The Great Escape
A rugged road trip requires tough bikes and new skills. Welcome to the addictive world of trail riding...
CLIMBING A STEEP, rocky track near Lake Coniston perfectly highlights the challenge and appeal of trail riding. As the gradient steepens and rocks grow in size, I have to call on all my off-road experience to keep going.
Equipped with a very capable KTM 350 EXC-F enduro bike, and the all-important can-do attitude, getting to the top isn’t in doubt… until my talent runs out! Use of brawn rather than brain prevents me from planning the best route over the rocks and roots, so I end up wheel-spinning to a halt and toppling sideways.
With a bit of heaving I eventually get the KTM back on its wheels. Then after lining things up for a second attempt, I successfully power up to the summit, whooping with jubilant delight as I arrive there. It has been tough, but well worth the drama.
“Once it clicks, you’ll be reading the terrain almost instinctively”
Stopping for a post-climb chinwag with the four other riders in my group brings the usual banter, much of it at my expense. There’s a real sense of camaraderie among trail riders but what you need most when things go awry is a sense of humour. Plenty of other qualities are obligatory. Though riding on the rough stuff is hugely rewarding, any sense of achievement has to be earned. Getting wet and dirty to some degree is a given. Apart from being pretty knackering, there are days when fails and falls can start to feel a bit much. But occasional frustration is all part of trail riding’s rich tapestry. Soon, you become determined, philosophical and patient. Despite doubting the point of it all at times, you’re ultimately reminded of its worth. Thousands of trail riders who head out each weekend are proof of this. Besides, if it was easy it’d be far less of an adventure. With the ribbing over, we ride back down over rocks. It takes as many skills to descend trails as to get up them and riding off-road can be very exacting. Mud, potholes, ruts, tree roots, deep water, cambers… loads of things can make instant and significant demands of bike and rider. And trails can alter in challenge hugely as the weather changes. Maintaining composure needs understanding and technique – and it takes time to learn all the tricks. Even the very best and most experienced trail riders will admit they never stop learning.
Stuff like riding standing up on a bike that’s constantly moving around beneath you will feel alien to begin with, but eventually you’ll relax and start to master correct body position, weight distribution, fine throttle and clutch control, momentum and other subtleties that dictate the difference between going well and not going at all. When this clicks, the thrill from ‘getting it right’ is immense. What may once have looked totally impossible can subsequently be tackled with ease. It can take some time to download the off-road biking programme to your brain, but when it’s fully installed you’ll be able to read the terrain and deal with it almost instinctively. Better still, understanding how to stay in control when adhesion is exceeded, how to read terrain and ride smoothly all transfer well to road riding.
Of course, as you get good you can explore new places, far and wide. Your character will be tested when you start, but it’s worth persevering because the reward is huge pride and contentment – as we all experienced at the end of our 80-mile adventure around the Lake District.
Here are our tips for getting started.
1 Where to learn
There’s no point buying a bike and loads of kit until you decide whether off-roading suits you. Rather than shelling out on everything you’ll need, start by going to a school that will provide all the riding kit, machinery and know-how. Enduro schools are preferable to motocross ones as the terrain will be less challenging. You’ll get tuition, wear out someone else’s bike, and get a real feel for the pleasure of it all without having to invest heavily or commit yourself too much.
If you do decide to take the plunge and buy your own bike, consider spending time riding with a trail-riding guide. This can be helpful even if you started out at a few schools. Their expertise and knowledge of a particular area will help you have a great day out. They can also adjust routes to suit your ability and fatigue level.
2 The kit
Durable two-piece breathable textile kit is the best choice for trail riding. Top brand off-road gear can make life a lot more comfortable – it’s certainly more likely to keep you dry. But it’s pricey and can lead a very hard life, running the risk of being damaged on stuff like sharp rocks, barbed wire, or hot exhausts. Much cheaper stuff is available from places like army-surplus stores.
Knee and elbow armour is a must, as is a pair of sturdy off-road boots. Chest and back protectors are worthwhile, though bear in mind you can overheat more readily with these. Undersuits can help to regulate your temperature. Off-road helmets allow a better passage of air, helping you stay cooler and breathe more easily, and their peaks can stop mud flying into the aperture. Though falling off isn’t uncommon, off-road crashes rarely result in the sort of injury or damage road accidents typically produce.
