The Plumas Circumnavigator is a 3 day dual sport event for the " Dirt Only " dual sport rider who is looking for a true challenge and adventure. This ride is recommended for experienced dual sport riders and is not suitable for heavy bikes or beginners. This may be the best Dual Sport ride ever. Check out the Ironman Dual Sport website at
www.ironmandualsport.com 
Ride Report from 2009 Plumas Circumnavigator
By: Duffy collin
ATTN: Those Of You That Dual Sport:
RE: Ironman Dual Sport's "Plumas Circumnavigation 450" Oct. 10th, 11th & 12th.
It was Bob Van Court's (
ironmandualsport@sbcglobal.net /
www.ironmandualsport.com ) first effort putting on this particular ride, as he had already done the "Wildwood 400" a couple of months ago further West. This ride winds all around the Plumas National Forest North East of Lake Oroville around Bucks Lake, La Porte, Doyle, Portola, Quincy and I'm telling you, it was amazing.
He took us on routes that made you ask; "How did he find this remote little jeep trail? Or, man, how far is this from civilization / mankind? Or even, are we really in California?" ...Yeah, the Plumas National Forest has so much diversity in all things nature can throw at you, that you're constantly astounded by things you're seeing or riding through. This was Bear and Deer hunting Season, so we did have to be wary of the occasional hunters, that either barely waved at us waving at them, or they simply ignored you, or flipped you off (only once - that we noticed). Maybe we were scaring the animals away, ya think?
Anyway, other than watching for those guys and the occasional logging truck, this was a fabulous ride. Bob takes us through so many fast a furious fire roads, that lead to these tight rocky jeep trails up to some awesome DG (decomposed granite) upper elevation peaks and valleys, all with accurate computer generated route charts and GPS routes that were dead on. The second day while negotiating a phenomenal section of DG fire and jeep trails that lead us to one of many 'photo op' peaks, my riding bud, Greg, said this alone was worth the price of admission. Which, by the way was $100.00.
The third day was probably the most challenging, as Bob threw some pretty knarly rock and boulder strewn jeep trails and just a teasers worth of 'single track' at us. Next year he promises more "A loop / Hard splits." He wasn't sure of the skill level he might attract on this initial ride, so he kept it pretty do-able by anyone, except big trailees or rank novices. The area he says is saturated with thousands of miles of single track (just like the Johnson Cabin / Rag Dump / Flea Mt. area, literally 10 miles from the start / staging area).
At almost every lunch stop and overnight stop, Bob would be there with our bags and a cooler full of adult beverages (ahhh, even knew we were Pacifico drinkers - the official beer of the EOMB) and the eating establishments we patronized were all top notch.
So, in all we did 150 miles on day one, 180 on day two and 110 on day three. The weather was perfect - just a couple hours of cold on Sat. and Sunday morning - but it was only a half a day away from being super wet as that big Calif. storm was just starting to show itself.
You know, I've heard it said, "There are times you want to ride, and there are times you HAVE to ride." This was one of those "HAVE to" rides for me, so it couldn't have come at a better time. Congratulations Bob, on putting on your second official organized dual sport. After all the conversations at dinner and various breaks, we knew it took a monumental effort for he and his family to put this together w/ countless weekends and week-nights working on it. All of us that rode it sincerely appreciated all you've done. The "Plumas Circumnavigation" was just what the Doctor ordered. Everyone I talked to after the ride said they'll be back next year with dozens of friends.
Duffy Collin riding with Greg Williams
Oakland, CA Redding, CA
