The Members’ Magazine of the Trail Riders Fellowship British Library Reference: 007244108
Autumn 2021
Knighter101
Point of Law
Enduro legend David Knight gives a master class to TRF members in the South West
Riding Technique
When to wheelie? A legal point of view
Bum in the air or on the seat?
TET SPECIAL Whether you fancy a day out or the real deal with wild camping, there’s a treat inside for you
Belated Birthday 50th celebrations at the ABR Festival
Chair’s Report: New directors appointed and volunteers needed Gallery: Some of the fantastic photos you take out on the trail Green Road Mapping: Road Conservation Hub evolution Tested: Maxxis Maxxcross and 24MX Hydration system Dave Carling Tribute: Friends share the fun times with Dave
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EDITORIAL
W
elcome to the Autumn issue of Trail. Blimey, hasn’t summer flashed past, one minute it was the ABR Festival and now it’s time to check if the central-heating boiler fires up. For a brief moment Afghanistan dislodged Covid as the lead news story and now we’re being urged to book our flu jabs. Don’t know about you but the main thing that’s kept me sane-ish is getting out on the bike, be it the road or trail variety. My four wheels are for going to the supermarket/tip and taking the dog for a walk. I still use a road bike as everyday transport and sometimes there is no substitute for a good, old-fashioned ‘burn-up’, just something to blur the peripheral vision for a few minutes. Trail riding, on the other hand, is completely different. Apart from not falling off, other instincts are stimulated, it’s a bit more complex. In the 1970s Kawasaki ran an advertising campaign in the USA for its road bikes with the slightly conspiratorial headline ‘We Know Why You Ride”. This Autumn issue perfectly illustrates that same sentiment, but translated to riding on green roads. There are some great photographs of spectacular views supplied by the contributors of the two TET features, and in the Comber Column Sean takes us down some ‘holloways’ which got that way because they’re ancient routes. This issue also sees two new sections: ‘Gallery’ and ‘Myway’. The first is pretty self-explanatory – you send in some cracking Pilgrims Way above snaps with a caption about the Lenham, East Kent
contents and we publish them. ‘Myway’ relates to your favourite byway (of course), another opportunity for members to contribute some skilled artwork and, as importantly, words on what makes it special to you. Living in Kent, I’m relatively spoilt being only 15 minutes from the Pilgrim’s Way. Some readers may recall the trip featured in 2017 Autumn Trail, which I did with the Fantic importer Dean Clements, from Canterbury to Winchester cathedrals following the pilgrims as best we could. If you want to feel some ancient trackway beneath your tyres, it doesn’t get much better than this: running from what now is Folkestone, along the North Downs, and eventually linking with the Ridgeway to Stonehenge. It was the Stone Age highway for people coming from the Continent to the ‘Henge 3,000 years ago. Okay, today some of it runs through housing estates and that’s only set to increase but I’m consoled by the fact that, thanks to the TET, I can hit the Pilgrim’s Way, turn right and keep going until I end up on the southern tip of Spain overlooking North Africa. Another new series in this issue, which might help you get a little further along the trail, is ‘Riding Technique’ in which Jake and Carl Venter from Technical Enduro Skills pass on their knowledge. However far you go always remember the Code of Conduct. Hope you enjoy this issue. Happy Trails Rick Kemp, Editor@trf.org.uk
Trail is published quarterly and is designed and produced by Rick Kemp Media Services, for the Trail Riders Fellowship. The TRF is registered in England & Wales No.05884933 Registered Office, 218 The Strand, London WC2R 1AT. British Library Reference:007244108 All advertising enquiries should be sent to Editor@trf.org.uk The views expressed by individual members in Trail are not necessarily those of the Trail Riders Fellowship.
Trail Autumn 2021 01
CONTENTS British Library Ref No: 007244108
24
Contacts: Trail Magazine Editor: Rick Kemp Editorial & Advertising: Editor@trf.org.uk TRF Membership Team: Membership@trf.org.uk T: 020 3855 5846 TRF Membership: Allen House Wetmore Road Burton upon Trent DE14 1TR Published by: The TRF Board of Directors Directors@trf.org.uk TRF contacts can be found at: trail.trf.org.uk/contact-the-trf/
Cover photo: Simon Creasey
04 DIRECTORS’ REPORTS
COMBER 12 THE COLUMN
TRF Chair, Doug Cartwright, vows to fulfil Dave Carling’s legacy and is inviting volunteers to get stuck in
Sean Comber gets to grips with the holloways of the West Country
06
A TRIBUTE TO DAVE CARLING
Friends and colleagues share their memories of TRF Membership and Conservation Director
08
green road mapping
Graeme Collins shows how the Road Conservation Hub will evolve over the years
02 Trail Autumn 2021
trf annual 16 the general meeting This year’s AGM took place in Sussex over the weekend of 16-18 July. And a very enjoyable event it turned out to be
20 gallery A new regular feature in Trail showcasing some of the amazing photos that members take out on the trails
Photo: Greg Shipton
58 riding technique
AUTUMN 2021 / Issue #17
The first in a new series Jake and Carl Venter from Technical Enduro Skills look at a wide range of fundamental riding techniques
61 point of law Andrew Dalton from White Dalton Solicitors puts us in the picture regarding the Byway Wheelie and its legality, or not
62 myway Doug Cartwright shares with us his favourite spot to ride to and chill out with a mars bar and a coffee. Deadman’s Hill in the Yorkshire Dales
austin vince 68 the video class
to 24 tet plop
52 knighter 101
Greg Shipton takes the TET from Bristol to Newcastle to take part in a Plop Endurance event
Somerset TRF managed to get enduro hero David Knight to give a three-day training session to Somerset, Devon and Bristol Group members
36 tet central
Doug Cartwright attended the recent video class, hosted by the unique and humorous Austin Vince
70 tested On test this month, the Maxxis Maxxcross Pro IT M7304/7305 tyres and the 24MX 2.5 Litre Hydration System
Simon Creasey outlines six TET routes taking in Bristol, Bridport, Basingstoke, Chichester, and Cirencester, each of which is a day’s ride from Salisbury Plain
trf at the 46 the abr festival The ABR Festival 2021 played host to the TRF’s 50th Birthday Celebrations
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Chair’s REPORT
TRF Chair and Northern Group Director Doug Cartwright, doug.c@trf.org.uk, reflects on the legacy of erstwhile director Dave Carling and invites volunteers...
I
t is with great sadness that I write my report this quarter. As you will have heard, Dave Carling, our Membership and Conservation Director and my friend, passed away last month quite suddenly after a short illness. A celebration of his life is covered elsewhere in Trail. Although I was only able to meet up with Dave occasionally, especially during the pandemic, we were in touch daily via Zoom sessions as we worked through many of the TRF operational issues. I do miss those phone calls and Dave was a heavy lifter when it came to getting things done. Dave had big boots to fill, and alas we now find ourselves seeking a Membership Director. Although I feel despondent, I know exactly what Dave would be saying to me – ”just get on with it” while giving me that characteristic smile! So to get on with it – and in memory of Dave – the TRF needs you! The TRF is essentially a member-run concern, orchestrated by trail riders for trail riders. To manage our organisation of more than 6,000 members we have a team consisting of four Directors and at least 10 other key members that comprise what I refer to as ‘Team TRF’. Between us we provide, on both a volunteer and paid basis, all the activity required to support our organisation. We recently held our AGM, which was delayed from 2020, and the good news is that the weather was outstanding on the day and our outdoor socially-distanced meeting was well attended. Two new Directors were elected – Paul Bowen as Finance Director, and Stewart Bosworth as non-executive Director. Welcome aboard! Our financial report indicated that we are in good health and there was much optimism from members present. If we are to continue to sustain, or better still to build upon, these successes, we need to increase our ability to operate over a wider range of activities and to do that we need more people power. At a strategic level our immediate need is to recruit leadership roles in Membership, Conservation and Governance. If you would like to consider one of these roles, or any other area of operation, and so give back to
04Trail Autumn 2021
trail riding, being a Director or Leader in our many activities is very rewarding. These roles also provide excellent development opportunities for those with careers ahead of you. The Directors formally meet twice a month, holding both decision and discussion meetings. Issues of a more tactical nature are held more informally and more often. (Dave and I often shared a nice glass of red in these instances!) If you would like to take on such a role, then we would welcome you to join our meetings in order to get a better understanding of what is involved in running the TRF. Please feel free to get in touch with me, or any other Director. During this quarter the Board has been involved in several issues of note. We are just about to finalise our Financial Budget for this year. Our strong membership growth and stability has given us some room to fund developments and we have increased our focus on Marketing, GRM and Rights of Road. I would like to give a formal welcome, too, to Graeme Collins, who stepped forward to take on the mantle of Marketing Leader (Marketing Director in all but name). I have invited him to guest this column in the next edition and give us a perspective on his vision and plans for the forthcoming year. Directors have also been engaged regarding the TRF and membership liability Insurance. We have been working with members, suppliers and legal advisors to determine suitable cover for our needs. It’s a complex issue, so watch this space for further guidance. And of course, John Vannuffel continues his amazing work in putting our case to and against authorities. In the last quarter Directors have considered and approved two further potential actions to prevent TROs against trail riding. So just a few snippets of our activities over the last few months. On a lighter note, thank you for all your appreciative comments regarding the stickers. Perhaps not an item of strategic importance but it’s an activity that takes organisation, creativity and attention to detail “to get it done”. Thank you, Andrew Byatt. I wear my sticker with pride! My final comment on Director activities is
probably one of the most difficult that we have to deal with and absorbs time that could be spent more productively. That is, the subject of posts on TRF social media platforms. There has been a noticeable increase in unsuitable posts both on Facebook Trail and at group level. Please bear in mind these can, and have been, used against us when we challenge road closures and of course cause distress to the recipients of such remarks. We have a Code of Conduct with supporting material, which can be found on the Trail website under ‘TRF Members Handbook’. And yes, that’s my suggested read for this quarter! And from the dictionary, the definition of ‘Fellowship’ reads: a friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests. As summer draws to a close I am now posting my Out of Office message. I am about to head across the Channel for my booster jab of trail riding, comradery and sunshine. This year, fingers crossed, I will be taking part in events run by Austin Vince in Spain and another by Chris Evans in France. And having a bit of a TRF holiday too … Stay safe and enjoy the trail.
Doug
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Trail Autumn 2021 05
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The sad loss of Dave Carling, TRF Membership and Conservation Director, is a reminder to us all that our time on the trails is short and we should seize every opportunity. Friends share their memories of him Mario Costa-Sa, Former TRF Chair, Co-Director and Friend I first met Dave in mid-2015, when he joined the TRF leadership team. The TRF back then was far from the state it is in today. It was still reeling from the blow of NERC in 2006 and suffering from a lack of direction and vague decision-making, possibly as a result of member in-fighting. The team had shrunk to two active Directors and Dave was part of a wave of new volunteers who joined to take us forward. Troubled times need firm leadership. Dave never sat on the fence. For Dave, life was black or white with no shades of grey. This approach served the TRF well in times of uncertainty, and his blunt, clear and unwavering approach was what the TRF needed to guide us to a better place. If there was a job that needed doing once other approaches had failed, Dave was the man. Negativity from the disaffected can take a toll on many of us. Dave was not one of these, and his genuine strength of character allowed him to carry on to the end, regardless of emotions, and to focus on his clear view of where we needed to be. Dave has had many successes in his life, tragically cut short. The TRF will rank right up there in what he will be remembered for,
06 Trail Autumn 2021
recorded in posterity. The TRF has lost a great leader, a strong rider and a TRF member who firmly put the TRF first before his own interests.
