PatchGS1150
Registered user
OK, my first time reporting on a ride-out (22.11.08). All pictures below.
Riders
Adam - Adamneeds on this site, employed as a fire fighter, young amicable and likeable chap who's riding skills far exceed his age. Riding red R1200GS on road tyres
Stelios - Employed as a teacher, lives in London, had the earliest start of all (4:30am). Really friendly chap, has a heart of gold and can talk for England even though he's a cypriot! Riding a yellow/black 800GS on knobblies, and boy, he can ride it. (that's the bike chaps!)
Rob - Another teacher, really nice chap, lives the closest to Wales and I can honestly say, this guy is an expert off-roader, ex-endro racer, skills were (to me) unbelievable brilliant! Riding R30 CCM on balding road tyres
Lastly, me Phil - Always been on road bikes, never been off-road, never had an accident, until today! Employed as a MD, Riding R1150GS
Meet at Bromyard - Worcestershire & later at Robs house
Start - Mortimers Cross
Finish - Mortimers Cross
Visting - Presteigne/rhayader/ following elan valley to claerwen reservoir following lane along edge of reservoir exited onto mountain road ending at pontrhydfendigaid followed B4343 to pontrhydygroes.
Starting off after a nice cup of coffee around Robs
blagblah) we headed off toward Wales.
Now so far so good for me as we were on the road (a place I like(d) - read on..) it was a nice bimble down toward the country of special mud. Then we stopped at a tractor track to the left of the main road. Shock horror for me, looked like deep ruts filled with lots of water - gulp! I actually was very nervous looking down the track - it looked like a long way..and quite scary as I would have never, ever ventured down a track like this before on a bike.
Anyway, Rob heads off, (with road tyres on his CCM, I might add) looks good, through the water and ruts no problem, Stelios heads off, stright through and up the hill, no problem. Adams looking down the track waiting for me...I'm off...two minutes later...I'm off. Up a rut, too much revs, bike does a 180 degree turn and send me flying, like a spinning top! Ouch! Knee and ribs seem to hurt!
Adam comes down (without issue), makes sure I'm OK and then helps me pick up the bike. Luckily, Its all turf around the area, absolutely no damage, to the bike GREAT!, but the top box I had on is now on the floor having broken its plastic locking holders.
Stelios returns back down the track and both he and Adam proceed to give me tips on riding off road. I - of course - now sh*ting myself, listen intently!
Off we go, two minutes later, (after hiding the broken top box in the ferns for later pick up) too much revs, 180 degree spin and off I go again
Adam and Stelios give me more tips, and away we go. By-the-way, all the other guys sail through no problem.
Next - Join another B road, heading down a long straight with a sharp right 90 degree turn at the end. I'm pre-occupied with my wing mirror that's flapping around and in need of tightening after the spills. Before I know it, there it is, a series of fecking metal bars in the road. Some kind of sheep control device, fecking metal bars, across the entire roads width, who the feck invented that dangerous piece of shite? I diversify...
Anyway, miss the warning sign, see this thing last minute, cross it, (remember I am a little nervous after the spills down the lane) and then see the 90 degree, turn in, the front fades, I straighten up, and I am now once again off-road, while the other guys are not! See pictures below for result. No damage, muddy sedge saves the day.
We eventually head off again (the guys come back to help - anyone noticing the trend here!!!)
We are now at a huge reservoir (claerwen), take some photo's then head onto a track that runs around the perimeter of the reservoir (12 miles or so). We all head off, I fall off again (those fecking ruts), still, fall onto grass bank, no damage (I am now thinking, someone is looking out for me, though my knee is killig me!).
The guys rocket around this track, slate, mud and all with absolute ease, I'm now amazed at these guys skills, seems like nothing to them.
Rob and Stelios stop and decide to have some fun around a huge rock, up a slope that must be 50 degree's. Adam and I watch..pics below.
We then complete the track and join a very twisty (but tarmac'd - thanking god under my breath) road that eventualy leads us to a place where we split and head for home. Though Stel and Adam head off for more!! They must be mad..
As of tonight, I am unable to walk, my knee is like a balloon, my ribs and arms hurt and I have a headache. Would I do it again, hell yes, but maybe I will practice with a lighter bike next-time.
Overall, a great, exciting and fun day. One I, will never forget!
I'd like to thank all the guys' for their kindness, helpfulness AND patience!
