We had originally planned to go to Cross Creek, but my cousin Harvey (the local guide) said Cycle Ranch would better. We got a late start and after breakfast of Pigs in a Blanket and breakfast tacos at Rudy's, we were on our way. If you go to Austin, you MUST eat at Rudy's. High-falutin, (combination gas station and fast food BBQ?) it's not, but I could eat every meal there! They ship their BBQ sauce all over the world, it's so popular. They have beef, pork and chicken BBQ and will make it anyway you want and have tons of side dishes and drinks from beer, to milk to Red Bull or Sobe. We would usually buy breakfast to go, and get some lunch for later at the track. We ate there every chance we got and Mike brought home some sauce for his son Zeke.

NOTE: Videos of the Cycle Ranch ride are at the bottom of this page

On the way there


The excitement builds!


Finally, we're there



Cycle Ranch is one of the most prestigious tracks in Texas, second only to Lake Whitney. But CR has prepped track practices and trails to ride, Lake Whitney only has races, you can never ride there unless it's a race. Cycle Ranch has been used by Dirt Bike and Motocross Action magazines to run bike tests on. It's got a very flowing layout and tons of ups and downs. It's a pretty safe track, not a single triple and only a few doubles. The DIRT is what makes it. Look at the pictures, it's a combination of red sand and loam and it's great stuff. It does get some big braking bumps at the bottom of the hills going into corners and those will beat you up a bit.

This where the hold the podium and the press conferences after the big races. As you can imagine, it would be packed with riders and their families. I like the Alamo feel. CR is actually just outside San Antonio, where the real Alamo is. Also, notice the VP Racing fuels garbage can on the left? CR is also called VP, because the same folks that own CR own VP as well. You can buy VP gas right there at the track.


Would you look at that dirt? It's perfect!


Me in Moto heaven. It was 80 degrees that day,
not a cloud in the sky ands 30's back home.
Jamison tooks these. Thanks, Jamison!





My cousin Harvey, the local from Austin
(along with his Dad, my uncle Dude, more on him later)


Probably my favorite picture
I have no idea who the rider is



Rod on his new 2005 CR-450, the 1st time he ever rode it!
Great place to break a bike in


Ok, I lied, this is my favorite picture.
This is Mike Wade. He was flying the whole time down in Texas.



Ain't that purty?
Mike's YZ-450, all covered in that heavenly Texas dirt.



Another great pic of the track
Not that exciting, but look at that corner, it's heaven!


Another shot of the track



For some reason, I don't have a single picture
of Jamison at CR, sorry dude!

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Videos:
Me #1
Me #2
Me #3
Me nearly getting taken out, gotta be more aggressive!

Mike
Jamison (riding sick!)
Cousin Harvey (riding with a bad shoulder)
Rider unknown, but fast
A big pack of riders!

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Links

Intro
Back -> The trip down and Saturday
Next -> Monday - Street Riding
Tuesday - Cross Creek AND Austin Del Valle MX Park

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