Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness

[nick]

Friday night we caught the late night ferry from Dover to Boulogne in order to give us an early start on our journey through France.

We managed to get split up circling the Arc de Triomphe but re-grouped at the Eifel Tower (a useful and obvious landmark!!!)

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/arc.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/tower.jpg">

A quick visit ot the Palais de Versailles and then we carried on to our overnight stop in Limoges.

Sunday morning we visited <a href=http://www.oradour.info/">Oradour-sur-Glane</a>, site of the tragic massacre and destruction of the village by the Nazi SS in WW2. The village has been left as a memorial to the inabitants....

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/oradour1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/oradour2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/oradour3.jpg">

After visiting some of the pre-hestoric sites in the Dordogne, Steve decided it was time to practice his off-roading techniques. He managed to fall over into a tree. Tim and Martin stood him up, and on his second attempt fell into a second tree!!!

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/steve1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/steve2.jpg">

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/steve3.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/steve4.jpg">

Note that my job is offical tour photographer and so I do not have to help pick up bikes!!!

An overnight stop in Toulouse, and then on to the Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness event itself - a two-day, no GPS, orienteering event in the eastern Pyrenees of Catalunya, Spain. A test of map reading and navigation skills, attempting to find checkpoints scattered in obscure (off-road) places.

A lot of competitors had taken small enduro bikes in vans or on trailers, but there were enough GS's, KTM's and Africa Twins etc to reassure us that the bigger bikes should be OK!

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/bikes1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/bikes2.jpg">

Day 1 started OK. Maybe our route was a bit ambitious (a lot of very long and sometimes difficult off-road sections), but it all went wrong when we couldn't find a check-point. We must have circled it several times and eventually Steve and I began to run low on petrol. Service stations a few and far between, so we had to abort. We lost approx 3 hours and a lot of competition points.

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad2.jpg">

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad3.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad4.jpg">

Day 2 called for a new strategy, try to visit the checkpoints closer to tarmac roads and use the speed of the GS's on the road to move quickly between checkpoints. But we still covered a lot of off-road sections...

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad5.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/offroad6.jpg">

... and Martin dropped his bike in a particularly muddy section, meaning a quick visit to a service station to clean up was required. (Note I am photographer again and avoided the worst of the mud)

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/martin1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/martin2.jpg">

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/cleanuptime.jpg">

My uncanny ability to remain upright came to an end when Steve shouted to say we had missed a checkpoint and I attempted to stop too quickly (so I blame Steve for this one)...

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/nick.jpg">

Now this is how GS's should look. Much better once covered in dust and mud than all clean and shiney!

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/gs1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/gs2.jpg">

Cooling off on the route home Tim decides the goretex layer in his suit and boots is not up to the job....

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/cool1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/cool2.jpg">

We stopped in Millau to visit Bridge, truley spectacular ...

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/millau1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/millau2.jpg">

... and the Gorge du Tarn where we were caught in a serious thunderstorm.

<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/gorge.jpg"> <img src="http://www.freewebs.com/my2wheels/humm/thunderstorm.jpg">

Not sure where we finished in the event, we certainly didn't win, but it was a lot of fun and gave a purpose to off-roading.

Would we do it again - probably not. Some people took it very seriously and the fact that many of the checkpoints were common to last year gave a big advantage to those with previous experience.

 

[MikeP]

Thanks for that Nick. Great insight into an event that Clive and I plan to do some day.

Looks like it was fun if approached as such.

 

[Dusan]

Well done

Well done, looks like you all had a lot of fun, good effort, and thanks for the pic's and write up, regards Dusan

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Great stuff, looks like you had great fun!

I was at the HU meet when Vince first anounced his plans and have meant to sort out an entry ever since

Am I right in thinking that the organisation has shifted to new peeps for next year

Thanks for taking the time to do a write up

Andres

 

[BoRaBoRa]

nice pics., thank u..

 

[porker]

This was a great event and as I had done both years I thought I better correct /confirm that only 4 check points were the same as last year.(OUT OF 68)
It gave our team no advantage except knowing what terrain to expect.
I entered with serious intentions this year and I am sure that others didnt, this shouldnt effect the event though, just get out of it what you want and enjoy it!.
Incidently we didnt visit any of the 4 check points as they wernt worth enough points when planning our route.

