Appalachian ADV - Adventure & Dual Sport Motorbiking, LLC

Attitude is everything…

If you want to take an ADV bike off pavement you must have a willingness to fall and a positive attitude. You have to be willing to push the limits of your bike and your skills. If you don’t believe in your head and in your cojones that you can do something then do yourself a favor and don’t even attempt it, you will fail. You have to believe that you can do something and visualize victory if you want to succeed. But guess what, sometimes you will still falter. The key is that you have to have the attitude that everything is a learning experience that will eventually make you a better rider.

People join the ADV community for the sense of adventure as well as to challenge themselves physically and mentally. It is not easy and not everyone can do it or wants to, to each his/her own. The only way to find out if you can is to take the plunge and give it a try. Stay positive, pay more attention to the small victories over the bad stuff and learn from your own mistakes (and from the mistakes of others). That being said, you should perform an after action report after each ride, what went well and what didn’t. Do the good stuff again and again (muscle memory comes from repetition). Learn something from what didn’t and make adjustments for it the next time.

A couple paragraphs from an article I put together back in 2018 for the Bike Bandit Blog (for those who have not been around for a while that was an online retailer similar to RevZilla, MotoSport, or Rocky Mountain). Before I had even thought of the Experiment, I was a guest writer for a couple places as well as a BDR Ambassador. As I gained confidence in the saddle; scouted out the amazing terrain in Fools Ride Territory near the Northeast Ohio River Valley, Northwest Pennsylvania and the Allegheny National Forest, The PA Wilds including the Bald Eagle State Forest area; and started to attend some regional events the seeds of Appalachian ADV were being planted. As I started to develop routes in the region I was also gaining a sense of how I would want to run a rally and a tour.

Winter 2019, Appalachian ADV was born via a website and articles. Spring 2020 our first Rally (intended to be Fools Ride) is delayed because of COVID. Summer we run the first official Rally near Richmond, Ohio and our first PA Wilds Tour. Each year we add more Events including starting to run Riding Clinics in 2022. As I set my sights on 2027 we are looking to continue expanding and building the Community. Appreciate everyone that has come along for the ride...

Have Fun, Take Chances (Main Motto)

Experience Gained is Wisdom Earned (Clinic Battle Cry)

Let's Make It Weird (Kane's Infamous Twist on Training)

Appalachian ADV - Adventure & Dual Sport Motorbiking LLC

Riding Clinics, Rallies, Fundraiser Rides, Guided Tours

Our mission is to promote the ADV and Dual Sport styles of motorbiking through various media formats, education and safety, & hosting group rides, rallies, and guided tours.

Our goal is to bring people of diverse backgrounds into this adventure lifestyle to promote camaraderie, enjoy nature via two-wheeled adventure travel, and build confidence by overcoming the challenges presented to the rider when performing ADV & Dual Sport motorbiking.

2027 Schedule is coming together!

The Fools Ride on April Fools' Ride ADV and Dual Sport Rally • April 22-25, 2027

Wildcatters ADV & Dual Sport Rally • July 9-12, 2027

*NEW* The Singing Hills Jamboree • September 17-19, 2027

Still in the works:

Great Adventures Begin Here ADV Rally by Lake Way Powersports

American Legion Fundraiser ADV Ride

Allegheny Backcountry Adventure Loop Guided Tour (Beginner-Friendly, fun for all skills) AKA The ABAL

Explore The PA Wilds Four Tour (Intermediate) AKA EPW4T

*NEW* Bald Eagle Bash Guided Tour (ADV=Advanced; Dual Sport=Upper Intermediate)

Once dates are nailed down for these Events we will then start working on the Group Clinic Schedule!

AppalachianADV{.}com for more information and sign up for the Sporadic Newsletter to hear about our 2027 schedule first! We release information there before we post things out to social media.

Fools Ride is the flagship and has ADV & Dual Sport riding for every skill level. Wildcatters has trail riding on the property and 5 dirt road ADV loops with tons of history including the Cross Adventuring Ghost Town Tour. The New Singing Hills Jamboree will use the same property as Wildcatters for Base Camp and a recreational trails tournament. Great Adventures has the latest Backcountry Discovery Routes Documentary and dirt road riding. Support the American Legion with a dirt road ride in Fools Territory with BIRDFISH BREWING CO. as base camp. Camp off the bikes for 4 days and hit 550 miles of Western PA wilderness and small towns on the ABAL (10 riders). A single base camp for 10 riders on the EPW4T with 450 miles of riding, ~95% on dirt and gravel. Similar set up for the Bald Eagle Bash but a ton of off road style terrain!

