Offroad school...any ideas?
 

Well after my visit to the Plains, I have realized that :

1. I need to get fitter!
2. More "bike fit"
3. More praccy
4. I would like to do some organised offroad training.

Has anyone done an offroad course? and any recommendations?

there is an off road school near Battle, they use KTM 690's. not used it but have been told its good. BMW off road school in wales, well recomended, If you have the money.

hi you could do worse than checkout http://www.adventureridingacademy.co...S(1511375).htm they do have days where you can use your own bike, im not sure, if i was starting out i would certainly use a smaller lighter machine to learn some techniques on then work my way up to the bigger stuff. thier repair problem too!

they also do support at the british rally rounds

give patsy or clive a ring to see whats available don't just rely on the website as they have plenty on and unfortunately neglect to keep it updated! tell them i sent you!

bernard

I have found the Battle one... Patsy Quick ! I have emailed her an enquiry....

any more suggestions, the BMW school is expensive at �450...........

thanks Bernard....it looks ideal for me, Stage 1 Course.

It isn't too far away as well..........cost for one day including bike is �240...it seems expensive, but I think I have to do it......

Tamsin Jones and Craig Bounds do a variety of one-to-one and group courses...

http://www.blackdeserttraining.com/

Not a recommendation based on experience, just throwing another option in the ring - I learnt to ride off-road by riding off-road until I fell off, repeatedly :D

Thanks Dave...I have emailed them also. They are in Wales, where I go fishing a fair bit....they are about the same price.....bike hire is about �100 a day...but they do 1-1 lessons for �150 per day.

Here you go Rich

http://www.yamaha-schools.co.uk/index.php

Try the Geraint Jones Yamaha place in Powys - been a few times and it's great.

I'm off to sunnier climes with trailblazers in Feb..

thanks Rick....that one is very close to me...but...I THINK its a more MX based school...the instructors are MX background.....there is a MX track there too (Golding Barn)...so after looking at their (Yamaha) website, I have ruled it out. I prefer the Desert Rose / Black Desert websites, in that they seem more trail riding-based. But thanks anyway..

...and Geraint's school is Enduro based...much the same as MX......but thanks for the info enduro374.

I realise that, at the end of the day, I need to learn the basics, which applies to any form of
offroading...and school........

Try this one

http://www.trailrides-wales.com/index.html

Ive tried two places, one in abersythweth or what ever in wales, but the other one was in the Peak district off the road trail tours, or OTT, in the MCN paper. Took my XTR there for 2 days and did some cracker off roading or you can rent his bikes as well. have a search on google for his website, a proper down to earth guy.

yep...that's a good'un....thank you jasext (prices for tuition on the "with own bike page")


and Maxwell....another good'un, thank you...their name is Overlander Trail Tours...here's the link... http://www.overlandertrailtours.co.uk/

Jealous - went to Trailblazers last May we had an awesome week!

I think the main thing is what ever off road school they are most will be able to teach you the basics and give you time under your belt off roading, with the net to fall on of if you do come off or have a tumble there is someone who should be experience enough to help you out.

Desert Rose Adventure Riding Academy
 

Thank you all you lot for all the suggestions...I am going with Cdo1uk and Stoic Bloke on this one, and plumped for Desert Rose run by Patsy Quick.

I am going on their 1 day, Stage 1 Course on the 18th March at Somerley Park, nr. Southampton. They are based nr. Battle, but seem to move around the country a bit. Cost is �240 including bike, lunch, clothing. Here's the link

http://www.adventureridingacademy.com/index.htm

Now, which bike do I choose? A KTM 400EXC, or the 690 Enduro R ?

I think you will struggle to reach the ground on the 400
Rich

That's an incentive to keep moving then :D

Thanks Tricky....a very valid point that..but they do have lowered bikes! Now, I am around 5'9/5'10 so not that short! These are the seat heights....

