johnnyboxer wrote:
I can join the ACU, for a Trials permit for £10 which is a photocard and enter as many trials as I like for the year
I get insurance and a bi-monthly colour magazine too, for my tenner
I can then join a local club for a tenner, then ride all their events which costs £10-£15/event for 4-5 hours of pure riding fun
Not really sure what the TRF is actually adding to my life at present
I'm sure I can remember reading in the mists of time that the TRF was not about riding per se but more about the politics of defending what we have got and are currently losing hand over fist so it seems. As Johnny Boxer says above, the riding out side seems to be well catered for with the local clubs, ACU etc, (not that they cater for quads)
In my opinion, the TRF is about the fighting behind the scenes to keep the lanes and the network of people who are trying to do just that (but for that to work they must be able to communicate, perhaps covertly, so hence the problems and censure on this site and woeful communication generally), riding is almost a secondary bonus but conversely is the main tool in keeping the network alive...
As ROW member for Hereford TRF I have met some very knowledgeable people but accessing that knowledge is very difficult especially when people don't/won't/can't use modern IT (it does mean more sitting in pubs talking probably with a laptop handy...which is lovely, but not the most practical given modern life pressures or geography)
Gotta wonder what the ramblers get for their membership? Probably a very glossy magazine?
Hey ho..