Thetford with Noddy - Sat 15 Nov

Wow! What an awesome day.........

Noddy was kind enough to host and guide 9 of us (I think) for an amazing days riding around Thetford Forest. I have only just moved over to the area and was spoilt to bits by Noddy and team for 6 hours of childish fun

Ray initially guided me in to Noddy's shire on the fringe of the forest where I was met by a cup of tea and several helping hands to offload the bike. We were away by 0930 and the initial open tracks were a good warm up for the narrower and sandier tracks that were to follow.

The leaves were certainly down in the woods and at one point within the 1st 20 mins I was nearly over the handlebars having not 'read' the track in front. I had a proper 'Wayne Gardner' moment where my legs were up behind me at head height and it was all or nothing...........fortunately the Beemer helped me out and I landed on the seat rather than my ar**

The tracks were in great nick and the pace was good. Ray was 'bedding in' a new bike which having initially ridden tentatively, was flying by the afternoon once he realised that kick starting bikes is not a fun pastime!!

We stopped in a cafe in Brandon for a well earned lunch stop and in the afternoon were tempted to 'recce' part of the forthcoming enduro in the forest. We were told in no uncertain terms that if we did, our bikes may not look the same!!

We were only plagued by minor mechanical failure (1 x puncture, 1 knackered battery) and very few offs.

A massive thank you to Noddy for looking after us and to Ray for acting as a personal 'sat nav' to get there and back. Great to meet you all and already looking forward to the next one

I have got some phots of the day, but am away first thing tomorrow morning on a course in N Yorks (via the Dirtbike Show) so it may be a few days before I can work out how to upload the shots.

Thanks All.

Earlier last week, it looked like I wasn't going to be able to make it on Saturday, but everything came together at the last minute and at 08:15 I found myself leaving the petrol station and heading for Noddy Mansions.

I spotted RayS and Porthos1 on the way, and with a blip of the horn and wave from Ray I was past and thrapping off up the road - the weather was looking good and there was a day's riding ahead.

As it happens, it looks my like plans came together slightly TOO well, because I was 15 minutes early However the wonderful Sue provided coffee and chat and then, all of a sudden, 4 people all turned up at the same time and we all got down to the important business of unloading and preparing bikes. In my case, that meant popping to the petrol station for a fillup. On the way, I realised that I was missing one of my handguard bolts - it must have fallen out on the A14 on the way. Grrr.

By the time I got back, the chat was in full flow, and without much ado, apart from someone forgetting their boots , we were valiantly on the way at 9:30. At 09:30 and 30s, we were all stopped again because Noddy had spotted some shiny metal object lying in the driveway. I was bringing up the rear, so I didn't hear the discussions, but I didn't pay much attention because it was far too clean and shiny to be from my bike. Then it dawned on me - it was my handguard bolt - oops!

Not long later, we were on the first lane, and I was grinning from ear to ear. I'd had the forks rebuilt a couple of days previously, complete with longer WP springs and lighter fork oil, and the difference was amazing: the bike was so much easier to ride because I wasn't being walloped up and down by every bump! A couple of weeks ago, I had been thinking of getting something smaller and less torquey than the DR650, because I was finding low speed throttle control over bumpy ground to be hard going - it turns out that the problem was the the suspension had been overdamped, making all control more difficult.

In the meantime, the light brigade were charging on ahead, and RayS and I were sweeping up at the rear. I could see that Ray was finding it difficult with the new KTM after the R100, but it didn't take too long for the confidence to rise and he was quickly riding faster than on the BMW.

It didn't take too long before we reached one of the first big puddles. I completely fluffed the approach and I ended up bogged down to the axles, facing the puddle. This is the point where I completely let Noddy down: by sheer skill, poise, balance and careful throttle control (i.e. blind luck) I managed to extricate myself without falling in. Sorry mate, photo opportunity ruined

Not long after, it became clear that Ray was getting more used to the KTM - from what I could tell from the aftermath, a little lapse had led to a bit too much power at the wrong time, which is why Ray was 6 feet off the lane, in the trees, furiously trying to pick the bike up before I could get to my camera. Unfortunately, he beat me to it, and the pair of us then spent the next five minutes trying to kick the beastie back into life. I suspect that a new battery and an Optimate are on Ray's shopping list for next week.

