After really enjoying this event last year on my tod, I managed to pursuade a couple of mates (with a van) to come along, and boy are they glad they did!
We left just after 7, having loaded the bikes (690R, CRF250 & XR280) the night before, and arrived just after 9 in the pub car park, with a tempterature of -2 degrees...
Its a squeeze but they fitted!
Bacon rolls and coffee all round, we learnt it was it's 15th year, and 193 of us had signed up! We met with a ride leader, had a few laughs then headed off into the cold...
Not a mile had passed and we found some black ice, which the XR decided to cover horizontally! All was fine, so we carried onto the greasy lanes west of Andover, before hitting the plains. I should mention, there was 11 in our group to start, but that wasnt to last. After a quick photo stop by Stonehenge, on a lane that is now under threat as Heritage England want it closed to stop people looking at their stones for free, we headed down "Pig Lane".
Now, our intrepid leader had a habit of picking good flowing lines, and knew the area pretty well, so when there was a puddle to navigate, and he chooses to avoid, it, it makes sense to do the same, regardless of how small it looked, not follow him halfway along the ridge, then let the front wheel wash out, and dive headfirst straight into said puddle. Turn out it wasn't more than 18" deep any way! A few tools later, the 4" bar risers were straight again, dry gloves were on, but the helmet was still ice cold and wet.
Mmm, dry gloves!
Hour or so later, we were at the friendly John Deer dealership, with some much needed hot pasties, soup and chocolate (all included in the entry, as was the breakfast).
After lunch, we were down to 9, and as the ruts got longer, and deeper, sure enough more of our group started to struggle. Matey on the XR280 (which was being run in after a rebore) cross rutted in the snow (yes, we rode many snow filled ruts) and snapped his front mudguard off. Therefore, a trailside McGiver special was crafted, pic below, which lasted very well, and kept his vision clear, until he fell off, again, and again, and then he broke it.
With the light failing, he decided to head back on the black stuff to the pub for a pint.
Now we were 4, and we had the last 8 or so miles to cover in the dark, great fun on the greasy muddy lanes again, but hard working dragging the 690 under a fallen tree, turning round was not an option!
Once back, bikes loaded, time for a quick pint with the others in the pub, details were exhanged, aas were invites to Devon and Wiltshire.
Cracking days riding again, can't recomend this day out enough, good company and good laughs.
-- Edited by KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen on Wednesday 3rd of January 2018 03:23:04 PM
