Me and Heather were about to sign up for Ray's run on Sunday, but got a call from my brother -in-law Tiff......he'd just picked up a dr250 and wanted a shake down run on it.
He'd been out with me on Heathers' AJP and afterwards decided that after 34 years since last going off road ,now was the time to put it right !!
So we set off sunday on our trusted circuit..all 191's...81,77,76,75 and the N.Bovey loop and across to Widecombe for tea and a roll.
Tiff was having a few problems with a loose clutch and in all honesty his rear tyre was dubious but hey ho
I mentioned that I'd like to try 88 ,but downhill only..as we'd never done it and just to see what it's like.
All agreed and and when we'd finished the Tipleyhill loop we set off to find 88.
Ended up at tipleyhill again and had to explain how I couldn't find it. After a roll up and butchers at map, we couldn't start H's bike and ended up bumping her down the hill, then Tiffs clutch needed 15 minutes fiddlin'.
Got to bottom of 105 and I asked should we go home or have one more go at finding top of 88....maybe we should've gone 'ome?
Well, I found the entrance and as normal H went first with Tiff in middle and me at the rear.
As turned the corner I saw H had made it all the way up,(well impressed!), but Tiff was involved in a crab like movement, which gave me a gap through.....what a hoot !!!
I did the proper thing and stopped to laugh at the next 3 attempts he made...in the end the bike refused to kick start so he waited at the bottom for me and H to do 105 and 87.... I'm sure without the slick tyre he had on he would have made it.
In hindsight I'm so glad we didn't start at the end I originally wanted..its clearly better not knowing sometimes !!!
There are some tricky steep lanes that you'd probably not want to go downhill on - as far more difficult that going up. Simms in the wet is easy to ascend, but sketchy as going down. Same with Devil Steps (I once got trapped under my bike in the gorge half way down - and Geoff had to rescue me).
Tally-Ho isnt the best fun going down in the wet either.
So don't think going down is going to be the easiest way to assess a new steep lane & sometimes once you're committed its often hard to turn back.
