Been nursing the HCL sprain decided to get out on the fourfiddy on Saturday past to test it out for flattrackin this weekend. They have erected a 9ft fence around the vacant lot I've used before so I went to an abandoned dry ski slope about 15 miles way. Some guys from the old vacant lot recommended it.
Esay up the front... a bit trickier at the back
When I got there there were no other bikes... just a 4x4 which left 5 mins after I arrived. I had a gentle pootle about. Knee is feckin sore when twisting inwards to change up the gears... but otherwise ok.
There are two challenging climbs at the back of the slope... both with the base obstructed by a mountain of dumped rubble and the one with a 4ft verticle in the middle of it. Both with loose sand.
View from the top
56 minutes into the ride and I was pulling the fourfiddy out of the bushes after failing at my third attempt to conquer the last climb... (After popping up the verticle, I just lose too much momentum and lose traction on the sand) ... and along came plod.
The copper on the DTX bike tells me that it's private property... blah... blah... confiscate bike... blah... owner not happy... blah... blah. He was alright about it. I packed up and headed home... on the way out... 2 patrol cars hurried onto the lot. They wouldn't have been alright about it. Two patrol cars and a bike to stop someone riding on a vacant lot that no-one cares about... this is why we pay taxes! The cops are just doing their job... but those that called them are wankers.
So, another riding place closed down :-( It was a good ride out and the knee held out. Still a bit sore but getting better every day. :-)
Just been looking for results or pics from teh Hare & Hounds Mike and I did on Sunday. Nothing yet... but found this on YouTube:
Always amazes me how fast these guys go... I only ride like that when I'm outta control and just about to see my arse.
The Hare & Hounds was good. It was at Slab Common, Bordon. A military training ground. Pretty cool thick sand with forested bits. They have tanks and all sorts of military vehicles around the place... weird riding around there. You come around a corner, drop into what I guess is supposed to be a river-bed and... Whooooah! There is a massive tank there!
Mike' helmet is about 15 years old... made before the ACU 'Gold sticker'was invented. They were scrootineering helmets too and looking for Gold stickers. My scrootineer admired and commented on my Knighter rep helmet... so it would be risky for Mike to use it for scrooting. No worries, just ask the friendly guys parked in the van next to us to borrow a lid. The guy Mike asks looks a bit apprehensive, but hands over his lid. Mike scuttles off to get scrooted... the guy then puts on a race shirt that says "Hampshire Police" on it. Doh! A copper... then he puts a bib over that that boldly says 'MARSHAL'. Double Doh!
He didn't knick Mike... phew!
I started well... Mike started like a scalded cat! Me and another dood on a blue bike were behind Mike... he'd gapped us by 15 yards by the time we reached the first corner! We were in thick sand... the blue-biked guy was too hard on the front brakes and cartwheeled. Spectacular! Thanks! I'm second into the first turn.
A mile in an I am going over a set of logs. my bike wasn't quite up to temp so I stalled on the last log. The guy behind me on a green bike grabs his brakes and goes down on the logs next to me... "Clump!". He's struggling under the bike. I calmly fire the four-fiddy up as the traffic jams up behind the flailing guy on the logs, he's swearin' and a cussin'. "Sorry." I chime and I dash off after Mike who had long disappeared.
Two miles later and I see a rider joining the track from the side... it's Mike! He got lost - I nip in front of him. Sucker! He passes me a mile or so later an disappears in front. Near the end of the first lap he passes me again! He got lost again!
I keep a steady pace and just grind out the laps. I don't crash too much... only once or twice a lap. Normally just ploughing the front through the thick sand, puting a foot down and tipping over. Nothing big... but all just as energy sapping. Some periods I enjoy... some are just a grind. I don't make any pit-stops... just crash-stops. They are enough to keep me going.
I manage to do 8 laps in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Mike also only managed 8 laps... but finished in just under 3 hours - he was too knackered to do another. I think we did okay. The best thing is... I hardly ached in the days after! I'm gettin' used to this endurance malarkey!