Appalachian ADV-Adventure & Dual Sport Motorbiking LLC

Our mission is to promote the ADV & Dual Sport styles of motorbiking through various media formats, education and safety, & hosting group rides, rallies, and guided tours.

Our goal is to bring people of diverse backgrounds into this adventure lifestyle to promote camaraderie, enjoy nature via two-wheeled adventure travel, and build confidence by overcoming the challenges presented to the rider when performing ADV & Dual Sport motorbiking.

The Athlete's Superstition

Many athletes are portrayed as having a superstitious aspect to their preparation. Hollywood has leaned on that theme in just about any movie about athletics. There are definitely those who do feel superstitious and will religiously follow their personal routine before every game, before every play, before every at bat, before coming up to the starting line. For me, it was never about superstition but about the routine, getting my mind in the right place for optimal performance. I had a loose process that would put my mind at ease and relax the tension in my body. The "thing" always has its own flow, whether you are talking about a football game or a race or any type of athletic endeavor. My goal was to align my pre-game flow to allow an easier transition from calm to chaos.

When I coached football, before every game I had a routine: drive from work with some of my favorite music to the school with a stop in between to grab a Whopper Junior and change into my coach's outfit (the BK Lounge effect, it was coined). I needed something to eat and a way to break my mind from the stresses of work to leading these young gentlemen onto the field. I never felt superstition, just a reset and recalibration of mind and body in preparation for the upcoming chess match. If I had to stop for gas, bathroom, or any other variable...it didn't matter if I had to throw the basic routine off with extra steps. I understood why I was doing it and focused on the recalibration. Even now, before each Clinic and Event I have a loose routine to ensure I get into the appropriate mindset and prepare my body for movement.

When I am riding and come up to an obstacle I know will challenge me, I have a process. Assess the terrain, formulize a plan, push out a couple deep breaths, attack and stay loose. At a friend's event a couple years ago I was sitting at the bottom of a gnarly, muddy, rocky hill and was going through that process. One of the spotters heard my breathing and said, "don't worry man, you got this!" In the moment I appreciated the vote of confidence and responded with a "yeah buddy" as the KLX and I billy goat-ed up that hill. After the fact I thought about that moment with a smile on my face...the spotter didn't know me or my process and provided a little cheerleading, and that is what I love about the ADV and Dual Sport Community! Those couple deep breaths that I push out, that is the way I push out that little bit of nerves that get in the way of confidence. I am mentally and physically pushing out the bad, exhaling the funk, and putting my mind and body in a better position to handle the stress, feel the flow, and attain a temporary victory against nature. Does it work every time? Of course not but there is only one way to improve... Have Fun, Take Chances.

AppalachianADV{.}com and the Sporadic Newsletter

ADV & Dual Sport Riding Clinics, Rallies, Fundraiser Rides, Guided Tours

HF,TC - The Main Motto

Experience Gained is Wisdom Earned - The Clinic Battle Cry

Let's Make It Wierd - Kane's Infamous Twist on Training

A LADIES ONLY Group Level 1 ADV & Dual Sport Riding Clinic with special guest co-coach Melissa Fike this autumn! Melissa and Kane went to high school together and if you came to this year's Fools Ride Rally she ran sweep for Kane on the Dual Sport Moderate routes each day. We will run the Clinic in Fools Ride Territory near Richmond, Ohio on September 26-27.

Melissa has been riding for over 25 years spending decades accumulating seat time on a multitude of terrain including hare scrambles, motor cross tracks, and street bikes. Her comfort zone has always been off-road tackling technical terrain. A mother of 3, with a daughter of 13 and 12 year old twin boys, she's had the privilege of teaching them how to ride as well as coaching youth competitive soccer. Melissa is genuinely excited to pass on her motorbiking knowledge with patience and a zero judgement zone.

Kane is the owner of Appalachian ADV and a Certified Riding Coach with the US Motorcycle Coaching Association. All Certified Motorcycle Coaches Certified Coaches uphold the USMCA's Values and Code of Conduct, pass a background check, and hold certifications in abuse prevention, CPR/First Aid, concussion protocol, heat illness & cardiac arrest training.

The Level 1 course is designed for Beginner to Intermediate, Clutch Capable riders that are looking to gain experience and basic skills for dirt and gravel roads. Clutch Capable refers to the rider having experience and comfort with basic operation of the motorcycle. This course is ideal for returning riders, street riders new to ADV, riders looking to brush up on skills & techniques, riders looking for new or different techniques, and riders looking for real-time feedback & coaching. The Level 1 Clinic is not “off-road” training but uses basic off-road techniques to help improve overall non-pavement riding and build confidence within the rider and in their bike.

https://www.appalachianadv.com/store/p95/LADIES_ONLY_L1_Sep_26-27.html #/

Our Level 1 clinics are designed to have a more practical approach and hit basic fundamentals so that riders can gain a solid foundation, experience, and confidence in their machines and themselves.

