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 Post subject: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:45 pm 
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Mike Irving and I pulled up outside the BMW off road skills unit which is opposite the Tourtech showroom in South Wales.
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Ther were to be 13 of us on the course 10 on GS1200s,1 on a GS800,and 2 on 650s,the instructors all rode GS1200 Adventures and they were
Simon Pavey,6 times competitor in the Dakar which he completed 4 times,also he helped prepare Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman for their Long Way Round Long Way Down adventures.
Gwyn Barraclough who runs Trellesport and imports Trellborge and Mitas off road tyres.
Gary Taylor who works for the motorcycle charity Riders for Life.
BMW insist that all the instructors have held international competition licences.
After introductions we all rode to the nearby 4,500 acre off road park which also holds a stage of the world Rally Series,is used by Jaguar LandRover for product testing,its also the venue for the Dawn till Dusk Enduro.
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The level one course is designed to be suitable for all riders from those that have never riden on dirt upwards,you cant take level 2 or 3 untill level 1 has been completed.The course kicks off with some basic excercises walking alongside your bike,locking the back wheel from 25 mph,locking the front wheel whilst keeping the power on,turning in a small circle marked with cones,completing an ever tightening salom course.
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Just before an excellent lunch at the Sarn Helen Community Centre we were spilt into 2 groups depending on ability,Simon took the less experenced riders and Mike and I were with Gwyn and Garry.
The afternoon was spent riding the 4,500 acre site including some steep declines.
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Five Oclock came and we rode back to the business park and then drove back to our hotel bathed and changed we then made our way to the Abercave Inn where Simon and the Instructors hosted a dinner.
Saturday day 2 began with some heavy duty trail riding using some of the Dawn to Dusk Enduro course,we were shown how to turn around a stalled bike on a steep climb.
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After another good lunch at the community centre we completed some momentum excersises which involved completing a steep climb up a bank stopping at the exact top for a couple of seconds then doing a tight turn going back down to do another tight turn and repeating the climb.
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Mike and I had a fabulous 2 days and we will certainly return next year to do the level 2 course on the new water cooled 1250s.

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Last edited by tonylacey on Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:16 pm 
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That looks great - a shame you have to trek to the depths of welsh Wales to do it.
Is there really nowhere nearer the south east to get this sort of riding and teaching?

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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:27 pm 
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davidscott wrote:
That looks great - a shame you have to trek to the depths of welsh Wales to do it.
Is there really nowhere nearer the south east to get this sort of riding and teaching?


I hear Ade Smith Enduro courses are similar and really good. I cant remember if you can use your own bike, if not he has KTM's.

The venues are at different locations around the UK.

http://www.adysmith.co.uk/

cheers
Pete


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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:18 pm 
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Nice pics. I'd love to have a bash as one of the off road schools, but lack of cash & time (I have a 3 yr old & a 1 yr old) are preventing it for now.

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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:18 pm 
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Hi Tony,
I was on the course, (The bloke on the F800). After I got home decided it would be a good idea to join and try using those skills, though i might need quite a bit of practise before i head back for the level two.

Good pics.

Cheers
Stuart

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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:11 pm 
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Spitfire - I did the Ady Smith course as my first ever off road ride.
All day on a 530XC as no one else would ride it.
Its a great day but not as detailed in the technical bits as the BMW seems.

Patsys is good but very pricey.

Both are within 15 minutes of me though.

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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:15 pm 
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Kawasaki have an off road school/experience day between Bath and Devizes going around Salisbury plain... have a look at http://www.trailandoffroad.co.uk/Welcome.html they're also about £145 per day during the winter months.... which is way cheaper than BMW!

Plan to try them out later in the year.


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 Post subject: Re: BMW Off Road Skills Level 1
PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:21 am 
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great pics! Looks fun and rewarding :D

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