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Level 1 Training ride Neerim South Morning session only and afternoon ride will be Clubman Level.
Ok the morning ride is for Level 1 riders only and limited to 10 learners only plus anyone who wants to come along and pass along there riding knowledge. The morning will consist of riding to some of the Neerim hills and practicing going up and down with instructors standing by to answer any of your questions or direct you in the best possible way to ride your bike up or down. We will then head off and find some bog hole's and teach you the best way to get around or thru them. Our aim is not to put you in danger but rather teach you how to stay out of danger. We will talk about rider position, bike set up, clutch control and safety equipment.
We will get back 2 the cars for lunch and fuel top up and the learners can go home and the afternoon ride will be a clubman ride so if you want to just come for the arvo that will be cool but it will be a tuff arternoon so do not exspect an easy ride in the afternoon.
I run very social rides, with plenty of stops,and time for stories and laugh's.
As this is a training ride it is really for members only so I suggest you join the club to get the most from this day members are welcome and bikes must be registered, Rec reg is fine for this ride.
If you want 2 attend this ride I need to know sooner than later so I can organise our trainers also when booking your spot please tell me if you are coming to learn or teach.
We meet at the DSE Latrobe River Rd Trail Bike unloading Saturday the 3rd of July 8.am for a 8.30am start onto the trails and back for lunch at 12.30 and back on the bikes at 1pm then back out again and finish up around 4 to 4.30pm. Rec Reg welcome. Full tank of fuel for each session. Plenty of fluid for hydration and trail snacks .
These sort of rides do not happen to often so if you are just starting out or maybe coming back to the sport after a break book your spot early and do not miss out.
I am only taking a small number this time so we can do more in less time.
If your coming and for directions(see attached Latrobe TVA map)
For the guys who have not been to Neerim before I will meet you at the East bound BP on Princes Hwy at Long Warry for 7.15am for a 7.30am departure from the BP. Note I will be parked at the rear of the servo in the truck parking bays. The servo is around 15 minutes past the last Pakenham turn off and it is just inside the 80klm speed zone. contact Will 0414354317
We will also be going to the Pub for dinner so if you want to come for dinner let me know when you are putting your name down for the ride so I can book the Bistro.
 Will, Ride leader Pub Yes
 Mat Instructor Pub Yes
 Frankie Instructor Pub Yes
 Gary instructor Pub Yes
 Geoff Crash instructor
 Ron H Broken Bike Pusher
 Freddy Candid Camera man
 Morning Trainee's Riders List
1.Daniel
2.David
3.Darren
4.Mark
5.Tone
6.Alistar
7.Marls
8.Nicole
9.Mark ?
10.Dave
OK we now have enough trainees so no more for this one, we still have room for instructors and or Level 2 + riders for the arvo Clubman loop.
Clubman ride list
1.Will. Pub Yes
2.Pommy Mat. Pub Yes
3.Frankie Boy. Pub Yes
4.Jason. Pub Yes
5.Geoff. pub Yes
6.Mark. Pub Yes
7.Phil R Pub No
8.Dave P Pub

Count me in please Will... Morning for me - Cheers

G'day Will,
could you please include me in the morning training ride please?

Cheers,
Mark

Will!
Put me down for the morning ride, depending how i feel and go in the morning and if i get a rough idea what the arvo will be like i may do it if thats sweet.
Alistair

No Probs Al

Ok Level 1 in the Morning, Clubman in the Arvo.
I would like to know a bit more about what we call a clubman ride, and how many of these riders have been on a AMTRA clubman ride before. Cos a Clubman ride is set aside for Clubman Riders, not level 1 or 2 riders who think they are Clubman Riders. I'm a Level 2 rider at the moment, but before my broken leggy thing, i was and have been a Clubman/Expert Rider for quite some years.
I think we should all settle down a bit and really think about the grading of rides that are put up on the site, cos if a Clubman rider decides to attend this ride and it's a claytons/clubman ride, then it should be graded as a Level 2.

PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN
Peter

Why not come along and judge for your self Pete.

