Trail Riders Fellowship

[g.s.john]

not a trail rider myself but can you do it with a sidecar?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

yep, did the Dales the other week and was around Kirby Bank and Rutland Rigg yesterday, but had to call it short as i developed a engine problem with the bike.

A few old faces and have to say really enjoyed getting out with them and the company.

Are brothers Dave and Leo still out etc

 

[Harry Nicholson]

Yes , still around with Leo being the ROW officer .

Cheers

Harry

 

[MarkShelley]

Love your enthusiasm Johnny. In summer I got in touch with my local TRF group and duly went to their next monthly meeting in September - which consisted of one other newbie and, ultimately, three existing members. While tales of exciting rides were told - my question as to, "when was the last ride out and when is the next?" was met with considerable head scratching. Ultimately it was agreed that the last ride out may have been 6 to 12 months ago and there isn't another planned at the moment!
I've remained on the groups mailing list and avidly await news of a ride out. But none yet.
Ironically Suffolk is next to Thetford Forest (in Norfolk) where there are many excellent green lanes so I'm surprised so little seems to happen or that my recent posting on this site (about organising a local green lane ride) has met with more or less nil response. Guess I need to move to Yorkshire .....................

I am a member of Cambridge Section which is very active and we have loads of byways in our area. I was out this morning for a few hours with a friend from Royston who hadn`t had his KTM out for months. I knew there was a TRF ride-out today and thought we may bump inbto them and sure enough we did. There must have been at least a dozen of them.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Yes , still around with Leo being the ROW officer .

Cheers

Harry

I see you're on the 'management'............hope to get to the Jan meeting, hope Keith will give me a welcome


Hope to see you all and meet some new faces.............I used to ride with Fred Garbutt

 

[AdamA]

not a trail rider myself but can you do it with a sidecar?

Yes you can, you just need to be aware of Traffic Regulation Orders that exempt bikes and stop 4x4s. Sometimes they are worded to allow 3 wheels, sometimes not.
This is my mate Rod in his Ural on a spin through Thetford Forest I ran:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2LctgkK2vkw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[finn]

So why did i rejoin?

Well my conscience has been well and truly pricked and I thought it was about time I did get on with it


I saw an article about my local group (old mates) repairing lanes, in the local Press and thought I'd like to do some of that - laying stone and repairing ruts in the Dales, putting something back and enjoying it

Have a look at this lot as well well organized and run by Robin as well
http://www.treadlightly-uk.org/

 

[RW1102]

I was with Kieth and Dave riding yesterday. Going to try and get to the January meeting myself.

 

[Harry Nicholson]

I see you're on the 'management'............hope to get to the Jan meeting, hope Keith will give me a welcome


Hope to see you all and meet some new faces.............I used to ride with Fred Garbutt

Well nobody else would do the job . Keith still looks after first time visitors , but you`re hardly a newcomer Johnny.
We regularly get 30/40 members at each meeting. See you at the January meeting.
Cheers
Harry

 

[Possu]

I don't ride Trails, and there aren't any near me so it is not something I think of, it seems there are only a few areas in the UK that do have trails which is a real shame.

Our council website shows all of the rights of way, and there just ain't any for vehicles, walkers have thousands of miles, cyclist have a few tracks but motorcycles have nothing anymore.

I'm sorry but you're very wrong. I also live in Oxford and go out about twice a month, regularly covering 120-140 miles door to door. If there was such a shortage of local and easily accessible trails, then Oxford TRF wouldn't be flourishing and attracting as many new members as it's currently doing. Our little sub-group of Advrider & UKGS'er forum members numbers at least 12 and regularly ride together.

Sure there aren't that many trails in Oxfordshire itself but you only have to ride down to Wantage, taking in a couple of trails en-route and from there, we have a varied selection of trails taking you southwest in to Wiltshire, ovwer the M4 and back via Berkshire. We only ride legal lanes and have no problem taking novices out as long as they have appropriate tyres, tools, tubes and riding gear and ride responsibly around ramblers, dogs and horses. Don't think that these are all easy trails either, there's plenty of mud, deep ruts and wet chalk out there to test both rider and bike.

