Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
|
 |
« on: June 13, 2010, 11,17:43 AM » |
|
1. Will Munro Ride leader KTM525exc
2. Mat Creasey Tailman Honda CRF450X
3. Frankie Reefman Instructor BMW 450
4. Pat Rose Instructor Yamaha Wr250F
5. Garry Clarke Instructor Honda CR250R
6. James Creasey Instructor Honda CRF450X
7. Daniel Tasci XR400R
8. Fred Schenko Gas Gas 450
9. Marks Schenko Sherco 250
10.Darren Lynch Honda XR350
11.Andrew Leeden Yamaha TTR250
12.Daniel Jewell Yamaha WR250F
13.Colin Pearce KTM 250EXC
14.Graeme Akers Kawasaki KXF250
15.Chris Akers Honda CRF250
16.Mark Dwyer Yamaha Wr250F
17.Tony Matich Yamaha Wr450
18.Alistair Barrett Yamaha Wr250
19.Ken Lok Yamaha Wr450
20.Steve Wiseman Honda XR400
21.John Lay Suzuki DRZ400
22.Sean Douglas Husky 450
23.Vin Vatse BMW 450 Afternoon session only
Well this was the first level training ride I had ever arranged and it was great to have such a great turnout and a big thanks must go to my helpers on the day, Pommy Mat for another great tailman job well done especially with so many beginners, Pat, Frankie, James and Garry working hard at instructing and getting the riders up and down the hills etc great job guys.
After all the rain at Neerim over the last few days it was verry wet and slippery. We headed to Lizards hill climb for our first training session with the riders getting to ride up twice and down once and it was great to see such an improvement thru out the group on there second go at going up with nearly all getting up the second time with out trouble. Along the way to our next loop we did a small log crossing with every one getting over with out trouble .
We then did the loop around to Sawdust which when wet is a slippery clay type mud downhill normally so we went down then most had a few goes at going back up and down again with some doing a great job and most making a great effort at having ago at going up and down again.
After spending around 2 hrs on these two hills we then headed off the Memory Lane to find some more water logged and slippery tracks and bog holes and even thow some had a bit of a swim most seamed to enjoy themselfs.
We then headed around the plantation to beards were we went and done some fast and tight tracks which I discovered a couple of rides ago after Marls killed the Sherco on the old farts ride. It was then time for lunch and as we were waiting for a regroup my mobile was ringing and when I answered it , it was Vin wanting instructions on how to find the carpark from the town so by the time we got back for lunch he was there with his brand new not a mark on it BMW450 and in his brand new riding gear, he was destined for trouble as the afternoon was going to be level 2.
Anyway after lunch we had 5 retire so we headed off down the well used tight track out of the car park which would have been a real eye opener for Vin being his first ever trail ride, anyway when we regrouped at the road he finally arrived looking a little dirty but not to bad so we headed off back up lizards once more were there was a lot more traction this time with most clearing the hill first up. Vin struggled as one would expect but our awesome instructors got him up eventually.
At the end of Lizards we turned left and headed of to the plantation were I managed to find the longest dead end trail I have ever come across. At this point we had a rider go down and another drop his bike on top of him so we had about four retire at this stage.
We worked our way back to Young for my usual Level 2 hills which turned out to be HTFU plus hills with the climb out getting nearly all of us in the Poo including myself with a flat battery a few of us managed to drag the my bike up the last bit of the hill. Vin needed his bike rode out of this bit but his fun was a bit earlier were he had a loose and went of the edge and down the side of the trail by about 15 feet to which they had to tow his brand new bike back up onto the track. I hope you have not been put of to much Vin but things would have been much easier in the afternoon if you had managed to make the morning session as there were a few first time dirt riders who rode much better in the afternoon and even though Vin was out of his depth he just kept having ago which was great to see.
A few of us then headed off to the Robin Hood inn for some serious bench racing and of coarse a lot of laughs.
Please feel free to post up your thoughts on the day guys as it is good to know what you thought of it. Will
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
|
|
|
|
DanJ
|
|
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2010, 10,58:47 PM » |
|
Thanks for a great day Will, plenty of laughs and spills, and it was encouraging seeing the ride leader having to be pushed up the hill with a flat battery, top day. I've put all of the video and pics I took into a YouTube clip, enjoy... Dan |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Yamaha WR250F
|
|
|
Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
|
|
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2010, 12,06:25 AM » |
|
Good stuff Dan. HTFU coming up.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
|
|
|
|
johnrl
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 61
|
|
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2010, 03,12:52 AM » |
|
i'm having a serious think about selling my bike and all the gear and pulling out of riding all together.
Regards
John Lay
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
|
|
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2010, 03,40:43 AM » |
|
I'm sorry to hear that your feeling that way John, have you also considered riding more often which would enable you to build your skill levels back up so things are not so difficult for you on the trails . If you consider the 2nd option I am sure I can cater for most of your needs on my level 2 rides. Regards Will
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
|
|
|
Willbar
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 2825
|
|
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2010, 05,24:30 AM » |
|
Looking at doing another ride / training day limited to 10 level one riders on the first weekend in July, who is there 10 people out there interested in attending. I need to know by Thursday this week so I can make plans and organize instructors. Will
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old becuase you stop laughing.
Never take life seriously.... Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Current Rides
2010 KTM 690 Duke
2011 KTM 300 EXC
2000 KTM 125 SX
2001 KTM 300 EXC
|
|
|
|
Frankie-boy
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 747
|
|
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2010, 05,27:52 AM » |
|
i'm having a serious think about selling my bike and all the gear and pulling out of riding all together.
