Thanks for doing the run report Martyn and very glad you took some pics. I never manage to take many when I am leading a run.
Nice run out but sorry for the early finish. We still managed to ride 30 different lanes many of which I haven't ridden for 6 months or so despite them being on my doorstep.
The Crealy Bike Wash was great and I am sure that it isn't as deep as it seems when riding through it.
I did manage to take a few pics so here they are. The first two are of Trev coming down Tombstone Lane (aka Bike Breaker).
The next two are of Trev and then Martyn ducking under the falling tree that Martyn mentioned!
Trev and I got home at a sensible time and I organised the teas whilst Trev power washed both bikes. Trev then had time to fix his bent and broken handguards () plus shortened his Dakar bars by hacksawing about an inch off each end so that he can get in and out of his garden gate a little more easily!
The sprag on the 325 has been banging recently so I changed it. Disappointing as the bike has only just done over 13,000 miles. The new sprag is lovely and quiet so the repair was worthwhile.
I did an oil and filter change and also swapped out the 13 tooth front sprocket for a 14 tooth to up the gearing a bit as the 325 was very under geared on 13/48. Quite a productive afternoon as it turned out
An early morning call and Mr TTR said that he was about to venture forth with Bro., did I want to go?
Well, since the recent winds had blown themselves out and since the rain had stopped horsing down, I thought "Why not?"
I arrived at TTR Towers on the dot and Mr TTR was readying. Young Bro. was supposed to arrive at 10.
20 to 11 and he arrived, prompt as usual, but he did have some miles to do first so we let him off.
Muddy Lane was the first on the list and it was living up to its name. The three TTRs were covered in it at the end so next on the list, after calling at the post office to dispatch some TTR goodies, was Crealy Bike Wash.
All the lanes were splendid today with no dust but plenty of broken twigs, puddles and slippery goo. One lane lead to another and before we knew it we had ventured down Bike Breaker.
Who would believe that this is a County Road in Devon?
The shot above shows the start of the rutted lane, the next shows that the rut gets a tad deeper narrower and stepped .........
..... and it's not called Bike Breaker for fun. At the end we gathered our senses before trying others by going via Tipton St. John and on to what are known as Easthill Strips. These are lanes that climb wooded banks via steep bouldered trails uphill to the ridge and then descending another trail to the hill foot - then up again. Many trees have been know to block these lanes after stormy weather, but thankfully there was not one blockage today.
All three TTRs were running well and very few badgers had been seen. There were one or two leaning jowlers admitted - but no catastrophes.
At Sidford we called in, as you would, for a pasty and coffee.
It started to spit with rain a bit whilst we were at Siddford, but the three stalwart riders braved the elements and bravely continued on their run.
The Lanes of Pain were encountered in error since Mr TTR misjudged his route and we found ourselves in the ruts before we knew it - we were supposed to have been missing them!
This shot shows the foot of Boulder Lane down which we had just descended.
The sign is quite appropriate but didn't stop us.
A few more gentle lanes around Tipton and West Hill gave enjoyment and then Mr TTR took us on a seldom used trail where the vegetation and badger holes tried their best to deter us. Some of us even had to dismount to limbo under a fallen tree, but I merely wound my mirror in and laid on the tank in true limbo style.
This shot shows the route after the limbo tree ..... before the other riders re-mounted.
A call in to see a fellow biker at Newton Poppleford was next on the list where we all enjoyed a well earned refreshing cup of coffee and a chat.
It was then decided that we would wend our separate ways as we said goodbye to our host and set off homeward bound.
Thanks, Brian, for an impromptu escape from tedious weekend chores, and cheers, Trev. Thanks for the display of acrobatics you gave me, splendid repertoir you have.
I know not how many lanes we did, but the whole escapade took in the region of four and a half hours and I covered in excess of 55 miles from door to door. It was REALLY ejoyable - THANKS.
Believe it or not, Richie, the chasm of Bike Breaker was wetter and deeper than the time before when we did it.
In fact, since the day of this run was the only "dry" day of the week all the lanes were dampish, in places. The bow-waves at Crealy were especially impressive.