I would refer you to our own club standards and ask you to tell me why it would be a Claytons ride Pete ?
AMTRA rides are graded at 4 different levels.
The following is a description of each of the levels.
Level 1 For riders with little or no trail riding skills.
Level 2 For riders with skill levels above those of a beginner and usually easy rides with lots of
assistance given.
Clubman For riders with average skills and the ability to cope with most terrain and bike repairs
(Punctures, broken levers etc). Assistance given if required.
Experienced For riders with the ability to cope with all terrain with little or no help unless asked for.
Experienced grade rides usually cover long distances.
The last thing we want to do is take you out on your first AMTRA ride and have you not enjoy it. Consider your skill level
carefully and start out on an easier grade of ride. Remember that extremes of weather can change the level of a ride from
easy to hard and vice versa.
If you are unsure, contact one of the new member officers or ride leader for further information. Phone numbers are on
the front page or pre ride notices.

ok. question 1. After being in this club for approx 12 months, do you think your riding ability is of a clubman standard?
Question 2. Are you the ride leader?
Question 3. If not, who is?

Love Peter.

Lets be nice boys.
This is the description of a clubman ride. I should know as I wrote it many years ago.

Clubman For riders with average skills and the ability to cope with most terrain and bike repairs
(Punctures, broken levers etc). Assistance given if required.

If Will feels that he is able to meet the above then I suggest he could call himself a clubman rider. The standard does not mention ride speed, just an ability to cope with terrain and bike repairs.

Peter, I would still class you as a Clubman rider. You have the ability, perhaps just not the fitness needed to cover longer distances that make an experienced ride.

Clubman For riders with average skills and the ability to cope with most terrain and bike repairs
(Punctures, broken levers etc). Assistance given if required.

As I said I listed the ride as per the clubs own standards, yes I have average skills and can cope with most of the terrain at Neerim and I certainly have the skills required to repair just about anything that can go wrong on a motor cycle. Yes I am the ride leader and as I said you should come along and see what it is about before passing judgment. love Will i am

Wow Will..this sounds like it's gonna be a hell of a ride...Beginner...Clubman...Pubman... Please put me down for this one..I wouldn't miss it for the world! If I break a fingernail, I can fix it  ;D
Cheers...Marls

Peter,   Why is it that every time I see your posts I have an uncontrollable urge to go out and check my tyre pressures ??.
Phil r.

No Probs Marls I have put you down for the morning. Will

Ok

And this is the reason why we need to change the Grading system. Because the way i see a Clubman is different to how Will can see it.

I'll do that!  I just bought a new leather thingy and....

 :o

Pete as I said I would love to have you along both for the morning training and the arvo ride. The sort of experience that you have to share with our fellow members is priceless and I think just having you along would just add to the members who are attending overall experience and you will get to see some of the best parts of Neerim for yourself at the same time. Come on mate put your name down, go on come along and spread your extensive knowledge. Will

Did it come with a Strap on , i think Will would like to smack me around with it.

Only if Serge brings the Leather Thingy along.

R U going to come 2 Serge and bring your thingy with you.

In my book a bloke doing a clubman ride is there to ride.

I'm with Peter, on the standard, it doesn't sound like a clubman level ride.

 It may give someone the wrong idea of what a clubman ride is and then they turn up to another clubman ride and get blown out of the water.

I call a 300km day that ends two hours after daylight a clubman ride.

The last Clubman level ride I was on had to be cut short because the group couldn't move at the pace the ride leader had hoped for.

i think tim hit the nail on the head there..

now as for the leather thingy..if theres no pics , it didnt happen..

So what do i grade my Taggerty ride as? ???

Tim, nowhere does the ride standard mention speed or distance for a clubman ride.
A 300 km ride is definitely for Experienced riders. Check the description. Only the description for experienced rides mentions distance as you would certainly need the skills of a "clubman" rider plus plenty of experience and fitness on a bike to ride longer distances.

