An Awesome Day Out

[tuftywhite]

I've just got back from a day of off road training with SkyGod. I have never ridden on anything except the road in 28 years. I've entered the Land's End Trial and desperately needed to know the basics of riding on green lanes.

It was the best money I have ever spent on myself, I should have done something like this 20 years ago.

The day was organised with an introduction to the day, close control work in a carpark, then braking practice, up and down hill practise, then progressively harder green lanes. Lunch was also thrown in at a great cafe I'd never noticed before on previous days out in Derbyshire.

The whole thing was confidence inspiring and the training was done at my pace.

I borrowed a bike for the training, a DR650, which was easily handleable, my own bike would have been too much for a first time.

I would recommend this training to anyone considering green laning.

A great day, great tuition by an awesome tutor. (Did I get that right Gaz?)

Seriously, money well spent. I can't wait for my next day out.

 

[tuftywhite]

A few pictures from the day

Showing me how to do it.

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Copying the master

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Out on a lane

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Under supervision

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[Nutty]

Nice one. He has a luxurious head of hair

 

[Giles]

<a href="http://s1065.beta.photobucket.com/user/tuftywhite/media/Motorbike%20Picutres/Training%20Day/file_zps4f7320ec.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/tuftywhite/Motorbike%20Picutres/Training%20Day/file_zps4f7320ec.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo file_zps4f7320ec.jpg"/></a>

That little drop off is just crying out for a monster minger ...

 

[tuftywhite]

Lessons into Practise

I've been out today on my bike.

After attending the training day using one of Gary's bikes, I wanted to get out on my R80g/s and practise some of the things I'd learned.

I went to a nearby overspill car park and rode around getting used to the feel of the bike, standing up. I then practised turning smaller and small circles until my confidence was up.

I need to adjust my clutch so I can disengage with two fingers, at the moment the lever needs to come all the way to the handle bar. I'm running out of adjustment at the lever so that will be a job for Jim at ifixyourbike when I take it in at the weekend to get my TKC's put on.

I went off for a bimble around Nottinghamshire, aiming for a longish green lane (byway) which I'd gone past the end of many times without noticing but had spotted it on an OS Map.

The lane started well, lightly gravelled and could have been taken at speed, but I settled in to second gear and gently ambled along.

After about half a mile the quality of the surface deteriorated and I came to a few corners which I took in my stride. Remembering what I'd been told about looking ahead and keeping the power on I continued through some muddy ruts and then came across a lot of water.

Before Saturday's training I'd have stopped, worried, over heated and dropped my bike. However, I talked myself through, without stopping and kept the power on and looked on ahead. Some of the water was quite deep and came up over the cylinders it a couple of places. The road then climbed up and I was rewarded with broken tarmac until I got to the road proper.

I would have never tackled this lane, yet alone, completed it relatively easily without my day with SkyGod on Saturday.

I'm quite chuffed with myself and can't wait to get some decent tyres on and have another go at that lane.


Zoom in to spot the mud.

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[CuzGS]

Glad you enjoyed it mate, lll put some pics up tonight of our latest trip out in the snow !!

Im close by, give me a shout if you want to head out to peaks any time

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

............
Im close by, give me a shout if you want to head out to peaks any time

Yeah ditto, once I'm up and about with an off roader again for the summer
There are so many lanes near us it'd be rude not to...........

........and tufty, well done - you've done the hard bit, it's all down hill from now on in

Andres

 

[PDiddy]

I am more than happy to lead some of you guys out in the Peaks if you want -

 

[CuzGS]

Bring it on mate . Always up for it

Andres, i recommend a husky 610 for you......

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Bring it on mate . Always up for it

Andres, i recommend a husky 610 for you......

......you know what though, that's exactly what I'll be looking for

Andres

 

[richardbd]

<a href="http://s1065.beta.photobucket.com/user/tuftywhite/media/Motorbike%20Picutres/file_zpsbf8dda01.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/tuftywhite/Motorbike%20Picutres/file_zpsbf8dda01.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo file_zpsbf8dda01.jpg"/></a>

Cool bike...

 

[tuftywhite]

Cool bike...

Thank you. I'd like to take some credit for it, but I bought it not having seen a G/S before, and had it done up 10 years later. No hard work was done by me whatsoever.

I have cleaned it a few times. (I pressure washed it today)

 

[tuftywhite]

Thanks for the offers of rides in Nottinghamshire and the Peaks.

I'm free on the 9th and 16 of March if anyone fancies a trip out. Obviously, come the summer there will be more weekends, but I need a couple of trips out before the Land's End Trial, just to get my eye in, so to speak.

 

[BigBeard]

Having done the same course on Tuesday this week ( as a complete novice ) I echo everything OP said, I had a brilliant day despite falling off one of Gary's brand new bikes - only once mind but typically it was caught on camera

A great way to dip your toe into the world of green lane riding, even if you don't take to it I'd bet you will learn things that will translate into your other riding activities.

Already looking forward to the next one