UPCOMING EVENTS
We run an interesting and varied programme of runs and other events.
Here is a short sample listing of some upcoming fixtures, the runs predominate,
however, and accounts of two recent ones are included below.
Sat 19th/Sun 20th October, 2 Day run, Devon |
Sat 30th/Sun 1st December, Llanerchinda Farm, Llandovery |
Sat 26th/Sun 27th October, Enduro School, Ady Smith |
14th December (Aprox.) Christmas Dinner! |
RUN REPORTS
A Tale From The Tail-End
It’s amazing what you miss when leading a run.Not that I want to put anyone
off Run Leading,but after volunteering to be “Tail End Charlie” on
the recent Megaride run, I’d forgotten how entertaining it could be!
Andy S. had warned me that there had been a lot of interest in the run.We had
put no limit on numbers as this was going to be a one-off ride.We were hoping
to arrive at Meriden “on mass” and assemble at our W.M.T.R.F. tent,where
our Chairman would greet us with a fry-up and mugs of tea.
He was not wrong! There were 16 of us in all,with a vast array of bikes from
DT175’s to 2002 DRZ400’s.
Just one group was going to be interesting!!
Andy S. consulted his maps and chose to do the lanes that are North of the
county which he felt we could cover easily in the morning.None of them should
prove to be too tricky at this time of year.Tony Murray rode mid-pack should
anyone get split up,and as I’ve already mentioned,I followed up the rear.
The day had not started without a hitch though.Rich Colledge decided to ride
to the start point with me from my house.We were all primed and raring to go.He
gave his bike a quick stab on the kickstarter,then another,then another-nothing-dead
as a dodo.”that’s unusual” he said!I had a go,Rich had another
go-still nothing.Eventually about 30 kicks later it spluttered into life with
plumes of smoke pouring out of the tailpipe! We tore off towards Balsall Common,already
late by this time.I looked over my shoulder to see if Rich was ok,to see a massive
cloud of blue smoke behind him,completely engulfing the car that was following
him!
Later it dawned on Rich why his bike was so reluctant to start.As he had laid
his bike up for a while he had decided to pour some 2 stroke oil into the cylinder
through the plug hole to keep things lubed.KTM’s were not intended to run
on 5:1 pre-mix!
We left Balsall at about 9.15 and headed to Barston.I was amazed how well the
group kept together.The first few lanes went without a hitch.Some of the less
experienced guys had a few minor tumbles,but nothing too serious.I later found
out that this run was the very first trail ride for some of them!Fair play,they
did really well.One downside to being the tail-ender is that you have to suffer
the dust of the 15 bikes in front !
Many
of the lanes were very overgrown and at some points I did not recognise where
we were.We suddenly popped out at the end of one lane to find it was the infamous”Dial
House”The lane that we had won thanks to Richard Hawker and Ken Stepney’s
hard work.We stopped for a “team photo” outside the gates for proof
we had ridden it.
Soon we were at Claverdon.I noticed that the bloke who normally gives us grief
at the start of Breach Lane has put his house up for sale! I wonder if he’s
told any potential purchasers about the lane? Ooh look theres a flying pig!
Next was Hercules.Fairly rough in places but perfectly rideable.Chris Scott(KTM
200EXC/GS) decided he needed a lie down halfway along it!We gathered at the
end of the lane for a breather and a chance for the usual exchange of friendly
banter.(p***-taking) Mr Hicken being at the receiving end of most of it!From
there we headed towards Yarningale Common,when disaster struck! Steve Shepherds
brand new Gas Gas 300 refused to change out of 1st gear.We stood around and
scratched our heads and realised there was nothing we could do to fix it.It
was a back to the dealer job!After a lot of deliberation as to what we should
do,we called on Mr Chairman(who was manning the stand at the Megaride)He volunteered(under
duress!) to come and pick Steve’s bike up from the nearby pub in our van.Someone
asked Steve if he was in the AA.We were unsure if he meant the motoring organisation
or the people with a drink problem as I’m sure Steve was dying to drown
his sorrows in the pub!Dean(MTX125) chose to stay with Steve for moral support
and the rest of us pressed on.
We had reached the Durham Ox when Jason realised he had got a flat front tyre
on his CRM.Sure enough on inspection we founda nail in his tyre.Obviously he
must have been a boy scout and heeded the motto”be-prepared”.He produced
a new can of “Tyre-Weld” out of his rucksack .A quick blast of that
saved his day.
Literally half a mile later yet another incident!Two new guys to our group,
who’s names escape me, decided to let their bikes get to know each other
a bit more intimately! The one chaps TTR250 decided to”mount” the
others DRZ400 at the next road junction.Not a pretty sight!(The only way I can
describe it was like watching sheep trying to bustle their way out of a sheep
pen!)Apparently the Suzuki is expecting a PeeWee 50 later this year!