3 The TRF
The Trail Riders’ Fellowship is well worth joining. For the £45 annual fee you’ll help fund its efforts to keep rights of way open. The organisation can also offer plenty of helpful advice through its clubs, and you can find others to ride and socialise with. Find out more at www.trf.org.uk
4 Where to ride
You can’t simply head out into the countryside and ride anywhere you fancy (more’s the pity). You’re only permitted to ride on approved byways - not footpaths or bridleways - and then only on a motorcycle that’s taxed and insured. Think of trails as green roads where the usual rules of the highway still apply.
Finding legal routes isn’t always easy as their status can be altered and sections occasionally restricted. Byways are marked on OS maps, though liaising with the local branch of the Trail Riders’ Federation (see above left) helps to bring you right up to date, as does consulting the Trailwise website (www.trailwise.org.uk). There are penalties for riding illegally, with police in some of the more popular areas being especially vigilant. Some walkers don’t see eye-to-eye with trail riders. Avoid confrontations. As long as you’re legal there’s nothing to worry about.
“Full-sized plastic numberplates soon break in a tumble”
5 The bikes
In your early days, buying something cheap and cheerful makes sense. An older trail bike like a Yamaha XT350, Suzuki DR-Z400 or DR350, Honda XR250 or 400 will serve you well. All can be had for around £1250 or less. However, only the Suzukis have electric starts – a boon after a fall. Bikes at this budget might be a bit battered, but provided they’re mechanically sound they’ll be good to go.
Spending around £2500 increases your choice considerably and you can look at more focused enduro machinery. These are lighter bikes, and very capable at traversing the countryside. However, issues like short service intervals (though these can be extended with gentle trail use rather than the competition they’re designed for), tall seat heights, and poor tank ranges can be less convenient. KTM dominate the market and either a 250 or 400 EXC-F is a good buy. A Honda CRF250 is also worth a look. Avoid stuff that’s been raced, or bigger 450/500cc models, as their weight and extra pace can be tiring and more difficult to manage.
If you’re prepared to spend £3000 or more you can get newer, even more capable machinery. It still makes sense to limit yourself to smaller, lighter bikes until you’ve gained more experience. More road-biased adventure-style bikes offer lots of versatility and, fitted with good dual-purpose tyres, can perform surprisingly well. But larger and heavier bikes like the Yamaha XT660X, BMW G650X, or Suzuki V-strom 650 can be more of a handful. Unless the trails you’ve chosen are easier to navigate, the riding might be too challenging. Big bikes like a BMW F800 or R1200GS, Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré, KTM 990 Adventure, or Honda Africa Twin have great off-road potential… but they’re bikes to aspire to, not to start trail riding on. They’re too heavy and you’ll incur expensive damage when you (inevitably) slip off them.
6 Top tips
Take your time and limit your ambition. Taking on too much too soon can be daunting. Riding as often as you can will help to build experience, ability, enjoyment and bike fitness. Don’t ride alone Simple-to-sort breakdowns or injuries can become much more difficult to deal with if you’re by yourself. Always take some spares and tools to sort breakages. A flexible numberplate is a good idea: full-sized plastic plates soon break, even in low-speed tumbles. Carrying water is essential. Energy snacks will prove useful, too. Plan your time Bike and kit maintenance, plus travelling to the best riding areas, can be time-consuming. Consider buying a van or trailer. Some trails can be far from home and your bike won’t always be suitable for the longer road runs to get to them.
7 Overcoming problems
Preventative maintenance helps to avoid mechanical or electrical woes out on the trails. Riding off-road can accelerate wear on tyres, chains, sprockets, fork seals, wheel and head bearings – so check their condition regularly. Avoid riding through deep water – at best it’ll just stop your engine running, at worst it’ll cause a hydraulic lock and badly damage it.
Punctures aren’t uncommon; take tools and spares to deal with them. Practice fixing them in your garage so it’s second-nature. Falls can break levers, so take spares or fit hand guards. Engine bash plates are a sensible fit, too, if you expect to ride over rocks a lot.