Icy Thetford today !

[anton88]

Will be back later to post pics and wot not - had a brilliant time

But tell you what, tarmac still hurts even at 15 to 20 mph

Just off for a hot bath and tea, then be back later to tell more

[Dorsal fin]

Anton, if you didn't learn anything else today except that ice and brakes don't mix you did well

All I can say is I'm pleased with myself because I didn't fall off and I wasn't the slowest

The last time I did that run was on my GS and I crashed about 8 times, all on mud so no damage, but the XR is much better for this mud plugging.

Next outing to be confirmed but probably the 29th

Cheers
Peter

[Lord Vader]

Beware of the "ICE GIANT'S"
I have been saying so for years

[stanbloke]

Thanks to the guys on the "little" bikes who led us round today (sorry i'm pants at remembering names)

Thetford is great and a nice bunch of lads showed up from 3 different forums , XRV, KTM and GS. for me thats how it should be..... Cool..

Sorry i had to drop off early, but see you all next time..

[Jacqueslemac]

As soon as I can upload my photos I'll post a few on here.

Suffice to say I turned up at the start with a very sore back, having twisted it while carrying heavy boxes crouched in a cellar (don't ask).

Lots of Ibruprofen and Arnica helped me round and my back was much better by the time I'd given it a thorough workout. When I'd finished, my back was free and supple again!

It was nice to see my Africa Twin racing ahead in the lead, showing a clean pair of heels to all those offroad boys on their purpose-built trailies.

The only fly in the ointment was that it was being ridden by one of those offroad boys while I was crawling along at the back on a little orange thingy with no speedo or light - or padding in the seat. I think they felt sympathy for me and gave me a break on a light, nimble bike.

I'd dropped my Twin once too often and my arms had been replaced by two rubber bands too weak to hold a big bike upright any more.

I lost count of all the times I fell off. The penultimate - and most spectacular - was when I hit a huge slab on concrete in the middle of a puddle and the bike stopped dead and I didn't.

The only advice I was given was "you're riding too slowly". Trouble is, every time I rode faster I crashed. When I was going slowly I just stopped and put my feet down. At speed it all happens so quickly, I was cross-rutted, or in a field or a ditch or a deep icy puddle with no time to do anything before I was on the ground again. On the few times I did something impressive (holding onto a wild slide, managing to stay upright while riding the a damn great bush etc) the was no-one behind me to see it!

It was also the first time I've been out when the road was more slippery than the mud. We had two "downs" on the ice. I lost it a couple of times, but managed to stay upright - although once I opted for a nice rutted field to ride off into.

Even though lots of the tracks were still covered in frost well after midday, it wasn't slipper. It's a real experience heading into a deep puddle and feeling the ice break as you hit it, with chunks of ice flying up into the soles of your boots.

I had a fantastic time and have only a bent clutch lever to show for it. Oh and now my arms are stiff.

I had a warm bath and relaxed in a nice, soft chair for an hour and now my back's really hurting again. Got a bad back? Go offroad!

[Lulu]

Guys, we need pics. NOW !














Oh and respect for braving the xtreme weather conditions

[HUDDERS]

Sounds like you had a great day James

[stanbloke]

I hope the guys who dropped their bikes are ok Whealie is your buddy ok ? it looked like he was struggling with that bang on his leg..

Jacques you looked like you were havin a great time when we stopped after the Pig farm .

[phil w]

Yes photos please, show us the thickness of your ice

[Jacqueslemac]

Guys, we need pics. NOW !

I've uploaded them all to Photobucket. When my mouse hovers over the picture the html code appears, but as soon as I move the mouse down to click on it to paste it into this thread, it vanishes. Any idea why this is?