Calling all Yorkshire folk... or even if you're not..

[fewtrees]

Calling all Yorkshire folk, or even if your not.

I have a run mapped out around the Dales and it's a good 'un. Some off-road stuff, zoom through a farm, over the moors and see the best roads in the Dales. Really, it took me ages to find the route..

I was thinking of cutting it down a bit and keeping the best bits and wanted to sort out a Sunday ride.

I expect we'd start off at about 10:30 and lunch at 1:00pm at a good pub. Finishing up at about 4:00pm for the ride home.

If you want a Sunday ride out, let me know by replying to this topic and I'll get one sorted in the next 3-4 weeks..

[stueydo]

Sorry, im not a yorkshire lad, but would love a sunday ride out. I am based in London, but am occasionally in Nottingham, so if anyone else is up for it, that would be great.

Cheers.

P.S. I don't know any decent routes down this way.

[xrv_jim]

Oh go on then!

[Surajit]

It sounds very very exciting - is there any problem with me bringing my family along...........

[DaveS]

Probably not if they're all on Africa Twins!

[IanS]

Hope Transalps can come along as I live on the edge of the Dales

Ian :D

[fewtrees]

Everyone welcome.. Transalps, Varadero's, AT's.. whatever.. Even Kawazakis...

[Surajit]

Oh thank you Mr Fewtrees thank you for your invitation - my Africa twins will be there and I can bring my Royal Enfield 350 with Mrs Surajit on the pillion - it will be a wonderful day out.

[simplysie]

Sounds like a goer to me if i can get some new tyres fitted by then, any idea where abouts you will start from???

Stuey do i will be coming up through Nottingham if you fancy meeting up on route.

Sie

[xrv_jim]

Oh thank you Mr Fewtrees thank you for your invitation - my Africa twins will be there and I can bring my Royal Enfield 350 with Mrs Surajit on the pillion - it will be a wonderful day out.

Surajit. Please organise a ride-out in India. What's taking you so long? We'll all come along you know!

[fewtrees]

We'd start off in Malham, finish up in Kettlewell. There are a number of tea shops and pubs along the way.. If you look on the map they aren't too far apart.. But we won't be going in a straight line ;-)

I'm in Leeds so if you are coming up the M1 let me know and I'll be able to take you to the start..

[garry]

Any chance before June 13th as I'm having surgery on shoulder and have been told I'll be off my bike for at least 2 months .also............ok green laning but would struggle with anything to extreme c/o shoulder can't pick me bike back up.

[fewtrees]

How about June 12th? Sounds like a good date to me.. Plenty of time to get things organised!

June 12th - 10:30am.. Stick it in your diaries..

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=572

[rob4]

really wish I could join you but I'm gunna be stuck in Jersey till the end of July :(

[garry]

Bike being serviced etc. this week so providing no problems I'll be there.

[fewtrees]

May have a problem. I dropped by bike off a 2ft ledge onto a rocky path. It landed on the rh fairing first and broke quite a few bits.. I'll keep you posted and will have a definite yes or no next Monday.

If anyone has a:

RH Front fairing
Front headlamp cowl fairing
Front brake master cylinder
Front Brake lever
RH mirror
Clocks/indicator support frame

The colour code is NH1..

Then I'd be very grateful to talk cash..

Plus, I need to let you know that the ride does include an off-road section that is quite challenging. If consensus agrees to miss that bit, then OK. We could all decide that on the day.. The above damage BTW was done on a different off-road route and was purely down to me making the wrong decision..

[xrv_jim]

Plus, I need to let you know that the ride does include an off-road section that is quite challenging. If consensus agrees to miss that bit, then OK. We could all decide that on the day...

I did a bit of the intended route on Sunday with fewtrees and it's great fun. I dropped the AT once (more like layed the bike down really) in a rutty bit but other than that it's fine.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=583

still upright at this stage

Well...apart from the rocky steps at the beginning which require firm handling.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=580
fewtrees in off-road action

Oh, and did I mention the ruts?

And the loose packed gravel 'repairs.

The slippery grass?

Ah, and then there's the muddy puddles.

Actually, even if you don't do the off-road bit the roads and scenery are stunning. However, the off-road bit is the icing on the cake...after all you bought an AT/TA...you really want to know it'll do the business on the trail.

[fewtrees]

...There's an alternative ending route to the off-road section that doesn't have the ruts... and is a lot easier..

[DaveS]

Na na na na na..... Us Southerners have our own ride out organised now.

[xrv_jim]

Na na na na na..... Us Southerners have our own ride out organised now.

Well Dave, when you've got your tyres dusty on some softy southerners ride-out, you might want try out something a little more challenging up north :wink:

[DaveS]

Bah! You always have to have the last word... and the best rideouts. :mrgreen:

[garry]

Don't know if my tyres will manage mud... plus might have camping gear with me ....ahhh well

[DaveS]

What's the worst that can happen!?