It was now a case of “what’s going to happen now”?!!
Unfortunately Andy Spencers brother-in-la(who was on his very first trail ride)
took a nasty tumble when he got cross-rutted.The rock hard ground was very unforgiving.Luckily
he was soon up,looking dazed and confused , was'nt put off and away on his bike
again.
Next
stop-----The Megaride!
We all rolled up together,and gathered at the T.R.F. tent.It must have looked
quite impressive.We were all fed and watered .Mr Edler is a demon with the frying
pan!
A few of the lads had to call it a day at this point.The rest of us decided
to do a few more lanes.In particular Hobgoblin lane,another lane we’ve
won the right to use.
We all gave this lane the title”lane of the day” It was quite tricky
due to the fact it was very overgrown.The bracken was head height.Poor old Andy
had to cut a path through with his bike,as no one had used it for some months.Some
one had attempted to block the lane with a fallen tree.This was soon cleared
by our band of mud-pluggers.However one tree trunk was balanced very precariously
just waiting to pin down the next person that nudged it!The bikes had remained
relatively clean all day until we had to cross a stagnant ditch.This 4ft wide
gully of stinking goo gave some of the riders a bit of a challenge.I think it
was the thought of coming to grief and landing face down in it psyched a few
out.As a result all our bikes were totally plastered.We returned to the Megaride
at about 4pm,just as people were starting to pack up.
I think it was fair to say that we all had had a good day’s riding-90
miles in total.The lanes are well worth using-and they’re right on our
doorstep!
Cheers Mr Spencer,for leading.
Andy Clues
Crosshouses -20th April
Lead by Alan Weaver, accompanied by Andy Spencer, Steve Hayes, Tony Murry,
Pete Hemming, Kev Bowes, Stuart Cheatham and Chris Scott.
Starting from the now usual place in the public car park in Church Stretton,
the weather forecast was not too promising but for the moment it was dry and
sunny if a little chilly. The first couple of lanes highlighted that the ground
was very slippy and so the pace was reduced accordingly.
Now normally there is a distinct advantage in being the run leader, a clear
track in front with no wheels to distract you plus the speed of the day is dictated
by you. However as we arrived at the first river crossing the water looked deep
and was flowing quite fast. Faced with this you therefore have three options,
1) turn around and go back, 2) go over the adjacent bridge or 3) just go for
it. The first two options do leave yourself slightly wide open to a certain
degree of urine taking, so its looks like its option three then. I always think
that it does not pay to dwell too much on the "what if' situation, just
aim for the other bank and go for it, cor blimey that water was cold and deep.
But with everyone safely across we headed for the next water crossing. This
is the one where you drop down quite steeply in to the water, directly across
and up the other side, again same options applied as before, I dropped down
into the water and headed across towards the other bank but struck a submerged
boulder, which diverted my course away from where I was headed, only by the
grace of God did I manage to get my foot down before I dropped the bike. Standing
knee deep in water I then had to haul the bike around and face it in the right
direction. As there is no free space
to observe the others at this crossing, you have to continue to the end of the
lane before you can stop but I think that every one experienced some minor difficulty
with the crossing in one shape or another. We did investigate a couple of lanes
that according to my 1996 Landranger map were RUPP's, but after a minor confrontation
with a local resident we were informed that in fact it had been downgraded to
a Bridleway some two years ago at a public enquiry. Apparently representatives
from the local TRF were invited but no one actually attended. I have since checked
on a more recent Explorer maps and it is now shown as a Bridleway. Once again
I was demonstrating my skill at crossing ruts at 45 degrees, but
in the heat of the moment I chose too high a gear and stalled the damn thing
half way across, mid ruts. This is where you discover that the precise point
where you want to put your foot down is directly above the deepest part of the
rut. Down I went like a sack of spuds, giving my head a good old whack, now
it may be pure coincidence but for the next few lanes I could not sort my left
from my right out, who "said no change there then?"
Regulars
to this run can no doubt recall the steep muddy "off-camber" climb
after passing through the farmyard at the bottom. Well as usual this provided
great entertainment in particular to a certain club member who gave up after
numerous attempts and passed his bike onto someone else to ride up.Unfortunately
the person he chose in his hour of need consequently stalled it and rolled backwards
off-camber with the front brake locked, unable to stop, into a fallen tree,
it then took three people to push it back up again!!
Mid aftemoon as we approached the Long Mynd the weather tumed quite dramatically
from being sunny, if cool, to gale force winds & hail storms which then
turned to snow!
So strong in fact was this "blizzard" that we were we forced to take
shelter under some trees until it had blown over. The ambient temperature dropped
very dramatically and the decision was made to call it a day at that. We then
made for the most direct route back to the car park in Church Stretton in the
search for warmth and dry clothing.
Alan Weaver