Andy Gilden, Riding Buddy and Friend Dave and I first met at a LVTRF meeting and when I bought some bar risers from him I discovered we only lived a couple of miles apart. He was instantly likeable, kindly and enthusiastic, always with a smile or a chuckle. He would often call me if he was going for a local ride. Dave never used a navigation device and always amazed me with his knowledge of Hampshire’s green roads. I remember one particular ride. There had been heavy snow – Dave phoned and suggested we go and explore. We turned off the tarmac onto the first lane, which was blocked by a snow drift. After some discussion Dave decided that his 500EXC would be able to push through it, so giving himself a run up he put the bike in 1st and charged. When his front wheel hit the drift it stopped almost instantly, the back wheel came off the ground, Dave’s backside came off the seat and his feet off the pegs. He lunged forward and then rocked back into the seat – and started laughing. That was the start of a great day playing in the snow with Dave. I’ll miss him.
A TRIBUTE John Vanuffel, TRF Technical Director, Co-Director and Friend I remember going to my first TRF meeting. Halfway through, Dave spoke passionately about the attempted closure of a byway. As a newbie the significance of his vigour did not get as much traction with me as it would do later. I asked him to explain. He was kind and patient, repeating much of what he had already said whilst providing a wider and important context. Over the years Dave shared more and more of his knowledge with me, and we often went to meetings with the local council together to help ensure that trail riders’ rights were maintained. He was always up for a ride, and we often found ourselves exploring his favourite trails around Basingstoke, including Water Lane and Buster Hill, the front wheel of his trusty KTM 500 aloft (just to clear an obstacle, of course!). I remember one occasion when I had just got my new pride and joy, a VW Transporter, and we had been enjoying dusty trails for the day. “One more trail,” Dave shouted, as we headed for home. At the end of the lane, we arrived at what can only be described as a ‘sink hole’, full of mud and slurry – with no way around it we had to plough through it. Ten metres later we were back at my van, with Dave laughing his head off as I stared at my muddy bike and lovely clean transporter! Ride in peace, buddy.
Graeme Collins, Loddon Vale Chair and Friend Working with Dave was always fun and enjoyable. Things were taken seriously but with a sense of humour at all times. He was very much a doer, someone who got things done for the TRF and trail riding. Very much handson, he was not one to delegate. On joining the TRF Board in October 2015, Dave’s work was pivotal in building the foundations for TRF’s transition to the successful organisation it is today. He was pragmatic and not in favour of regressing the TRF. His responses to many ill-conceived proposals were direct and entertaining. Meetings with Dave often involved a lot of laughter. Nobody was in the least surprised to find that Dave rode a 500cc KTM. We looked at Dave,
and looked at the 500, and thought, “Well, that figures.” Meeting venues and accommodation for Directors were regularly arranged by Dave, and had a knack of choosing terrible hotels. We always knew the venue had been booked by Dave as soon as we smelt the cat pee in the foyer. I’m laughing as I write this, recalling the looks on Director colleagues’ faces – “What on earth has he booked for us!” Dave rode enthusiastically. Trail riding with him was eventful and a pleasure. He wasn’t one to panic or flap. We almost got struck by lightning on top of a Welsh mountain on one ride. As the flames sizzled nearby on the scorched ground whilst our hair stood up on end, Dave chuckled and exclaimed, “That was close!” with a big smile on his face. Just another day in the TRF office – terrible hotel, tick; struck by lightning, tick. Dave was our go-to pragmatic Director colleague and friend, our full factory and ready-to- race trail-riding grandfather.
Gill Mitchell, former Director and Friend I first met at the 2016 AGM, when we both stood for – and got – elected to the TRF Board of Directors. From the start he was friendly, engaging, dedicated, hardworking and fun. He had plagiarised my manifesto, as he said he couldn’t have put it better himself, which led members on the forum to question if we were in fact one and the same person. We always sat together to confuse members! A small example of his sense of fun and mischief. He soon discovered I love to bake cakes and he in turn loved to eat them, so his emails would often end with the sentence, “I like cake”. The TRF and its members were always Dave’s priority and he was always looking for ways to increase member benefits. He was plain talking at times, and didn’t suffer fools gladly, but was always quick to admit if he was in the wrong and to apologise. To say I will miss Dave, a man I was privileged to call my friend, is a huge understatement. He leaves a massive Dave Carling-shaped hole in the lives of his family, friends and the wider world of biking, which can never be filled. RIP, Dave.
Trail Autumn 2021 07
GREEN Road MAPPING
Over the months and years ahead, the greenroadmap.org.uk website and Road Conservation Hub will continue to have more facts and features added to it. GRM Project Lead Graeme Collins explains further
D
uring the current development phase, the focus is on accurately recording all the green roads available to trail riders and enhancing this information. ‘Many hands make light work’, so by harnessing the full membership we can accelerate this process. Hopefully you have now registered for the GRM and have had a chance to see the ever increasing number of green roads featured – the latest count is almost 10,000 covering over 9,000km! Whilst a huge amount of work has already been done by a dedicated few, there is still much to do and all members have an
08 Trail Autumn 2021
important role to play by supporting this milestone project to help secure the rights of trail riders in the decades to come. Each TRF group is responsible for maintaining the individual records for green roads in a county or unitary authority. Your local group will have a GRM Project Manager or Road Conservation Officer, who will have already undertaken a lot of work researching Definitive Maps and Statements, and List of Streets in the area, along with securing other valuable historical evidence. However, they may not have captured every green road in the area and you may be able to
support them by providing details of a green road that is missing or mis-recorded.
The GRM features a number of different road types Full motorcycle access 365 days a year – solid green Motorcycle access restrictions apply – dashed green Temporary motorcycle restrictions apply – blue No motorcycle access – red Sealed through road with motorcycle access – grey There are specific criteria that apply to each category and your local group will be able to provide you with more details.
Enhancing the experience Sensitivity – examples of information that could be provided include “used extensively by horses with stables at north end”, “moderate speed as free-roaming livestock”, “avoid stopping outside house at end as upsets owner”.
With the basic criteria met, there is the opportunity to enhance the information on each green road with further details, as well as adding photographs for individual lanes. There are two main areas where information can be added:
Trail Autumn 2021 09
GREEN Road MAPPING
Usability – should a road have terrain features that would be useful for users to be aware of, a short description can be provided such as “series of steep steps”, “ford can be deep following rain”. Each group is managing this process differently, but if members are able to each ‘adopt’ a number of green roads the workload is shared and the process accelerated. Speak to your local group and find out how you can help contribute to this milestone project.
ges ation Hub both mana nes the Road Conserv sed digital archive sce the d hin Be ls: tai ali ting as a centr Green Road De on the map as well ac the details displayed matters for road conservation
Herts Byway Tours
“i
t all started when I was riding the Ridgeway in the 90s on a Kawasaki KLX 125, leading larger bikes in winter conditions. After a 150-mile return journey on what was one of the longest byways in the UK I got back feeling exhausted, but I knew I was hooked. So, I set up a trail-riding experience day after lockdown as a way to get back outdoors and encourage others to do the same” – Chris Roberts, Herts Byway Tours.
Find Us Herts Byway Tours is based at Chiltern Young Riders motocross track, Berkhamsted in the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). As Trail riders, we have access to a field track and woodland area, with ruts and the type of hazards you’d find on a byway. Here you can gain the basic skills, before heading out on the highways and byways of the scenic Hertfordshire countryside.
10 Trail Autumn 2021
Road-book Enduro Tours in France DATES FOR 2021
According to the old ‘Many hands make lig adage, ht Hopefully by harnessi work.’ ng full membership we the can accelerate this proce ss
22/23/24 September 20/21/22 October 3/4/5 November 17/18/19 November
Pyrenees Massif du Morvan Dordogne Normandie
Please contact me for details of availability and restrictions that may apply
Trail Riding Experience Days You will receive a warm welcome before dressing for adventure and being introduced to your trail bike in our controlled track environment before heading out to ride the trails, stopping for lunch to refuel, leaving the afternoon for more trail riding back to base. Our friendly experienced team will guide you through a variety of terrain, which can change across the seasons, naturally being more challenging after rain or in mid winter. The Byways we ride are known as Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) as the name suggests, people can also walk, horse ride, drive and cycle down most byways, some have restrictions or other classifications you’ll learn about on the day along with where you can and can’t ride. Bike hire riders must be over thirty years old, with a Category “A” motorcycle licence. We hope to see you out on the trails soon. For more info visit www.hertsbywaytours.co.uk
Trail Autumn 2021 11
All trips are priced at £590 (660€) (payable to ABTA bonded and ATOL protected UK travel agency S&N Pickford). Price includes 3 days riding, 2 nights half-board accommodation, loan of road book and road book reader, support vehicle and driver, an opener and sweeper and a classy T-shirt. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like any further information.
Chris Evans, Sport Adventure Tel: 0033 662 487190 chris.evans@sport-adventure.com www.sport-adventure.com
THEComberCOLUMN
Sean Comber, Emeritus Chair of Devon TRF and current Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Plymouth gets to grips with the holloways of the West Country
W
e negotiated the Dorset-bound A35, even now still massively busy, and travelled a couple of miles to North Chideock and the classic sunken road called – ominously – Hell Lane, perhaps one of the most impressive and interesting of its kind. It is deep and wild with gnarled tree roots growing out of the steepsided walls, holding them in place, and always a challenge to ride. Together with Shutes Lane it connects Symondsbury with North Chideock, climbing up over the ridge near Quarry Hill. It is interesting because the eastern part is much more gorge-like than the western half; riding from the ridge down to North Chideock is a bit like riding along a shallow river bed. Given that the church and other buildings at Symondsbury were built with stone from the quarry, you can imagine how the constant traffic of heavily laden carts running between quarry and village would have deepened this part of the track to the gorge it is now. A smaller, but nonetheless beautiful, green lane runs across the ridge at Henwood Hill to a bridleway short of Jan’s Hill. This is a lovely lane to ride in spring when the bluebells and wild garlic are in flower. These deep lanes are known as holloways, although they do have other names such as shutes, bostels or grundles depending on where you are, and they are only seen in areas where the bedrock is soft – East Devon and West Dorset are predominantly sandstone and therefore have many holloways. Derived from the Olde English ‘hola weg’, the term holloway literally means ‘sunken road’, and these lanes date back as far as the Iron Age, 3,000 years ago. They started life as either drover trails, used to move animals to market, routes from inland to the coastal ports, pilgrimage routes, or simply boundary ditches. Starting as ground level paths, centuries of use by cattle, carts and people have gradually eroded the soft surface to form a ditch, which then deepened and widened over time, aided and abetted by water erosion. Eventually, many have become as deep as 20 or 30 feet, creating in effect gorges rather than paths. Gilbert White, a pioneering naturalist from the eighteenth century, once said that to walk the
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holloways was to ‘Access a world of deep history, an unexpectedly wild world, buried amid the familiar and close at hand’. Hell Lane has been made famous by Julia Bradbury on one of her “best walks with a view”, leading to plenty of folk traipsing along it and getting a shock, I suspect, when they see some hairy bikers pass by. It was nearly forgotten until it was explored and photographed by Robert Macfarlane for his excellent book Holloway, along with other sunken lanes of Dorset. We crossed the B road back onto a green lane at Tuckers Cross, a bit of an intersection of lanes tucked under the hillside, the sun now finally beginning to break through the slate-grey winter sky. We doubled back in Over Compton, which stands proudly above Nether Compton, and onto a slippery lane through the woods, the first snowdrops beginning to emerge from the bare winter’s earth to provide thoughts of spring and of longer, warmer days. This lane was one of many holloways we rode that day. Topped by majestic beech or oak, and sprouting emerald ferns of a dozen varieties from the side walls, lent a strong Jurassic Park vibe. The trees that rise up from the banks, flanking the overgrown narrow path, sometimes reach toward each other to form an almost storybook canopy over the road, creating a tunnel through the thick verdant foliage. I stopped to take a photo of a beech, apparently one good nor’easterly away from toppling into the lane, its roots exposed to the elements, clinging onto the side of the holloway, spitting in the eye of gravity. A short blast down the A30 to Yeovil immediately brought up another holloway. Trail mate Matt warned it was located directly off a roundabout on an industrial estate, often littered with debris from the local intelligentsia – burnt-out cars and fly-tipping, that sort of stuff. Thankfully the council have bollarded it off and it was clear bar a couple of walkers. Characteristically incised into the adjacent land, running up through a deciduous copse, it cut through the geology of Bridford Sands to Bradford Abbas, an area oozing with history and a complete delight, my favourite lane of
Photos: Stuart Metcalfe
tury temporary Roman camp, one of only four detected in south-west Britain. In the nineteenth century five Roman kilns were found in a field to the east of the village. Also found at the site were pottery and bracelets, among other artefacts. We were literally riding through history and you could almost smell it.