[fewtrees]

All the bits have arrived so I should be back on the road for Sunday.. So the run is still on.. As far as I know...

Stueydo
xrv_jim
IanS
SimplySie
Garry

Are coming.. I'll PM you with a mobile number you can use to let me know otherwise..

Anyone else?

[simplysie]

Sorry but i am going to have to bow out of this one, have new tyres and a centre stand to fit this weekend, wish me luck cos i really am going to need it,

Anyone local who likes getting there hands dirty wanna help, i can supply tea, coffee, alcohol or any other addictive substance to help pass the time :lol:

Sie

[squirrel]

Bugger not having my licence yet, can i come on my Mountain Bike :) i reakon i can keep up!!!! lol

[DaveS]

A bit of rope and I'm sure someone can tow you. :mrgreen:

[fewtrees]

Weather is set for a cool day 13'C with sunny intervals.. There won't have been rain (but I'm sure Jim will find the biggest puddle) in the area so off-road won't be muddy.. Please bring a punture repair kit and possibly a flask of tea.. If you like scenery then definitely bring a camera!

You'll need at least 75miles of fuel minimum at the start and there's a petrol station in Kettlewell (That we ride through) but I'm not sure if it's open on Sunday.. I'm sure there'll be another along the way.. The off-roading will soak up more juice, but a full tank will be heavy....

[squirrel]

A bit of rope and I'm sure someone can tow you. :mrgreen:

hehe cool, I'll sort out my life insurance then for the weekend :)

[fewtrees]

We had the run!!!

Started off nice and sunny in Malham where we congregated in the Lister Arms Car Park. The run was small with only 3 of us there but that didn't spoil what was another challenging experience..

Before I tell you about the rest, I just want to say "Top Man!" to IanS whom, with little experience tackled a route that has us more experienced riders apprehensive, so read on and you'll understand why..

After Malham, the route immediately ascends along a 1 in 4 up towards Malham Tarn. The roads are narrow, windy and steep with dry stone walls either side. After only a few minutes the view is remarkable, with visibility easily over 10 miles and you can see an entire valley: an easy reward for such a short introduction on this route! We pass Malham Tarn giving way to sheep and walkers and the first of many gates. I open the gate and the last person through hops off their bike and allows me through to close the gate behind me. From Malham Tarn we ride along a ridge high above a valley, the view is fantastic and you begin to feel your getting out into real countryside. The pace is moderate to slow as nobody here wants to miss the scenery! Perhaps that's one thing to mention here, this route is quite short, only 70 miles or so but has to be ridden at a slow pace otherwise you miss the best bits...

The high valley road descends into Arncliffe a small village that I haven't really explored. We take a quick left and over the bridge to a road that runs parallel with the river. The river is picturesque and Jim has seen trout feeding off the midges that hover above the surface in the past. Today, it's a bit cooler so we press on.

The first major section of road takes us through Kettlewell. Kettlewell is a tourist attraction and as soon as the sun comes out it's flooded with visitors along with their cars. This is probably the worst part, dealing with traffic that isn't used to narrow lanes - how many times has your helmet heard you say "You can get a bloody bus through there!". The road takes us through Starbotton and onwards to Buckden. There's a good cafe here that serves a mean bacon and egg sandwich and cuppa. We get fuelled up, (the bikes will have to wait for that) and ready to tackle the first off-road section.

We draw off the tarmac onto a rock and dirt track. The gate is closed so our routine of passing through gates works efficiently and we're now all taking a leisurely ride along the track. This short introduction leads you into a false sense of security. In the distance you see the track wind up a hill and it all looks manageable, nothing to rattle nerves, not just yet anyway..

I take the lead with Ian behind and Jim last. With knowledge of what is coming up next, I stop short of the first tricky bit as the track begins to look more akin to a lunar landscape than a well travelled Dales track. I suggest we all get off the bikes and walk this section, taking note of a clear line we can use to thread through the difficulties. It's not that easy, there isn't a clear route and the best path will still require some good balance and control. I'm apprehensive and I can't imagine what Ian is thinking but I reckon it contained profanities! Jim on the other hand decides to go first, he want's to take shots of us hoofing up the hill. Yeah, right!

......to be continued...

[xrv_jim]

I just want to say "Top Man!" to IanS

Seconded! Not once did Ian suggest backing out of the difficult bits and he tackled them all with gusto.

[IanS]

Hi Guys

Just about recovered. Removed the 'Dales' from bike and a crash bar for rework, anyone out there not got them fitted 'spend the money' they saved my bike and maybe a leg.

Great to see the raw side of the Dales. Good run out but a bit hard for me.

Thanks for the trip

See you next time.

Ian S :lol:

[xrv_jim]

...and here's Ian off-road in the Yorkshire Dales.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=609

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=608

[DaveS]

Looks fantastic.... I'm envious.

[IanS]

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=623
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=624

[IanS]

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=625
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=626

Roll on the next run.

Ian S