A few week's ago Chris (2gses) suggested a trail ride, so we set the date for today
The forecast was ok'ish, especially in the East (rather than the Dales) so when they arrived we opted for the North York Moors, setting off from my place close to Thirsk
There were 5 of us in total, all had a GS of some sort...................but today we were on proper 250 cc trailbikes, the others all Yamaha mounted (2 TTR's and 2 WR's) and me on my recently acquired Honda XR250.
I'm glad we were all on 250's today, because it meant we could do any trail we fancied
The plan was to set off @ 10am and be back by 2.30pm, after all winter meant short days.................the plan worked!
I led for the first half until lunch and Chris led after lunch - lunch was a pasty from Thomas the Baker in Helmsley, amply suplemented by a take-out hot drink, quick and easy
The first few trails were relatively straightforward, although wet in places with very slippery mud
Going up Oldstead bank
Lunch stop @ Helmsley
This was a new trail to me, never done it in 20 years and it was a cracker - lovely Beech woods with a spooky name more suited to Halloween
After that it was into Farndale and another snotty trail I haven't done to at least 10 years
Don't injure any daffodils in Spring
It got progressively more difficult - one buried TTR and someone looking for inspiration or divine intervention
Next..............it was high up in Farndale and the weather closed in for a time, with snow falling every 100metres we rose upwards
Another good and hardly used trail, with a bit of everything - mud, rocks and a river crossing
Good view from the top though
After the weather worsened, we headed out of Farndale via Monket Bank and traversed Rudland Rigg drove road towards Bransdale
Riding through Bransdale was spectacular and we were back in Helmsley for a quick fuelstop (not much range on these pocket thumpers)
Then it was onto Ampleforth and a quaint trail that runs through the old college grounds and then back up a trail over White Horse Bank and onto Sutton Bank
The road ride home was wet and cold and we were glad to arrive as quickly as possible
We covered about 100 miles door to door.................enough in these conditions
I doubt the XChallenge would have made any of the trails after lunch and it's good to be back on a small lightweight inconspicuous trailbike again................the Honda XR performed faultlessly on its maiden outing, always started in no more than 2-3 kicks and I only dropped it once (not paying attention) and it covered the ground well, most of the time not breaking traction.................not bad for a 13 year old trailbike
The forecast was ok'ish, especially in the East (rather than the Dales) so when they arrived we opted for the North York Moors, setting off from my place close to Thirsk
There were 5 of us in total, all had a GS of some sort...................but today we were on proper 250 cc trailbikes, the others all Yamaha mounted (2 TTR's and 2 WR's) and me on my recently acquired Honda XR250.
I'm glad we were all on 250's today, because it meant we could do any trail we fancied
The plan was to set off @ 10am and be back by 2.30pm, after all winter meant short days.................the plan worked!
I led for the first half until lunch and Chris led after lunch - lunch was a pasty from Thomas the Baker in Helmsley, amply suplemented by a take-out hot drink, quick and easy
The first few trails were relatively straightforward, although wet in places with very slippery mud
Going up Oldstead bank
Lunch stop @ Helmsley
This was a new trail to me, never done it in 20 years and it was a cracker - lovely Beech woods with a spooky name more suited to Halloween
After that it was into Farndale and another snotty trail I haven't done to at least 10 years
Don't injure any daffodils in Spring
It got progressively more difficult - one buried TTR and someone looking for inspiration or divine intervention
Next..............it was high up in Farndale and the weather closed in for a time, with snow falling every 100metres we rose upwards
Another good and hardly used trail, with a bit of everything - mud, rocks and a river crossing
Good view from the top though
After the weather worsened, we headed out of Farndale via Monket Bank and traversed Rudland Rigg drove road towards Bransdale
Riding through Bransdale was spectacular and we were back in Helmsley for a quick fuelstop (not much range on these pocket thumpers)
Then it was onto Ampleforth and a quaint trail that runs through the old college grounds and then back up a trail over White Horse Bank and onto Sutton Bank
The road ride home was wet and cold and we were glad to arrive as quickly as possible
We covered about 100 miles door to door.................enough in these conditions
I doubt the XChallenge would have made any of the trails after lunch and it's good to be back on a small lightweight inconspicuous trailbike again................the Honda XR performed faultlessly on its maiden outing, always started in no more than 2-3 kicks and I only dropped it once (not paying attention) and it covered the ground well, most of the time not breaking traction.................not bad for a 13 year old trailbike
not sure the white Serow would have liked that muck...or the salt 
Some of the sections then became "interesting"!