I'd be happy to take you out in the New Year, just PM me.

Pumpy on her DRZ two weeks ago:

 

[Rasher]

I'd be happy to take you out in the New Year, just PM me

Thanks for the offer of a rideout, but below is another "put-off" for me at the moment

as long as they have appropriate tyres, tools, tubes and riding gear

I only have one bike and really can't be bothered to change tyres just to go on a 2 hour ride, ideally I would need an extra set of wheels ahich I have no cash for, nor much space to store, neither do I want to buy a set of MX gear to use just a few times a year.

there's plenty of mud, deep ruts and wet chalk out there to test both rider and bike

And I am not sure the GS is the bike for this sort of terrain. Ideally I would love to get into this but think to do it I would need a DRZ / YZF or similar, plus the gear and I do not have the time / money for a road bike and off-road bike.

When in Europe their are loads of really good "trails" which I can ride, these show up on Mapsource as "unpaved roads" and are suitable for the GS (even without MX tyres) and I have even ridden a couple (slowly) on my old ZZR1400 - no need for a whole new set of gear / toolkit / offroad tyres.

I believe a few miles of the Ridgeway are suitable for the GS and I may try that, if I ever have the space / time / money for an off-road bike I would join the TRF and go and get muddy.

 

[Gaz]

Rasher - these trails are just for you, they even have cafes every 20-30 miles! Perfect for your needs

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks for the offer of a rideout, but below is another "put-off" for me at the moment



I only have one bike and really can't be bothered to change tyres just to go on a 2 hour ride, ideally I would need an extra set of wheels ahich I have no cash for, nor much space to store, neither do I want to buy a set of MX gear to use just a few times a year.



And I am not sure the GS is the bike for this sort of terrain. Ideally I would love to get into this but think to do it I would need a DRZ / YZF or similar, plus the gear and I do not have the time / money for a road bike and off-road bike.

When in Europe their are loads of really good "trails" which I can ride, these show up on Mapsource as "unpaved roads" and are suitable for the GS (even without MX tyres) and I have even ridden a couple (slowly) on my old ZZR1400 - no need for a whole new set of gear / toolkit / offroad tyres.

I believe a few miles of the Ridgeway are suitable for the GS and I may try that, if I ever have the space / time / money for an off-road bike I would join the TRF and go and get muddy.

So why make an 'incorrect' comment that there are no trails in Oxfordshire, when you don't really want to ride them......................I find so many inaccuracies in most things you say in your posts............with your sweeping generalisations

 

[johnnyboy]

I'm sorry but you're very wrong. I also live in Oxford and go out about twice a month, regularly covering 120-140 miles door to door. If there was such a shortage of local and easily accessible trails, then Oxford TRF wouldn't be flourishing and attracting as many new members as it's currently doing. Our little sub-group of Advrider & UKGS'er forum members numbers at least 12 and regularly ride together.

Sure there aren't that many trails in Oxfordshire itself but you only have to ride down to Wantage, taking in a couple of trails en-route and from there, we have a varied selection of trails taking you southwest in to Wiltshire, ovwer the M4 and back via Berkshire. We only ride legal lanes and have no problem taking novices out as long as they have appropriate tyres, tools, tubes and riding gear and ride responsibly around ramblers, dogs and horses. Don't think that these are all easy trails either, there's plenty of mud, deep ruts and wet chalk out there to test both rider and bike.

I'd be happy to take you out in the New Year, just PM me.

Pumpy on her DRZ two weeks ago:

Possu,

Wouldn't mind joining you on one of your Oxfordshire ride outs, either on my 990adv or 250 pogo. If you don't mind of course . I'm a TRF member in East Midlands but tend to go out with a few lads from another forum.

 

[Possu]

Possu,

Wouldn't mind joining you on one of your Oxfordshire ride outs, either on my 990adv or 250 pogo. If you don't mind of course . I'm a TRF member in East Midlands but tend to go out with a few lads from another forum.

