Helmet Camera

I just bought a helmet camera. I got the Contour GPS.  I got it on Ebay for a pretty good deal.  I plan to use it to post videos of my power sport adventures.  You can expect to see more and more as the snowmobile season gets under way because I think this will be my first real chance to use it.  I am pretty excited for that.

I was looking into the GoPro because everybody who films their rides seems to have this one.  Even my brother has the GoPro HD HERO2 and it produces some nice video.  The reason I went with the contour GPS is because you can overlay GPS trails with your videos that show location, altitude, and speed.  You can also buy a Bluetooth Dongle for it and it will display the picture and camera settings on your smart phone.  This feature is a huge selling point for me. I have read that people have had trouble setting it up, but I am a pretty techy guy so I don't think it will be an issue.  More videos are soon to come to the blog. Check back often. 

Do any of you have a helmet Cam?  Which one?  Would you recommend it to others?

Thanks for reading,
DPS

Politicians vs power sports

Tonight was the first presidential debate. I hope this country makes the right decision.

There are probably more debates over power sports than anything else. We are influenced by claims of the "candidates" and by negative advertising about their opponents. We listen to these debates and ultimately vote for the best choice in our mind. Presidents and politicians seem to say only what they think we want to hear. It is the same way with manufacturers. When a politician becomes out of touch with the people, the people vote them out of office. When a manufacturer becomes out of touch, people switch brands and the manufacturer loses market share. A politician makes promises about their policies, manufactures make promises about their product. If these claims turn out to be false the people let them know about it one way or another.

You get the idea. We all have decisions to make. The best way to make it is to look at where you have been and where you would like to be. Look at your goals and choose the best option you think will help you achieve those goals. Then when you see the results of a choice you ask yourself. "Am I better off now than I was four years ago?"

DPS

Snow!!!

I used to hate winter.  I hated the cold, and the snow.  I like warm climates.  I have never cheered winter on before, until I started snowmobiling.  I find myself hoping for an epic snow winter, and relentlessly cheering on the snow storms.  We got a small dusting above 10,000 ft in our mountains two weeks ago, and I started cheering. 

                                 Picture from the Snowbird Facebook page

I knew that it was still way to early to pull the sleds out and start tearing up the mountain, but I saw it as a good sign for snow this year.  Well it is looking like at least in Northern Utah where I live that it probably was a good sign as we are slated to have an "Above Normal Snowfall."

                                  Picture from Accuweather.com

I know there are a lot of you out there who think I am nuts.  To you I say... Pick up a really fun winter sport like snowmobiling and you too will be cheering on the snow.

DPS

First motorized toy

I have been crazy about power sports as long as I can remember. I bought my first toy when I was 10 years old. I saved up for a long time. I sold lemonade, did extra chores around the house, and checked the couch cushions daily. :) I had earned $250 over an entire summer. One day my money was gone out of my jar. I went screaming and crying to my mom. She said, "I think your dad put your money in the truck." I couldn't figure out why he would do that but there wasn't time to think about that right now. I ran out of the house as fast as I could to the truck. I pulled open the cab door and climbed inside to recover my precious loot. It was not in there. My face dropped. I went back inside to explain to my mom that somebody must have stolen my money. She repaid, "I know it is in there, go look again. Maybe dad put it in the bed of the truck." Why would he do that, I thought to myself. But non the less I ran out to the truck again. I hopped up on the rear bumper. HOLLY CRAP, A GO-CART. This is exactly what I was saving my money for. I wish I had a picture for you guys, but I don't. This was my first motorized toy.  I loved it, and rode it every day. I tore the lawn to shreds as I would skid sideways in a drifting like manner as I raced it around the yard. These memories will stay with me forever.

What was your first motorized toy or experience riding somebody else's? Comment below and let me know. I would love to hear about it.

DPS

Cinderella Story - Buying a Boat

I am going to try to make this long story short.

Two summers ago (2011) I was looking for a boat to buy.  I looked all summer but what I wanted was always a bit out of my humble price range.  As the summer was winding down I found one that said "Cracked Engine Block - $3000."  I had a spare motor so I thought to myself that I could replace the motor and have a good boat. I started looking up the value of the boat based on the model the webpage listed.  It was valued at $5700. Cool, with a bit of elbow grease I could have a $5700 boat.  After negotiating a bit with the seller I picked the boat up for $2700.  I started looking into the motor issue.  The motor still ran, and started right up, but water would spew out the side of the block around the freeze plug that is under the motor mount. My dad who was helping me with the repair noticed the freeze plug had come out.  I inspected the block very thoroughly and there was no cracks or damage to speak of.  Total cost to repair the boat $1.99 + tax for a new freeze plug.  When the boat was being titled it came back as a different model than what the guy told me it was.  I looked up the model, and it turns out it is more valuable than the model the seller thought he was selling.  Total value--- $13,000.  Do I put much weight in listed values from NADA?  No, but it gets you in the ball park.  I don't think if I sold the boat I could get $13K, but who knows. 

I never thought it was possible to get one of those Cinderella story deals.  I guess everybody gets lucky once in a while.

DPS

Wishes Don't Always Come True

Have you ever been somewhere and just kept wishing you had your four wheeler or motorcycle?  This happens to me a lot.  Maybe it is just Laziness, but I don't think so.  This especially happens when I am hiking on a dirt trail in the mountains somewhere, or camping.

The Route of the Hiawatha should be experienced on a mountain bike at least once in your lifetime.  It is amazing and an easy ride for the whole family as it is a gradual down hill the whole way.  When you get to the bottom they load the bikes up in a bus and drive you back to the top. http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/

So... I experienced it on the bike and it was sweet.  Now I wish I could ride it again on a four wheeler or motorcycle.  It would be perfect, but is not allowed.  I can understand why.  It would be dangerous for the bikers, but I think they should have an annual Power Through the Hiawatha Day where you can go exploring on your favorite ATV, Side by Side, or Motorcycle.

If the idea catches on, remember who said it first. :)

Even though it is not on a motorized vehicle, it was fun, but I wish, I wish, I wish...

Thanks for reading
DPS

Two Mile Tunnel to get the ride started - pitch black inside

Other side of the tunnel - amazing scenery

Several long bridges that sky high above the ground

Trip Planning

Sometimes it is hard to get out there.  Aligning schedules with your family or riding buddies is a pain.

Two years ago I wanted to go boating to Lake Powell.  My wife was pregnant, and other family members weren't committing to a trip that big.  My wife told me she wouldn't go, but that I could.  I started asking family, and friends to poll who was interested.  I had a lot of people say "That would be fun, but I just don't know, it is too far away to think about."

As time drew closer my frustration rose.  I really wanted to go and it was looking like nobody was going to come.  I only had one commitment and that was from my dad.  I talked to my dad and said, "If it only ends up being me and you, are you still willing to go?"  He replied that he would.  So I said "Then it is final, we are going to Lake Powell no matter what."

What a load off my shoulders.  I really didn't care at that point who was coming or not, because I was going to be there. I thought to myself "first come first serve."

As the time drew closer my brother opted in with his family (wife and Four kids). We left on a wednesday and on the Monday before my sister decided she could go with her family (husband and daughter) at the last minute as well. Total we had Eleven people go down.  What a fun trip.

Sometimes it is hard to get a trip together, and a lot of the times takes so much effort that you give up and cancel all together.  Just remember the old saying from the movie The Field of Dreams.  "If you build it, they will come."  I am here to say "If you plan it, they will come."

DPS