Good things to know about our events.

Length: Our events are usually a two day affair, almost always on a weekend. You can participate on one or both days, it’s your choice.

Location: We stage from either private property, such as a campground, or on public land. Since direct trail access is not an issue for our Dual Sport rides, we frequently stage from a private campground or township park. Directions to the staging area are on the event flyer. We will arrow the “main route” into the location on some events. We encourage you to email or call if you have any concerns about how to get there.

Accomodations: Camping is always an option at our staging areas. Some events have free field camping, some have pay-for camp sites, some have cabins you can rent. There are normally motels within a short drive from the event locations. The specifics are always included on the information page for an event. Most participants will camp at the staging area, starting on Friday night and staying through until Sunday afternoon.

Crowds: Each event varies on the number of participants. The Club Rides are under 20 riders; the regular events are in the 50 rider range while we work to keep our “key” events, such as the AMA National Dual Sports, under 150 riders. There is no timing or other specific time you have to leave camp, so there are no crowds on the routes, no big “bunches” of folks hogging up the trail.

Food: Some of our events have food provided on trail and at camp. Some run you past eatin’ places so you can make your own choice. Event flyers will indicate if food is provided.

Fuel: All of our routes have gas stops (commercial gas stations). Distance varies on each loop but the average is 70 miles. It’s safest to bring some gas in a can to camp with you, that way the bike can start the day on a full tank.

Tech Inspection: Also known as Sound Check. Normally done first thing in the morning. Look for the signs indicating where it starts or follow the bikes to the line. Sometimes done the night before the event. You should go through sound check prior to heading to the sign up table. Registration forms are given out to those that pass the technical inspection. Please wear your helmet when riding to the sound check. Event flyer will have the specific times.

Sign Up: After passing tech inspection head on over to the sign up booth/table/tent. There you can pay your registration fees, get ORV stickers (if needed) and related. Information about the ride is available here. Route sheets, maps and GPS data is provided here. Sign up starts in the AM, usually 8AM. See the event flyer for specifics.

Required membership: You can sign up for whatever membership that’s required at the sign up table. If membership is required, it will be listed in the event flyer. Don’t hesitate to call/email if you have questions.

Recommended equipment: A route sheet holder is highly recommended. Our rides are based on route sheets. We sell as well as rent these at sign up if you don’t bring one. GPS is great, we can load most Garmin units at sign up. Knobby tires are pretty much required for all but our “adventure bike” rides and even then we still recommend knobs over street oriented rubber.

Routes: Routes use public roads, public land, forest trails and even private land. Permits are obtained for use where required. These roads are open to the public during the events, there is no “one-way” for any of the course, so expect oncoming traffic. Please note that some of our events use “event trail” that may only be open during our event.

Pit riding: Nope, none of that. Don’t do it. Wear a helmet whenever you are riding.

All night partying: Quiet time is 11PM. Party as much as you want, just don’t disturb your neighbors. If we can hear you after 11PM, you will be asked to leave. Especially generators!!! Shut ’em down at night.

Route sheets
The Tools of Dual Sporting

By John Bunker

Much like Enduro riders, Dual Sport riders use route sheets to help them navigate the days’ course, but if you are new to off road riding or dual sports I’ll start from the beginning. To make your days’ ride easier the route sheet should be in a route sheet holder. This is a simple box that attaches to your handlebars that the route sheet, sometimes also referred to as a “roll chart” sits in. Route holders will have a clear plastic lens on top to view the chart inside and will have two knobs so you can advance or backup the sheet. These holders are made by various companies like, Moose Racing, MSR, orEnduro Engineering and can be purchased online or at most bike dealers.
The route sheets that are supplied at all Great Lake Dual Sporter’s events are paper rolls just like the ones used on adding machines. These rolls are the Holy Grail for us Dual Sporters because on them are most of the information that is needed to ride the given event.
So what’s given you’re asking?

1. Mileage out from known position, either the start or a reset,
2. A pictograph showing the way you should turn at the corner,
3. And also a description of the road that you will be riding on.

This example has been cut and laid side by side for this article.
On the example which is an actual route sheet, the left side shows the legend, which is always at the beginning of the roll chart. This legend tells the rider how to read the text on the chart. On the right side of the example is what the rider actually reads while riding the event. The first thing is what the mileage should be at the approaching corner, either from the start or a reset. Then there is the pictograph which shows, in a very simple way, what the corner or intersection will look like and what way to turn. And finally the text that tells the rider what to look for or what kind of road you will be turning onto. The route sheet is advanced forward in the route sheet holder as you ride, and most holders will let you see three to four lines through the lens at a time.
A very simple but effective way to navigate that is also used with your bikes odometer. Also supplied at all GLDS events is a very detailed area map of the days’ course and for the more techno geeks there is GPS data that can be downloaded to your GPS unit. With all this information at hand it makes it almost impossible to get lost, but for some, (me) they still manage to find a way.

GLDS is an 501c4 non-profit organization who’s purpose is to promote and support the amateur sport and social aspects of Dual-Sport Motorcycle riding.

We are a membership organization and our success is solely attributable to those members. There are near seven hundred members in the Club (see front page for current number).

We support and promote Dual Sport motorcycle riding, generally within the state of Michigan. This includes putting DS routes together for a number of events throughout the year.

We also help maintain the trail systems in Michigan, ie “Trail Maintenance”. Currently the Geels Trail under our wing. The maintenance we perform includes brushing and signing. We also grade this trail and perform other trail bed “restoration” work. Brushing the trail is the most work

as you must remove any branches/limbs in a 50″ wide by 8 foot high rectangle on the trail. Signing the trail covers the installation of ORV trail signs (brown carsonite fiberglass masts), stop signs and posts and the other signs you see on the trail. We think most people are not aware that it is volunteers that put the signs up, wrongly assuming the DNR “does it all”. Here’s one of our Member’s installing information signs on the Geels ORV Trail.

Putting a Dual Sport route together can be quite a bit of work. Once an area has been selected we must find “the good stuff”, make sure it runs by gas stations, make sure it’s legal, draw up maps to show where we’re going; get permits from the DNR to run an event through the area, actually ride the area, record the course, ride the course again and proof our work, generate the paperwork (route sheets, maps, etc.) and finally hand the paperwork out at the event. Sounds easy, no?