There weren't that many more events through the rest of the day (that I saw), apart from another lost bolt and a flat tyre, although I really wish I'd seen Porthos1's little episode. Sadly, a couple of the guys had to retire at that point, but friends were nearby, so they were happy for us to carry on while they went off to sort the problem or arrange rescue.

This was the first time that I had been greenlaning in Autumn, and it hadn't even occurred to me how different it would be, but long stretches of the route were covered in leaves, which made reading the ground more difficult. The funny thing is that riding with ground cover made me realise just how well the bike can cope, and that the biggest impediment to my making progress is my own inexperience, but I'm working on that

Late in the afternoon, we had the pleasure of riding a route that Team Flatlander had only recently unearthed, and it was a total joy - it was fairly narrow and a little bumpy, with the inevitable leaf cover. On this lane, everything just came together for me, as I could feel the bike doing its thing, and more's the point I could feel myself LETTING the bike do its thing and finally I realised that I was now working with the bike, rather than against it - what a transformation!

After 6 hours of lanes, humps, bumps, sand, grass, mud, puddles, leaves, gravel, ruts and overhanging branches, pausing only for coffee and a sausage sandwich for lunch, the intrepid adventurers returned to Noddy's for tea and coffee, with a gimungous heap of jaffa cakes (thanks again Sue!), all consumed with hearty banter while the bikes were jetwashed. It was a pity that we lost a couple of the team due to that late puncture, but the situation seemed to be well under control and I hope the guys got back safely.

It was a great day, yet again. Many thanks, and I look forward to meeting you all again soon

Brilliant day chaps thanks for traveling over to enjoy.

Please consider yourselves members of Team Flatlanders

Initiation ceremony duties will be explained later

Few photos.....................

.....

The KTM's First Day At School

Wow, and what a first day it was!

She & I took it easy at first, we weren't sure how it would go....

The other kids were very friendly and understanding though.

They gave us lots of tips of how to be a Flatlander and shepherded us through the mud, water & sand.

Noddy followed us through half a mile of sand on Harling Grove, camera switched on and ever ready to catch us lying together on the ground .... but it was not to be so, was it Noddy!.

She survived everything and as the day wore on we got faster, faster & faster.

We have arrived!!

Special thanks to Dave for staying with me at the back and to the legion of helpers on our kickstart - especially Pete, Dave & Darryl

Seriousky though, thanks to all for a great day out and to Sue for the teas & cakes

Alex hope to see you again soon, I'll try & keep up next time

Will try & post pics tomorrow

Cheers
Ray

Superb day.

Graham not only organised great weather, Jaffa cakes (aka Sue)and it looks like a couple of shady Eastern Europeans to wash down the bikes.

ps I'd be worried about the initiation guys.

Richard

Really miffed at missing the end of the run with a bloody puncture but as always big up to Perks for getting things sorted out and generally keeping everything neat and tidy

As I have little to say on my own account I shall take the part of a gobby Londoner ( a part I am well versed in ) and say:

Oye ..NOOOO

Womble.. It was ME that found the shiney bit and gave it to perks

Oye NOOO !
PortaPotty, it was Randy Mamola of the flying leg, off the side, back on again moment !

Some more pictures






Sorry no action pictures, Iwas too busy trying to stau upright!

Ray

Jaws said:

Womble.. It was ME that found the shiney bit and gave it to perks

Click to expand...

You should have kept hold of it - it might have come in useful later

Actually, by that point I'd completely forgotten I had it with me or you could have had the thing!

LOL !! Good point that actually !
Reckon that might well have done the job
Shame it could not plug a big hole in the bloody inner tube as well