Thanks Timpo

Thank you for all the balanced constructive replies. To be honest I was expecting worse. Special thanks for the offers of rides in the future. I was just giving my opinion as I saw it on the day and I'm genuinely pleased that everyone else had a great enjoyable day.

With hindsight I probably should have persevered and stuck it out. I was a bit under the weather both from alcohol intake the night before and not being well all week.

I still think there are improvements that could be made for others in the future. That was part of the reason for my post, if everyone thinks everything was perfect then there is no room for improvement.

Firstly, I still feel there should have been some sort of pre ride briefing if only to introduce the ride leader and back marker and give a rough overview of the type of terrain. As I wasn't feeling 100% I might have opted for the fords ride instead.

Secondly, I of course accept that my bike might get some damage off road. That's why I ride a scruffy old 1100 and not a new fancy 1200 Adv :) Some of the guys such as Spout, Trippy and Johnny Boxer have ridden off-road with me before and can hopefully confirm that I am not a novice off road when I'm in the best of health. However, I think there is a difference between accepting a general risk of dropping the bike (which I expect to do at least once on an all day off-road ride) and the severe conditions of the steep rocky downhill. It could be that my bike was the least suitable. It still has tired original suspension and probably the least ground clearance.

Thirdly, I was not aware of any drop off system in operation. If that had been the case there would have been less confusion and easier access through the gates etc.

From my limited experience of the days ride, I found it more suited to the light weight trail bikes than the large GSers. From what has been posted here and from the photos it appears that it got a lot easier as the day progressed. Obviously if I had been made aware of that I could have chosen to stay on.

Thanks again for the constructive comments. They really are appreciated.

Sid
 
I think I'm a novice, I rode an 1150 and found the ride fantastic... The Rocky downhill was brilliant it's a shame you didn't stick with it.

Timbo... that was a day to remember for many years, thank you

Thanks to the group and the regular help picking my bike up

Conclusive proof from that photo that huggers work. :thumb
 
Come on post the rest of photos i'm sure there should be some more :thumb2
 
Pics

I'll try to get some of my photos up tomorow. Not done it before so Nigel is coming to the shopto show me how!!
Thanks again Timpo, Still buzzing two days later:thumb2 :thumb2 :thumb2 :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :bounce1 :bounce1 :bounce1
 
Despite Sid Horman's well advised second post I believe him to be well out of order in making such negative comments about a days adventurous riding. A ride which had been prepared by an expert rider and leader of rides for the sole purpose of having fun.

If on the day Sid Horman was 'under the weather' then I guess he did the right thing and left the ride, the last thing anyone wants along is either a liability or a whinger.

Although not suprised, I am disappointed to see a moderator, who had nothing at all to do with the ride, air his opinion via inaccurate heresay:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

But feck ya!! the rest of us had a fantastic day:D
and you don't have to do a fords ride to get wet as Forry shows
 

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Yes, unfortunately there is a rider in the foliage under his bike:aidan
 

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Hoping the back end doesn't step out:clap
 

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The weather was perfect for a day in the hills:)
 

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Spout looking cool:cool:
 

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Just don't stall it here at the 'Bombhole', but Spout going for it:thumb
 

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A 650 Dakar doesn't hang around
 

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Forry on form:thumb
 

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Tina was one of the few who didn't drop their bike all day despite using road tyres.

Oh and it should be noted there were no complaints from those who actually do ride their GSs offroad about the inclusion of a 4 trail bikes on the ride, for ride such as this I think it's useful to have riders on them to ride back and forth assisting where needed.

So there we have it, a great day enjoyed by most. To those who like easier, more organisation and order to their rides I look forward to you organising one:thumb

Thanks Timpo:beer:
 

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So there we have it, a great day enjoyed by most. To those who like easier, more organisation and order to their rides I look forward to you organising one:thumb

Thanks Timpo:beer:

Well said that man

If they want to pay you £395 a head like World of Bmw then they would have the right to complain:rob Hope this doesn't put you off in the future:clap

You should have started the day with a demonstration of how to pick a fallen bike up:rolleyes:
Maybe a 1-2-1 tutor pupil ratio:nenau
Employ a wet nurse:augie
Cucumber sandwiches:D
 
Saturday's ride was an Adventure of epic proportions and a marathon ride too

Relating to Sid's earlier comments, I can concur that some of what he said was true.........

A pre-ride briefing in the Car Park would have helped to assess the day for both leader and riders

Plus the initial inclusion of a back marker to sweep up any stragglers,fallers or dead bikes

I was left on Lane 2 at a gate with no hope of catching the riders at the end of the lane, as everybody had cleared off and had to return to the Hand about 45 mins after setting off.

I left messages for Tim and then Timpo called me too(thanks chaps:clap ) realising I was missing, so I could rejoin later

I set off with Speggo and Elaine (thanks:thumb2 ) to catch up with the Ford's ride in the direction of Corwen

However I remembered my way back to Timolgra's house near Corwen and fortunately he rang me back as I stopped at his lane-end.

Luckily I could remembered the Wayfarers trail (from last Sept's ride) which goes over the Berwyn Mountains and made my way over it without GPS or a map, relying on memory from 6 months earlier...............and it's a long 8-10 miler of a track too

So I rejoined the ride in a village at the end of the long trail and normal service was resumed. Timpo personally apologised for losing me and I had great respect for him for doing that and we moved on.

From then on the ride contained Hew on his Kwacker at the back to collect the stragglers and account for all the gatemen.......things really stepped up a gear now

For me........... the ride took on an epic (one that would have been hard to match on many years on a pogo trail riding in Yorkshire) for scenery/weather/quality of the lanes and leadership qualities from Timpo............

He upped the pace in terms of what he offered to us all and all of it was do-able, although maybe on the upper quartile of ability in some places for 1150's.................but GS Riders like a challenge and all the 1150 riders had a great time.

Trail riding doesn't get any better than what Timpo delivered and we had a ball

Nothing was dangerous....................but it was challenging for sure and why not:nenau

My G/S performed well......very well and I stayed mainly 'feet-up' all day.

I didn't crash the bike or fall off anywhere...............so that in my book, sums up a good day on a great bike

I ...........for one came back elated after a massive adrenalin rush and it seems everyone else did too

Timpo, though had a last treat for me at the end:cool:

Whilst the others were escorted back to the Hand by Timolgra

He dared me to do one last lane, in the hills immediately behind Llangollen

We were joined by Hew (on his Kwacker) and Snoopy on his Drz........Timpo was on the XR, so I was the lone GS

It was a steep swine of a lane and I was already exhausted.

It was a very steep rocky descent with loose shale and boulders, on top of bedrock......... with a tall rock step to negotiate halfway down (my 4RT Trials bike would have been more suited to this terrain)

See this report..........http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105751

Knackered..........I survived it & so did the bike.....and thanks for the gamble Timpo..........you're da man:clap :bow :clap
 
Were you chaps parked on the verge of the A483 near Pant, at about 3pm? I went past (red land rover towing a blue KTM) and waved hello :)

I tried to get up Allt y Badi on the KTM once, I think I got about 1/3 of the way :D
 
Were you chaps parked on the verge of the A483 near Pant, at about 3pm? I went past (red land rover towing a blue KTM) and waved hello :)

I tried to get up Allt y Badi on the KTM once, I think I got about 1/3 of the way :D


We were and we saw you
 
Kerb basher

Yes we saw you drive the landy and trailer up the verge!!!:thumb2

Hopefully as promised, piccies,
 

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