Welsh adventure
Yamaha’s Ténéré Experience offers a day (or two) of extraordinary scenery, challenging riding and good company. In Wales.
Talk about diversification. The Jones’ family farm near Llanidloes, Wales is a perfect example of mixed agriculture. 700 sheep, 14 Yamaha Ténéré 700s and an assortment of more serious offroad two wheelers. This has been home to Yamaha’s Offroad Experience since 1984, when Geraint Jones, former ISDE gold medallist and British Enduro champion, started to branch out from hill farming. It’s a perfect environment for riding bikes, in the midst of some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK, and right next door to Hafren Forest. Here there are 10,000 acres of woodland, with a mix of tight trails and gravel tracks, that appears custom made for adventure bikes. And there are amazing green lanes and winding tarmac in these parts too. The Ténéré Experience started in 2010, but the recent arrival of a fleet of new Ténéré 700s has broadened the appeal. ‘We’ve had a lot more interest with the Ténéré 700,’ admits Dylan Jones, who now runs the motorcycle side of the family business. ‘A lot of people want to try one offroad before they buy, and a lot of people who have one want to come and ride someone else’s on dirt.’ Which is understandable, although the presence of mirrors and plastic numberplates on the bikes we rode suggests they aren’t expecting the bikes to get dropped often. Tyres are trail focused Dunlop D606s and standard and low seat bikes are available to ride.
The Jones team offer a variety of one and two day events, which are as much about enjoying the ride as they are about learning skills. Groups of ten punters ride with two instructors. ‘Usually we spend the first morning in the forest, and we’ll start with some basic skills: body position; correct use of brakes and how to do uphills and downhills.’ Explains Dylan. ‘In the afternoon we’ll go for a decent ride on some green lanes, forest tracks and a bit of tarmac, with a bit more coaching along the way.’
Our one day visit comprised a morning in the forest working on basic skills with Rowan Jones, when our coaching was compromised by messing around for a photographer, a ride to the pub for lunch (which is on the usual agenda) followed by a fantastic trail ride up the Elan Valley, along green lanes and forest tracks before returning to base, elated, but slightly achy. Normally this amazing Elan Valley ride, with scenic stops at the three reservoir dams would be part of the two day offering. As someone muttered; ‘This really is some kind of biking Nirvana.’ And it is. The scenery is beautiful, the roads are winding and the trails are enjoyably long.
If you need an excuse to visit Wales this could be it. However, COVID19 has caused chaos with the original schedule for the year, which means there aren’t many slots available for the rest of 2020. Check for cancellations, or book early for 2021.
º Fancy a go? One day courses £260, two days are £460. There is also a one day Adventure Skills course which is fully focused on developing riding skills. Yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk or 01686413324
‘The scenery is beautiful, the roads are winding and the trails are long’