Hi, inmates! Welcome to Straightaway, a semi-regular (we hope) interview feature on the world of motorcycling, but particularly adventure riding. It’s been my experience that the moto scene is full of insiders who aren’t necessarily well-known to the public (because they don’t hype themselves), but they have unique, share-worthy experiences, insights and contributions to the world of riding.

We start off this series with an interview with @NSFW, an inmate who’s been here at ADVrider a long old time. For much of that time, he’s helped run the dEATh vALLey nOObs rALLy, one of ADVrider’s best-known and longest-running events. It’s based in the California desert, and it started as a way for noobs to build riding skills, as the name implies.

Many, many inmates have attended this over the years, and built friendships, memories and even riding skills that will last a lifetime. Here’s what @NSFW (aka Joel Paez) has to say about this event and his history with it.

By the way—the 23rd edition of the dEATh vALLey nOObs rALLy is about to kick off on March 22. Bad news, the sign-up list is full this year, but check out the thread; maybe you can catch a last-minute cancellation, if you want to attend—Ed.

A rare sighting of @NSFW! (he’s the one on the right… ) Photo: @NSFW

1. What’s your background—how did you end up helping with the rally’s organization, and what exactly do you do for the event?

@NSFW: Being a Mechanical Engineer, anything mechanized gets my attention, though my love for the outdoors and exploring on two wheels makes me tick.

Even though I rode motorcycles for a long time, adventure and dual sport riding were new to me. I’m glad I found ADVrider.com and immediately became fascinated with this new spirit of riding. It wasn’t easy to join rallies at the time since I didn’t know anyone, and to be as a nOOb, I was apprehensive.

Coincidently other nOObs were struggling to find a group in which we would all fit in and genuinely feel welcomed. So, we all got together and created the first nOObs rALLy in 2007.

2. Tell us what the event is about. Is it noobs-only or just noobs-friendly?

@NSFW: We created an opportunity to invite nOObs to come out and make them feel welcome. It’s unique in that they are treated as rock stars once a year.

Strange as it seems, many intermediate and expert riders enjoy coming to the event. Many participated as true nOObs years ago when their skills were not as good. A good number also volunteer to help and mentor the less skilled riders. Good to see the camaraderie, and to give something back drives them to come back year after year.

It’s not just all wheelies and power slides. The rally has lots of after-hours socializing and fun, but remember: Lights Out at 10 PM!. Photo: @NSFW

3. It seems there’s a waiting list to get into the 2023 event at this point? How many of this year’s riders are returning inmates?

@NSFW: We reached capacity three weeks after the start of registration. There are about 225 participants, and about 70 percent are returning inmates. I’m eager to meet the new participants and the familiar faces.

The rally focuses on pavement and two-track riding, not single-track. Remember, it’s noob-friendly! Photo: @NSFW

4. What sort of riding do you get into? Is it single-track, two-track, fire roads, or all of that?

@NSFW: It’s mixed pavement and dirt. Typically, we take the tarmac to get to the fun roads, either mixed ground or unmaintained. No single-track, but lots of two-tracks that are commonly rocky and have lots of elevation change.

Although this event is intended to be an easy start-up event for beginners, you must still be well-prepared for what the desert throws at you. Think about your fuel and water needs before heading out! Photo: @NSFW

5. Riding in Death Valley, what dangers should noob riders prepare for, aside from the usual dangers of crashing?

@NSFW: For whatever reason, getting stranded is the worst case. There are no services in the backcountry and no cell phone connection. Getting rescued by a four-wheeled vehicle takes several hours. The evening temperature could drop to as much as 40-50 degrees. We always advise people to ride in groups and have a DV veteran lead the ride. We also remind everyone to wear the proper gear and bring enough water and food, additional fuel, and spare parts to perform trailside fixes or repairs.

During the event, we set up a two-way amateur radio repeater on Hunter Mountain, allowing communication coverage as far as the Hot Springs. Many riders bring hand-held radios, satellite communicators such as SPOT and InReach, and a satellite phone at our base camp in Panamint Springs Campground.

6. What would you recommend as a first-timer pack as far as camping? As far as the on-the-bike kit?

@NSFW: Try out their setup in the backyard or living room and go camping before the rally. Make sure the bags stay secured on the bike. Death Valley occasionally gets a strong gust of wind, and beefy tent pegs help. Leave the panniers inside the tent to hold it down; riding is more fun without the luggage.

As for the bike kit, the lighter, the better; whenever servicing the bike at home, use the tool kit you have so you know what tools are needed. Invest in compact tools and always carry zip ties, duct tape, and JB Weld.

Thankfully, several inmates put together helpful tips on the thread’s first page, which covers almost everything they want to know and what’s expected from them.

7. Any tips for bike set-up for a first-timer?

@NSFW: Foremost, have a properly maintained bike and roadworthy. Get dirt-oriented DOT tires and upgrade to a bigger fuel tank that will provide a range of at least 150 miles. Having the correct suspension and sag when the bike is loaded will make riding safer and enjoyable.

The rally will let you explore hard-to-get-to POI in Death Valley. Photo: @NSFW

8. What are some of the best memories you’ve had from working with the rally over the years?

@NSFW: The first nOObs rally was the most memorable. Most of us were green and excited, made many mistakes, and it was somewhat scary. We crashed a lot, but we survived, which caused great stories to remember.

Nowadays, I find it memorable to see former nOObs turned into better riders; in fact, a few of them made it to the tip of South America. One thing that stands out is the friendly atmosphere in the camp. I will always cherish and value the friendships we developed over time.

Although the name says it’s for noobs, the rally brings back many familiar faces each year, as friends revisit their favorite trails. Photo: @NSFW

9. Why do you do it? I’ve helped organize several rallies over the years, some small and some large, and it’s a lot of hard work. What keeps you coming back?

@NSFW: Not just me; many believe that the nOObs are the future of our sports. We need new and young riders for the community to grow and replenish the riders retiring from sports.

I do it because it’s a place where I meet many good people and share common interests. It’s a lot of work and headache (after all, it’s a nOObs rally, and what else could go wrong?), but the human experience is gratifying.

Also, I use the nOObs rALLy as a platform for responsible riding and to support charitable organizations dedicated to keeping public lands accessible to motorized vehicles.

10. For someone who’s never been to the event—why should we go?

@NSFW: Every day in DVNP can be a new adventure. It is probably the largest national park in the nation where we can ride our dual-sport/adventure bikes in places surrounded by beautiful landscapes. It has mixed terrains, such as noob/big bike-friendly roads, high-speed dirt roads, deep sand, washboard, and mountainous rocky jeep trails. There’s always something to challenge any rider, and for any nOObs who want to step outside their comfort zone, this is the ideal place to learn and gain experience.

Another bonus is being in camp and sharing experiences and advice, lending a hand to teach a nOOb how to do essential repairs like fixing flats/mounting their tires, fixing broken chains, repairing crash damage, diagnosing bike problems, and doing trail side repairs with what you’ve got. Sometimes coming to the event is more than just riding; sharing personal experiences matters too.