the day. Bradford Abbas signifies the “Abbot’s broad ford” on the River Ivel, the abbot in question being that of Sherborne; the land was given to Sherborne Abbey by King Alfred the Great. In the dry summer of 2010 crop marks in sun-parched fields of corn, visible from the air, revealed evidence of a first-cen-
Down the deep lanes
HOLLOWAYS MAY HAVE BEEN POPULARISED BY RECENT WRITINGS BUT THEY ARE EVER CHANGING, EVER DIFFERENT, ALWAYS DELIGHTFUL... Trail Autumn 2021 13
THEComberCOLUMN Holloways, and indeed all the ancient byways, are a record of the habits of our ancestors with hundreds of years of repeated use, and that makes them rich in heritage and mystery – which is why I love riding them. On a grey, stormy day you almost fear to ride them as that closed in feeling created by the high walls and overhanging branches creates a shadowy threat. But on a bright sunny day with dappled light filtering through the trees, the menace evaporates, yet they remain secret and mysterious.
Holloways may have been popularised by recent writings but they are ever changing, ever different, always delightful. And as I travel along them, I wonder about those who have passed this way before. Early drovers? Pilgrims heading for one of the Dorset abbeys? Smugglers? Or just ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. These days trail riders, walkers and wildlife are the companions of the holloways and to go there is to enter another world. Seek one out – you won’t be disappointed.
Sean
Almost primeval in nature. Hell Lane is a classic
WE WERE LITERALLY RIDING THROUGH HISTORY AND YOU COULD ALMOST SMELL IT...
14 Trail Autumn 2021
2021 AGM
The Future Looks Rosy
T
his year’s AGM took place at the Desert Rose Riding Academy in Sussex over the weekend of 16-18 July. It may not have been the most convenient location for our friends in the North but short of having these events at Birmingham’s Bull Ring every year ‘you can’t please all of the people all of the time’. As many of you will know the Desert Rose in question is the aptly-named Patsy Quick who informed the assembled company that this was the first time that the Riding Academy had hosted an occasion like ours. In the normal course of events that might have been
16 Trail Autumn 2021
cause for alarm but organising is a big part of what Desert Rose does should you wish to use its services for participating in rallies and events in far-flung places. To make the weekend more appealing and to accommodate long-distance travellers, camping was available from the Friday through to Sunday making it easier to get the requisite number of AGM attendees to make up the quorum necessary for passing resolutions (70). As the Riding Academy concentrates on daily activities, the camping activities included self-catering and bring-your-own shower but spades were’t necessary as there are on-site lavatories. Other facilities included a practice track, rider-skills training and some GPX loops to try out. If you wanted to try out any of Bata’s range, it was also the place to be. Weather-wise it was probably one of the best weekends of the year so attendance was
impressive and due to a change in legislation, outdoor AGMs are now permissible so everything went pretty smoothly. So that meant that the important business of the weekend was got through swiftly and we could all get on with enjoying ourselves. In case any members accidentally deleted their emails on the outcome of the AGM, here are there salient points:
Votes including those present and proxy votes totalling 116 1. Ordinary resolution to acknowledge receipt of the Directors Reports and Accounts. 100% in favour resolution carried 2. Ordinary resolution to appoint Paul Bowen as a director. 100% in favour resolution carried 3. Ordinary resolution to appoint Stewart Bosworth as a director. 100% in favour resolution carried
4. Ordinary resolution to award Mario Costa-Sa with Honorary Membership. 97% in favour resolution carried 5. Ordinary resolution to award Alan Kind with Honorary Membership. 100% in favour resolution carried 6. Special Resolution: (i) Quorum for general meeting substituting “40” for “75” (ii) Grace period for payment of membership subscription substituting ”twenty-one days” for “three months” 86% in favour resolution carried If you feel that you have the time and the expertise to offer your voluntary services to the Fellowship, don’t hold back. Get in touch with your Group Chair or email editor@trf.org.uk
Trail Autumn 2021 17
For the latest details go to: trail.trf.org.uk/groups/ www.trf.org.uk/COVID
23 36 34
4 26 16
8
39 19
22
13
25 7
17 21
27 41 38
20 11 31 30
2
10
1
18 32
6 5
24
40 35
28
3
37 12 29
33
9 15
14
TRF Groups LIST
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Bristol Bristol (Central) Cambridgeshire Cumbria & Craven Devon Dorset East Midlands East Yorkshire Essex Gloucestershire Herefordshire Hertfordshire High Peak & Potteries Kent (East Kent) Kent (West Kent & South East London) Lancashire Lincolnshire Loddon Vale Manchester Mid-Wales Norfolk
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
North Wales Northumbria Oxfordshire Peak District Ribble Valley Shropshire Somerset South London & Surrey South Wales South West Wales Southern Sussex Teesside & North Yorkshire TRF Enduro Club Tynewear Teesdale West Anglia West Midlands West Yorkshire Wiltshire Worcestershire
GALLERY A new regular feature in Trail celebrating the amazing sights that get captured out on the trails. To get your photos featured in the next ssue, email them to editor@trf.org.uk. Please ensure the files are high resolution
Grant Ely leading a big bike group across Salisbury Plain on his Africa Twin Photo:David Warren
20 Trail Autumn 2021
Looking North-East, Wensleydale in the late evening sun Photo: Nigel Wilford
Failed Pop Idle Band featurig Andrew Byatt, Louise Dell, John Keppel and Steve Neville Photo: Graeme Collins
Trail Autumn 2021 21
GALLERY
Miles of smiles; taken near Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales with MTB pump lashed to John’s trusty XR400R Photo: John Bellamy
Tony Hockin, John Dannar, Matt Sheldrake and Simon Mogridge enjoying a glorious Green Road running between the tiny hamlets of Week and Ensis in Devon Photo: Nigel Mogridge
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TET to PLOP
A cracking lane with views of Loweswater
24 Trail Autumn 2021
A Summer TET Adventure – Aerospace engineer Greg Shipton takes time out from the day job
D
(a national endurance series comprising eight-hour team events and, yes, the concept was arrived at in a pub.) The next race was to be hosted near Newcastle, so a cunning plan formed. Why not ride the TET up, race in the ‘plop’, then get a lift home in my friends’ van? What could possibly go wrong? There’s nothing like a deadline to keep your pace up. I had precious little holiday to spare, so I decided to start the journey,
uring the long lockdowns, and the claustrophobia of working from home, I had begun dreaming of the picturesque trails of the Yorkshire Dales. The idea of riding my bike all the way to Newcastle via the Trans-Euro Trail (TET) was something I simply had to do. However, getting a bike there is a long, or expensive, ordeal. My friends and I compete in the hilarious Honda C90 ‘plop’ enduro
Stunning views from the Holly Bush wood trails
Trail Autumn 2021 25
TET TO PLOP
Riding the trails in the Black Mountains
from Bristol, with a short cut. The TET passes through Bristol before taking a leisurely route through Wales and then heading up towards the Peak District and the North. I had already ridden much of the Welsh TET, so I decided to make a route that went almost directly north to the trails I had yet to try. Over the course of an afternoon and several cups of tea, I investigated the TRF Green Road Map. The new tool was fantastic, highlighting the trails in map form. Making the route was easy, but knowing whether it was any good or not was harder. There was only one way to find out… So, on a baking hot Monday morning in July, I set off with two friends to test the new route and discover what the northern parts of the TET had to offer. I was on my trusty Beta 390, Sam was on his Honda CRF 250L and Paul was on his matching 450L. The start of my route took us through some lanes near Abergavenny. Some were tricky, some clearly had not been ridden in years, and some spanned fantastic mountainside trails. Testing
26 Trail Autumn 2021
an unknown route was a real adventure. The highlights were a steep stepped lane near Golden Hill, the Black Mountain trails and the forest in Holly Bush Bank. The route roughly followed the EnglishWelsh border. After a hard day’s riding we found ourselves in the Shropshire hills for a truly stunning spot of wild camping. Turns out, trail-riding during a heatwave is a rather silly idea. We were all roasting hot. All stops for route checking had to take place in opportune shade. We kept a keen eye out for places to cool off or have a swim. The maps on my phone could be misleading. What promised to be a refreshing lake, often turned out to be a muddy duck pond. When passing a small stream on a quiet lane, we would look at each other to decide whether or not to stop. “Well, that looks just about deep enough to cool my bollocks off in’’. My route ended near Wrexham, where we picked up the TET, heading north towards the Peak District. There were some fun lanes on
The view we woke up to in the Peak District...
the way up. We all chickened out of the deep-looking water crossing near Wrenbury. After Crewe, things started to get exciting and hilly. We tackled the Clough Brook river crossing, and then stopped for a pub dinner and a cold shandy. Wild camping has its pros and cons. The main benefits are that you can camp near the trail and wake up to some stunning scenery. The main trouble is that you never really know when you’re going to find the right spot and call it a day. Having finished our pub dinner, we decided to look for some likely camping stops in the nearby lanes. We optimistically set off with the summer sun just beginning to dip behind the hills. Those nearby lanes were steep and rocky, fantastic for riding but worryingly no good for camping, so we had no option but to press on into the ever-growing twilight. Anyone with a trail
Wild camping on the Shropshire hills
Trail Autumn 2021 27
TET TO PLOP
The abandoned and remote Cobb’s Car Mill, just next to the trail in Yorkshire
bike knows the lights are dimmer than a contestant on Love Island. Trying to ride gnarly, rocky trails in near darkness was quite a challenge. Perhaps it was just as well that I couldn’t see what I was riding over, and the shandy probably stopped me tensing up on the bars. Eventually we found a spot and hastily erected tents using head torches before settling down for the night. The next day proved to be filled with some of the most spectacular long and rocky trails we had ever ridden. The Peak District is full of challenging trails with steep steps and giant boulders. As the day went on, the trails got easier but no less hot! By the end of the third day, we had made it to the northern sections of the Peak District. Sam and Paul had to head home as they had only planned to come part of the way, so I started day four riding by myself.