Hey Tim if what you described is a clubman ride how would you describe an exsperienced ride ? Will

This ride could have been listed at a lesser level but after riding just some of the tracks I have planned to ride last Sunday and knowing how far I plan to go and the sort of terain in a 3 to 4 hr period on this ride I only need people who are capabile of riding to a clubman standard as set out in our clubs grading system, not one or two's own personel grading system but our clubs grading system as set out by our club. I think some people need to look at there own grading systems and reivaluate them and not what the club has already in place. Will

Hey guys.. Here in NSW they dont have any levels due to the fact that all the rides are the same level. Bloody Hard!

I think you should all come up here and check it out for yourselves!

Can you tell I miss you boys heaps?

Here is a bit of what Paul is talking about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGUYaoYoV_w

Will,   Sorry I have missed your rides, but other things have got in the way. Nice people, great tracks great fun, and I am envious.
Phil R.

Phil you know you can come anytime and I will cater for your needs, Will

As you've said Ian there is no mention of speed or distance for any of the levels but I think a clubman should be able to ride at a fair pace for a full day. I believe a clubman would be capable of 300km, 10Hrs at 30Kmh. I've done a day in the desert that was 450km, rated as clubman and all riders completed the day ready to ride the next.


The only difference to me is that riders are not expected to give other riders assistance on an experienced ride, I don't not even think the tailman should help. On a clubman ride I'd expect riders to help one another.
 
 

Hi Will,
Please add me to the list for morning & afternoon ride and the pub as well.
Cheers,
Gary C.

Fixed. ;D

Good to hear your coming as well coachman Mat  :). I need to learn more of your tricks.
I have a simple solution to all of everyone's comments above...
Why don't you make this day into an "All Levels Day" ie, Beginner, level 1, level 2, Clubman & Expert all in one (& of course pubman). Us beginners or less fitter ones can watch the guns & learn from them all. The terrain is how you want to make it anyway, so i'm sure everyone can ride it to their own level & eventually catch up to the superchargers?? Would make for a very interesting ride don't you think?...Marls

I'm with Tim and Peter on this one!
Clubman/Experienced riders are there to ride not stop and socialise at the end of every track.
It was my ride that was cut short because some people were really struggling with it, and going by whats been said here i should have listed it as experienced, and if we had of done the whole loop we would of finished well and truly after dark Tim.
I think the club needs to re-evaluate its grading system because my idea of a Clubman/Experienced ride is the same as Tim and Petes. I think the club should listen to the guys that regularly do or put on Clubman/Experienced rides and structure it's grading system around the input from those riders.
The only thing that should change from Clubman to Experienced is the pace of the ride.
From the Pony Express events i've done, over 35's, Clubman and Expert riders are all racing the same track the only thing that changes is the speed and there is no one there to help you if you get stuck.

I've only been a member for a short time, maybe I haven't been here long enough to make any comments.
Peter & Tim what you blokes are talking about is expert class, I used to be a member of M.C.R.C.V My two older brothers & myself are the founders of the Stockmans enduro, so you can see that I've been around for a long time, anyway when the club went out for a trail ride there wasn't any grading, it was all in & helped each other if needed,always had a good time with plenty of laughs.
I've had a 15 year break from dirt bikes & now back for the last 3 years, I did a 7 day High Country ride last year covering 200km a day, I might add & finished the last day

stronger then the first day, so I would like to know do I qualify as a clubman?
 I reckon Will does a great job, the club needs blokes like him, if it wasn't for blokes like him the club will disappear.


 

Ok here my dilemma
I put on the Glenlyon ride and try to gauge the level of the rider we get on that ride on the phone .
So as not to hold up the flow of the ride.
So what level should it be ?
I class it at a level 2 as i don’t find it to hard
Will what level is it from your prospective?
As i know that some rider have a blast some leave a lunch.

I cant wait till I get back 2 your ride John but I reckon you have a real mixed terain on your ride and there are parts of your ride that should be classified as clubman so I would suggest that your ride is clubman.Will

Hi John,
I've done your ride and it's a great ride with really good tracks, i found nothing hard about it so i'd say it's a level 2. In my opinion for it to be a clubman ride there would be minimal stops, the pace would need to pick up (not yours the other riders) and assistance would only be given if somebody is really struggling with and obstacle.