 

[Nasty1]

This was a great event and as I had done both years I thought I better correct /confirm that only 4 check points were the same as last year.(OUT OF 68)
It gave our team no advantage except knowing what terrain to expect.
I entered with serious intentions this year and I am sure that others didn't, this shouldn't effect the event though, just get out of it what you want and enjoy it!.
Incidentally we didn't visit any of the 4 check points as they weren't worth enough points when planning our route.

Interesting, I heard Austin say that some of the check point plate's had been out there 3 years now so expect some differences in terrain from the photos. Anyway I cant really comment as it was deemed for me and me bruv not to make it due to his bike failure 40 miles from the event after travelling 986 miles the day before Bummer Dude.

Next years event is apparently 70 miles further down the road and is reported to be more technical by popular request, so possibly no duplication of points this coming year. Not sure why as the event was original published as a FUN event and any serious competitiveness really distracted from what the event was about...Like minded people getting together...fun etc. As already stated it is up to the individual what they want or get out of it.

There are other rumours on how next years event might shape but best leave that to the HUBB to publish as n when. We will try again but probably the road route this time as the roads are so good and makes more sense with my bruv being a road rider and a dirt virgin.

Adie

 

[nick]

Any more "technical" and I would not consider it practicle to enter on a GS and expect to ride it there and back.

That would be a shame, as it was a fun event and in my mind exactly what a GS should be used for - long distance touring combined with fun off-roading.

 

[Nasty1]

Any more "technical" and I would not consider it practical to enter on a GS and expect to ride it there and back.

That would be a shame, as it was a fun event and in my mind exactly what a GS should be used for - long distance touring combined with fun off-roading.

Agreed!

Like most things I suppose the event has to develop for the majority to survive which is a shame not to mention strange considering where its routes is. Pogo's were the majority there though.

Sorry I have rambled off topic.

Adie

 

[Harv]

A group of six of us did it ... 3 couples.... with the ladies riding small pogo's... 200cc / 230cc / 250cc so we took six bikes down in a van and trailer with one couple flying out because of time restrictions.
We drove down to Luchon in a single hit and stayed in France on the Saturday and Sunday before hitting Llavorsi on Monday afternoon. It was interesting to se so many bikes out and about 'training' .... on the way down.
We rode as a group of 6 and racked up some 600 CP's by lunch time and took on 'the big gorge' down in the SW which proved to be very hot and tough on the little bikes.
By the end of day one we had gathered about 900 CP's which was 'respectable' but never in contention!
During dinner that night we decided to drop 'the race for CP's' and just go to the interesting stuff so we collared Austin for 'the pretty route' and did that. It was without doubt the best day's trail riding I had ever done!
On the Thursday a couple of the gals decided on the pool and the 'treatment' rooms, the third couple had to fly home so two of us went and ripped it up a bit on a couple of KTooms... a 450 and 690 .... this was our best day ....ever!
On the Friday we loaded up the van and trailer and headed North again.... but this time taking two days to get back which was much more civilised!
I understand the hotel is moving next year but the event will be on the same map.... which is ok with us because we only scratched the surface of the off road options .... we will probably do it as part of a weeks trail riding holiday next time.
As far as being a competitive event.... it is all too easy to .... to.... errrm... get a head start or even 'barter' CP answers so there is no huge incentive to race about too much.... that said... its a bit like playing golf, you only end up cheating yourself really... AND NO... I AM NOT SUGGESTING THE 'WINNERS' DID THIS.... but I know for sure some of the high placed teams did ... we met 3 lots out on the Monday... and we saw some trading going on in the gas station at Sort....
We will definitely go again next year as part of a bigger break.... the riding is fantastic, in my opinion better than in the South where we went last April.
Finally, we used the 'summer service' of Newhaven/Dieppe which was simple, uncrowded and missed Paris out of the run down!