Fantastic and long trails through the Yorkshire Dales
28 Trail Autumn 2021
There’s an old African proverb that says “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. Now that’s certainly true. By myself I was able to do more miles in less time, but when you’re alone there’s nobody to help you with all the bloody farm gates! One loop near Colsterdale stuck in my head: great lanes and views, but so many gates that my average pace soon slowed to an absolute crawl. The lanes around the Yorkshire Dales were fantastic. Despite the summer holiday traffic and tourists, once you’re up in the dales you can ride lanes uninterrupted for hours – and with barely a gate in sight. I was a bit of a stickler for following the TET route. I didn’t want to miss what could be my new favourite lane. My diligence was often rewarded. There was one lane that you could accidentally miss, south of Skipton, which felt like a bit of a puzzle. First, I had to negotiate a padlocked gate (as it turns out, the code is in the TET GPX file). Next, I had to ride an overgrown lane full of head-high elderflowers. I couldn’t see where I was going, so I just had to follow the GPS and hope. I came out the other end looking as though I had crashed into a florist’s. The last section of the lane crossed a busy railway track and had two spring-loaded gates. Since I didn’t want to hang around getting on and off the bike while on a train line, I had to use a creative stack of rocks to get me and the bike across in one go. After a long day of riding the dales and moors I started looking for a wild camping spot. Not having learned from my last blunder, I made life difficult for myself by running low
I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE I GOT TO RIDE THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL VALLEY. CUMPSTON HILL
A steep and tricky climb near Sadgill, Kendall
on fuel and leaving it too late in the day to fuel up anywhere else. I had to find a location before it got dark and before I ran out of fuel. Finding a spot to camp in around Scar House reservoir was tricky. There was a stunning site on top of the moors, but – call me soft – I really didn’t fancy camping alone on the summit of ‘Dead Man’s Hill’. Especially as it was the site of a murder and burial of a traveller passing through one of the now-abandoned towns I had passed. One of the best things for me about some of these trails is the history. Lots of these rights of access are ancient and date back to old trade routes. On multiple occasions I found myself passing through abandoned eighteenth-century villages or mills. Some of these places should be museums in their own right but jumping off the bike for a quick exploration, without a tourist in sight, certainly has its benefits. The trails do get busy in places though. There’s a byway that runs along a popular walking route towards Ingleton Falls. One moment I was crossing remote sections of the moors, and the next I found myself having to slow down to a snail’s pace to negotiate herds of walkers, families and even an ice-cream truck. Most people appeared to be confused as to why a motorbike was on what they
Trail Autumn 2021 29
TET TO PLOP
Rock garden heaven and fantastic views in the Lake District
assumed was their walking trail. Leaving the crowds behind, I started heading towards the Lake District. After a camping cuppa and a light breakfast I thought I was ready for the day. My God was I wrong, as the first lane was a killer. It was an incredibly steep and loose rocky climb with boulders like footballs. I had to stop for a break halfway up and decided I needed a second breakfast once I had tackled this part. Going down the opposite side was pretty hairy as it was just as rocky, but with drops to one side. I got to the bottom exhausted, but pleased I had conquered the lane. Later on a farmer passed me and asked if I had just done ‘Breast High Lane’ by myself. I guess I had. He seemed mildly amused by this foolish biker, but wished me the best for the rest of the trip. The Lake District continued to offer exciting lanes. After crossing Lake Windermere via ferry, the lanes turned into rock garden heaven. The fun continued throughout the afternoon and eventually I reached Grizedale Forest. I really can’t believe how lucky we are to have some of these Forestry Commission byways. They are both technical and beautiful to ride through. I treated myself to a stay at Grizedale campsite, a fantastic spot as the owner was happy for me to ride my bike into the woods to find a pitch. Riding my bike up steep rooty paths, past confused looking campers, was a great way to end the day. The scenic Lake District lanes transition into
30 Trail Autumn 2021
A tough one to start the day with. Breast High Lane
Wild Camping In England, Wales and Northern Ireland wild camping is illegal without the landowner’s permission with the exception of certain areas of Dartmoor. Obviously getting permission is easier said than done as, in general, you won’t know exactly where you’re going to end up at the end of a long day or who you might need permission from. The following is a sample of the advice available on various countryside websites. Woodland Trust Generally speaking, permission must be gained from the landowner before camping anywhere in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Wild camping is however permitted on Dartmoor for up to two consecutive nights in the same spot provided it’s more than 100 metres from any public roads and is not within an enclosed or otherwise restricted area. There are also some great campsites around the country that offer a ‘wild’ camping feel with remote and spacious sites, limited pitches and unique settings. Pitchup.com lists just a few to try. Countryfile The golden rule of wild camping: arrive late and leave early – remembering to leave no trace! Plan arriving at your
An unexpected sculpture by the trail on Cumpston Hill
are sandy and open, and looked simple enough to ride on. However, the 4x4s have made short work of the soft ground, which in turn makes the area more challenging. I was reminded of Salisbury Plain and that good piece of advice: “Never trust a shallow looking
the more remote Pennines via some lesser travelled rural lanes. The Pennines held plenty of surprises from Roman roads to sandy moorland trails. The Pennines also held the most technical section yet, near Alston. Riding up steep narrow rocks in the rain, with a big fall to my right and dodging sheep, was one of the few times I questioned the logic of riding alone. The TET takes you close to Hadrian’s Wall, and with that comes some fantastic long straight Roman roads. Some are easy, which allows you to take your eyes off the gravel trails momentarily to take a look at the fantastic scenery all around you. Not all the lanes were so straightforward though. Either these lanes used to be better paved, or the Romans had some serious off-road chariots back in the day. But for me, the best surprises of all were the last few lanes in the Pennines, as the TET takes you through Blanchland Moor. The trails
chosen location late in the day to avoid disturbing others and leave early before other walkers are out and about. Wonderlust Wild camp etiquette Arrive late and leave early: Plan to arrive at your chosen location as it’s going dark and be packed up and away by the time other walkers are out and about. Never light an open fire: A lot of places suitable for wild camping present a high risk of fire so never do this; you don’t want to be responsible for destroying acres of beautiful landscape and devastating ecosystems! Leave no trace of your camp: Make sure you carry out your rubbish; you should leave the site as you found it. Be considerate of others: Respect the privacy and livelihood of others; if asked to move on, do so, and keep away from main tracks and paths. Camp high: Stay on ground that’s well away from people’s property and keep it discreet and you should have no problems. Choose your toilet carefully: Find a sheltered spot at least 50 metres away from water and downstream of popular camping areas. Dig a 6–8-inch deep hole, and replace the earth once you have finished. Remember to carry out your toilet roll with your other rubbish.
Trail Autumn 2021 31
The abandoned and remote Cobb’s Car Mill, just next to the trail in Yorkshire
puddle”. Along these trails I bumped into two friendly TRF members, who knew the area well. They warned me of an upcoming closed lane and recommended the local tea and bacon butty stop. There is a lot of chatter on the TET forums about how busy the TET has become, the over-use of the trails and large groups that threaten its future. I didn’t see any evidence of this. During my ten days on the trails I only saw about seven bikes and no groups bigger than three. Most people and businesses I spoke to welcomed the TET and didn’t have anything bad to say about bikes using the area. Another misconception that was shattered was that big bikes can’t ride the TET.
BETA 390 As a Geeky aerospace engineer I spent far too long reading about which bike was suitable for my local lanes and also longer distance riding. I believe the Beta is the perfect mix of a performance
32 Trail Autumn 2021
Battling with the heat on a heatwave’s summer day in the Yorkshire Dales
enduro bike, combined with nods towards practicality and reliability. I have owned Italian sportsbikes before, and reliable is probably the last word that comes to mind. However, the Beta has been a trusty workhorse with no issues. The bike has done 278 hours (over 6000 miles) and the only time I was let down was due to a rear wheel bearing failure during my trip along the Welsh TET last year. However, I put that down to ‘operator error’ due to the fact that I hadn’t checked or re-greased the bearings since buying the bike. The separate engine and gearbox oil means that oil changes are needed every 30 hours (600 miles). It’s no CRF250L, but makes longer distance riding more manageable. The longer gearing means the bike handles road sections well. However, I have increased the front sprocket by one tooth for better road riding with no noticeable detriment on the lanes.
Moor spanning heaven of the Old Coach Road near Ullswater
Fantastic forestry routes through the Lake District
TET TO PLOP
I met one rider of a Yamaha T7 in Yorkshire. I rode with him for a couple of hours. Maybe it was for the company, but more likely it was so that I wouldn’t have to face all those gates alone. He claimed to be a relatively new rider, but his T7 seemed to make short work of most gravel trails and some rocky climbs. Perhaps it would struggle in more extreme lanes, but I reckon it could tackle the majority of the TET. By early afternoon on my last day I found myself leaving the moors behind and riding the last few lanes of the TET towards Newcastle. It was bitter-sweet to turn off a road onto a lane, knowing there were only a handful left to enjoy before my final destination. Even the last few rural lanes held some excitement with big field-crossing lanes and one water crossing. The lanes finished in Heddon-on-the-Wall, so I stopped to refuel the bike before jumping back on the A-roads. One guy came over to ask about the bike and where I had been riding. Next thing he was shouting for his friend to come over saying, “This bloke just rode up from Bristol on this!” I watched the remaining miles on the GPS tick down from double figures into single
Trail Autumn 2021 33
Do I look at the view, or pick a line through the rocks?
TET TO PLOP
Nearly at the finish line, I made it to Newcastle!
digits as I followed signs towards Newcastle. I couldn’t believe my eyes as when I left home I had what felt like an infinite number of roads and lanes to travel, yet here I was on my last few miles. The TET takes you through Newcastle, past the bike shops (handy), River Tyne and onwards to the ferry port from where it continues its journey towards the Netherlands. I opted for my final point on the TET to be the iconic bridges spanning the river in the centre of Newcastle. I was hoping to ask a passer-by to take my picture next to the bridges. Thankfully, turning up on a muddy enduro bike on Newcastle’s riverside walkways got a few people coming over for a chat. Although the TET was over, sadly I didn’t have long to hang around, so I had to extract myself from the world’s chattiest Geordie and jump back on the bike, heading towards Teesside and C90 racing glory. Once at the race circuit it was great to be united with friends, a shower and some cold beers. Tomorrow held the final challenge of riding a 7BHP Honda C90 flat out round a
34 Trail Autumn 2021
Diving up the inside at the ‘plop’
circuit for six hours. Our team affectionately describes the C90 as a wobbly shopping trolley, as that’s exactly what it’s like to ride one at any sort of speed. Riding the TET acted as good training for an endurance race as I was used to long days in the saddle – and falling off. But the TET doesn’t prepare you for aggressive overtakes or fitting six bikes into a corner. Despite heavy rain, much crashing and a mid-race puncture, we finished the race. We weren’t threatening any of the top positions, but as you can imagine, just getting you and the bike across the finishing line is a challenge in itself. We headed home with our heads held high after a respectable 40th place, promising next time to put a bored-out engine in the bike (which is what everyone else seemed to be running) and to try and make the suspension feel less like a blancmange. My trip consisted of 10 days, 1271 miles, one set of tyres, probably 100+ gates and one massive grin that doesn’t look like it’s going to fade away anytime soon.