I do not think that the club needs to look at there grading system, lets face it there are a lot of people in this club who do not want to own up to it, but in our trail bike riders club they are expert riders, perhaps they may not be  in a racing club but we are not a racing club we are the Australian Trailbike Riders Association so it is the people who are putting on the rides need to grade the ride correctly and if you were planing on doing such a loop that it will finish in the dark then you need to tell people first so there bike is equipped with a good headlight not the crap that comes standard on a lot of bikes, and remember every ride can get held up as we all have bad days on the bikes in our life's just ask Tim and Peter they have had one each in the last 12 mths have they not. As far as helping each other I could not give a dam what grading the ride I was on if someone needed help and I was able to I would be the first to help them so if your attitude is not to help someone who may just need some help one day then I will make sure I stay clear of your rides. Will

OK. That is enough. This is not the place to be discussing the subject of rider levels. This post was about the ride Will is organising.
If anyone wants to start a post in the members area about rider grading and levels then do it there.

I am going to put on my moderators hat now and delete any more posts that are put in here about rider levels.

Ian

Will,
with my level zero bike riding skills but expert skills at falling off do you as the ride leader i am at a level to be able to come on your ride?
Geoff.

Yes Geoff I will put you on the list. Will

Will,
looking forward to another fun day. lets hope getting the coffee this time is not as difficult as last time.
Geoff.

Will, put me down for the morning and afternoon ride if you still have room.  regards Mark.

No Probs Mark R u coming to help with training or receive training, regards Will

Will cant make it will on my way to cape york. So i thought i would pass on my knowledge to you, so you inturn can prepare the troops. "DONT FALL OFF!!" it only wastes time having to get up again? Good luck Will and A for effort. Cheers Al

Have fun Al, good luck at Gun Shot Creek crossing.

OMG Im so glad you guys are doing another one of these! I missed the last one cos I was sick. Im joining on line this week, so I will be able to come along if there is a spot left :)

Nicole ;D

No Probs Nicole b good 2 have you along. Will

G'day Will how many are you taking out for afternoon ride if there is still room put me down for this also happy to help out in the morning with my limited knowledge

No Probs for the morning Ron, arvo ride as many as comes no number limits but it is going to be extreame ups and downs usaul ruts and rocks mud and clay etc with minimium breaks. Come this Saturday to the Harden the Fook up ride and if you get thru that then you should get thru the arvo ride. Call me if you need to discuss further. Will

Hi Will, sorry but can't make it along now, killed the cr on your HTFU ride, have started taking the motor out to split the crankcase & change the mainshaft  bearing in the gearbox .
 HTFU ride must have been a Clubman as you had us finishing in the dark !. 

Sorry 2 here that Gary if you need a hand to fix it just give me a call and if I can help out I shall. Will

Hi Will, 
Would like to come for the arvo ride if thats OK.
cheers
Dave P

No worries Dave. u coming for dinner again? Will

Updated 28/6/10

Hi Will

I'll come along and help out in the morning and stay for the afternoon. Unfortunately I can't make the pub this week I might be in trouble if I'm not at the airport to meet my wife seeing as she's been away for months. Hopefully next time.

Colin

No Probs Col c ya saturday

I should be able to make it for both morning and arvo.

Sorry Wil i wont be going on the ride on Saturday.

I have a pretty bad cold at the moment.

Pubman Dinner- 6PM is at the Robin Hood Inn, as last weeks set up was good I booked in the Red Room once again. Will

no probs get well soon Tone

Will,
Breakdown at work still here and will need to be here Saturday, sorry i will miss the fun. try again next time.
Geoff

Hey Will, bikes on the trailer, feeling somewhat better than last week, see you in the morning.


Rossi ;D

Hi Will,
Late scratching, something has come up & I will not make the arvo ride. Sorry.
regards

Dave P