 

[porker]

As far as being a competitive event.... it is all too easy to .... to.... errrm... get a head start or even 'barter' CP answers so there is no huge incentive to race about too much.... that said... its a bit like playing golf, you only end up cheating yourself really... AND NO... I AM NOT SUGGESTING THE 'WINNERS' DID THIS.... but I know for sure some of the high placed teams did ... we met 3 lots out on the Monday... and we saw some trading going on in the gas station at Sort....

As far as I can see that is pointless, the idea of the event is to get you out into remote places without the aid of GPS and Navigate your way from check point to check point and enjoy yourself on the way, what the hell you would get out of swopping check points in a fuel station I dont know! In my opinion if that was happening they completely missed the point of the event.
I cant believe that it was happening though.
If anyone had asked me for a check point they would have got a sharp reply "NO" We worked hard for our points, fell off somewhere in the region of 20 times , swet our nuts off and had a excellent time doing it. Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and would reccomend the event to anyone up for some serious challenging off roading. We completed just under 400 miles in the 2 days of competing.
There was only 5 people competing from last years event.
I know for sure that the "Winners" did not swop or gain points in any way other than actually visiting the checkpoints and taking the seriel numbers for themselfs.

 

[Nasty1]

I had the fortune of sitting on the table with the winners of the event on the last night and can testify to their seriousness over the it... thought it was the Dakar I entred for a moment fair play to them though they were on 1200 GS's IIRC.

Harv...that must have been you at the camp site (blue Van?) keep giving me $hit about not riding the KTM

Adie

 

[nick]

... and now some video clips ...

Nick ...
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</param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZCDf2aYYQ8o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

Tim ...
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gcr01DwYhbA">
</param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WZnJiSGx52c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

Steve ...
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gcr01DwYhbA">
</param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0UznvcOJnh8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

Martin ...
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gcr01DwYhbA">
</param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rZId7kiFraU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>

 

[Harv]

As far as I can see that is pointless, the idea of the event is to get you out into remote places without the aid of GPS and Navigate your way from check point to check point and enjoy yourself on the way, what the hell you would get out of swopping check points in a fuel station I dont know! In my opinion if that was happening they completely missed the point of the event.
I cant believe that it was happening though.

I can tell you for sure, it did happen ..... as I said above, we gave up trying to chase points at the end of day one because of the experiences we were missing and made a concious decision to 'ride for the view' on day two.... and it was a much better day in spite of only half of the previous days tally..... but we were asked for ... (and gave some stuff away) as we were not challenging for a place.

Harv...that must have been you at the camp site (blue Van?) keep giving me $hit about not riding the KTM

Not guilty sir! We were in my mates Moto-X truck and trailer at the bottom of the car park with an awning across the two.... which was an invaluable source of shade when fettling the bikes each afternoon.

We are definitely going back this year... the GF sent me a mail last week saying she still has 7 days leave to book... and 'are we going back'...

Has anyone ridden further West in this area..... (as in ... the next map along?)

 

[Deleted member CB]

Nasty1,
Curious to know what was the outcome with your brothers bike?

 

[Nasty1]

Nasty1,
Curious to know what was the outcome with your brothers bike?

Its half way back in the back of a van. Euro Assist would seem to be a bunch of cowboys!

Anyway bike melted its wiring loom under tank, even if we had pursued stripping the bike down further and found it ourselves it turns out that the short may have/has fried the digital speedo/controls.

The Spanish Aprilia dealer bodged the loom after 5 days of waiting to get it going but could not do anything else as he suspected the speedo was effecting its running. Apparently the Aprilia's have lots of engine management functions embedded in the dials for set up + servicing. The Spanish dealer sent it back to the UK as he could do no more.

Oh well lesson learnt, we decided that as me bruv is more road biased that we will sell the bikes after our next jolly in Sept and then get something more road biased & reliable...he takes delivery of a Ducati Multistrada anytime soon ...think I am going to follow suit and pass on the Katoom and get a MS too & maybe an old DR/XRfor some GL work and slow touring off road abroad.

Adie

 

[pinkytiff]

Great reading & viewing Nick, looks like you had a blast! So since it was designed to be an orienteering exercise, i guess theres obviously no GPS tracks then eh;-)