Alto Turio

[BurtieBoy]

I signed up last night. Hopefully I'll see some of guys out there.

Burt

 

[halfpint]

ride

how hard is the event , keep looking at it but just need more info to tell what its like?? 5 days riding in the hills may just be to much ,,,,,

 

[Wreford Miles]

It's great I'll be there next year on my Airhead.

how hard is the event?

For me it's a mind over matter event, you've long days 10 -12 hours, the odd oh sh1te have I got to ride that section and navigation to test your clarity of thinking - non of which in isolation are impossible hard.

Great views, trails and sense of achivement make this a fantastic event

 

[BurtieBoy]

how hard is the event , keep looking at it but just need more info to tell what its like?? 5 days riding in the hills may just be to much ,,,,,

This event is more like a proper rally. The year I did it the going was OK only a few sections that were tough. There is also an alternative "trail" route for non experts and bigger bikes - so you can make your choice on the day which trail you wish to ride. The days are long 250 - 350km, but the going is mainly dry trails.

If you have been doing UK rallies you need to slow down as navigation is 50% of the challenge, and as Miles says, this is the real test and "it does yer head in". If you are steady and navigate correctly it is all OK and there is always a group of people to discuss the route at difficult points.

The road book system is something you learn as you go along and by the end of it you are an expert.

One of hte benefits of this event is that it has a central base - which means that if you don't finish one day you are NOT out of the rally. You just turn up on the start line the next day and go.

It is worth investing in a road book reader and mileage counter - I did it in 2008 with an Acerbis road book and a GPS - but the mental arithmatic was immense so a proper mileage counter or (km) counter is essential and one that can be zeroed is even better.

There are few people that provide support - but we found that you just need to get your bike down there ( See Brian E) as there are fuel stations and the organisers provide water and snacks at service points.

I just need to get my bike sorted now ;-)

 

[halfpint]

alto

Right then all seems simple ,wr450 do I need large fuel tank or run with standard ,road book thing on the bike what do you have to have . it seem that reading the route is key to the event,so how do learn that on other events??may need some long days on the bike to get fit and make that seat better. transport down not a problem just take the van camping is ok wheres the hot tub for the evening to soak in .for the seniors what age ???

 

[Wreford Miles]

There is also an alternative "trail" route for non experts and bigger bikes - so you can make your choice on the day which trail you wish to ride.

It is worth investing in a road book reader and mileage counter - I did it in 2008 with an Acerbis road book and a GPS - but the mental arithmatic was immense so a proper mileage counter or (km) counter is essential and one that can be zeroed is even better.

In 2009 everyone had the same route/roadbook but those on 650cc plus or over 50 had the option of missing some of the most technical sections (1 or 2 per day) - The detour was often ony a few KM's, things like you'd stay on the ridge while the young guns on pogo's where sent of fthe edge and back up again.

The specials stages where the same for everyone

I'd say a proper mileage counter, which can be zero'ed and adjusted set up correctly makes a big/all the diffrence, an electric road book on the special stages will mean you can keep the pace up and your hands on the bars.

 

[BurtieBoy]

Right then all seems simple ,wr450 do I need large fuel tank or run with standard ,road book thing on the bike what do you have to have . it seem that reading the route is key to the event,so how do learn that on other events??may need some long days on the bike to get fit and make that seat better. transport down not a problem just take the van camping is ok wheres the hot tub for the evening to soak in .for the seniors what age ???

WR 450 is fine - I ran my 640 LC4 on a standard tank - 12 lites, I think the WR has a smaller tank so you may need extra fuel - I carried it in a steel flask in my back back (1 litre ) and I used it one day as I was 2km short of a fuel stop.

If you are worried ride with a few other guys and all carry 1 litre of extra fuel.

Riding with others also makes the navigation easier for the first day - by the end of the day you will have picked it up.

See you there

 

[halfpint]

alto

can you hire a road book holder ? there seems to be only a few makers which is best ?the rest of the event you just learn on the first day maybe a steep learning curve. any good events to do in prep before going just to have time on the bike.

 

[Brian E]

get time on the bike is the main thing.
difficult to hire a road book. i have some coming from spain if you need one.
the trip on your WRF is not good enough expect to have to get a rally trip meter.
yes you need a bigger tank unless your using a older WRF with the bigger tank.
I'm preping 2 Alloy framed WRF's with the following:-
13litre tanks
BFO bashplate
MX tyres
Ulta HD tubes
roadbook
trip meter
rally bracket
rally handgaurds

with the WRF we don't bother changing the oil during the week but do expect to change tyre's, airfilters
we take spare wheels as a just in case.

 

[stevenorton]

I am also booked in to do the alto . I have done this event for the last two years, both times with my wife, sue. The first year used a GPS for my mileage. the GPS was very accurate but the problems came when I overshot a turn. Realising my mistake I would turn round comeback and take the correct turn. Of course the problem is instead of the total mileage then reading 87.4 km (for instance) it could then be reading 88.6. 1.2 km out. When looking to the next mileage where you have to turn say at 89.3 km you have to remember that you are now 1.2 km too much. As you can imagine by lunchtime when you've made five, six, or possibly seven mistakes the mental arithmetic fries the brain. For this year I bought a resettable trip meter with the option of a bar mount for the buttons. Then when I had made a mistake it was simple to reset the trip to the correct milage. The price of the trip was less than £100 including the bar mounted buttons. for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the unit. If you want the name, next time I am in the garage, I will look it up.