Mud clods and water spray behind the bike, a rooster tail of grime and chaos. The violence erupting from the rear knobblys contrasts the smoothness of the front rubber. With body weight shifted back and RiPeMs high, the rider sails through the mud pit. Aided by suspension, the front tire grips the edge of the earthen gash and climbs out towards drier terrain.  The block treads evacuate earth and maintain much needed traction to aid the rider in navigating the mucky obstacle.

Join for an Event or Clinic and we'll drag you through the mud too!

AppalachianADV.com and the Sporadic Newsletter

ADV & Dual Sport Riding Clinics, Rallies, Fundraiser Rides, Guided Tours

Have Fun, Take Chances - The Main Motto

Experience Gained is Wisdom Earned - The Clinic Battle Cry

Let's Make It Wierd - Kane's Infamous Twist on Training

Progress over perfection

Practice does not make perfect, it makes progress. You must continue to progress by challenging your skills as often as you kick your leg over the bike. Student mindset is required as there is sometimes more than one way to accomplish the task. The scientific approach will allow you to continuously progress. Experiment and reassess. Take a step back and analyze where it went wrong and where it went right. Focus on the step by step and practice until it becomes muscle memory. Flow, inputs, and reaction as opposed to fighting the terrain and muscling the bike...although that may still happen on occasion!

Do not be discouraged by imperfections but be driven by your progress and desire to push your limits. Everybody falls at some point and perfection is only temporary when you are riding off-pavement, no matter how experienced. The goal is to see the ground up close less often as you gain confidence, comfort, and progress. It's not about getting better than everyone else, it is about improving your own skills to become better than you currently are through self-motivation.

Have Fun, Take Chances (Main Motto)

Experience Gained is Wisdom Earned (Clinic Battle Cry)

Let's Make It Weird (Kane's Infamous Twist on Training)

Appalachian ADV - Adventure & Dual Sport Motorbiking LLC

Riding Clinics, Rallies, Fundraiser Rides, Guided Tours

Our mission is to promote the ADV and Dual Sport styles of motorbiking through various media formats, education and safety, & hosting group rides, rallies, and guided tours.

Our goal is to bring people of diverse backgrounds into this adventure lifestyle to promote camaraderie, enjoy nature via two-wheeled adventure travel, and build confidence by overcoming the challenges presented to the rider when performing ADV & Dual Sport motorbiking.

AppalachianADV.com and the Sporadic Newsletter to keep tabs on all of our Events and Clinics. We announce our annual schedule there first, open up registrations there first, and push out new or updated information there first!

Mark your calendars for the NEW Singing Hills Jamboree ADV, Dual Sport, and Little Bike Rally on September 17-19, 2027!

One of our NEW ONES and still in development... We will head back to the Wildcatters Base Camp near Titusville and Oil City, Pennsylvania for a different event that will fully take advantage of the trails on the 225 acres that is the Singing Hills property. Our Wildcatters Rally in July will have a very different vibe from this new event!

There will be a friendly recreational tournament on the property to include several different classes: Junior Pitbike (i.e. 16 and under), Senior Pitbike, Little Bike (i.e. Honda Monkey, Grom, or other small bore), Dual Sport, and Adventure. But we will also include open riding sessions throughout the weekend! This one is for people who always wanted to try trail racing but never did or if you are looking for something different in an ADV/Dual Sport event.

If you were at Fools Ride this year and took part in and/or witnessed the Little Bike ADV Ride, Little Bike Dual Sport Ride, and Little Bike Enduro: I am trying to pull that feel to a larger scale (or if you watched our YouTube video of Little Bike Madness timekeeping enduro). The chaos from that Enduro was more interesting for the video, opening up custom heats for buddies that wanted to go head to head as well as doing an every bike round as an encore. But the main event was done one bike at a time in a slightly less chaotic way. The new one's structure is in development but will be Appalachian ADV guaranteed fun!

The new Singing Hills Jamboree is being called a "tournament" but the main thing is to have fun and to give people the opportunity to try something different...whether that is a mock race, riding your Honda Grom (or similar) in a way unintended by the engineers, or if you want to challenge your off road skills on an ADV bike. The format is still being developed but we have a year to figure it out!

The Singing Hills base camp is amazing and will have all types of RV, private tent/hammock, rustic cabins, and a group camp area with a shower house.

AppalachianADV.com and the Sporadic Newsletter to keep tabs on all of our Events and Clinics.