The Hobbit
Registered user
Just finished a weekend at the off road skills course, and thought I would write a few lines in case anyone else is thinking of going.
First its brilliant, pretty tough, but brilliant.
For those with no real idea of what to expect, like me, it’s a full on training course, it’s not like a track ‘experience’ type of thing where it’s a mixture of entertainment and a little look at what you are doing, these guys are there to make you work.
We spent the first morning getting kitted up, and then getting to the riding ground (about 8 miles of road ridding).
Once there we split into ability groups, and then immediately dropped our bikes in the dirt! For me with a spanking new unmarked 1200 without crash bars it’s pretty strange, but learning how to pick one up was part why I went, and surprisingly it’s doable, not that easy but quite doable (in fact they made me do it twice just to prove the point).
After that, its learning how to get on and off properly, how to move around, body positioning and general bike handling. Getting on the bikes (and falling off of them) then commenced.
I have to admit it I was the first in my group to bite the dust, but only by a few seconds, but it still a bit hard on the ego.
We went round things, between things, round in circles and all sorts of good stuff like back and front (ughh) brake locking exercises and then lunch
After lunch it was off down the trails for some riding and then more exercises.
If you haven’t done any of this before the downhill exercises are something else, I expected to try a few descents on a nice easy 8/10 ft hill, no way…it feels like riding off the side of a house!
No brakes, no engine braking, both, we tried them all and by the end the terror is down to just fear, and believe me the 1200 can take some stick.
Rest of the day we rode more and more difficult bits with tighter stuff and bigger descents until unfortunately it ‘home time’
Evening was a very convivial affair, with the instructors hosting a descent meal at a local pub, it’s nice to have a chat with the guys and a real eye opener as to just how much completion and distance stuff they have done between them.
Last day: kit up and ride out. The morning was all about riding the trail with putting into practice what we had learnt. It’s amazing after a very early inspection of the floor, it suddenly worked, all of the bits and pieces. We had a great time in a very wet section where pretty much every one fell off, got muddy trying to get others out and generally failed to keep the bikes rubber side down: Oh the boots leak…. A lot.
After lunch we had a session of trying each other’s bike, and it was pretty interesting. Upshot was, Go for a 1200!
So after more riding it was all over.
Got up this morning and thought of a few things.
1. My legs didn’t work anymore
2. My feet feel like someone has had a go at them with a meat tenderizer
3. It’s a lot of dosh, but I can’t imagine learning more in such a short time, or anyone being so unconcerned about the damage you are doing to their bike
4. 1200’s are the business, the engine will pull you out of anything or slow you from anything (just don’t use 1st in mud)
5. Should we use crash bars? They don’t!
6. The bigger footrests of off the GSA are Sooo much better than the GS ones
First its brilliant, pretty tough, but brilliant.
For those with no real idea of what to expect, like me, it’s a full on training course, it’s not like a track ‘experience’ type of thing where it’s a mixture of entertainment and a little look at what you are doing, these guys are there to make you work.
We spent the first morning getting kitted up, and then getting to the riding ground (about 8 miles of road ridding).
Once there we split into ability groups, and then immediately dropped our bikes in the dirt! For me with a spanking new unmarked 1200 without crash bars it’s pretty strange, but learning how to pick one up was part why I went, and surprisingly it’s doable, not that easy but quite doable (in fact they made me do it twice just to prove the point).
After that, its learning how to get on and off properly, how to move around, body positioning and general bike handling. Getting on the bikes (and falling off of them) then commenced.
I have to admit it I was the first in my group to bite the dust, but only by a few seconds, but it still a bit hard on the ego.
We went round things, between things, round in circles and all sorts of good stuff like back and front (ughh) brake locking exercises and then lunch
After lunch it was off down the trails for some riding and then more exercises.
If you haven’t done any of this before the downhill exercises are something else, I expected to try a few descents on a nice easy 8/10 ft hill, no way…it feels like riding off the side of a house!
No brakes, no engine braking, both, we tried them all and by the end the terror is down to just fear, and believe me the 1200 can take some stick.
Rest of the day we rode more and more difficult bits with tighter stuff and bigger descents until unfortunately it ‘home time’
Evening was a very convivial affair, with the instructors hosting a descent meal at a local pub, it’s nice to have a chat with the guys and a real eye opener as to just how much completion and distance stuff they have done between them.
Last day: kit up and ride out. The morning was all about riding the trail with putting into practice what we had learnt. It’s amazing after a very early inspection of the floor, it suddenly worked, all of the bits and pieces. We had a great time in a very wet section where pretty much every one fell off, got muddy trying to get others out and generally failed to keep the bikes rubber side down: Oh the boots leak…. A lot.
After lunch we had a session of trying each other’s bike, and it was pretty interesting. Upshot was, Go for a 1200!
So after more riding it was all over.
Got up this morning and thought of a few things.
1. My legs didn’t work anymore
2. My feet feel like someone has had a go at them with a meat tenderizer
3. It’s a lot of dosh, but I can’t imagine learning more in such a short time, or anyone being so unconcerned about the damage you are doing to their bike
4. 1200’s are the business, the engine will pull you out of anything or slow you from anything (just don’t use 1st in mud)
5. Should we use crash bars? They don’t!
6. The bigger footrests of off the GSA are Sooo much better than the GS ones
?, do i use my revit textile suit which is in very good clean condition or use something a litter older?
This brings back memories.
It must have been difficult dropping a brand new unmarked bike on purpose.
Out of interest, what colour 1200's are they running this year?
