This site has been configured for viewing at a minimum
of 1024 x 768 resolution. Please press "F11" if viewing at lesser
resolutions Please use the buttons
above or the "hot links" at the bottom of the page to navigate around our
website
Autumn Teign
to Tamar Trail Ride 11th & 12th October '08 Click Here
If you are receiving a paper copy of the monthly Devon
Group Newsletter and you could manage with an electronic copy via e-mail or the
Members Area of this website would you please contact our Secretary via the
Contact Us page. Postage prices have escalated beyond what is reasonable and we
shall shortly introduce a charge for anyone requiring a "hard copy" via the
Royal Mail!
Mission Statement
We are here to.....
Encourage the use of the green
lanes in Devon in a responsible and sustainable manner
Aid and encourage, by example,
the novice rider in improving their green lane riding skills
Research and preserve the Devon
rights of way and our legal right to use them
Assist the Devon Group Members
to find the legal routes to ride
Provide a club for like-minded
motorcyclists
Follow the Code of Conduct laid
down by the National
TRF
Enjoy ourselves pursuing the
fabulous pastime of Green Laning on suitable motorbikes
What you get for your money when you register with the
Devon Group
Mapping of the 1,167
legal green lanes in Devon. Probably the most important item we can give you
"Free of Charge"*. We produce Memory Map overlays (you will need to buy Memory
Map software) and Google Earth Overlays (Google Earth is a free download) which
you can, as a Devon Member of the TRF, request to be e-mailed to you. These are
updated frequently and will show you where the legal to use routes are in
Devon.
The opportunity to go out riding
with experienced Run Leaders - we have frequent runs in all areas of Devon and
sometimes we go "abroad " and lead runs into neighbouring counties.
Technical assistance - whether
it's for your bike or your computer we have the breadth of knowledge within our
existing membership to help you.
Discounted Parts and
Accessories from our supporting Dealers.
Monthly meetings (not
compulsory) where you can meet and greet fellow members.
*If you are
a TRF member but not registered with Devon the mapping overlays are available
for £25. Contact the webmaster through the Contact Us page
Instructions for using the Website and the New Forum can be found
on the New Forum which you can read WITHOUT registering!
J.D.Racing have agreed special discounts to Devon TRF
Members
"If you get the club member to show his/her membership card in the
shop, or name over the phone, discounts would include 10% on clothing, oils and
accesories and MT43 trials tyres at cost price which is £36.00 inc
vat" 9th Dec '07The price for the MT43's rose
this week to £36 which is attributable to the rising cost of
oil! Quote from Rob
Deacon For details of how to find their
shop please go to the links page
Greenlane Motorcycles have agreed special discounts to
Devon TRF Members
15% across the board on Service, Accessories, Spares, Clothing,
Helmets, etc., on production of a valid TRF Membership card. For details of how to find their shop please go to the
links page
What is Trail Riding?
Trail riding is motorcycle touring, similar in
the nature to pony trekking where the objective of the day is to enjoy the
country side via historic and almost forgotten highways, known as 'Green
lanes'. Trail riding allows people to get into
the far reaches of the countryside away from traffic and its consequent
dangers. It is a superb therapy for the stress of everyday living outside of
the claustrophobic constraints of a car. Because all these routes are legally carriageways, we make sure
that our machines are legal too, with number plates, silencers, tax and
insurance, just like any other road machine. The only difference is that our
models are usually chosen for lightness and simplicity, and kitted out for
rough going rather than motorway use!
What are 'Green Lanes'?
"Green lanes" is the name applied to minor
unsurfaced roads, an often neglected part of our network of routes.
When first invented over 100 years ago, all
motorcycles and cars had to drive on roads with unsealed surfaces. There are
green lanes all over Britain - some are historical transit routes, others might
have just been lanes to the mill or the pub. Many are very old and evidence of
their use as public carriageways can be found in historical documents. TRF
members research on the ground and into the archives to identify old roads and
hidden rights of way. The legal protections (against ploughing, tipping and
other abuses) apply to all carriageways and such protection is enhanced through
TRF members recording and using the carriageways.
What bike to use?
A 'learner-restricted' trail bike is often competent
enough with a light rider; a 500+cc trail bike may be fine on hard rocky
tracks, but it will be more difficult to handle on the varying surfaces
encountered.
Above all your bike should be as quiet as
possible. The vast majority of other country users are tolerant of quiet,
sensibly ridden bikes sharing appropriate Rights of Way. One noisy, thoughtless
rider can do untold damage to the image of the overwhelming majority of
responsible riders. Sensible throttle use can keep most motorcycles exhaust
noise down to an acceptable limit.
Green Roads are subject to the same laws as all roads
- the bike must be fully road-legal. Any trail rider must: * have a valid motorcycle rider's licence; * display a current road vehicle licence (tax disc);
* have a valid MoT certificate of
road-worthiness; * have valid
standard road-use insurance for the motorcycle; * wear a helmet.
For further reading of Trail Riding abroad please
Click Here to download a .pdf
file of Brian Sussex's Toro Trail '07. It will open in a new
window.
