I nearly dropped the bike twice on the way to red post pootling along Farthing lane at 08:45 which was all black ice and I nearly did the splits staying upright when a speeding 4x4 looked like it was intent on making road kill of me
Got to Redpost signed on, set off and soon shot across more black ice and the end of one of the first few lanes staying up by sheer luck.
Missed the sharp right lane before Berry Pomeroy (fear of ice) then on returning seeing plenty of wet mud and MT43 tracks felt comfortable opening the throttle a little on the basis of I need to get into this. Next thing i new the bike is sliding down the mud ahead of me, i'm splatting headlong though puddles and wondering quite where I'm going to stop.
Just a busted number plate for the orange beasty a twisted shoulder, minor cuts to hand a muddy visor and lost of cold n wet bits for me plus a feeling of wtf happened? Couple of guys stopped to ask if okay (thanks fellas) to which I responded just pride dented...Got to the end of that lane (over obviously thick ice) and decided I'm a woossy as I was feeling shaky and it wasn't due to my frozen wet hands.
So no number plate, freezing digits, mangled shoulder and shattered confidence and only half an hour into the day .... I summoned up my courage, focused manfully on yonder horizon and I quit. Simples.
This was good day to make a steak and kidney pudding broiling the shin of beef I bought yesterday in a warm kitchen for 4 hours.
Anyone else quit before section 1? Do i get the biggest wooss award?
-- Edited by PeterBc on Sunday 5th of December 2010 05:53:47 PM
-- Edited by PeterBc on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 09:09:09 AM
may of mentioned already did the Bristal long distance trial some years ago we started with black ice no snow but god it was cold, folks going down left right centre i finished on my converted cr250 husq with a broken kick start i was popular that day with amount of push starts i had ? only fell off once that day in a deep muddy freezing puddle near the end thank goodness
hope your not to badly battered we finished the event with one on road crash black ice and two in lanes on ice one being me no damage was suffered to bikes or riders was challenging out there thats for sure probably had my worst score ever but its the taking part that counts so ive been told
Discretion is the better part of valour - the idea is to enjoy yourself and if you were beating up yourself and the KTM that early in the day then you did the right thing
Good on you for getting your name down and getting out there, even if it was short lived. Had a mare of a time myself, not looking forward to the results
We had a 3-man entry (Longman, Clayton and I) but the other two were out due to previous medical probs and I was completely cream-crackered due to work overload so decided to rest and go and watch the hillclimb at Penny's Wood.
Had brand new HD camera in pocket ready to capture the action. Didn't want to chance the green lanes on my tod so decided to not wear knee or body armour so I wouldn't be tempted
Bad move.......
Pootled along Farthing Lane but tarmac seemed to have grip. Then got to near the end of the lane and saw it open out in front so sped up to about 40mph. Obviously the front tyre didsn't want to grip even at 3 degrees off vertical as I gently tried to negotiate a slight curve the front wheel got taken away before I could blink. Went down hard on my right knee, elbow and side.......right on the pocket that contained the £100 camera
Ripped the pocket off my trousers and bent my door keys. Big hole in troosers and funny shaped knee.
Managed to pick the bike up - no damage apart from scuffed handguards but the sight of the footpegs giving off sparks whilst it was sliding along in front of me will stay with me for a while!
Lesson learned - NEVER ride without body armour
Spoke to several guys there, most of whom had either crashed or witnessed others doing so - I would imagine there would be a great of peeps not completing the course and that Torbay Hospital would have been busy today.
Well done to all who managed even the start, let alone complete it.
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
Think I was caught off-guard as the first part as far as Hazelwood Farm was fine. Went dead slow along there as. like Peter, I was faced with an oncoming 4X4 going a tad quick and had to take evasive action.
Should have went there via the muddy lanes - came back that way with no probs.
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
Top Pics fella. that trailer section at Wheeldon was as slippery as a slippy thing set to maximum slipperyness "quote un quote" lol Note that ktms have little steering lock
-- Edited by Biff on Monday 6th of December 2010 09:57:21 PM
How come when your at home kcked back in the dry and warmth sitting in your comfy sick bed u say to yourself i could do that section but in the real world thats prob you picking yourself up after another failed attempt at emulating david knight ? just need to drink more red bull well done to having a go everyone looked cold ?
that little section in the corner of some farmers field ive never remot cleaned it best? paddled /norm end up pushing out of it its a world of heart those stones for engine cases ?????
-- Edited by Lost on Wednesday 8th of December 2010 11:14:47 AM
The story behind this is that Brownie got himself a LARGE burger... procedded to chomp it up, ate 3/4 of it and then went to the old lady in the van, told her (descretly) it was cold...so he got another one..
Thats why he is looking so happy with himself!!!!
Was a good day. Glad i done it. Cheers to both Brownie and Pete for letting me follow them
And i did have one fall....however the ice did stop the water floating into my boots...
Roll on next year
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Feath's
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character......give him power".....Abraham Lincoln
You only get the burger if you win! The Moor to sea was a different kettle of fish,Geared at trial riders/bikes, the ten tours was a walk in the park in comparison