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- Gibbens
3rd Annual MexTrek Adventure Ride
Oct 14 - 17, 2009
Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
(the Sierra Leon region)
Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
(the Sierra Leon region)
The Sierra Leon region (named by intrepid explorer Milton Otto) is a fantastic dual sport playground containing twisty mountain roads, a seemingly uncountable number of class 1 through class 4 unpaved roads, beautiful mountain vistas, pine forests, desert highlands, and unbelievable mountain passes. I suggest that the dual sport adventure riding here is as good as that in the Copper Canyon region. Not only is it a great riding area, but it isn't particularly far away either. In fact, for many Texas riders it is essentially in their backyards (a 1 day ride). So, in short, don't miss the 3rd annual Mextrek adventure ride. It's the best adventure ride all year.
Registration is open - Registration is $35. All registered riders will receive a 48 page, spiral bound MexTrek ride guide, three 11x17 topographical maps, GPS route downloads, and a commemorative t-shirt. Download the registration form here, complete it and get it in the mail to me. To download - click on the above link and then save the form to your computer.
Registration ends Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009. Registrations must be postmarked on or before Sep 30, 2009 to ensure sufficient time to receive and process your registration and then mail your Ride Guide and maps to you. Registrations postmarked after Sep 30th likely won’t receive their Ride Guide and maps prior to leaving for Galeana.
If you miss registration, you can still attend. Just catch up with me in Galeana and I'll get you signed up. I'm bring some extra ride guides, maps, and t-shirts but make no guarantee that any or all these items will be available if you wait to register. Your best bet is to get registered by the deadline, but, hey, sometimes things happen.
Itinerary
Dates: Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 – Saturday, Oct 17, 2009
Organization: MexTrek begins at ride headquarters 7 p.m. local time Wednesday, Oct 15th. Wednesday evening is for meeting other riders, organizing into ride teams, and selecting and planning the next day’s route.
On Thursday and Friday each team will ride their selected routes. Upon completion of the day’s ride riders will likely adjourn to a local establishment for food, drinks, and war stories.
MexTrek officially ends Saturday morning but Saturday can also be an extra riding day for anyone who didn't get enough on Wed - Fri.
Ride Headquarters:
Hotel Magdelana
Intersection of 5 de Mayo & 15 de Mayo streets
Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (town of Galeana, state of Nuevo Leon)
Hotel Magdalena: telephone 826-213-0106 (if dialing from the USA dial 011 52 826 213 0106)
The other hotel in Galeana, in case the ride headquarters hotel is full:
Hotel Jardin: telephone 826-213-0420 (if dialing from the USA dial 011 52 826 213 0420)
FAQs
Wednesday through Saturday? What's up with that? My logic for selecting Wed as the start day and Sat as the end day is to facilitate travel from and to home. Most Texas riders can leave on Tuesday after work and get to or very near the Texas - Mexico border on Tuesday evening. They can then easily make it to Galeana on Wednesday and likely get in some good riding along the way. On Saturday, riders can simply reverse this - have a great dual sport ride on Saturday and end up at, or across, the border Sat evening, then get home at a decent time on Sunday.
What should I ride? There is an abundance of riding opportunities in this part of Mexico. A variety of different routes of varying terrain and difficulty are available to choose from so any adventure or dual sport bike will be fine. If you have a limited fuel range, strap a 1-2 gallon gas can on your bike and you will be okay.
Is it safe? Most riders have heard the stories about the drug wars going on in Mexico so the question i get asked most often is whether it is safe to travel/ride in Mexico. Yes, I think it is safe to ride in Mexico if you follow some basic safety guidelines such as don't ride at night, don't buy/sell drugs, or don't go out drinking at night in a border town by yourself. If you observe the same safety guidelines you would follow anywhere, you will most likely not have any issues.
What's the best route to get to Galeana? You can cross into Mexico at a number of places, but for most riders I recommend McAllen. It's less touristy and makes for the shortest ride to Galeana. A group of riders will be meeting at the Motel 6 in McAllen on Wednesday morning to ride to Galeana together.
Can I team up with other riders for the ride to Galeana? If you have never been to Mexico, are unsure of crossing the border by yourself, or just want to ride to Galeana with a group then here's the ticket. There will be a group ride from McAllen to Galeana starting on Wednesday morning Oct 14th. All riders are invited to meet in the parking lot of the Motel 6 in McAllen at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning Oct 14th with their border crossing paperwork already completed for a group ride to Galeana. Riders will organize into groups of 4-10 riders, select a ride leader for each group, and then each group will ride together across the border and on to Galeana.
By the way - get your border crossing paperwork done before Wednesday morning. The groups will cross the border and keep on trucking. The groups won't be waiting for anyone who hasn't done their border paperwork.
Motel 6
700 W. Expressway 83
McAllen, TX
956-687-3700
Where to leave your truck/trailer in McAllen: If you trailered/trucked to McAllen and are riding from there to Galeana you can leave your truck/trailer in long term parking at the McAllen airport. The cost is reasonable and your vehicle should be reasonably safe.
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