The KTM 400 EXC is 985mm 38.8"
The KTM 690 Enduro R is 930mm 36.6"
The XT660R is 875mm 33.9"

You'll be fine, just make sure you're at the back of the group, then gently lean the bike against someone else's as you come to a stop ;)

:sleep01:

i'll get my coat then.......

are you referring to my parking, when we went down to Salisbury? :-

Anyway, there is quite a big difference in the seat heights (he says, changing topic swiftly)

Go for the 690 ,switch the mapping to offroad setting and it is very easy and controlable ,but a word of warning

You will buy a 690 after trying one ,just like mine

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/e4dba67b.jpg

where's the seat?

The Suzuki DRZ400E is 935mm 36.8". I had one, and struggled to get my foot down on one of these (great bike tho'). Another 2" higher is the KTM 400 EXC.

So, I will test ride on the course one of jasext's bikes, a 690.

All booked up now for the 18th March. Looking forward to it.

I had a great day out with Desert Rose at Somerley Park nr. Ringwood, Southampton.

This is a brief summary of the day, altough we covered more things...

It started at 9 a.m., five of us, with getting your kit sorted over a cuppa, and then we set off around a clearing to familiarize ourselves with our mounts. I had chosen the KTM 690R, and felt at home on it straight away. (after riding it for the day, it didn't really feel that much lighter than my bike-although it is, but much better sussys and brakes. The seat height was standard, and not an issue on the day.)

We had an talk about the clutch, brakes, and standing position, and then went round again.

"Vision and looking ahead" was a key point made all day.

Shortly after we went through a wooded area, and did some tight turns, followed by a talk on how to do it, followed by another go at it.

Then we just all went for a mini trail ride, and then after that we stopped at the bottom of a fairly steep hill (gulp!). There were a few roots and loose logs too on the way up it ... We were again talked through it, but Zippy (the brilliant instuctor), started with the "what if it all goes pear-shaped" scenario, and so before showing us how to get up the hill, showed us what to do if you stall halfway up. So we all had to stall halfway up, turn the bike round, and go down again. Then we were shown how to get up the hill, and we all had a go at it. Two of us (yes, I was one!!),didn't do it that well, as I hit a loose log just before the crest! But, I got the bike turned around and back down for another go at it.

We did some downhill stuff (clutch out, and after with front brake), and for the last hour I chose to do some more general obstacles like ditches and proper bog and ruts and roots, with another instructor, (and we went back to the "fairly steep hill" right at the end, and I gassed the bike, and flew up the hill!!), while the others did an "up and down hill circuit".

It was a brilliant day, we were all soaked through and very wet and tired, but beaming from ear to ear! We did a lunch stop somewhere in between all this, but we were pretty much on the go all day.

Zippy said we had covered much more than some other classes, as we had all listened and learned well. I got a tremendous lot out of it, and came away with a higher confidence level, and more skills than I had imagined.

I only fell off six times all day- I must have improved considerably!!!!

So, that's where to go for your training, Desert Rose. Highly recommended !

Well done Rich, :smilies0349:

nice one richard! tho where's the pics

you know the rule,

sorry no pics...there really wasn't really any time for stills, and I think maybe my helmet cam may not have been welcome, but I didn't ask.

I really was amazed at the things I tackled, and it really helped me going "the instuctor route", rather than learn as you go.

Still a bit sore two days after it....but what a great day out!:eusa_dance:

now, that course has really whetted my appetite for more learning, so, I'm off on a one-day, one-one with Craig Bounds! It costs �180, or less if you are a total novice.

The best one going is the Ady Smith Enduro school.
Any level, one to one training if you want (Ady personally does the 1 to 1s)

He has sites is Sussex, Wales and the midlands.
All new KTMs or your bike.

I've just done my second one - fantastic trainer.

I am in Andover if you want a beer and chat about it.

Paul

Well that will stand you in good stead for your trip.

My day with Craig Bounds was very good....so now for me it's just getting some more riding in! And I am going back to Black Desert Training for another 1-1 day in the future.