Devon TRF Group Forum

brownie · Expert

trials and tribulations

devondan · Champion

Funnily enough I was talking to Gruff about the Exeter, the MCC LDTs are longer with less sections than the 10 Tors I think, and being that much is over night presents a completely different set of challenges, plus the fact its usually freezing but the camaraderie is great!!!

Dan

TTR · Powermonger!!

LDTs and MCC trials are very different to each other.

The MCC overnighters are more about a test of mental and physical stamina of the rider and their ability to keep their bike (or car) going for an extended period of time.

Lots and lots of roadwork and the navigation therefore used to become the element of challenge - but not that much now as you can download a MemMap version of the route confuse

The thing is after 14 or so hours of going can you remember the restart and take the correct route at the top of Bluehills 2 and, having done so, resist the urge to have a dab on that loose gravel wink

The nicest of the three in my view is the Lands End. Did it with my bro' Trev one year and he didn't like it at all and won't do another. He went through a bad period between about 6-7am.................. See http://www.briansussex.me.uk/landsend2006.htm - the handlebar muffs look stupid but worked brilliantly smile

I reckon Gruff ought to give it a go in his new yellow beastie biggrin

Harty · Devon's Best

I'm def doing the Exeter LDT in Jan, don't mind teaming up for a bit of warmth!

brownie · Expert

thanks guys,
some food for thought,
speak to you all at the next meet.

chrisoncbr · Expert

What class are you running in, Mark? We usually marshal Jobbles Lane which is a class O section. All got cancelled last year, of course. cry

Harty · Devon's Best

I was meant to do it this year but got cancelled, so am hoping to do it in Class B

Gruff growl · Clubman A

Yeah I am definitely up for doing some of these in the future, if anybody wants to team up and have a chat. I have never done any but have Marshalled at most of them for the last 20 years. I need to know how to register and who with etc.

Pete · Devon's Best

Once bitten by the bug you will want to try the Cornish LDT which starts from Bodmin rugby club,very similar sort of thing to the Ten Tors and M2C local events.The queues at the bottom of Muchlarnick and Pink Panther came as quite a surprise to me one day out trail riding alone.So many riders were returning down the former after failing to ascend that I rode off elsewhere and came back to explore this hill another day rather than wait all afternoon.It is a lot like the Devil's Steps but steeper and much longer.
There is I believe a Tamar Valley LDT(you will remember Morden,again I discovered this when riding alone,the sign at the bottom saying 'section begins here'left over from the previous weeks event told me I was in for something interesting) and the Exmoor Clouds covers some amazing lanes out of bounds to us normally(such as Port lane),as is of course the case with almost all the LDT's where private land is used often for links as well as sections.
TTR will be able to let you know where to find the LDT calender which has the contact details for each I thiink.

TTR · Powermonger!!

LONG DISTANCE TRIALS AND RALLIES - DIRECTORY OF EVENTS - for motorcycles

Harty · Devon's Best

RE: trials and tribulations

V Twin Funster · Expert

Harty wrote:

Entries for the Exeter Trial have already started

http://www.themotorcyclingclub.org.uk/documents/2011ex_entrypack.pdf

That works out as an expensive weekend confuse

. Lots to fill out on the form as well. Has anyone done it? Do you do the whole thing or just a section? How much is byways?

Craig

devondan · Champion

Ive done the Lands end, had 2 DNSs for the Exeter! This is an overnight trial in the middle of winter, about 2-300 miles pretty much non stop (some enforced bacon butty stops!) may be 20 off road sections, but these can be tricky, alot in the dark, and involve restarting half way up on some. Its as much a trial of your own stamina and ability to follow directions when cold and tired. Dont ask me why but they are addictive! Its worth going just to watch the insane ride the sidecar outfits!

Dan

Pete · Devon's Best

When the Exeter Trial goes up 191-088 about one in ten of the cars will make the hill,whereas only about 10% of the bikes fail.An audience of up to one ot two hundred people perched in and on the hedgerows give an unbelievable atmosphere.I had no idea there was any such thing until I came across it one day out riding alone,never been nervous about this hill untill I had such a big audience.Worth spending a few hours on a winter saturday morning to see this spectacle played out.I particularly enjoyed seeing a BMW 5 Series driven up at very high speed.A VW rolled backwards once,and an Anglia Estate was the only car up one year.Many Morgans and other hand built,historic or one off machinery are used.Sidecars add another dimension.
Quite a number of our favourites are used regularly(can you picture cars going up the piggery?) but 088 is the spectators favourite,well worth seeing if you don't enter.

potus · Clubman A

The Exeter is a great event, just be prepared for a long COLD night......plenty of road work but great sections in between to keep you on yer toe's

As Dan says, great atmosphere on these MCC events but my favourite is the Lands End, sunrise at Widemouth bay is fab............