No problem Johnny, would be a pleasure. Let me know what dates suit you and we'll work something out. The 250 would be a better choice unless you want to wait until Spring? We'll be out on a regular basis anyway.

 

[Possu]

Thanks for the offer of a rideout, but below is another "put-off" for me at the moment



I only have one bike and really can't be bothered to change tyres just to go on a 2 hour ride, ideally I would need an extra set of wheels ahich I have no cash for, nor much space to store, neither do I want to buy a set of MX gear to use just a few times a year.



And I am not sure the GS is the bike for this sort of terrain. Ideally I would love to get into this but think to do it I would need a DRZ / YZF or similar, plus the gear and I do not have the time / money for a road bike and off-road bike.

When in Europe their are loads of really good "trails" which I can ride, these show up on Mapsource as "unpaved roads" and are suitable for the GS (even without MX tyres) and I have even ridden a couple (slowly) on my old ZZR1400 - no need for a whole new set of gear / toolkit / offroad tyres.

I believe a few miles of the Ridgeway are suitable for the GS and I may try that, if I ever have the space / time / money for an off-road bike I would join the TRF and go and get muddy.

Up until he bought a Husky 510 a couple of weeks ago, Mike F was out with us on his 1150GSA. He managed quite well to say the least.

What makes you think we go out on 2 hour rides? I leave the house at 8.30am and rarely get home before 4.30pm. If you think you can ride 120+miles on the lanes we ride in 2 hours you might as well get your entry in for the Dakar.......

Without wanting to be rude, I can't help but echo the sentiments of others: you moan about the loss of trails which you don't really want to ride. You obviously lack the commitment to go trailriding in the first place, you seem to put obstacles in your way. The safety gear is not compulsory, it just makes sense as does being self sufficient in tools & tubes etc.

Rasher - these trails are just for you, they even have cafes every 20-30 miles! Perfect for your needs

Quality!

 

[Rasher]

So why make an 'incorrect' comment that there are no trails in Oxfordshire, when you don't really want to ride them......................I find so many inaccuracies in most things you say in your posts............with your sweeping generalisations

Very few trails is what I said, the information that came back was there were a number in nearby counties, but are quite challenging.

What I would like to try is very easy trails along the lines of unpaved roads, no deep ruts, soggy mud or large rocks just dirt / gravel tracks that need little skill / specialist equipment.

Particularly "crap" roads that are fun to ride / have nice scenery would be just as welcome.

 

[AdamA]

Very few trails is what I said, the information that came back was there were a number in nearby counties, but are quite challenging.

What I would like to try is very easy trails along the lines of unpaved roads, no deep ruts, soggy mud or large rocks just dirt / gravel tracks that need little skill / specialist equipment.

Particularly "crap" roads that are fun to ride / have nice scenery would be just as welcome.

As I said:

Wiltshire is just down the road from you and has 600+ miles of legal trails to ride, many of which are doable on a GS. Its a fantastic place to live/ride.

Hence I used to run regular novice and big bike rides down there as in the dry there are hundreds of miles of easily rideable lanes, even on road rubber. In the wet there is often an easy way round he harder parts.
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wgfL7m2e0Uo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Christ, if a TDM, Rockster and Bonniville can do it.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockburner/2375253206/in/set-72157604319489863/
http://woodgen.smugmug.com/gallery/5600228_cifAy/1/343689369_GcSwp#343684430_uy7F7

 

[Rasher]

The problem is the term do-able on a GS, it suggests the bike is capable of the job, do-able on a GS with a novice onboard without specialist gear is what I am looking for.

Some of those pictures do look like the sort of thing I had in mind, but I am guessing they will be pretty sloppy until the summer now.

I may well consider the TRF come summer time

 

[strobingred]

TRF

I may well consider the TRF come summer time [/QUOTE]

The TRF is not just for"Summer" its for the whole year.

Get yer £40 in and help to keep the lanes open.

Regards another Oxfordshire Greenlaner