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36 Trail Autumn 2021
Salisbury Plain – looking north from Larkhill
Simon Creasey from the Wiltshire Group figures that Salisbury Plain is well placed for day-tripping a number of Trans European Trails
B ViewRanger map show ing TET routes starting from Salisbur y Plain
efore I started riding the Trans European Trail, or TET, it had a mystique attached to it in my mind not dissimilar to the Paris Dakar Rally. In fact, it is just a series of byways open to all traffic (aka BOATs), interconnected by normal roads: mostly quiet country back roads. Some of the sections can be technically challenging, for sure, depending on your skill and the weather conditions (presence or absence of recent rain, snow, ice, etc) and the surface (chalk, slippery rock, gravel, mud, etc) but the great majority of it is very straightforward riding. It takes you to some of the most beautiful countryside that you will ever see and places that many are unable to access (if not on a trail bike). It is a constant surprise to me that in the course of a full day’s riding I may only bump into one or two other trail bikes. I have done road trips to Ireland and Scotland, ridden the NC500, been to Orkney and Shetland and ridden from Aberdeen to Salisbury in one day but nothing has given me a greater buzz than riding the TET. It is true adventure bike riding. Whilst the idea of riding the TET from Dover,
Savernake Forest – easy riding, beautiful view
Trail Autumn 2021 37
Roman Bridge over the River Divelish at Fifehead Neville, Dorset
Malmesbury – Abbey in the background, Wiltshire
Garmin GPS and RAM Mount on handlebars This petrol station appeared just as I was running on fumes!
38 Trail Autumn 2021
North side of Salisbury Plain looking north to Pewsey
Salisbury Plain Training Area – read the SPTA Newsletter, keep to the byways and keep clear of areas marked by red flags
TET CENTRAL
Trail Autumn 2021 39
all round England and Wales, to Newcastle in one go may be appealing as a romantic notion, the logistics for such a trip may also be quite intimidating for many, not unlike undertaking the Paris Dakar Rally. Finding the time and someone to do it with may also be problematic. I am fortunate to live in the Salisbury area which, as it turns out, is TET Central with the option of six routes that can easily be done as day-rides. Starting from Salisbury, I have ridden the Salisbury Plain circuit, up to Bristol, down to Bridport, across to Basingstoke, Basingstoke to Chichester and up to Cirencester. There and back, in a day. Faster riders could get much further, I’m sure. Anyone looking for a UK-based trail riding holiday could do worse than to base themselves in a suitable campsite, Airbnb, hotel or pub in one of the beautiful villages or towns in the Salisbury Plain area. GPEX files for the TET routes can be downloaded from the TET website (transeurotrail.org). Whilst the ViewRanger App is a very good way of navigating and works very well on my mobile phone, the vibration through the handlebar mount shook the camera apart,
TET CENTRAL
North side of Salisbury Plain looking north to Pewsey
40 Trail Autumn 2021
A lot of the route is on quiet back roads
so I have now a replacement iPhone and have converted to a Garmin GPS. The TET route takes you to some out of the way places, so it is worth working out the range of your bike on a full tank and planning re-fuelling/coffee stops, or it could be a long push to the nearest gas station! A number of the TET routes cross the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) and the routes are closed if there is live firing when they will be marked with red flags and closed barriers. The GPEX files downloaded from the TET routes contain alternate routes for when the ranges are operational. Riders that are new to the area should familiarise themselves with the latest version of the SPTA Newsletter for safety information and have a look at the ‘Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) firing times’ document on the gov.uk website. Specific routes can then be planned for days when the ranges are open. I am nearly 60, a relatively recent convert to trail riding and far from being an expert rider, so if I can do it, anyone can! Most of the riding is very straightforward, even for novice riders. But there are undoubtedly some sections
Deeply rutted tracks
Gravel tracks
Mud fest!
Muddy puddle on far side of mud fest in previous photo (left)
Trail Autumn 2021 41
TET CENTRAL
It may not look like it but this is a steep 5 metre drop
Keep out of big puddles unless you absolutely have to go through them!
Me and my mate Bill
Blimey – I forgot the sandwiches!
42 Trail Autumn 2021
I tried but there was no avoiding this
Pride comes before a fall!
that are trickier than others, some technical sections and one or two obstacles that have to be got past. Initially, I found these quite intimidating. Now I enjoy the challenge. If in doubt, I stop, ponder the problem for a while, come up with a plan and then ride the obstacle slowly. What’s the worst that could happen? I dropped my bike in this puddle and flooded the engine. The water was up to my waist at the centre point. Keep out of big puddles unless you absolutely have to go through them. Use a stick, or walk them first, to see how deep they are before you do go through. I tried but there was no avoiding this water feature! At least this one wasn’t as deep as it looked. For various reasons, I have ended up riding the routes mostly solo over the lockdown but it is always preferable to ride in the company of at least one other rider, for company and safety. I am careful not to go too fast in order to avoid any permanent damage to myself as a result of close contact with the scenery but it does happen from time to time, so I wear
Trail Autumn 2021 43
TET CENTRAL
body armour and keep the speed below 20 mph. The maximum number of ‘offs’ I have had in one day is three, thus far! What I lack in skill, I make up for with enthusiasm. I have only come across one obstacle that I could not get past solo, so I retraced my steps and found an alternative route. This was on the section of the route that goes north from Beaminster in Dorset, where there is an uphill step that I just could not get up. It is difficult to take a photo that shows exactly how difficult this obstacle was – I took the ride of shame back down the hill and found an alternative route. I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to reach your destination after a full day in the saddle. I get a buzz from these trips that lasts for weeks. At a time when UK-based riding holidays are the most practical and the mental health benefits of biking are being widely talked about, riding the TET should be right up there. Of course, doing it in the company of a few mates would be even more beneficial and you could not do better than join the Trail Riders’ Fellowship. So, pack your sandwiches and a flask of coffee in your rucksack and get out there on the TET!
44 Trail Autumn 2021
Arrival Bridport – who’s up for a fish supper then?
Occasionally the obstacles are moving – these chickens ran ahead of my bike for about half a mile before I could get past them!
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BELATED Birthday
The ABR Festival 2021 played host to the TRF’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. Teesside and North Yorkshire stalwart Gill Mitchell was determined to have a good time 46 Trail Autumn 2021
T
hursday dawned bright and sunny with a few clouds. Having done a Google maps search for Ragley Hall, the venue for this year’s ABR festival, I packed my bike and headed off. Although I was sure I wouldn’t need them – it’s warmer down south, right? – I packed my warm gloves in my top box as insurance. Traffic was heavy, and it soon became apparent the Google maps believed I was in a helicopter! I stopped at Woodall Services on the M1 for a coffee and was promptly accosted by an Irish gentleman demanding money as he’d lost his wallet. Yeah, yeah. I politely declined his request at which point he became very abusive. It’s not often that I feel vulnerable travelling alone, but this was one time I could’ve done with a tall male companion. Coffee duly drunk, I headed off towards the M42 by which time the weather had changed and it was drizzling and cold. After a stop at Tamworth Services for more coffee, and to add layers/put on said winter gloves, I set off once more. Apart from the fact it was by now rush hour, and I was filtering through heavy traffic, the rest of the journey was pretty uneventful until I got to within spitting distance of Ragley Hall. All the bikes laden with tents etc. and clearly heading for the ABR Festival were going in the opposite direction. Finally I found my destination after a few U turns and headed off in search of Team TRF. “You can’t get lost,” said stand manager and TRF legend Garret Felton, “it’s a straight road”! I love a challenge and once through a gate found myself in the middle of an open field. This couldn’t be right, surely? Time to ring for help. Under Steve Neville’s excellent guidance, I found our encampment just as it started to rain. Doug Cartwright had very kindly transported my tent and camping gear down to the festival in his van and, top bloke that he is, had put my tent up for me. Thursday night was VIP night. After I had unloaded my bike, we all headed off for the food and beer (included in the tickets), both of which were very much needed. And then after a few more beers and lots of banter we all retired to bed. Friday dawned bright and early. I had agreed to meet Garret at 7.00am to set up the stand ready for the first day of ABR proper. This was my first time at the ABR Festival and my first time working on the TRF stand at that venue; although I have worked on the TRF stand at the NEC many times, and this was not dissimilar, it was a steep learning curve under the watchful eye of Garret. It quickly became clear that an awful lot of work goes into setting up and running a stand at the ABR and that it ran smoothly was testament to
Trail Autumn 2021 47
Garret and his team’s meticulous planning and foresight. So firstly, a big shout out to him. I’m not going to detail the show itself, as that has been covered amply on other forums, but there was lots to see and do. Security on site was pretty visible at all times and my experience of the loos/showers was that they were plentiful, with regular cleaning very much in evidence throughout the four days I was there. There were coffee bars and food stalls to cater for all tastes (and often long queues, too) but there weren’t many stands selling gear, which was a shame. I was after a pair of gloves and couldn’t give my money away. Hopefully, with the Covid situation easing, more retailers will be in attendance next year. I managed to throw my leg over a few bikes, all of which were way too tall and resulted in much mirth from sales staff, who told me on one stand that I looked like a toddler on her dad’s bike! The TRF stand was what is known as a stretch tent – open on all sides and with a wavy top. In one of the outer corners there was a sofa and table, well used by volunteers and visitors alike. It gave the stand a very welcoming and relaxed feel. Around the edges were flat-screen TVs and various trail bikes for people to look at, including a Zero DS and a KTM E-Ride. These proved very popular as talking points and certainly drew in the visitors. For those of us there all day the hot water urn and fridge were invaluable, as it meant we could make ourselves tea/ coffee on the stand, and having sandwiches provided was an added bonus. They were delicious. As were the TRF sweets. And the TRF neck tube was popular with all. The stand officially opened for business at 8.30am each morning, although visitors started arriving from 6.30am – when Garret and I arrived to start setting up – eager to sign up for the taster sessions and to find out what the TRF is all about. It was interesting to find out how few adventure bikers have ever heard of us and what we do. Due to the open nature of the stand, it was necessary to pack everything away at the end of each day for security reasons, and this became a challenge as the stand never really closed, with interested visitors turning up pretty much all through the day until we left. Friday was a long day and Garret and I didn’t get away until 9.00pm! We were a bit slicker about the packing up on the Saturday and got away at 7.30pm for a muchneeded curry and a glass or two of wine. Head of Marketing Graeme Collins and Gavin Seiler set up and ran a very informative and comprehensive GRM presentation, which generated a lot of positive interest both from existing and prospective TRF members. The general consensus from all was that it is a very
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BELATED BIRTHDAY
useful tool and is to be much celebrated. Steve Neville, TRF veteran and thoroughly good egg, gave a heritage talk each day and I learned a lot about the history of trail riding and the TRF. However, we were a bit out of the way, so these were not as well attended as they might have been. Main arena for Steve next year, methinks. The big draw of the stand was the trail riding taster sessions, which went out every half hour from 10.00am until 4.30pm with a break for lunch. These consisted of a Run Leader and TEC, who took out groups of riders who wanted to find out more about trail riding on three local lanes. The weather was not kind to us with a lot of rain on the Thursday and Friday nights, resulting in the first lane of three becoming quite muddy and wet. This proved a challenge for some of the riders with a few unscheduled lie-downs but with the help of their peers these were soon rectified and there were no major mishaps! Despite the weather the feedback was extremely positive with participants reporting that they had very much enjoyed their experience and praising the run leaders/TECs. Big thanks to all the volunteers who led rides and to the TECs. It couldn’t have happened without you. The taster sessions predictably proved very popular, and all rides were filled an hour after sign-in opened. People started queuing at 8.00am on the Saturday and many had to be turned away, which was disappointing, but this seemed to be the case with all the other stands too. The Sunday rides were not as well attended, probably due to the inclement weather, and many of the visitors packed up and left while it was still dry. Something to look at for next year in terms of logistics and what we can try and offer. I know Garret and his team are already beavering away in a darkened room planning it! As this was also a belated celebration of the TRF’s 50th Anniversary, which had been planned for last year and which had to be cancelled due to Covid, the 4.00pm Friday and Saturday Celebratory Cake and Beer Tea Parties were very well attended. The format was a quick speech by TRF Chair Doug Cartwright, during which Doug informed attendees that Dave Carling, TRF Director, was very poorly and asked that we send him our best wishes, followed a ceremonial cake-cutting which proved very popular. The cakes, which were provided by Garret’s wife Hanka, were delicious and did not last long once they were cut! Huge thanks to Hanka for her amazing cake baking and cake decorating skills. To say they were spectacular doesn’t do them justice. So, in essence, was the stand of benefit to the TRF? Most definitely yes. Having a
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BELATED BIRTHDAY
presence at the ABR raises the profile of the TRF in the adventure sector and puts us firmly on the map in terms of being part of this growing and very popular genre of motorcycling. Interest in the TRF and the number of people wanting to join was pleasingly high, with the stand being busy all day. Lots of existing TRF members came along to say hello and it was lovely to catch up with old friends not seen since the start of the pandemic, and provided an opportunity to put faces to names and make new friends. That’s what the Fellowship is all about and it was very much in evidence. It will be interesting to see how many join-ups we get as a direct result of our presence here. For next year it would be good to be able to sign up new members on the stand and/or find a way to check how many people joined up as a result of chatting to us at the ABR. Was it value for money? That’s way above my pay grade. Did I have fun? Yesss!!! My place at the ABR Festival is already booked for next year.
