TRF Forums

Herts TRF Rides & Meets programme for the next few months is now live

http://www.hertstrf.org.uk/rides/


Rides & Meetings
Monthly Meetings

Wednesday February 12th – 7:30PM Drinks 8PM sharp start Regular Meeting Shire Park Social Club Welwyn Garden City Nearest Post Code AL7 1GB next to Tesco HQ on the Shire Industrial Park

Wednesday March 12th – 7:30PM Drinks 8PM sharp start Adventure Bike Riding Night & Meeting Shire Park Social Club Welwyn Garden City Nearest Post Code AL7 1GB next to Tesco HQ on the Shire Industrial Park

Will Wilkins is keen to come along to a TRF night to do a presentation and question/answer session on his amazing Woolongong to Woolwich ride. In addition he may also be able to bring along Graham Field , author of ‘In search of Greener Grass’ and avid adventure rider

WOLLONGONG TO WOOLWICH

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sell up your house and ride off half way around the world? Well that’s exactly what this homesick English couple did. They loaded up their bikes and set off from near Sydney, Australia they headed for London, England to have a nice cup of tea with their mums.

It was Kate’s idea to ride the motorbikes rather than jump on a plane. Excitement and blind enthusiasm fuelled her sales pitch. She totally ignored her lack of experience (she’d only got her licence a year before) and her longest ride to date was 20 minutes and never in the rain.

Will Wilkins

The recommended 12 months to plan an adventure of this size was squeezed into two. We rushed around filling our passports with visas, getting our carnets and prepping the bikes. Finally though we saddled up and hit the starter buttons. This was the Big One. 15,000 miles to the UK.

The scenery along the way was stunning. The vastness of the Australian Outback contrasted with the lush jungle of Thailand. The soaring Himalayan Mountains were replaced a few weeks later by the endless Kazak steppe. We endured 45 degree Fahrenheit searing heat and at other times were clearing the icy snow from our visors. These experiences will stick with us for a long time, but the thing that is truly etched into our memories are the people we met along the way.

The man in Pakistan who flagged us down just to shake my hand, simply to thank us for coming to his country. The Indian family who’s motorbike had broken down while taking his two children to school. Our knowledge and tools rescued him and the father thanked us by kissing my hand, the ultimate show of respect in the Hindi culture. Again and again the kindness, openness and generosity we experienced gave us a warm feeling in this sometimes seemingly cold and closed world we live in.

Will Wilkins

Not all experiences were positive. Being run out of town by a hostile Kazak policeman was not a high point. Worse still was when border guards laughed in our faces as we attempted to negotiate our way out of a 14 hour delay whilst attempting to enter Russia. When all seemed bleak though, the angels came back to help us, Hells Angels that is, who showed us such hospitality and generosity that it brought tears to our eyes.

Seemingly simple things like finding somewhere to sleep, ordering a meal or deciding on which fork to take in the road became a real challenge depending on which country we were in, how hot it was or how exhausted we were after a long day in the saddle. We chose to move quite fast across the surface of the planet, completing the odyssey in just five months. This schedule added stress but we’re not the types to hang around in any one place. It was a choice that worked for us but might not suit everyone.

And so, what about you? Are you gagging to saddle up and ride off around the world? Come and have a listen, ask some questions and hopefully leave, ready to live your dream. What it boils down to in the end is if the idea of heading off and doing ‘something big’ is itching, do yourself a favour and have a bloody good scratch!

Wednesday April 9th - 7:30PM Drinks 8PM sharp start Adventure Bike Preparation Night & Meeting Shire Park Social Club Welwyn Garden City Nearest Post Code AL7 1GB next to Tesco HQ on the Shire Industrial Park

Biographies

Martin Wittering owner of Torque Racing Services. www.torqueracing.net

For 15 years Martin worked in the Motorcycle Clothing Sales industry, progressing to become UK Sales Manager for Alpinestars. During this time he also found a passion for working on bikes, off road machines in particular. Martin spent many years as enduro mechanic and assistant for Donna Gray in the British Enduro Championship learning his trade.

