TRF: The Alston Run...

We had an invite to go ride with Greg Villalobos from the TRF for the weekend. So when Lucy finished work on Friday night we loaded the van up with the toys & headed across the A69 towards Newcastle to stay with Greg & his wife. Two hours later we were sat down to a chilli dinner & some wine whilst talking about life, bikes & the soon to be new parents Georgia & Greg.

The plan for Saturday was sorted, the wine bottles empty so off to bed it was!

Saturday morning dawned all grey & drizzly, we got the bikes out, sorted gear & had a bacon sandwich when Adam, (the 4th member of  the day's team turned up), so more tea was drunk over introductions before we set off...

You can never drink too much tea after all!!! ;-)

Greg's bike decided to play up first thing with a faulty plug, once that was changed we were off to play in the mud!

Greg took us on several new lanes over the day before riding some of the moorland lanes that Lucy & I had ridden on the 'Bottle Run' last week.

Classics such as 'Isaacs Tea Run', Slaley Forest, Limestone Brae, H lane, Blanchland Common & Coleberry Moor, (The highest lane in England) were all on the list & duly ridden as we traversed Northumbria & into Cumbria.

Throughout the day we kept crossing paths with Simon, Kevin, Mark & Arrif, who were also out doing a similar run... Arrif was on a lovely KTM 690, which was set up just how I want mine, so plenty of chat ensued about that!!

KTM 690 Enduro R

US imported headlight set up for the 690

Everybody had bunched up on H Lane so we finished the ride back into Slaley over Blanchland Common with everybody riding with headlights & Cree Lights on...

The full moon was glowing & lighting up everything, first with an alpen glow of pinks & greys as the sun set, then with a brightness that just set the surrounding hillsides off to a tee!

The day finished in the dark, riding over the moorland with ice on the road, something Lucy had a very personal introduction too as the bike hit a sheet of ice, slewed sideways & dumped her on her arse with the bike spinning in the Tarmac leaving a trail of sparks & heather across the road. She & the bike were both fine, just a little bruised on their respective bums!!

Another magic day out in the UK landscape, some more friendly & genuine people added to our circle of friends & a few more lanes discovered!! 

Happy Days...

Wet & Windy Trials in Armathwaite...

Happy New Year Everybody!! :-)

Gaz, Lucy & I all arranged to go see a local Cumberalnd County Motorcycle Club event near Armathwaite on New Years Day. It was absolutely peeing down when we got up, so neither Lucy nor I were that keen to be honest, but we're really glad we did after all...

At a guess, there were about 40 bikes & riders there, with only a handful of spectators & we were three of them!!

The rain had eased off as it does in the Eden Valley, but it was still pretty windy with the odd squall of rain blowing through.

Luckily the majority of the sections were in little hollows in the old sandstone quarry, so a lot of the riders were sheltered as they competed. The guys doing the scoring though had a rough day, sitting or standing around for a few hours, not moving too much so freezing their arses off... mmm tough job that one on a day like this!!

Camaraderie & smiles are the order of the day here!

Soggy feet??

Rocks abound!

The sections seemed to be split into Novice, Clubman & the Expert with a sub category of the Classic bikes too... Apparently this is a tough venue, (not surprising as the World Trials Championships are held here too!!). Some of the routes looked really delicate & you could tell the really good riders as their engines never seemed to rev at all & yet they cleared all the obstacles without putting a foot down! Great to watch...

As far as I understand it, the aim is to get the least points per round, so putting a foot down once = 1 point, twice = 2 points & three times = 3 points, after this you get 5 points for not completing or crashing, but a new ish rule is that if you stop to study an obstacle you also get 5 points. Gaz was a bit gutted about this as this is a favourite method of his!!

Bananaman to the rescue... err almost! ;-)

Callum from Lloyd Honda, Carlisle...

The obstacles varied here from rock steps to grassy banks, tight turns & even a little water pool with a rocky bed. The age ranges seemed to vary from teens to definitely retired, as did the skill ranges too! The bikes ranged from the most modern Honda to the twinshock boys on the pre 1965 bikes, all still going strong & really looking so well looked after!

By about 1.30pm, we were all cold & wet, the dog was back in the van ignoring the world & I'd taken far too many pictures, most of which I've since learned went in the bin as I had the shutter speed set up to slow for the quicker moving folks, another learning curve!! Lunch was calling & a lazy afternoon before a visit to Lucy's folks place for dinner...

Lucy, Gaz & I all fancy a go at this kind of riding & so we've managed to pick up a couple of bikes... Gaz has a Gas Gas 280 'Raga', which is all shiny & full of trick bits.

