so even if it's raining here, it's likely to be dry over there. That little map on the right is a link to the route for this year's ride.
Aside from that little electronic gadget on your handlebars, it's a self-guided tour. But...even though you can do it completely on your own, please ride with a partner! Some of the roads are remote, cut into steep faces, with no guard rails.
At the end of the first day, cold beverages, nourishment, camping and your faster friends await. Day two of the ride will be shorter, with several options for adventurous side trips on our way back to Seattle.
Regarding camping: this year we have opted for a "developed" campground ( if you call pit toilets "developed") in the Buck Meadows area, as there are several opportunities for more technical riding there. Drop your luggage, and go ride some singletrack on your GS!!
To camp here, you will need to purchase a Forest Pass, available at the campground. The daily pass is $5. The annual pass, which can be purchased at a ranger station (there's one in Enumclaw) or at REI, is $30. If you park at trailheads for hiking or biking, you may already have one of these. Check your glovebox - it is transferable between vehicles.
Kick-off party on September 9th: For those who want to come download the routes manually, or if you have questions about using GPS, we will have a little gathering at CycoActive HQ on Friday starting around 5 PM. We are located at 701 34th Ave (corner of 34th and Cherry) in Madrona.
PLEASE RSVP!!! The GPS Ride is free, put on by the folks at CycoActive/Touratech. We provide food and beverages on Saturday night, as well as some light fare in the morning (coffee, muffins) so please let us know if you are coming by Thursday Sept 8th if possible. We know how you get when no coffee in the morning. :) (PS. We get the same way!). Send email to Nick to RSVP.
Here are the Route files for the 2005 Touratech-USA GPS Ride. Note that these files are offered in the new .gdb format as well as .mps and .gpx. You may want to update your MapSource software from Garmin to the latest version if you aren't yet using v.6.x (6.8 currently). Garmin's MapSource has improved significantly in recent versions. Support for USB transfers is one new feature. Click here for the latest MapSource update from Garmin. For non-Garmin GPSs, try the "GPS Exchange" format.
For maps on your GPS, both Garmin's U.S. Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots West, and City Select North America or the City Navigator built in to many Garmin StreetPilot models have good detail for the roads on this route. MapSourch USA Topo is another good choice but will show a lot of topographic data on the screen.
2005 GPS RoutesOne file, in 3 formats, normal or compressed. Note: You may need to right-click and choose 'Save As..." if you don't have Garmin MapSource software installed on the PC you are currently using. If you have a GPS that is NOT a Garmin, you might try the "GPS Exchange" format. | ||
| You may want to download the latest Garmin Mapsource update V6.8.0 (FREE) | ||
| Garmin Database format (v6.5 and newer) (GPS Ride 2005.gdb) Download 2005 route Compressed Garmin Database format (GPS Ride 2005.gdb.zip) Download zipped 2005 route |
Garmin MapSource format (older than V6.5) (GPS Ride 2005.mps) Download 2005 route Compressed Garmin MapSource format (GPS Ride 2005.mps.zip) Download zipped 2005 route |
GPS Exchange format (GPS Ride 2005.gpx) Download 2005 route Compressed GPS exchange format (GPS Ride 2005.gpx.zip) Download zipped 2005 route |
Print these Route Descriptions and bring them with you on the ride. they explain the sequence of routes and also the terrain and difficulty.
Route Descriptions:
Route Description - plain text
Route Description - MS Word format