Regards
John Lay
John I've been in your boat too when I first started riding, I've said many a time what in the hell am I doing here, what kept me going was my brothers, I wanted to spend time with them so I kept at it, & boy I'm glad I did, I couldn't think of anything else I would rather do then to go out riding with great blokes I've met here at Amtra, so what I'm trying to say is let us here at Amtra be your brothers,you have to give it time, we all started just like you,if we can do it then you can do it too, as Will said you've got to get out more on the beast, see you out on the trail mate. cheers mate. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: June 14, 2010, 05,37:04 AM by Frankie-boy »
|
Logged
|
Falling off doesn't hurt, it's the sudden stop that does the damage.
Back on the 2 smoker, 2011 KTM 300
!988 KTM 350.
06 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Road
05 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Track
|
|
|
|
DanJ
|
|
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2010, 06,51:02 AM » |
|
Stick with it John. I only started riding last November and felt quite out of my depths the first few times I rode. Lucky for me I started in spring and summer so the riding was dusty but I felt a lot easier, winter and the amount of muddy hills we encountered yesterday is tough work and even the best in the group were caught out. I also found riding with smaller groups (2-3) a great way to start as there's enough pressure to create challenges, but not too much pressure that you feel out of your depth all the time.
I've also ridden at Neerim Sth around 8 times already this year, repeat riding at the same place and tracks gets the confidence up as well. I find Neerim a great place to learn, you have to go out of your way to find the harder hills and can easily spend a day avoiding them while you're honing the skills.
Stick with it, Dan
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Yamaha WR250F
|
|
|
|
daniel tasci
|
|
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2010, 07,03:51 AM » |
|
thanks for a great day, especially the instructors, could not have done half the things without your help. After not riding dirt for 28 years, i could barely drive the car home. I had the best time, can't wait to go again.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Phil Randall
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 413
|
|
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2010, 08,29:26 AM » |
|
Hey John !!,
That doesn't sound like the John I rode with around Gem brook with Ian Mcfarlane some 10 years ago. When my XL250 spent more time on its side than it did upright, and there was so much mud my entire wardrobe went through the washing machine every ride. Those were the days when we used to push each others bikes up and down hills all day long. A pity, most of those tracks are gone now, but the memories are still there.
The XL was so heavy I downgraded to a DT175, used to take the front wheel out to put in in the back of the van, got a few laughs but it was a marvellous experience, and the support I received from the team was never better.
On a lighter note I pity those blokes that are up there, as they have no where else to go except down. On the other hand we can aspire to greater things.
Chin up and keep smilin'
Phil r.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Regards,
Phil Randall
|
|
|
SCHEVY
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 343
|
|
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2010, 09,07:14 AM » |
|
i'm having a serious think about selling my bike and all the gear and pulling out of riding all together.
Regards
John Lay
Gidday John, As we already chatted about it on the day, I too used to ride a DRZ400 which is a great bike but I too used to struggle in more technical stuff & come to grief all the time. Everyone's advice to me, was get a lighter bike, hence my Sherco 250, which I guess is still not ideal for me yet, as it is a very racey bike, but chee I've improved in skill since swapping over to it (still a long way to go though). Maybe you should consider a lighter bike too? I don't give up & I hope to see you on the next level 1 / training ride. Cheers...Marls (ps: conditions were very slippery yesterday; was a new experience & an eye opener for me  ) (double ps: I'll be posting photo's tomorrow evening, which all should get a laugh...paparatzie did well  ) |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
2012 KTM 350 EXC-F  2013 Kawasaki 650 ER-6N "On A Steel Horse I Ride" |
|
|
|
Frankie-boy
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 747
|
|
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2010, 10,00:32 AM » |
|
Hey John !!,
That doesn't sound like the John I rode with around Gem brook with Ian Mcfarlane some 10 years ago. When my XL250 spent more time on its side than it did upright, and there was so much mud my entire wardrobe went through the washing machine every ride. Those were the days when we used to push each others bikes up and down hills all day long. A pity, most of those tracks are gone now, but the memories are still there.
The XL was so heavy I downgraded to a DT175, used to take the front wheel out to put in in the back of the van, got a few laughs but it was a marvellous experience, and the support I received from the team was never better.
On a lighter note I pity those blokes that are up there, as they have no where else to go except down. On the other hand we can aspire to greater things.
Chin up and keep smilin'
Phil r.
John I thought you were a new rider, now I see that you've been around for awhile, what happened mate, what made you feel like giving up the bikes. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Falling off doesn't hurt, it's the sudden stop that does the damage.
Back on the 2 smoker, 2011 KTM 300
!988 KTM 350.
06 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Road
05 cbr 1000rr Fireblade Track
|
|
|
james c
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 143
|
|
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2010, 10,52:32 AM » |
|
thank's Will for a good day out. It was good to see everyone have a red hot go at all the tracks we went down.....or up.
Everyone seemed to have a good time laughing at themselves and taking it in good humour when others had a chuckle.
I hope we helped a few people get some more enjoyment out of their dirt bike.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
daniel tasci
|
|
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2010, 11,10:32 AM » |
|
g'day will, put me down for the first weekend in july
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Wiggy
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 200
|
|
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2010, 03,11:14 PM » |
|
Are we talking about the John that I used to ride with 10 years ago that had a TT350 ? (I think)  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