Gas Gas 280 Raga model

We found a Sherco 290 from a young lad down in Tebay, which needs a little TLC but the engine seems to be a beauty. So another avenue for playing has just opened up.

Sherco 290 2002

One of the bikes that stood out for me on this trial was the new Honda Montesa, it's the Repsol race bike for the international competitions, (Toni Bou has just won his 8th world title on one of these!). A lovely looking four stroke machine as far as I can tell, comes in at 68kg wet & was ridden here by the Honda Rep... it did look the part but then so did the Jotagas ridden by Martin Bell, (AKA Bananaman) from MHB Motorbikes in Brough.

Honda HRC Cota 4 Stroke 

Cool, so next up for us is a trip over to Consett for another ride out with the Northumbria TRF boys at the weekend, so that should be a laugh, at least the snow has disappeared again for now!!

Have fun all...

The hardest ride of my life - the motorbike test

At the beginning of June this year I decided I wanted to get my full motorbike licence. I did my CBT in May and it was actually much easier than I thought it would be and a lot of fun. So I got back in touch with Aaron and Ang at Cumbria Motorcycle Training in Carlisle and decided to do my Direct Access course to get my full licence.

Before getting straight on a 600cc "big bike" my next lesson was on a 500.

First time on the Suzuki 500

I really enjoyed having more power and found the bike easier to handle than the 125. All I can remember about my early days on the bike was how much fun it was. I had a ride around in the car park on this bike and then was allowed to go out to the quieter parts of town. Feeling the wind on my face for the first time was amazing and after this first time out  I couldn't wait to get back on a bike.

My next lesson was on a Suzuki Bandit 600 and I liked this bike as well but found it quite a bit heavier.

Me on the Suzuki Bandit 600

Generally my lessons were with Aaron and one other pupil. We were in radio contact with Aaron and took it in turns to be in front or behind. The lessons were fairly intense and Aaron is a great instructor...so long as you can take criticism. Every time you did something wrong Aaron told you, but in my opinion this is the only way to learn. I was always knackered after a couple of hours intense riding and learning. 

Steve was away riding his bike across the States, whilst I was learning to ride. He kept sending me pics and emails of amazing riding tales... I didn't need any more motivation to pass my test! Before he went away he had bought a Suzuki DR 350 for himself and for me to learn on. However as the laws have changed I couldn't put a limiter on it....a real pain.

I decided I really needed more practice in between lessons and I needed to get out on the roads more. At first I had thought I would wait and ride the DR 350 when I had passed my test. But I just seemed to get so rusty in between lessons, I would spend the first hour trying to remember how to ride a bike! So I ended up buying a 125. My choice of bike was a Honda XR 125 L 
 

My pride and joy - my first ever motorbike!!

At the bike school we started to work towards passing my module 1. This is the second stage of the bike test. The first part is a theory test done on a computer. The mod 1 is all about bike control. I spent many hours in the car park practising figure of 8's, U-turns and slaloms. We worked on clutch and brake control and a big one for me - turning my head!

Thumper - full of helpful hints on bike control

So the lessons continued and we did a mix of riding around town and slow speed stuff. I booked my mod 1, hoping to pass it before Steve returned from States. But it was not be, I failed and to be fair I shouldn't have passed - I really wasn't ready for it. 

When Steve did return from the States the first thing he did was put off road tyres on my little Honda. He claimed the real way to ride was to get off road!

Practising off road skills

Pooped after only a few hours riding!

And how right Steve was!! I honestly believe riding off road really helped my bike skills, confidence and balance. And it was great fun...I loved riding off road and exploring the Lakes. I also commuted to work on my little Honda over Whinlatter pass, which again helped my all round riding and saved me heaps of cash - £10 a week on fuel!!

However the reality of the matter was I had to get my mod 1 passed and so it was back to practising in the car park. It took me another 2 goes to finally pass my mod 1 and then I booked my mod 2 test straight away. I thought the mod 2 would be pretty straight forward as by now I had had a lot of lessons, been out in Carlisle loads and was riding my 125 pretty much every day. I have also been driving a car for 20 years so I was fairly familiar with the Highway Code and road rules....or so I thought.

My first mod 2 test went really well but I got confused at a roundabout and ended up in the wrong lane. Something I wouldn't have normally done but I think the pressure got to me and I failed :-(  The one problem with bike tests is if you fail, you cannot book another test fro 10 days and with it being summer you can't always get one. So I got another test booked but it was for a month later! 

Enjoying the freedom of exploring by bike

Steve cheered me up by suggesting we just go out and have more off road fun!! On my 3rd attempt of the coach road I finally made it up the "bad step" on my Honda. The first couple of times I aimed it straight at the little rock step and all that happened was the front wheel bounced off it, followed by me!!