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KNIGHTER Somerset TRF managed to get enduro hero David Knight to give a three-day training session to members from the Somerset, Devon and Bristol Groups – Jon Boulton recounts the activities
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uring the lockdown period Somerset TRF had moved away from its monthly meeting at the local country pub. It had been forced to look at alternative ways of keeping the group together and updated, so of course everybody’s favourite, Zoom, took over. We had a guest speaker online one evening, Neil Hawker, who had competed in last year’s Dakar. An interesting guy with a great enthusiasm for motorcycling. But as the nights grew darker and no riding was taking place, the appeal of Zoom began to dwindle. Then Dean Allen, one of our Somerset members, mentioned that he had some
DAVID’S RESPONSE WAS TO QUOTE WHAT HIS FATHER HAD TAUGHT HIM... “IF YOU GET IT STUCK, YOU GET IT OUT.”
Photo: Jon Bentman
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connections with David Knight and that he might be up for some rider training. The lights were back on! Why don’t we see if we can persuade ‘Knighter 101’ (as he’s commonly known) to come down to Somerset and give three separate rider training days? David had also successfully completed his first Dakar, finishing in the top twenty, a fantastic result in one of the world’s toughest events. Put that together with his five World Enduro titles, and why wouldn’t he want to come and train the athletic off-road stars of the Somerset TRF? Lots of questions came up: Cannot believe how busy this guy is and so much in demand. If he agrees, what is he going to be like? Will any of us be able to ride with him? Will he come up with ridiculous obstacles only fit for a world champion? How will we sell 30 tickets, three days x 10 people per day, to ride with an enduro hero? Needless to say, in two days we had sold all the tickets to TRF members from the Somerset, Devon and Bristol groups. All ranging in ability and age! Just putting him into perspective, here is a
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summary of David’s past achievements. David ‘Knighter’ Knight, MBE (born 31 May 1978) is a three-times World Champion enduro rider from the Isle of Man but holds five world titles altogether. From the age of three until he was 18, he was regularly competing in trials, reaching British Championship level. At 18 he switched to enduro and quickly moved to the top of the pack. After competing in the Enduro FIM Junior Cup, David debuted in the World Enduro Championship riding for Yamaha. He finished runner-up in the 250cc class to Juha Salminen in 2001 and to Samuli Aro in 2002. In 2003, he moved to the biggest 500cc class and was placed fourth. For the 2004 season, Knight moved to the KTM team and finished second to his teammate Aro in the Enduro 3 class. In 2005, continuing in the E3 class, he took his first world title and also won the International Six Days Enduro outright. In 2006, he achieved a ‘perfect’ season, winning all 14 rounds of the E3 WEC, as well as almost every special test at each event. For 2007, Knight moved to the United States to take on the Grand National Cross Country
KNIGHTER 101
(GNCC) series against the best in the US. He replaced Salminen, who in turn moved back to the World Championship from the KTM US team. Despite some mechanical difficulties and an injury, David still managed to take the GNCC title. After defending his title the following season, he moved back to the World Enduro Championship and won his third world title in 2010. David also competes in a wide range of ‘extreme’ enduro events, such as the Hells Gate extreme enduro in Italy, the Erzberg Rodeo in Austria, the AMA Enduro Cross Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Tough 100 in the UK (he has won all of these, even beating Salminen). In addition, and leading every lap, he won the first and second annual Red Bull Last Man Standing events in Texas. The Manxman won two races at the inaugural 2007/8 FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup, beating Taddy Blazusiak to claim the title. In 2009/10 he collected a win and three podiums. This was followed by two wins and three podiums in 2012/13, when he was runner-up behind Blazusiak. He has won the
Barcelona Indoor Enduro in 2003, 2006 and 2007, and came second six times in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2013. David is an accomplished all-rounder, having won the British Expert Trials Championship, as well as competing with success in various motocross and beach racing events. His all-rounder status was confirmed when he won the Moto 1 event in the UK, in which riders from several disciplines of motorcycle sport competed against each other in events across the spectrum from road racing and MX to enduro and trials etc. David was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list with an MBE in June 2011. Some track record. Needless to say, we all agreed that Dean should persevere and try to organise some training with ‘Knighter 101’. We had a good selling line: tell him how good it will be for him, what great guys we all are, and what we could teach him! Dean managed to pull off this unbelievable request and David was in the Somerset TRF diary for three training days. We had a perfect location in lovely woodland that we also use for some of our forest ride days. The
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KNIGHTER 101
landowner is also a huge ‘Knighter’ fan and his son Tom rides in the expert motocross class. There is a shepherd’s hut on site (very trendy but not quite the Hilton) and this was both home and base for David for the next four days. On the Monday evening he arrived in Somerset, via the ferry from the Isle of Man, to meet Dean, Martin and Jon from Somerset TRF and they discussed detailed plans for the next three days. Nick’s wife had arranged an outdoor cold buffet, where we got to know the real ‘Knighter 101’, the most down to earth guy you could ever meet. After exploring the land and inspecting the topography, David made a plan for the following morning’s first lucky riders. “All booked in? Let’s ride,” said David. “Just go around this track and I will soon see your individual abilities.” No pressure on our guys, then. The first obstacle comprised the many slippery roots across the track – maybe we could attack these a little faster? There are two lines available: tight to the treeless roots, or wide of them but a slower line. We all think we can ride a bit, but let me tell you, ‘Knighter’
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just hit them flat out, gliding over them as if they didn’t exist. Then it was the group’s turn. He stood and watched every rider and guided them until they were confident about overcoming that particular obstacle. Before Knighter moved on to the next ‘corner’ training section, he told us one of his great stories about team KTM and the Erzburg Enduro, which he has won twice – fascinating stuff. To be honest, it was nice to have a break as the riding was quite intensive. And so it went on – corners, steps, rocks, streams, in and out of them all. We had huge respect for Knighter’s effortless bike control. He just enjoys riding bikes and loves to see others having fun. After lunch and the ‘stoppies’, wheelies and pivot turns demonstration, it was time for the hill climbs. A nice series of reasonable ups and downs had been put in place, fast flowing over roots and incorporating tight turns top and bottom. Knighter was encouraging the guys, again boosting their confidence. I did say to him at one point, “There is a guy a bit stuck down there. Are you not going to give him a hand up?” His response was to quote what his
father had taught him: “If you get it stuck, you get it out!” That’s probably why he is so determined to succeed as a rider. The big hill Knowing the land, and having been lucky enough to have ridden it for about the last 20 years, I’m aware of an intimidating hill climb up the side of the quarry. I’ve looked at it with many others for many years and never had the nerve to try it – short approach, roots part way up and a kicker at the top. At the end of each day’s training session, that’s what you were left to try (if you wanted to). We re-arranged our July monthly Somerset TRF meeting, bringing it forward by a day to allow Knighter to join us in the pub garden. We had a very informative question and answer session for about an hour and then he mingled with the members. It was really interesting to hear some of the experiences world-level riders have with manufacturers and contract obligations. We discussed his recent Dakar experience and the special challenges that brought as well as many other topics, all bike related.
My plan was to try and get him a bit ‘juiced-up’ on cider on Wednesday night to make ‘my’ Thursday training day a bit easier. However, I think it backfired as, in my cider-infused state, I suggested that I would ‘fly’ up that last hill. Knighter remembered that statement and when the time came, he looked at me and said, “Well, go on then.” I’m pleased to say I did, and was quite chuffed at my performance, enough to go around and have another go. Somerset TRF was very fortunate to have had this opportunity and a big thank you goes to Dean for making this happen and assisting David in the training for all three days. It takes a lot to organise such an event, but within the club we have an excellent group of people always willing to take on the next challenge. ‘Knighter 101’ left on the Thursday evening and was due to compete in the Tough 100 in Wales on the Sunday, 10 laps of 10 miles per lap. I asked him where he hoped to finish. “Jon,” he said, “I didn’t enter to come second.” This sums up the man, and he went on to win by 9 minutes.