More pics to follow..and hopefully a video
Riders
Adam - Adamneeds on this site, employed as a fire fighter, young amicable and likeable chap who's riding skills far exceed his age. Riding red R1200GS on road tyres
Stelios - Employed as a teacher, lives in London, had the earliest start of all (4:30am). Really friendly chap, has a heart of gold and can talk for England even though he's a cypriot! Riding a yellow/black 800GS on knobblies, and boy, he can ride it. (that's the bike chaps!)
Rob - Another teacher, really nice chap, lives the closest to Wales and I can honestly say, this guy is an expert off-roader, ex-endro racer, skills were (to me) unbelievable brilliant! Riding R30 CCM on balding road tyres
Lastly, me Phil - Always been on road bikes, never been off-road, never had an accident, until today! Employed as a MD, Riding R1150GS
Meet at Bromyard - Worcestershire & later at Robs house
Start - Mortimers Cross
Finish - Mortimers Cross
Visting - Presteigne/rhayader/ following elan valley to claerwen reservoir following lane along edge of reservoir exited onto mountain road ending at pontrhydfendigaid followed B4343 to pontrhydygroes.
Starting off after a nice cup of coffee around Robs
blagblah) we headed off toward Wales.Now so far so good for me as we were on the road (a place I like(d) - read on..) it was a nice bimble down toward the country of special mud. Then we stopped at a tractor track to the left of the main road. Shock horror for me, looked like deep ruts filled with lots of water - gulp! I actually was very nervous looking down the track - it looked like a long way..and quite scary as I would have never, ever ventured down a track like this before on a bike.
Anyway, Rob heads off, (with road tyres on his CCM, I might add) looks good, through the water and ruts no problem, Stelios heads off, stright through and up the hill, no problem. Adams looking down the track waiting for me...I'm off...two minutes later...I'm off. Up a rut, too much revs, bike does a 180 degree turn and send me flying, like a spinning top! Ouch! Knee and ribs seem to hurt!
Adam comes down (without issue), makes sure I'm OK and then helps me pick up the bike. Luckily, Its all turf around the area, absolutely no damage, to the bike GREAT!, but the top box I had on is now on the floor having broken its plastic locking holders.
Stelios returns back down the track and both he and Adam proceed to give me tips on riding off road. I - of course - now sh*ting myself, listen intently!
Off we go, two minutes later, (after hiding the broken top box in the ferns for later pick up) too much revs, 180 degree spin and off I go again
Adam and Stelios give me more tips, and away we go. By-the-way, all the other guys sail through no problem.
Next - Join another B road, heading down a long straight with a sharp right 90 degree turn at the end. I'm pre-occupied with my wing mirror that's flapping around and in need of tightening after the spills. Before I know it, there it is, a series of fecking metal bars in the road. Some kind of sheep control device, fecking metal bars, across the entire roads width, who the feck invented that dangerous piece of shite? I diversify...
Anyway, miss the warning sign, see this thing last minute, cross it, (remember I am a little nervous after the spills down the lane) and then see the 90 degree, turn in, the front fades, I straighten up, and I am now once again off-road, while the other guys are not! See pictures below for result. No damage, muddy sedge saves the day.
We eventually head off again (the guys come back to help - anyone noticing the trend here!!!)
We are now at a huge reservoir (claerwen), take some photo's then head onto a track that runs around the perimeter of the reservoir (12 miles or so). We all head off, I fall off again (those fecking ruts), still, fall onto grass bank, no damage (I am now thinking, someone is looking out for me, though my knee is killig me!).
The guys rocket around this track, slate, mud and all with absolute ease, I'm now amazed at these guys skills, seems like nothing to them.
Rob and Stelios stop and decide to have some fun around a huge rock, up a slope that must be 50 degree's. Adam and I watch..pics below.
We then complete the track and join a very twisty (but tarmac'd - thanking god under my breath) road that eventualy leads us to a place where we split and head for home. Though Stel and Adam head off for more!! They must be mad..
As of tonight, I am unable to walk, my knee is like a balloon, my ribs and arms hurt and I have a headache. Would I do it again, hell yes, but maybe I will practice with a lighter bike next-time.
Overall, a great, exciting and fun day. One I, will never forget!
I'd like to thank all the guys' for their kindness, helpfulness AND patience!
More pics to follow..and hopefully a video