A successful ride along the coach road

Steve and me also spent a couple of evenings in Carlisle practising junctions and roundabouts....yawn yawn but necessary. My next test date was badly planned. I had PMT (not a good start), I had my dissertation to finish for my Open University degree and I had my test all in the same week. This mod 2 test was awful and I got stuck in a filter lane at traffic lights. The lights turned red and I should have gone but I ended up staying in the filter lane and of course failed...the pressure got to me again! It didn't appear to be my riding skills...it was highway code stuff that I was failing on. I was absolutely gutted but managed to book my test for pretty much 10 days later. And yes you guessed it .......went off road riding in between to cheer myself up!!

An evening of easy lanes by myself near Loweswater

The day came to take my test again and to put myself under pressure this time I had 2 weeks booked off work and Steve and me were hoping to head to Wales for some off road fun and with me on a bigger bike....hmmm.
This 3rd mod 2 test that I took was the hardest of them all. I had lots of obstacles to deal with and a lorry stranded on a roundabout, but I concentrated hard and passed. Happy Days. I cannot put in words how happy I was. It really was a huge weight off my back and one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. 

So to celebrate.. I went shopping as all girls should. However, it wasn't for shoes and handbags, it was for a new bike!! And that's when I said a sad goodbye to the Honda and became the proud owner of my KTM EXC-F 250.

Caldbeck ford on my KTM

My riding is improving all the time and I love my KTM. It was a bigger jump than I thought from the 125 to a 250, but it's a KTM after all...a bit of a monster that I have finally got under control!! And as for the bike test...yep it's hard but it's also one of the best things I have ever done as I now have a new world of freedom and travel by bike opened up to me. It's a passion that I feel will stay with me for the rest of my life. Happy riding!

Northumberland TRF Bottle Drop Rideout...

About five years ago, the Northumberland TRF group started to go around the houses on the green lanes that they use each year to offer either a bottle of wine or a card to the people on those lanes as a way of making contact with them & also to say a hearty thankyou. This year Lucy & I had an opportunity to help out & so jumped at the chance.

We made a right early start this morning, on the road to Consett at 6.30 am... an easy drive across the A69 saw us at Morrison's for a 8am & feeling hungry, a bacon butty & some coffee in the cafe sorted that & we saw a car & trailer with a KTM six days on it... so we headed off round the back of the car park to see a Landy, Mark on his KTM 350 EXCF & what turned out to be Richard, our 'leader' for the day...

Tony, (The Chairman), gave us the list of houses to visit & the all important wine & cards, (or rather gave them to Richard!) & we all set out to meet up at Alston.

Just after we bailed on a river crossing!

We headed out of Consett for our first drop off where we met up with a nice lady who volunteered to open the gate for us. When Richard gave her the card & bottle she was well made up & smiley. so off we went with a good deed done, hoping the rest were like this one!!

We also had a few close calls with some patchy ice on the back roads, with Mark sliding the back end sideways on a steep descent & I almost lost the front wheel on an approach to a junction. Everybody had a moment at some point during the day which just added to the spice of the fresh cold air & beautiful winter weather.

We had some great views as we passed by Slaley Forest, plenty of mud & puddles before dropping down to Derwent Reservoir & passing by the local shooting fraternity with a wave & a smile!

Unlike the person at this house where we dropped a card off too & the guy in the photo, (who may or may not be a local councillor??), told us to 'F' off. Very ironic as this has been a byway for 120+ years & we were actually parked up on a tarmac road as you can see in the photo!!

Anyway back to the positive stuff...riding green lanes in the UK!!

Lunch at The Cumberland Hotel in Alston was a chatty affair, with a fair bit of gossip about how easy the guys in the Landy had had the trip!! ;-). Meanwhile Richard was still trying to warm his hands on his exhaust even after sitting in the hotel for an hour!

Tynehead was a great bit of the day, dropping the all important bottle off before tackling the steep uphill into the snowline... Mark & Richard both showed their riding skills off here, cruising up whereas Lucy & I struggled up on or first ever visit.. hey ho...

Tynehead Cottage

Mud, mud & a bit more mud!!

Snow & mud!!

Mark looking good in the snow!!

Richard, our fearless leader for the day

The day wound on & we cruised up a fair few more lanes including 'H' lane, Scarsike Head, Cuthbert's Hill & back into Slaley forest. It was getting dark now so we opted for the road approach back into Consett where we all pulled up to say our farewells after a cool day out...

Another great day out on bikes, yet more lovely new people we've met & of course a load of new lanes ridden & discovered!

Our day ended up with a drive back to Cumbria, followed by several tots of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey before getting tucked up in bed by 10pm!!

Cheers to all the Northumbria TRF guys for a great ride out, some good company &