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 Post subject: Re: Saturday 1 November Beginners Ride Herts
PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:12 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:29 pm
Posts: 55
Beginners Ride Review

First, I'd like to extend a big thank you to Paul, not only for organising the ride out as the leader, but also for agreeing to meet me at Baldock and escort me to the intended start location. A bloody good job mate and I hope to join you again soon...if you'll have me!

So, at some ungodly hour which the misses most certainly didn't approve of (on a side note, it is however perfectly acceptable for her to regularly get me up 2 hours before I'd normally need to when she's on an early shift) I jumped on the bike to head for my first stop off - South Mimms where I was to meet with Simon (Tribal Chestnut). Nice chap and we rode in convoy up to Tesco in Baldock where we met Paul (Paul13) and Chris (KTMstretch) and brimmed the tank of the super-powerful crf250L that I treated myself to less than a week previously. The first 30 mins of the ride to South Mimms was in the rain and was like pins in my face through my motocross helmet. If I wasn't already properly awake, after 10 mins at 70mph on the motorway I certainly was).

After the usual introductions we set off through Baldock, taking in some lanes, to the main meeting point. It was a bizarre sensation for me - normally when I go anywhere, either with the misses, or with my mates I always end up planning the route one way or the other so I always know where I'm going etc. In this instance, I had no idea - just had to follow the leader.

So, we took in a few lanes at a reasonable pace. Within these first lanes we already had a man down in very slippy mud and shortly after I ended up being double rutted. Now, if you asked me 2 days ago, if I wanted to be double rutted, I'd have said "hell yeah" thinking it was incredibly kinky involving the misses and at least one of her hottest mates. Unfortunately there was no such fun in this it turns out and I actually needed 2 other chaps to help me out. Not what I was hoping for if I'm honest :cry:

We then met up with 8 other people at the cafe (of which the name currently escapes me) where Paul did the formal introductions and how the ride was going to work and we all went around and said who we were. By the time we got back to the beginning of the circle I'd already forgotten (shit with names - possibly forget mine sometimes!) but everyone seemed friendly enough and there was a wide range of people. Some young. Some a little less young. And, believe it or not, there was actually a lady present also!! :shock:

Paul explained the marker system and off we set. It all seemed to work well and when people were the markers, everyone seemed to be very patient. There were all manor of abilities - the verging on retarded (me!) and the much much (much much much!!) better. Chris (KTMstretch) brought up the rear agreeing to act as the muscle as and when I was likely to have dropped my bike. This, I now understand, was a cunning plan to hang back and then have a proper tear up as and when!

So, we did a few lanes here and there with a few roads intermixed inbetween. The weather had improved by this point and it actually was a lovely morning. The lanes were unremarkable. By unremarkable, I mean I actually managed to keep it shiny side up (although I did come close a couple of times!!). The wet mud I really didn't enjoy and after stopping for five minutes, Paul suggested that the next lane could possibly be a tad wet, so knowing that I didn't enjoy the mud, off I walked to investigate and came back to report that it was, using that well known technical greenlaning term 'slippy as f**k' having nearly gone base over apex more than once! I was a bit of a pussy and took the road route knowing I wasn't going to enjoy it that much.

After that we had some awesome lanes over some hills somewhere (accurate I know!) that were dry and gravelly with a stunning view all around. A great time out in the countryside.

We ended up at Dorrington's (I believe it was called) in Newport where I had an average baguette and a nice bottle of Diet Coke (you know what it's like - takes work to keep a figure like this) sitting out in the sun - who would have believed it was November!

I had to leave after the lunch stop as we were having a fireworks night party with a load of people over and I had to be back to jet-wash the bike (and me!) before they arrived.

90 mins later I arrived home.

Thoughts on the day:

  • The work put in by Paul was great - was very much appreciated by me and I'm sure all the other riders
  • Everyone was very patient, helpful and friendly. Was good to meet everyone (and again, sorry I'd forgotten your names before we even left the car park!)
  • Everyone was respectful of other lane users
  • 60 mins of motorway to get to the start of the ride is far too long and wearing, especially on the crf250l
  • 90 mins of motorway to get home after a ride is about 9 times too long and tiring, especially on a crf250l
  • I need to buy a trailer!

I certainly would love to attend again on a beginners ride out if the leader will have me again, however I'd like to do less really slippy mud. This was my first experience of riding with the TRF and it was very positive. I very much enjoyed the day (at least not the motorway work!) and can't wait to get back out again!

Once again, thanks for the work Paul and Chris.

Cheers :)


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 Post subject: Re: Saturday 1 November Beginners Ride Herts
PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:43 pm 
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400 cc

Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:20 pm
Posts: 1269
The Moose wrote:
Beginners Ride Review

First, I'd like to extend a big thank you to Paul, not only for organising the ride out as the leader, but also for agreeing to meet me at Baldock and escort me to the intended start location. A bloody good job mate and I hope to join you again soon...if you'll have me!

So, at some ungodly hour which the misses most certainly didn't approve of (on a side note, it is however perfectly acceptable for her to regularly get me up 2 hours before I'd normally need to when she's on an early shift) I jumped on the bike to head for my first stop off - South Mimms where I was to meet with Simon (Tribal Chestnut). Nice chap and we rode in convoy up to Tesco in Baldock where we met Paul (Paul13) and Chris (KTMstretch) and brimmed the tank of the super-powerful crf250L that I treated myself to less than a week previously. The first 30 mins of the ride to South Mimms was in the rain and was like pins in my face through my motocross helmet. If I wasn't already properly awake, after 10 mins at 70mph on the motorway I certainly was).

