.: XT660.com - The #1 XT660 Resource :. - Lakes 2011

The NavtXT

Weather.... oh no you said not to mention it!

Seriously

Positives - navXT has to stay, expand on that more? More markers possibly, you already made it a whole day and I liked that. I got to see alot of the Lakes, I am certain I saw more than if I had gone by myself and rode round, the navXT ensured you rode some awesome stuff (the passes come to mind).

More positives - Offroading, good informal training, the guys leading did a good job (enduro374 and Stoic Bloke). Stoic Bloke was reassuring when I came to a bomb hole I was worried about. He advised a line, I followed instruction and it was easy once i had done it! On a personal note the way I could improve is trade my X for a Tenere so I can tackle the off road markers with confidence.

Negatives - None really - I lost my appetite for Sundays ride if I am honest, only because I was worried about having a great but rain soaked day (both Friday and Saturday I was soaked and had to dry out boots etc overnight) which you say did not happen later on (but it was raining hard in the morning from my B&B) but I got soaked going home for sure (4 hr ride). I still ache now and my right ankle hurts to walk on (for no reason I know of). Motorcycle bike fit I am not!

Most improvements for me would come from stuff not in your control like better wet weather riding gear, more suited bike, map bag on the bike rather than in a ruck sack, ditch the Satnav (I only really used it for the last 6 miles to find the camp site & B&B), the map would be better as was proved by the results.

One suggestion and tell me to "f off you saddo"! but when I was meeting people I would have loved to know their real name and forum name (without asking), that way you get a sense of perspective as you see these people post stuff here and think you get a feel for them, you meet them and bang nothing like you expect. Yourself, Doug, Keith, Stumpdave were obvious as I have seen photos in the forum so felt I knew you even though I have never met you/them. Maybe some crappy sticker for day 1 until most have met. On Friday it was too many names and who were they on the forum. I felt a fool asking their forum name but once I knew I was like oh blah blah blah etc. I could immediatly make conversation about a, b, c d etc based on threads from here. I dont have a cool suggestion just a suggestion.