This section of our website features a recent ride report from our members, updated monthly. Links to older reports can be found at the bottom of the page.
Dartmoor Explore for Newbies and Novices.
Words and pictures by Dave "Xtriple" Towers
Date: 28th November 2009
Riders: 7
L to R: Steve (Suzuki DR350), Mike (KMX), Lorn (Serow), Dave (WR450), Neil (Suzuki DR-Z400), Paul (CCM230), Andy (Honda CRF230)
A plan was afoot to once more try and complete the Dartmoor N-and-N run - I didn't hold out much hope..... We met at 09.30 to brilliant blue skies and zero wind - a perfect day, and for once, we were actually away by 9.45. On to the first lane 202-050 which is a slightly tricky entrance from a main road, but apart from the idiot run leader stopping too early into the lane to make sure everyone made the entrance, there were no problems with this one. On to 202-048 and 049 where again everyone seemed to enjoy the copious amounts of mud and gloop, much sliding around and vain attempts at chucking bikes at the scenery - though no one managed it! The person having the most fun was...... Me! 10 weeks since I last rode the WR and since then it had acquired a Rekluse clutch, hand operated rear brake and had serious work done on the front forks to soften them up (thanks to Captain Paul (Devon TRF member) for the advice) and it was all working well, but man, I'd forgotten how hard enduro bike seats are!
202-007 was the first of the near drownings - there's a stream halfway along and it was deep - so deep that Lorn's Serow had to be manhandled over the little bridge as it would have drowned quite happily. Andy's CRF had a cough and splutter midway through and I had hopes for a spot of trouting (Devon TRF speak for toppling over in water) but the useless git let me down. Again! 202-006 and then over to Ilsington, where my charges had a minor mutiny and refused to do a nice climb or the slatey one opposite, so it was onwards via 191-103, 101,and 195.
191-075 saw our first bit of wildlife when Neil got a bit too close to Lorn when she did one of her random slowing down manoeuvres (always takes me by surprise as well) and fell off trying to avoid her:
Then it was out to the ford on 191-069 where Mike and I went through, though I wished I hadn't. While I didn't actually fall off, the current was so strong it pushed me into the stepping stones and we had a "moment". The rest jibbed out and mutinied for the second time, though Lorn was willing to give it a go but I stopped her.
We took a trip out to 191-068 where a woman had incorrectly accused us of scaring the horses, even though we'd all turned our bikes off and stopped quite a way back. Quite rightly, another lady - actually on horseback - pointed out to the objector that it was a legal byway and we had every right to be there, for which we thanked her politely and trickled past in best TRF manner, following our Code of Conduct. 191-073 followed, then onto to The Hound of the Basket Meals for a coffee and a Mars Bar, though most of the others sensibly had burgers. At this point it was still sunny, so it was on to 083, 084 then 082 where it all went a bit Pete Tong..... I got to the end of the lane (crossing yet another deep ford with rocks hidden in the depths) when Lorn thundered up to say that Steve had got a puncture. We tried a can of Holts finest, but it malfunctioned somewhat and didn't work. Now, we had a tube and a big spanner to get the wheel out, but no levers or pump. Mike declared that he could change the tube using spanners and so he did! Then, showing the resourcefulness of youth, he stopped a guy in a Landrover and blagged an electric tyre pump from him - total time to change tube and get back on the lane = 35 minutes! Not bad for no tyre levers. So, warning everyone of the lovely lanes hidden dangers, we set off again. Me and Mike got through and sat and watched as I felt sure someone would get wet; Lorn first, and she sailed through, then Neil went and stopped in a hurry, went over the handlebars and face first into the water! Poor bloke got himself upright, got the bike and pushed it out, only to discover that his rear brake lever had hit a rock and gone straight through the clutch casing. Game over. We pushed the bike to the end of the lane where Neil, who couldn't get a mobile signal, tapped up the chap at the far end to use his 'phone. He came out ten minutes later to say all sorted, he had a cuppa in the making and that the RAC were on the way, and told us to continue our ride. By now it was persisting it down with a vengeance, so we did 086, 085, 096, 042, and 041, then decided to quit and make a run for Tremletts and get a coffee out of the machine. We all said our goodbyes and went off our seperate ways. A good day out until Neil's mishap, with good company and some brilliant lanes and scenery.
