Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1534665
that transpired. But let's be clear, we won't be giving the collector who now has custody of these rare machines any press in this magazine, and we'll leave it at that. And Gary Jones, thank you for your me, sir. A er my rather lengthy gas stop, we headed into what I felt was the highlight of the en re event. Once out of the deep sand, the course led us up several steep rocky climbs that reminded me of home. Loose steep rocks with a hard pack base makes me feel all funny inside, and that Beta 430 RR Race made me look like a hero cres ng each and every ridge with ease. Like a mountain goat, with no drama, that 430 became an extension of my limbs. By this me, I'd learned to trust the bikes, and they weren't going to hurt me. Yes, dirt riding in general is fun, but riding defensively is exhaus ng and can be dangerous. Familiarizing oneself and riding confidently is a magical place once you get there. From that point on, I began to really enjoy the Nevada 200. A er cres ng another cool ridge trail, the course led us up on a large plateau that overlooked a beau ful canyon. With crisp blue skies, you could see for miles. As one who's less than fond of heights, I took comfort in the wide swath along the plateau's edge, enjoying the view. Minutes later, I spo ed a group of riders gathered at what appeared to be a scenic vista of sorts. Cool, I thought, what a great photo-op spot this should be. Just as I dismount- ed, a rider slipped off the edge down a ridiculously steep descent onto a narrow ridge trail with what appeared to be a drop of hundreds of feet on either side. Now I've seen the YouTube videos of this ac on, and I'll be honest, I find them terrifying to watch on TV. Looking at the situa on with my own eyes, I was a bit out of my comfort zone and shared my feelings with the others standing there, kicking the dirt also. This was the real deal; there were no bypasses, and there was no turning back as riding backwards on the trail was strictly verboten. I took comfort in the fact that I wasn't alone in my concern, as others were also contempla ng their existence. It was then a pack of riders familiar with the area and terrain slipped down that cliff without the slightest bit of hesita on. These men and a couple women made it look simple, and before I knew it, they'd made their way down to the desert floor, ripping along in a cloud of dust and head- ed to the next range to scale. These fine folks gave me the courage that I needed and soon grew red of watching and headed off that cliff on my own, doing my damndest not to look to the sides and keep my eyes on the front wheel and trail. 30 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com