In 2003 he was asked to build a Honda XR650 Rally bike for Patsy Quick for her first Dakar Rally. The following year he prepared the KTM 660 rally bikes for Patsy’s 2004 attempt. Martin joined the Desert Rose Team for the 2005 Dakar Rally as mechanic for Patsy Quick, Clive Town and Gary Ennis.

Martin was asked back again on the 2006 Dakar this time working on KTM 525s.

As demand for his specialist knowledge and experience began to rise Martin took the bold move to give up his day job and follow his passion and started Torque Racing Services (TRS) in 2007. Since then Martin has become a highly respected face on the rally circuit, working on various Rallies such as the Dakar, Rally Maroc, Tunisie Rallye, Transanatolia Rallye, Heroes Legend Rallye and most recently assisting in Cyril Despres Team in the Sardinia Rallye.

Martin’s talents do not end there, recently working in conjunction with Rally Raid Products developing Rally Raid items such as the ‘Rally lite kit’ which converts enduro machines into rally ready bikes.

Using the experience gained on his many trips Martin is now offering his services on a multitude of Rallies including the Transanatolia Rallye, Tuareg Rallye, Rallye Albania, Breslau Adventure Rallye, Hellas Rally and Rallye Dalmatia. Service team packages can be provided subject to demand. Martin is also an agent for the Transanatolia Rally Raid in Turkey and the Hellas Rally in Greece.

Donna Gray- Training and Logistics

ex British Enduro Champion Donna Gray is one of the top female rally and enduro riders in the UK, and is Torque Racing’s primary off-road riding and rally navigation training instructor.

Having successfully campaigned both a KTM 690 rally bike and 250EXC enduro in recent years, her wealth of competitive experience and past participation in many of the events that Torque Racing provide service and assistance for, means she has first-hand knowledge of just what is required to undertake a successful campaign.

Together with basic and intermediate enduro riding skills training, Donna particularly specialises in Navigation and rally Road-book training, including interpretation, marking-up and personalising your own road-books, to on-the-trail navigation complete with basic to advanced GPS techniques.

Donna also coordinates the event logistics for all of the International rally-raid events that Torque Racing attends, and is able to assist customers throughout the preparation process prior to departure, together with day-to-day event bivouac management during the rally itself.

Wednesday May 7th – 7:30PM Regular Meeting Shire Park Social Club Welwyn Garden City Nearest Post Code AL7 1GB next to Tesco HQ on the Shire Industrial Park

Wednesday June 11th – 7:30PM ROW Training Session Shire Park Social Club Welwyn Garden City Nearest Post Code AL7 1GB next to Tesco HQ on the Shire Industrial Park

Repeat of the highly successful ROW training session fromt he December AGM where over 50 riders were trained on where to legally ride green lanes in Herts.

January Rides
11th January, TRF Beginners Run, (moved from 4th January due to bad weather forecast over weekend)

10:00 AM Venue Hatfield Galleria McDonalds AL10 0XY

Arrive fuelled up & ready for briefing at 09:45 and leave at 10.00am sharp

Route will be dependent on the weather /riders but aiming to return by 3.00pm. (Option to leave at 12:00/ lunch stop)

Stopping for fuel and sarnie at garage midway, no pub lunch.

Advise if going or for questions : John Fox foxtm@btinternet.com 01462 811654

Galleria meeting LR



18th January, TRF Reunion ,
12:00 Venue Valiant Trooper, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5RW

there is a reunion being planned for The TRF’s 44th Anniversary on Saturday 18th January to be held at the Valiant Trooper, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5RW.

We hope to see you there and meet in person. Please let us know if you wish to attend so we can manage numbers.

If you are or are in contact with any ex TRF member please get in touch with contact details so I can invite them.

Weather dependent there may be a small local ride out after the lunch.