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RIDING Techniques In a new series, Jake and Carl Venter from Technical Enduro Skills look at a wide range of fundamental riding techniques, which riders of all abilities can apply for a safer and more enjoyable time when trail riding. 58 Trail Autumn 2021
1: GET UP – STAND UP FOR YOUR RIDE In this article we will address good general riding position – both sitting and standing. For the most part when riding unsealed roads you want to be in the standing position. You will only really need to sit down for tight corners or for the occasional break while riding along to give your legs and back a rest. We advocate that riders stand as much as possible while riding for two main reasons. Firstly, when standing on the pegs, your centre of gravity is lower (compared to sitting on the seat) and thus makes the bike more stable and easier to control. You should be steering your bike by weighting the foot pegs rather than relying on the handlebars. Secondly, you can absorb harsh bumps that blow through the suspension travel with your legs, avoiding potential jarred backs and an uncomfortable ride. It is also much easier to shift your body weight forward/rearward and from side to side to better adjust to rough/cambered terrain, adding grip and safety. The body position shown above, dubbed the ‘attack position’ by many, is the technically correct way to stand on your bike when riding: your feet on the foot pegs, knees bent,
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bum back, straight back, chin over the handlebars. You should be riding with the ball of your foot on the foot peg. This has many benefits – it moves the centre of mass and centre of gravity back, and also allows you to utilise ankle flexion for added suspension. Additionally, that part of your foot typically has more nerve endings than the rest of your foot, allowing you to get more feedback from the bike. And for more advanced riders, you can start thinking about deliberately dropping the heels when leaning back for added rear wheel traction. You should be holding on to the bike with your knees. We have a rough general rule of thumb when standing, which is, when going faster than 10mph hold on to the bike with your knees, when going slower than 10mph give the bike space with your knees. Holding on to your bike with your knees is very important for faster riding as it will reduce arm fatigue due to your using larger muscle groups in your legs to stabilise your body weight. In addition to this, when you are ‘connected to the bike’ by holding on with your knees, the suspension will work better as you and the bike are more likely to move as ‘one mass’ instead of the bike moving around underneath you independently and almost having a delayed effect on your body. Having a straight back and keeping your bum back is important as this is the basis for keeping your whole physical structure together and making sure your body is strong and ready for any bumps and possible obstacles on the trail. We do acknowledge that when you are riding for long periods of time it is almost impossible to stay in the ‘attack position’ all day, so you can stand more upright and relaxed but just remember, you are doing this at the expense of tyre grip and suspension performance, and this could lead to premature arm/hand fatigue. For the most part, try to keep your body weight central on the bike to maintain even grip between the front and rear wheel. Your chin must also be roughly over the handlebars as this will keep your body weight far enough forward to maintain good front wheel traction for steering, and keeping bent arms will lead to better agility on the bike.
2: PLEASE TAKE A SEAT
When approaching a corner, we want to load the front tyre with your body weight to add grip for steering, so we move to a forward seated position (above). You should very deliberately think ‘legs forward’ when sitting down. You should sit far enough forward so that your arms remain bent. Sitting with straight arms almost always means you are
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RIDING TECHNIQUES sitting too far back, and your front wheel grip/steering will suffer. You will find your bike may be pushing wide on corners, or it may feel as though the bike isn’t going quite where you would like it to, if your body position is too far back on the seat. Remember small changes have a big impact on motorcycle performance and so sitting just two inches further back than optimum will be noticeable to most riders. We usually find that
TEAM VENTER We hope this helps. You can contact us on our Facebook page Technical Enduro Skills Training to join one of our training sessions or to ask for advice. Carl has competed in many international hard enduro events including Redbull Romaniacs (2013/2014), Roof of Africa (2015), IMPI Enduro (2016), Bulgarian Six Day Enduro (2018, 2019) and Sea 2 Sky Turkey 2020. He achieved 10th place in Pro class in Bulgaria and a Gold finish at Sea 2 Sky in Turkey.
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this seated position really improves riders’ confidence and trust in the front wheel. Remember, all these techniques take time to master. Some of them, which we will be discussing in future articles, might feel awkward at first but it’s worth persevering as it will feel more natural the more you practice, and your confidence will grow by being in control of your machine. That feeling of being a passenger will be a thing of the past!
Jake has competed in Bulgarian Six Day Enduro (2018, 2019) and Sea 2 Sky Turkey 2020. He became the youngest finisher ever in the Expert class in Bulgaria and again the youngest ever finisher in Pro class the year after – achieving 11th place. Jake also achieved a Gold finish at Sea 2 Sky in 2020. carlventer@enduroskills.com https://www.facebook.com/technicalenduroskillstraining https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGplMioNKHMmjmfp0OQd9Yg/videos
POINT OF LAW
THE BYWAY Wheelie
Andrew Dalton from White Dalton Solicitors puts us in the picture
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wheelie is largely a show-off’s trick. I say that as someone who attends the occasional wheelie school, so I can legally hoist my front wheel up on an airstrip because it’s good fun. But it really has no place on the roads. For me, as a solicitor, it would be career-ending as the offence is (usually) dangerous driving, which can go before a jury. If I, as a solicitor, am convicted of a serious offence, I have to hand back my gown and practising certificate. So, I do not wheelie on the road. I can’t think of a single circumstance where a credible defence can be made for a tarmac wheelie but I do, with varying degrees of success, lift my front wheel on the trails for one limited purpose only, which is to clear obstacles. One poor guy, a few years ago, did exactly that. He gently hoisted his front wheel over a suspiciously placed log on a byway and was immediately confronted by a remarkably angry woman who had arranged to have the ‘wheelie’ captured on a phone and then reported it to the police. They spoke to the gentleman in question, and were entirely content to accept his explanation that his very controlled wheelie to pass an obstacle on the highway was justifiable and no further action was taken – well, against the rider anyway. Crazy Lady was warned as to her use of obscene language. But, of course, this does
rely on a reasonable copper interviewing you and accepting the proposition that to get over a substantial obstacle the front wheel needs to come up. Another officer, on another day – and perhaps with a less mad and sweary complainant – might well write you up on the basis that you should have turned around and not raised the front wheel. At this point, when you go to Court, you will need the representation of a good solicitor and a credible expert witness, and that can be an expensive day out. However, for a controlled front wheel hoist to pass an obstacle, I don’t believe that the offence of dangerous driving is borne out. There is no higher Courts authority on this point and the statutory test is as follows: Does the driving fall far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver? Would it be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous? So a controlled and deliberate raising of the front wheel by delicate use of the clutch, throttle and suspension (and by this I don’t mean give the bike three-quarter throttle and flick the clutch out 100 metres away from the obstacle) is not obviously dangerous – and demonstrates a high level of machine control. Hoisting up the front wheel because it’s fun is most definitely a one-year ban and includes a compulsory extended re-test for all classes of licence held, so best avoided.
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MYWAY
deadman’s Hill
Over the years I have been trail riding, this green road has become one of my favourite go-to places to ride, and to be honest, I just like to sit on the hill and savour the area in solitude with only my Mars bar and a coffee for company. Apart, that is, from my trusty steed – Doug Cartwright, TRF Chair and Northern Director
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ituated in the Yorkshire Dales, Deadman’s Hill runs between Horsehouse to the north and Middlesmoor to the south, running directly across Scar House reservoir dam wall. It provides a key connector between a large group of roads to the north and south of the Yorkshire Dales. On GRM it has three GRMUID numbers: 11566, 11296 and 11297. Access is good, and it is mainly stone surfaced except for short section to the north. Some of the stone surfaces can be tricky in the wet and can catch out the inexperienced. The very name ‘Deadman’s Hill’ has the ability to make you take notice! It has a history steeped in mystery and intrigue, and there is plenty of historical reference to three headless corpses that were found way back in the 1800s – by all accounts the culprit(s) was never apprehended. My delight is to sit up on the hill and look down on the reservoir on a beautiful, warm and sunny day, but this is Yorkshire and that rarely happens. When it does, though, it is sublime. On an overcast day, however, or in a thick easterly fog, it does have the ability to fuel my irrational fears and I
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The TRF and GLASS co forces and the hill wa mbined s by the Highways Authorepaired rity
and contactednumerous stakeholders and authorities. The upshot was that the hill was repaired by the Highways Authority and the approaches to the north and south were repaired and financed by a volunteer team from several motoring organisations. This process took about three years and as I looked further into the history of access, I found it had been temporarily closed three times since 2000!
imagine apparitions of headless corpses and axe murders! My first visit was about 10 years ago and I’m not sure why I ever returned. One particular section on the steep incline was an almost impossible mud climb but with a bit of teamwork we all managed to ascend it, only to be greeted by a park ranger and the local police constable asking for our details. Needless to say, we all passed the inquisition with flying colours albeit grumbling under our breaths. It was several months later that, in my role as member of the North Yorkshire Local Access Forum, intel reached me that a permanent TRO was being sought. This caught my attention and led me to meet several ‘antis’, who were determined to have this place of peace and solitude closed to motorised vehicles for ever. To cut a long story short, TRF and GLASS combined forces
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MYWAY DEADMAN’S HILL
I started using it more regularly after the repairs and now really enjoy the area, often using it as a starting point for walking. The dam itself was started in 1921 and operational by late 1936. In order to do that a complete town was created on the south side of the valley and employed thousands at the height of the construction. You can still see the remains of the town built for the workers – only the outline of the foundations is visible now, but by all accounts it had shops, a school, a cinema and a hospital. The stone was all mined locally and you can still see remnants of the quarries and even some of the old running gear. All that remains in a functioning state is a small building that is now run as an excellent tearoom with a car park and makes a great stop-off point during a ride. When the water is high in the reservoir, which is usually in the winter, it is a most foreboding place as the wind howls down the valley and whips the water over the top of the dam wall. But in contrast in the summer, when the water is low, it is possible to see the remains of dry-stone walls and buildings, and more importantly for us the old road. An interesting piece of history records that when the Bradford Water Company built the dam, and effectively blocked the road, a stoppingup agreement was drawn up on 27 January
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1933. This granted access to the dam wall and connecting roads to permit the flow of traffic. In perpetuity! Although I have painted a picture of a place which might sound remote and is described by the ‘antis’ as a place of peace and solitude, it is far from that. On my many moments on the hill I have observed numerous DOE groups climbing the repaired section oblivious to the history, farmers and gamekeepers driving by in their quads, the occasional trail rider and cyclist, and on one occasion I was given a personal fly past by the RAF’s finest ‘Topguns’. What I never see on that section are ramblers … go figure! Deadman’s Hill, for me, is a place for the living, a place that we can all enjoy in whatever way we choose. As a member of the TRF I take comfort in the fact that as a conservation organisation we have done, and continue to do, our bit to preserve the history of, and access to, what is one of my favourite green roads. Please join me for a coffee on the hill.
Tell us about your top-rated byway; what it’s like to ride and why it’s special to you. Send to Editor@trf.org.uk
www.cambrianway.com Tel: 01550 750274 email: info@cambrianway.com
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The
AUSTIN VINCE Video Class
How to make a Spag Bol - our Chairman Doug Cartwright has been a busy bunny this quarter
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ustin Vince is probably one of the best-known trail riders with his international exploits going back over many years…. just Google, Mondo Enduro or Vince Navigation! Apart from being a very competent and robust trail rider, and lifetime TRF member he is also a prolific video maker. Again, a quick look on You Tube, and you will see the highly engaging and creative work he has posted. He now runs two excellent classes for budding trail navigators and short video creators. He holds video classes in Windsor, London and the northern stronghold of Todmorden. His recent video class, which incidentally was at a knock down rate of £10 for TRF members, was held on a day of monsoon proportions when no sane trail rider should have been out there. His class focused on creating the threeminute “pop video” which is what most of us have just about enough patience to sit through these days. Austin is also a teacher and has a unique style of engaging the class and relaying what are often quite tricky subjects to the class in a humorous way. He taught us how to make a video which will be appreciated by family and friends and anybody else for that matter without putting them to sleep. It’s akin to cooking, hence the Spag Bol reference. You need to plan and think about ingredients and the order of play. Most of us just go out there hit the record button and end up with a demoralising amount of footage which just sits in the hard drive and lies unused for an eternity. His technique eloquently presented explained the planning process, how to create the ‘Nice Touches,” not overshoot, make use of the “classic camera moves “and that then leaves only a minimal amount of effort to assemble and upload that all-encompassing memorable video.
