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  # 1  
Old 13-03-17, 12:52
Replicant Replicant is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sussex
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A Lesson Learnt�Again

Although I have had my Tenere for more than 2 years now I have never taken it off road. So yesterday, b eing a bit bored on a damp and drizzly morning I decided to go for a ride and reacquaint myself with a few local roads and the odd legal green lane still left in Sussex. I suspect Greatescape and Jo75 are familiar with both of them.
I had completed my first lane which lead me to north over wet slippery, slimy and heavily rutted downland chalk. This stuff can be lethal but I managed it without incident by slowing down a bit and taking it easy.
�Great� I thought and I headed off to my next lane nearby. This begins (or ends) at the top of a local hill. As you can see below the weather wasn�t exactly great.

Anyway, a quarter of the way down I lose it on the wet muddy chalk and end up sprawled on the side of the trail giggling a little. Unharmed I get up and heave the bike upright and notice the chain is off and trapped between the swing arm and a bolt on the rear sprocket. Then the realisation:-

  • Bike is facing downhill.
  • I cannot get it onto centre stand.
BOLL***s!

I started to have the thoughts �Am I going to be stuck here?� and �who can I call to rescue me?�. I am sure many of us in the offroad fraternity have had one of these thoughts or similar before at least once. Well, I was damned sure I would have to get out of this myself as my previous riding buddy and go to rescuer has long since emigrated to Canada and I was sure he wasn't going to be turning up anytime soon! Selfish B*gger.

Anyway, after 30 mins of heaving and leaning the bike over on its side stand I manage to wrestle the chain free. One handed too. I am left knackered and sweat is pouring from me. Thanking my luck stars, I gingerly make it down the rest of the trail and I am free.

The moral of this tale? If you decide to go out on your own:-

  1. Make sure you do your maintenance.
  2. Don�t go out on Mitas E07�s on wet chalk as worn as these!



Having a little rest after the incident.

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Bike: 2008 XT660Z Tenere with various bits and bobs added or subtracted
  # 2  
Old 13-03-17, 15:27
Matt748 Matt748 is offline
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A very busy day.
Alls well that ends well though eh?
And i little the wiser too no doubt...
  # 3  
Old 13-03-17, 22:58
jo75 jo75 is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: chichester
Posts: 660
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We must meet up, be good to get out with someone on the lanes.always safer!..
  # 4  
Old 13-03-17, 23:34
greatescape greatescape is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2014
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At least you weren't hurt....and the bike looks fine! That wet chalk . is so slippery I'm not sure any tyre would cope with it! My worst injury was after wiping out at speed on chalk.. ( on a mountain bike! ) ...broken elbow / broken and dislocated shoulder and a piece of flint stuck deep inside my arm! Much safer on the Tenere! Steve
  # 5  
Old 14-03-17, 06:38
jo75 jo75 is offline
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That sounds like a bad one Steve!..your right about the tyres , slippery chalk is not easy on any tyre!..but it does make it more interesting and challenging..
  # 6  
Old 14-03-17, 14:25
Replicant Replicant is offline
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I was annoyed with myself as I have mountain biked for decades and used to green lane all the time until about 8 years ago.

Anyway I got away with it and no damage, apart from pride. Was a laugh though!

Sounds nasty Steve. It reminds me of several incidents I have had over the years. Will save that for another time though.

Jo75, yeah would be good to get together some time for a ride. Might have to sort out some new tyres for the slippy stuff first though. he he
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Bike: 2008 XT660Z Tenere with various bits and bobs added or subtracted
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