Mario chairman@hertstrf.org.uk 07721 480000

Saturday 25th January, TRF Elite Ride, Saffron Walden
CB11 3PL 09:00 AM for 09:30 departure

The first of a series of rides aimed at the more experienced TRF member who wants to progress their riding to the highest levels . Definitely not for beginners or novices who should attend the beginners rides.

This will be a 80 mile ride staring from Newport British Rail Station car park, leaving at 9:30am sharp. Station Road. Town, Newport. County,Essex. Postcode, CB11 3PL

The ride will be read by a TRF Elite Rider Mark Bradford 07971 571708 see ride leaders page for his Bio. Mark has stated that this ride will go ahead regardless of the weather conditions !!

IMG_0365







































Sunday 26th January Big Bike Trail Ride South Herts & N. London
Meeting at 10:00 AM Nero coffee 2-4 High Street Harpenden, AL5 2SN

Wreford Miles http://www.wrefordmiles.co.uk/1.html and BMW nut (HP2 owner as well as others) will lead a ride suitable for big bikes in January.

Wreford Miles rally bike
Wreford Miles rally bike

Meeting at Nero coffee 2-4 High Street Harpenden, AL5 2SN

RSVP Wreford Miles <wrefordmiles@hotmail.com> or phone 07976578032

Find our more on Wreford here; http://www.hertstrf.org.uk/riders-pages/leaders

February

Sunday 2nd February, Beginners Run, 10:00 Venue Stevenage Roaring Meg Led by Darren Winterflood open to all riders & non TRF members

07944230024 darren110470@sky.com



Last month's main ride out for TRF members
Last month’s main ride out for TRF members

Weekend 1st 2nd February Wye Valley weekend 2 day trip led by Mark Kinnard

A whole weekend of trail riding in the Wye Valley with an expert rider.

Find our more on Mark here; http://www.hertstrf.org.uk/riders-pages/leaders

8th February TBC Salisbury Plain Run, Mario Costa-Sa

A whole day run suitable for newer riders & beginners running on the byways around Salisbury plain.

Including

Stonehenge
Imber lost village
Tank runs & routes
Aerial bombardment sites
Weekend TBC dependent on the weather Led by Mario and other leaders

Saturday 15th February Essex Cambs Loop Mark Kinnard

Intermediate to Elite riders

RSVP ’Mark Kinnard’ mark@constructiveapproach.com

Find our more on Wreford here; http://www.hertstrf.org.uk/riders-pages/leaders

March

Saturday 1st March, Beginners Run, 10:00 Led by Phil Rothenbaugh South Herts area

Violets Lane 036 small



Date TBC Steve Vaughan Peak district 1 day ride
weather dependent any risk of snow still lying and trip will be cancelled.

Peak district 1

Weekend 1st/2nd March 2 Days Riding Hampshire Mark Kinnard

Intermediate to Elite riders

RSVP ’Mark Kinnard’ mark@constructiveapproach.com

8th March Steve Mann Herts ROW officers Ride

Tesco’s at Baldock for a 0930 start, riding into Essex for a distance of about 80 to 100 miles, determined by the weather and the progress made on the day.

Not suitable for complete beginners but not a fast ride either and regular breaks will be taken.

I’d describe the ride as leisurely with bursts of enthusiasm.

Enduro style bikes only, because of the terrain, not because I dislike big bikesJ

RSVP via e mail to Stephen.d.mann@btinternet.com please.

16 March NEW ROUTE Webbed foot run

all the fords in Herts in one trip.
8 with 1 left Out!!, around 112 miles waterproof socks optional,
AA/RAC card essential can of wd 40 could come in useful as well.
Any drowning’s and a shallow grave will be dug and a few “words” will be said before we leave,
improving riders . full nobbleys , 21 inch front wheels only

RSVP

stephen vaughan (stevaughan@ntlworld.com) http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15202

22nd / 23rd March TRF Trip to Isle of Man

3 Groups:

Adventure Bike led by Mark Kinnard
Trail /Dirt Bike groups led by Mark Bradford & Steve Vaughan TBC
RSVP ’Mark Kinnard’ mark@constructiveapproach.com

