In Chicago at a work conference, discussing e-commerce with other travel and tourism marketing professionals. Listening and observing, and wondering if some of these folks feel like they are trying to catch and hold on to a greased pig, that’s the analogy I think of when I hear folks ask questions relating to how they might “monetize social media” and the like. And the greased pig squirts off into the corner, and then someone else tries to catch and hold it. I learned today that in the Social Media Ladder of Technographics, I somehow qualify and fit the profile of Creator (because I started this blog). I learned the online travel industry, generating $112 billion dollars in sales a year is the largest segment of e-commerce, porn notwithstanding. Talk about monetizing something. The truth is, most of the time, I was thinking about the upcoming Moto May-hem trip: Utah to Port Orford on the Oregon Coast, following a mostly off-road route called the Trans-America trail. I had a call with my master Yoda, Bart to discuss new tires for the KTM 640 Adventure. I have been reading reviews online for dualsport Pirelli tires, Metzelers, and Dunlops. My bike is currently equipped with Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara tires, front and back. The reviews were inconclusive, so it was good to get some direction from Bart. Based on his advice, I am going to give the Dunlop D606 tires a try. Stay tuned for a full report after I get them mounted.
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On March 30, a small but elite crew of willing participants met in Park City at the Eating Establishment to map out the day’s route that would include 5 Utah resorts (Park City Mountain Resort, Solitude, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton) in no particular order, as well as some rewarding backcountry shots in between. We departed on this journey at about 9:30 AM, and when all was said and done, we returned to Park City a little after 5:00 PM. It should be noted that this trip “officially” never happened, you’ll just have to take my word for it. By the end of the day, we had hiked and skied some of the most legendary backcountry shots the mighty Wasatch has to offer: Patsy Marley, Grizzly Gulch, a chute on Mt. Tuscarora called The Seagull, and managed to squeeze in quite a few great in-bounds runs like the Highboy at Alta. To the 5 amigos who held each other together through a full day of hiking, traversing, crashing on pavement, more hiking, bottomless buckets of fries at Alf’s, more hiking, bonking, breaking trail, and some kick ass memorable turns in between: let’s do it again next year!
SS, Potter, Motionboy and Darth Nater, posing in front of random license plate at Solitude.
Yesterday I fired up my KTM 640 Adventure for the first official ride of 2008. With a turn of the key and a push of the starter button, the 640 started right up. I rode from Park City past the Jordanelle Reservoir and descended into the Kamas Valley, through Oakley, Francis, then up Brown’s Canyon and back to the Chevron for some fresh gas. It was good to get it rolling, and the whole time I was thinking about a big trip being planned for May: Utah to the Oregon Coast on the Trans-America Trail. Seems like a lot of preparation will be needed for this trip, and not a lot of time to get it all sorted out. Trying to talk Bart into joining the posse. Darth Nater will hopefully post details soon. Had a brief meeting with Darth and Ben to “plan”, but we really only looked at a stack of maps and ate Thai food. Ben doesn’t even have a bike yet, so he probably has the most preparing to do. If anyone out there in Utah is selling a used KLR, leave a comment here.
Today was warm enough that plenty of bike messengers and motorcyclists were scampering around downtown SLC with spring fever. Today I saw Roberto Wray, hair slicked back, arms stretched out on his Harley, cruising down by Caputo’s for a late lunch. Check out Roberto’s website for freelance design. Especially if you like Harleys. Today I thought maybe I could be done with ski season. Today I was thinking bring on the moto season. But tomorrow it might snow.
Mirror Pool
Originally uploaded by itsallaboutthebike
This photo was taken on the way back from Pine Creek Ski Resort, a one-lift operation in Cokeville, Wyoming. Perhaps there is another Pine Creek moto mission in store for 2008?
It’s mid February, and it seems like a long haul between cold winter and warm spring in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The KTM is up on the centerstand, hooked up to the battery tender, draped with a dust cover. Occasionally, some skis are left leaning against it. Can’t wait to get it out, crank it up and run some fuel through the carb. A crash on the mountain bike last fall resulted in a shattered clavicle and brought my moto season to a premature end. After just watching the sixth and final episode of Long Way Down, I’m getting the bug to get out on the bike. There will be plenty of powder days yet this winter and a few more sledneck excursions with Nato into the Uintas, but I am looking for at least one warm sunny weekend in March to get the bike rolling.