I can highly recommend this event. Not only is the going technical enough to be interesting, hard enough to be challenging without killing you but socialising with your fellow competitors makes the whole event much more fun. By the way Brian broke his wrist on the Thursday and then decided to lead my wife sue and a fellow competitor John on the last day to make sure they both finished. He borrowed John's HP2 to ride as he thought it would be easier on his wrist than the WRF 450 he was riding!!!

 

[Brian E]

I am also booked in to do the alto . I have done this event for the last two years, both times with my wife, sue. The first year used a GPS for my mileage. the GPS was very accurate but the problems came when I overshot a turn. Realising my mistake I would turn round comeback and take the correct turn. Of course the problem is instead of the total mileage then reading 87.4 km (for instance) it could then be reading 88.6. 1.2 km out. When looking to the next mileage where you have to turn say at 89.3 km you have to remember that you are now 1.2 km too much. As you can imagine by lunchtime when you've made five, six, or possibly seven mistakes the mental arithmetic fries the brain. For this year I bought a resettable trip meter with the option of a bar mount for the buttons. Then when I had made a mistake it was simple to reset the trip to the correct milage. The price of the trip was less than £100 including the bar mounted buttons. for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the unit. If you want the name, next time I am in the garage, I will look it up.

I can highly recommend this event. Not only is the going technical enough to be interesting, hard enough to be challenging without killing you but socialising with your fellow competitors makes the whole event much more fun. By the way Brian broke his wrist on the Thursday and then decided to lead my wife sue and a fellow competitor John on the last day to make sure they both finished. He borrowed John's HP2 to ride as he thought it would be easier on his wrist than the WRF 450 he was riding!!!

Yes but we are really good at the art of socialising 2 bottles of wine and were really sociable.
thought that HP2 was going to kill me all day even on the road it was lethal.

 

[halfpint]

alto

yes please I will need a road book holder, its an o5 wr so will sort the fuel tank .just got to put the deposit down to enter .just need to get fit and ride the:bike practise makes perfect ( ha ha )if over 50 will I get in with the old boys?

 

[Deleted account D]

I've paid my deposit

Fitness training starts 4th Jan

This year i need to get past day 2 !!!!

Road book

I'm waiting for the larger tank to come on sale for the G450x


to give you some idea of the terrain see lots of pics here

http://dave-emsley.smugmug.com/Other/alto/8827028_dpofD#584771499_zHosK
http://dave-emsley.smugmug.com/Other/2009-05-25-Alcalá-de-la-Selva/8784425_dKjaR#581604976_gQ587

http://dave-emsley.smugmug.com/Other/2009-05-24-Prólogo/8783525_Bpgts#581521767_TPET4

http://dave-emsley.smugmug.com/Other/2009-05-24-Prólogo-1/8776105_zKZPc#581014473_eNSeo

http://dave-emsley.smugmug.com/Other/alto-turia/8390570_zic7T#550677085_GCAL7






see you in spain !

 

[Brian E]

yes please I will need a road book holder, its an o5 wr so will sort the fuel tank .just got to put the deposit down to enter .just need to get fit and ride the:bike practise makes perfect ( ha ha )if over 50 will I get in with the old boys?

if your born before 1955 you'll get in the grand old man class which also means you don't need to do the profesional (read expert) course you can if you want but you don't have to. somedays there is a choice of roadbook's you decide wether to do the profesional or ameature route you can also ride around with other people having some map reading ability is a good idea and a GPS can help with navigation sometimes. it's a pretty laid back event powered mainly by beer and red wine some of the riders are pretty serious but it's just a week long holiday riding a bike in some of the most stunning scenery with some good food and good company.
Some of the Photo's from last years event don't do the hill's or rock's justice.

 

[Brian E]

yes please I will need a road book holder, its an o5 wr so will sort the fuel tank .just got to put the deposit down to enter .just need to get fit and ride the:bike practise makes perfect ( ha ha )if over 50 will I get in with the old boys?

Pay your Deposit before end of the year to get a 20% discount the balance can be paid later ie anytime upto the start.

 

[halfpint]

alto

thanks heavens ,my traiing can start tonight pass that bottle .It will be my 50 year so may need to take it easy, the photos look good just going to have to put time in on the bike to get ready .thanks for the help the dutch guys on adventure rider site seem a bit serious they want to win ????

 

[Brian E]

we creamed them every year they can't get close to some of the faster UK riders. i might even get a team together with the little fat Yorkshire man, Paul, myself and probably Pete Fryer if that don't win the team award i don't know what else to do.
the little fat Yorkie has won the event
Paul won it last year.
I've been second at the event.
Pete is our anchor man.

 

[halfpint]

paid the deposit ,give me something to look forward to in the new year .let the eating stop and the diet start!!!!

 

[halfpint]

alto

I will looking for a road book reader if you have one please, large tank on its way sump gaurd needs fitting. just need to find a space in the garage and some heat. thanks for your advice and enthusiasm .

 

[Brian E]

I will looking for a road book reader if you have one please, large tank on its way sump gaurd needs fitting. just need to find a space in the garage and some heat. thanks for your advice and enthusiasm .

Basically email me and i'll sort the bit's you need. [email protected]