The desert might seem harsh and unforgiving at first, but with a little preparation and a whole lot of water and sunscreen, I'm here to tell you that it can be a massively fun time. (Unless you forget your sunglasses; don't forget your sunglasses.)
Recently, I had the chance to visit Sara Price and Ricky Brabec's epic new Rip and Dip Ranch. It's an off-road playground meant to give participants both an adrenaline-fueled good time in the desert and a relaxing, chill vibe on the beautiful Colorado River, with ample opportunity to experience both things in one extremely sunny, bright setting.
If you read my piece above about the trip, then you already have some idea about the vehicles I rode and drove in. In the morning, I rode shotgun with Sara Price in her race-prepped Can-Am Maverick R, and in the afternoon, I had the chance to drive a Can-Am Defender and test out some Dakar-spec BFGoodrich tires for myself.
But one thing my written piece absolutely couldn't possibly have hoped to express to you is how awesome the turbo flutter sound is on Sara's Mav R. Luckily, RideApart has a YouTube channel, and I captured some video to bring back and share with you so you can get a little taste. You'll also get to hear Sara break down some of her Can-Am Maverick R's build, talk a bit about what it's like to prep for Dakar, and even introduce one of her awesome dogs who are also on hand to greet you at the Ranch.
It was a truly amazing experience, and I'm extra glad that I get to share it with you all in another way. While neither words nor video is the same as being there, hopefully it brings you a little bit closer to the action, and maybe thinking about your own next epic journey into our big, beautiful world.