April

Saturday 5th April, Beginners Run, 10:00 Led by Paul Benjamin <paul.benjamin13@me.com> 07908222072 Baldock area



April, Weekend 2nd to 5th

Llanerchindda farm and routes in mid Wales, Steve Vaughan
travel up on the 2nd ride 3/ 4 return on the 5th
Too include Strata Florida the Golf links and Brecfa forest.
Will include Water breaks its neck and Moefre city if open then,
Early answers on this one as the accommodation will need booking
pace will be scenic with plenty of stops , suitable for improving riders , but only if you are known, ie been on previous ride’s .surviving webbed foot would be a indication of your riding ability .

stephen vaughan (stevaughan@ntlworld.com) http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15202



Date TBC “6 County run” Thetford/Brandon run from Baldock. Steve Vaughan
180// 220 miles
shorter run than the raw arse run ride will be minimal stopping , fuel and food only all day ride allow 12 hours .improving riders .

stephen vaughan (stevaughan@ntlworld.com) http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15202

Lands End Trial Easter Bank Holiday 17th April 2014 to 21st April 2014 London – Newquay

http://www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk/e ... ndsend.htm

May

May 3 ” Raw Arse” run Hunny/or Swaffam and back 1 day ride 260– 280 mile round trip. Royston Tescos.

non stop fuel and food stops ice cream on the beach then return on slightly shorter route . 12 hour ride .
Experienced riders only.

stephen vaughan (stevaughan@ntlworld.com) http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15202



Ride Fit & Events Programme – Mark Kinnard

‘Mark Kinnard’ mark@constructiveapproach.com 07720886066

see Marks Profile on the TRF run leaders profiles http://www.hertstrf.org.uk/riders-pages/leaders/

Ongoing Monthly programme of

1 days track practice
1 days trail riding
1 weekend away trail riding
in preparation for two events

Lands End Trial Easter Bank Holiday 17th April 2014 to 21st April 2014 London – Newquay
http://www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk/e ... ndsend.htm

Weston Beach Race 11th / 13th October Weston Super Mare
http://www.rhlactivities.com/weston_beach_race/

‘Mark Kinnard’ mark@constructiveapproach.com 07720886066

Devon Trip Pat Longland – From the report this loo

In planning

New events in discussion & planning phase

Devon Trip Pat Longland – From the report this looks pretty advanced /not suitable for beginners involving manhandling of bikes as well as steep slopes.

France Trip & France TRF – Michel Sabatier has taken on the task of liasing with Codever – the French version of TRF with a view to organising reciprocal trips. Any questions to Michel (msabatier@btinternet.com)

July

13th July 2014 placeholder for TRF presence at the Stella Alpina Rally 2014 France/Italy Alps http://www.stella-alpina.fsnet.co.uk/ Bardonecchia which is located close to the Italian border with France at the end of the Frejus tunnel.

Thursday & Friday ride down to Bardonecchia Saturday local rides & Trails led by Michel & Brian Sunday – Main Stella ride up the mountain Monday & Tuesday ride back

Main Run led by Tony Trimby & Mario chairman@hertsTRF.org.uk

Local runs (usual smaller bikes advised) in Bardonecchia led by Michel Sabatier msabatier@btinternet.com and Brian Graves briangraves@talktalk.net who are doing the local mapping & planning.

Ride your bike with options for driving vans & trailers possible. Volunteer drivers with / without a van required.

See link below for photos from this years run which I will turn into a full Trail orientated webpage

http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13935

(Registration required http://www.trf.org.uk/forum/)



Please use the sign up link below for numbers & transcontinental planning & logistics but basic route is St Albans Eurotunnel Paris and stop in Beaune before heading to Bardonecchia the next day.

https://cnedformation.doodle.com/kxtc4fnwurdhpvtq

Volunteers to lead a ride or new ideas for an event please come forward.