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Incidentally, no need for fancy helmet cams or drones – all this can be done with a nottoo-smart phone as long as it has a camera. The course shared plenty of examples on how to and was interspersed with simple exercises to reinforce the technique. No pre work or homework was expected or handed out and the class left with much motivation and anticipation on applying newly learnt movie-making skills. Keep a watch out for future classes in both video making and navigation. All his classes are in person, and they have the bonus of meeting some interesting TRF members from around the country. Lights, camera, action…
THE
MOTOR CYCLING CLUB
Motor cycling adventures in 2021/22 The Motor Cycling Club has been organising long distance car and motorcycle trials as a test of reliability and endurance for over 100 years. The MCC is pleased to extend an invitation to TRF members to enter our trials as ‘Associate Members’. All you need is a sense of adventure, a suitable motorcycle or sidecar outfit and an ACU licence. Our 2021/2022 calendar reads; [subject to COVID19 restrictions] The Edinburgh Trial 1st/2nd October 2021 The Exeter Trial 7th/8th January 2022 The Lands End Trial 15th/16th April 2022 www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk
TESTED MAXXIS MAXXCROSS PRO IT M/7304/7305 TYRES www.maxxis.com
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bout six months ago, after seeing and replying to an ad in Motorcycle News (MCN) seeking ‘normal’ folk as influencers for Maxxis tyres, I threw my hat into the ring. And lo and behold, I am now an official micro or even possibly nano influencer. Why is this, you ask? Perhaps it’s because of my social media presence all over Instagram, Linked In and Facebook (occasionally). Okay, maybe I’m slightly in Kim Kardashian’s shadow in terms of bare numbers, but it’s quality not quantity, you know. Or perhaps it’s because of my qualifications: Cycling Proficiency badge, 25m Breaststroke certificate, or even my BAGA star jump Grade 1 gained in primary school. All these add up, you know. Or perhaps I just sounded keen and can write a coherent sentence. Anyway, being a nano influencer is not that onerous, it’s a simple yet effective marketing ploy – get folk who actually use your products to put a few words down to articulate why
Tyre on the Honda CRM (without puncturing the tube for once) and ready for action
they tested and endorse the product. There is always something alluring about new tyres! Everyone has an opinion on the subject. Check any forum and you’ll find a 100 different views. That’s because tyres are important. Over the years I have, at some point or the other, ridden on most of the poplar brands and types from Metzeler Saharas and Six Day Enduros, Trellesports and the ubiquitous Pirelli MT43s. Tyre performance, particularly on the trail, is subjective with the big influences (as opposed to influencers) being bike chassis design, riding style and of course terrain. Not everyone is going to love the same tyre for the same job. Additionally there’s the value equation to consider. However, being careful with my money, my eye was caught by the Maxxis MaxxCross Pro IT (M7304/5), which are street-legal intermediate terrain tyres. Front and rear hoops cost not much more money than the MT43 rear alone. Worth a try, I thought. The front is standard for
24MX 2.5-litre hydration system £21.99 (was £29.99); www.24mx.co.uk
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ave you ever passed out due to dehydration? I have, in fact, to my knowledge I’ve only ever gone ‘sparko’ twice in my life and the other time was very long ago and due to imbibing incompatible stimuli. A few months back I was out on a group ride
(fortunately for me), scouting a route for an upcoming Long Distance Trial. We’d only been riding for a couple of hours when we stopped for a shut gate. I was sitting on the bike, feet touching the ground, when suddenly I felt really rough, head spinning, flashing lights, oh dear. The next thing I knew, I heard my riding buddy saying “Rick, are you okay?”. I was still sat astride my bike only in a horizontal position. In the ‘too much info’ department you can check for degrees of dehydration by
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tarmac with both types, so it’s hard to separate them on that score. Cost-wise though, the Maxxis seems to be generally £15 cheaper a pair than the Trackers, and down here in Devon, that counts ….
any ‘open’ knobbly enduro tyre. It holds its line, turns and scrabbles out of ruts with no trouble. The rear was most impressive, and not only gripped better on mud and grass than MT43s but also provided confidence on shale and slate rock, somehow hitting that sweet spot between grip and longevity. I ride most weeks and have fitted a set to my bikes over the last couple of years; those on my Yamaha TTR will need replacing soon after a year’s hard use. In the lanes I seem to stay right side up most of the time, partly through having decent bikes but partly because I’m rarely short of grip – and that’s where the tyres come in. Surely that is all we want, out there in the lanes? More recently Michelin Trackers have become available and I’ve heard good things about them. My ‘lockdown’ bike, a venerable DRZ400, came shod with a nearly new pair so I’ve been able to compare them directly with my Maxxis. They are not massively dissimilar – the Maxxis rear has a 2-1-2 centre block tread, whereas the Michelin is 2-2-2. I’d say the side tread on the Maxxis is a bit more ‘aggressive’, but to be honest, I’ve felt equally secure on and off the
Conclusion So, to come full circle, the tyre test for Trail coincided with a note in MCN asking for ‘Influencers’ to come forward to endorse Maxxis tyres by ‘normal’ people. For me, it was a no brainer – get a set of tyres that you would have bought anyway. Particularly for us parsimonious Devonshire lads and lasses. Never for one moment did I think they’d take me up on the offer, but perhaps they felt that an endorsement by a prolific writer on all things trail riding, locally and nationally, might be worth the investment of a couple of tyres. So there you go. My honest opinion re. Maxxis tyres is give them a go. Folk whom I’ve seen using them, across the magnificent terrain we have in Devon, have given them their approval, which cannot be a bad thing. Also, I think in the fine print of my ‘contract’, Maxxis can harvest my organs if you do not buy a set … Sean Comber
the colour of your urine – Google it. Anyway, not wanting to repeat the process, hydration moved higher up my survival list. My all-weather Acerbis jacket has an aqua-pac with drinking tube but if you’re wearing lighter-weight clothing you need more liquid than a 50cl bottle. I hate riding with a back pack because of the weight and the physical clumsiness. But when I spied this 24MX Hydration System online it looked light and small enough to be a contender. As ever with online purchases, when you get to feel the goods it can often be disappointing. Not so with this Hydration System. Yes, it’s all synthetic material but the wide shoulder straps are elasticated with Velcro adjustment to accommodate a wide range of body and clothing sizes. Apart from the main pocket which takes the
water bag, there are two other small pockets with waterproof looking zips which could carry credit card and keys. The drinking tube from the bag can thread through either over-shoulder strap depending on preference. The mouthpiece is a little clunky but it needs to be hardwearing because it is squeezed between the teeth to let the liquid through – bite and suck. Thus far I’m very pleased with the Hydration System in that it does what it’s supposed to and is light enough not to be intrusive when riding, which was my main hope. In addition, the price was attractive for a practical piece of kit. I haven’t managed to crash test it yet, but when I do you’ll be the first to know. A five-pack of replacement water pouches costs £6.99 plus delivery. Rick Kemp
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Friends OF THE TRF
The following businesses are offering discounts to TRF members 58% Discount Suzuki GB bikes.suzuki.co.uk/owners/acu-licence-holders/ On parts for ACU licence holders 38% Discount John Banks Renault on Traffic Vans 25% Discount EBC Brakes Direct www.ebcbrakesdirect.com Brake and clutch components 20% Discount Custom Lids www.customlids.co.uk Discounts available on all motorcycle clothing Flexiplates visit: www.flexiplates.co.uk Quote code TRF15 Herbert & Ellison Discount on seat refurbishment www.herbertellisonupholstery.co.uk/ Home By Seven Get a copy of Steph Jeavons book at stephjeavons.com by using code TRF20 for 20% discount 15% Discount Cotswold Outdoor www.cotswoldoutdoor.com Cycle Surgery www.cyclesurgery.com Gear 4 Motorcycles www.gear4motorcycles.co.uk WM Moto (Carlisle) www.wmmoto.co.uk Available on parts and selected clothing J&S Oxford www.jsaccessories.co.uk Bikestop www.bikestop Off-road clothing discount MotoKing www.motoking.co.uk Viewranger www.viewranger.com Discount on digital maps code: TRF2017
10% Discount Fantic CCM Gas Gas EC Spares www.hainesmc.co.uk Quote code TRF2020 with membership number on an e-mail after placing your order online Rally Raid Products www.rally-raidproducts.co.uk Discount available on all custom Rally parts Midwest Racing www.midwestracing.co.uk Available on parts, accessories and clothing Premier Bikes www.premierbikes.com KTM franchise with discount applying to parts and clothing Endurotek www.endurotek.co.uk Parts and accessories Manchester Xtreme www.manchesterxtreme.com Please quote your TRF membership number PC Advanced Motorcycle Training http://www.cbtanddas.co.uk Bolt Bikes www.boltbikes.co.uk Gerbing www.gerbing.eu Discount code is TRF10 EDZ www.edzdirect.com Base-layer clothing Discount code is TRFC_10 Bike Revival www.bike-revival.co.uk Shock Absorber specialist J&S Oxford www.jsaccessories.co.uk MX Zone www.mxzone.co.uk IAM www.iamroadsmart.com Trail Riders Warehouse www.trailriderswarehouse.co.uk 10%off using code TRF10 Rewire Security Tracking, cameras, CCTV, alarms www.rewiresecurity.co.uk
Dirtbikebitz Bike parts, riding gear and helmets www.dirtbikebitz.com Opie Oils & Service Parts https://www.opieoils.co.uk// Nomad ADV Lightweight travel & rally gear www.nomad-adv.com Fowlers of Bristol http://www.fowlers.co.uk Smith & Allen Lubricants https://www.smithandallan.com Transylvania Trails http://www.transylvaniatrails.com Bikefix Discount on servicing and repairs www.facebook.com/Bikefixyeovil Dirtbike Express https://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk Fraser’s of Gloucester 5% on spare parts www.frasersmotorcycles.co.uk Moto Junkies motojunkies.co.uk 10% discount on guided tours on trail and tarmac in the Welsh countryside Various Discounts TrackIt247 www.trackit247.com Up to £18 off trackers and 20% off live tracking fees Centre Trail, France www.centre-trail.com 15 Euro cash back on booking Enduro Tyres www.endurotyres.com Special rates Trail Rides Wales www.trailrides-wales.com Free guides for members on selected days Bike Seal bikeseal.co.uk Catalan Adventure 10% off accommodation and 50% off bike hire
Check the website for up-to-date information on discounts offered at www.trail.trf.org.uk/members/benefits/
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