Trev and I went along to the start of Day Two of the Axe-to-Exe as we were reserve run leaders. Happily all the run leaders turned up so we weren't needed
I had put a route for the "Tiverton loop" on my GPS just in case I had to lead a group. Not knowing what lanes they would have ridden in East Devon on Day 1, I thought the Tiverton area would almost certainly be new territory.
As we weren't needed, Trev and I decided not to put the route to waste so decided to ride it. It's probably over a year since I rode that area so that sounded a great plan!
Not sure why but we took more videos than photos today.
The first lane of the day was a shocker! It used to be a typical Devon lane with high banks and a rocky bed. Unfortunately the 4x4 boys have found it. They take up the full width of the lane and the wheels scrabble in the hedge banks pulling the earth into the lane turning into a mud bath
Pug would love it!!!!!
I took a short video of Trev coming through a particularly snotty bit.
I took another video of Trev going down another typical Devon lane. Sadly the video doesn't do this ancient lane justice! I could imagine a line of pack horses travelling along it a century or so ago.
Another favourite lane where a section of it runs along a slaty river bed. Not seen the water level so low here before.
Watery lane at Lower Claw
A short clip of Trev crossing a small ford at Cotton Farm lane. Another ancient trackway.
To cut a long story short, great day out on the lanes with my brother!
That's three days riding out of the last four so my guess is that I will be fit for nothing tomorrow
Brian
PS Some random photos taken during the day just to show a bit more of the Tiverton lanes:
An excellent day of trail riding, those Tiverton lanes are just what a TTR needed Could not have asked for better weather in April, spot on! Plus the TTR came home intact, just needed a wash and fuel and she is ready for the next Devon adventure
Home ground Brian have not been up Dandy lane this year if you think it's bad now try it in the wet of winter Shure to give you a sweat on. we got a few more miles between the lanes up this way but they are worth it 192-015 Bickleigh and 192-033 close to Silverton love the long climbs up them. my number one is 191-007 Poughill or watery lane as we call it up this way best run in winter after a good fall of rain you need a foot of water on it to see it at it's best the wet climb up the end of that can see many a to twitchy throttle KTM slide back down as the TTR thump's on past them
Dandy Lane was on my route to ride uphill on the way home but we gave that a miss!
The lane density wasn't great today - 26 lanes in 68 miles - but worth the effort.
We rode 192-015 uphill - one of my favourite lanes - and it seemed easier than the last time I rode it but you need to save some energy for the last 20 yards as it has a sting in the tail.
We also rode 192-033 which is where we took the pic of the two TTRs "resting". Cracking lane - lovely long climb that seems to go on and on
191-007 is where we shot the stream video - hardly any water in there today. I confess that I made it look harder than it was
There are a couple of nice technical bits in 192-001 which is worth going out your way for
Trev kindly power washed my TTR whilst I made him a cuppa when we returned to base yesterday and I took her for a run later to fully dry her out, particularly the chain. My old bones were aching today so I did a bit of fettling. LH indicator and heated grips had packed up so they were first on the list. Both were simple breaks in wires so soon mended plus I fitted a new rocker switch to the heated grips as the old one was a bit notchy.
After a run to the Post Office with today's parcels, I changed the oil and filter. Although I hadn't done a high mileage since the last change, the gear change was getting a bit stiff which is my signal to change the oil to get it back into silky smooth action
looks great i like that you can stop.off have a drink and a feed and keep on riding .linking great lanes together . The thing I find hard to fathom is those tracks were probably in use well before good old Australia was even heard of . Is that why so many are well below the surounding land from years of use
might be hard to believe but in my local forest i have only come across other bikes or people seven times in.the last thirty four years dont have to share
-- Edited by ttboof on Tuesday 21st of April 2015 11:58:02 AM
Lot's of the Green Lanes as we call them are old roads track's right's of way that have been in use for hundreds of years for country people to move livestock an get around with out stepping on His Lordships Land sort of thing. some are Roman roads and as you said over the years some have become sunken lanes some are down to bed rock. lot's had a coat of the black top when car's where invented. we have lanes down hear that have lost the black top and gone back to how they use to be. they are trying to nick them back as foot path's and bridle ways from us all the time so we have to fight to keep them by using them and having proof that we use them and putting up a fight for each one they try and take.
Here is a video of a new member doing really well (seriously - its a bl**dy hard lane) on the Devil's Steps down in South Devon - just to give an idea as to what else to expect in Devon
That is one of them lanes I got there late one afternoon and a days riding its fearsome reputation had been read on the TRF map overlay's a number of times. I was on me tod so had a walk up from the bottom to about half way I fell over two times said the fu**ing hell no way jose'. but am not one to give up so went round to the top and came down it feet an leg's flailing like a bush whacker till I made it out the bottom. I will be back one day..................