After the usual introductions we set off through Baldock, taking in some lanes, to the main meeting point. It was a bizarre sensation for me - normally when I go anywhere, either with the misses, or with my mates I always end up planning the route one way or the other so I always know where I'm going etc. In this instance, I had no idea - just had to follow the leader.

So, we took in a few lanes at a reasonable pace. Within these first lanes we already had a man down in very slippy mud and shortly after I ended up being double rutted. Now, if you asked me 2 days ago, if I wanted to be double rutted, I'd have said "hell yeah" thinking it was incredibly kinky involving the misses and at least one of her hottest mates. Unfortunately there was no such fun in this it turns out and I actually needed 2 other chaps to help me out. Not what I was hoping for if I'm honest :cry:

We then met up with 8 other people at the cafe (of which the name currently escapes me) where Paul did the formal introductions and how the ride was going to work and we all went around and said who we were. By the time we got back to the beginning of the circle I'd already forgotten (shit with names - possibly forget mine sometimes!) but everyone seemed friendly enough and there was a wide range of people. Some young. Some a little less young. And, believe it or not, there was actually a lady present also!! :shock:

Paul explained the marker system and off we set. It all seemed to work well and when people were the markers, everyone seemed to be very patient. There were all manor of abilities - the verging on retarded (me!) and the much much (much much much!!) better. Chris (KTMstretch) brought up the rear agreeing to act as the muscle as and when I was likely to have dropped my bike. This, I now understand, was a cunning plan to hang back and then have a proper tear up as and when!

So, we did a few lanes here and there with a few roads intermixed inbetween. The weather had improved by this point and it actually was a lovely morning. The lanes were unremarkable. By unremarkable, I mean I actually managed to keep it shiny side up (although I did come close a couple of times!!). The wet mud I really didn't enjoy and after stopping for five minutes, Paul suggested that the next lane could possibly be a tad wet, so knowing that I didn't enjoy the mud, off I walked to investigate and came back to report that it was, using that well known technical greenlaning term 'slippy as f**k' having nearly gone base over apex more than once! I was a bit of a pussy and took the road route knowing I wasn't going to enjoy it that much.

After that we had some awesome lanes over some hills somewhere (accurate I know!) that were dry and gravelly with a stunning view all around. A great time out in the countryside.

We ended up at Dorrington's (I believe it was called) in Newport where I had an average baguette and a nice bottle of Diet Coke (you know what it's like - takes work to keep a figure like this) sitting out in the sun - who would have believed it was November!

I had to leave after the lunch stop as we were having a fireworks night party with a load of people over and I had to be back to jet-wash the bike (and me!) before they arrived.

90 mins later I arrived home.

Thoughts on the day:

  • The work put in by Paul was great - was very much appreciated by me and I'm sure all the other riders
  • Everyone was very patient, helpful and friendly. Was good to meet everyone (and again, sorry I'd forgotten your names before we even left the car park!)
  • Everyone was respectful of other lane users
  • 60 mins of motorway to get to the start of the ride is far too long and wearing, especially on the crf250l
  • 90 mins of motorway to get home after a ride is about 9 times too long and tiring, especially on a crf250l
  • I need to buy a trailer!

I certainly would love to attend again on a beginners ride out if the leader will have me again, however I'd like to do less really slippy mud. This was my first experience of riding with the TRF and it was very positive. I very much enjoyed the day (at least not the motorway work!) and can't wait to get back out again!

Once again, thanks for the work Paul and Chris.

Cheers :)


Wow

What a fantastic write up! More than happy to take you out again. This time of the year there will be more mud on the ground.

Really delighted you enjoyed the experience. As the ride leader/organiser it's great to have folks signing up for the ride and turning up on the day.

I just try to give back to others the welcome that was shown to me just over a year ago.


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 Post subject: Re: Saturday 1 November Beginners Ride Herts
PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:13 pm 
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50 cc

Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:16 pm
Posts: 9
The slippy mud wasn't too bad as it turned out, most people trickled through and paddled as necessary. The key is to keep moving (even slowly) and the bike will carry you through. It's as well to try some sections that may seem challenging on first view as they will teach you about handling varying conditions - there shouldn't be any on a beginners run that will be excessively hard, even for absolute beginners, and it'll teach you how to handle snotty sections when you come across them (as you invariably will over winter!).

I'll add my thanks to Paul for a great run, I wasn't after a challenge just a gentle potter and he judged the pace and routes superbly :)


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 Post subject: Re: Saturday 1 November Beginners Ride Herts
PostPosted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:06 am 
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200 cc
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:46 pm
Posts: 327
Location: North London
Moose, if you're still on the original tyres that came with your Honda, change them to something more suitable to off road riding, they will massively increase your confidence. The standard tyres are road biased. There is a thread on here about updating your CRF. If you ask the question, what tyres to use you will get a 101 different answers and be confused.

Good write up :)

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 Post subject: Re: Saturday 1 November Beginners Ride Herts
PostPosted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 2:26 am 
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125cc
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Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:06 pm
Posts: 192
I was on that same ride also on a CRF250L and had AC10 tyres on, if that helps.

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Mark Brown - Bedford.
RoR Officer with Herts TRF
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