Five crash day on the Berkshire Downs

Last Saturday (18th Jan) Zulu and myself met up for a ride on the Berkshire Downs. This being my first ride of the new year I needed to sort out a load of stuff as my gear and bike hadn’t been touched since the last CHEC race back in Oct 2008 – well apart from cleaning them that is.
As the KTM was still sporting the rear trials tyre I knew some spannering was required, so Friday night after dinner I got stuck in and wipped out the race wheel and slotted in the spare complete with enduro loop attached. Next up was the front end. Although the central treads of the tyre were a little worn, the side knoblies had started to break off (from landing long wheelies I think) so I needed to fit another ‘almost new part worn’ I had knocking about the garage. The mousse put up a good fight but I got it out in the end. I did pick up a ‘sports injury’ though. After the first few sections of the tyre was lifted out the bead was fairly tight due to the mousse. I resulted in using a ‘gentle tap’ on the end of the tyre lever to push it down behind the bead. This worked great until the ‘clang clang’ of the hammer hitting the lever turned into a ‘thud’ as the four pound hammer whacked into the back of my hand! I few choice words and one lumpy hand and the tyre eventually came off. Once the mousse was cleaned up and checked for damage it was re-lubed and pushed back into the newer tyre and re-fitted. Using proper tyre lube it slid back on without any problems. A few more bits and pieces were sorted, including the fitting of my flexi plate and I was all done – 50 minutes for the lot!
Getting my riding gear sorted I discovered the ‘empty’ camelback turned out to have a rather fermented orange flavored beer in it –uck! Straight into some Milton for the night would sort that out for the next day. Didn’t stop me leaving it behind on the kitchen worktop though – doh! All this time it was pissing down with rain so I was starting to get less and less enthusiastic about the forthcoming rideout.
Going to bed late it was still raining and when I got up at 7am it was still raining. I checked out the forecast on Sky News who reckoned it was only a band of rain that would clear early on. A few text messages later and after some breakfast I set off for the meeting point a bit later than planned but it was already looking clearer on the horizon even though it was still raining slightly. By the time I got near out meeting spot the sun was shining and I knew we’d made the right choice.

our usual meeting spot - the sun is out - happy days!

Getting kited up it was fairly cold and I was glad I had some winter MSR gloves to use early doors. I carefully packed another pair of semi winter gloves (thor) into a plastic bag, along with a pair of mx gloves to use when the going got warmer. Again good planning was let down by the fact that I forgot to put this bag into my rucksack and they stayed nice and clean in the back of the car! (doh – again).

We set off at roughly half nine and it felt so good to be back out on the bike again. Three months is a long time to be away from the pastime I adore. Now as most will already know the routes are fairly limited now, so we set our sights for Chieveley as per normal.
The going was fairly good on the chalk hill. I had expected something awful but there seamed to be enough grip (for now) and soon we were flying along the Rat Run. I really enjoy riding it in winter as the lack of leaves enable you to see up ahead and ride accordingly – fast but safe.

Capn' Crash - aka Zulu form the TBM forum

Somewhere near Peasmore some work had been done to the Byway with a sign asking people to stay off the route until after 2008, as this was Jan 2009 we carried on. I got a bit worried when I first saw the sign as normally when they talk repairs it means completely flattening it and hardcore over, which completely spoils the route – just like the Ridgeway. Well I needn’t have worried as whoever was in change did a splendid job of just filling the few extra deep ruts with some stone hardcore, leaving the rest of the ruts for us to play in.

old out of date notice, no long applied to us

Crossing the road near the pub we carried on until we got to the bombed out lane. Some 4x4’s had been here and it was in a bit of a mess so we skirted round the worst of it but this area was really slippery as the ground was very waterlogged, so by the time we got to the grass we were breathing hard. I’m not sure but I think Zulu hadn’t been down on the deck at this time, but that was soon to change!

Looking a bit weary after a struggle in the muddy section

muddy muddy

After a quick stop in Great Sheford so Zulu could top up the 525 we carried on, heading for the lanes in the Lambourn area. These lanes were fairly wet with deep puddles but most are fairly solid underwheel so they stand up to traffic well. Coming down Coppington Hill into Lambourn I passed a couple of walkers so slowed right down and waved. Hitting the tar I looked back and there was no sign of Zulu so I spun the bike around and headed back. Almost immediately the 525 came into view with lots of extra grass sticking out from everywhere doing a good camo job. Apparently he’d fallen off right in front of the walkers – who said nothing but gave him a little smile as he picked himself up out of the dirt. Like a night out on the beer this 'broke the seal' so to speak and the tumbles came thick and fast after that!

 
note the gras sticking out the bike in various places!

Heading back down south from Lambourn we turned off to the right and made out way down to cross the tar road near Farncombe Farm. Zulu had been trying out some new suspension setting on his bike so I suggested he give my bike a go so he could compare how his felt against mine. As soon as I pulled away I could feel the extra weight of the bigger engine but it still felt reassuringly KTM. I hit the first few ruts on the climb after the road and was welcomed by the characteristic KTM head shake a well – something I’d not felt on mine since I’d fitted the Scott damper. Overall it did feel very much like my 450, as you’d expect but I thought I’d notice the extra oomph more but that also felt the same as mine.
After the gallops we carried on towards the M4. I let Zulu take the lead for while then gave chase looking for a way past. Unfortunately he moved over into my rut and then had a bit of a wobble. Coming almost to a stop he recovered in a sticky patch and gave the 525 a big handful to get free – completely filling in the front of my bike, my goggles and anything else that up until now had remained clean!
By the M4 I decided to head for Aldbourne instead of the Sugar Hill route as that one has a lot of gates in it and as there was only two of us that can be a pain in the butt. Heading roughly westward from Aldbourne we made our way towards Woodsend on the byways. These lanes start out fairly smooth but turn into a rut feast further on. Clearing the woods Zulu was once again nowhere to be seen so I headed back but before I’d gone very far he came into view again, with some more grass poking out of various holes.

Zulu keeping it shiny side up

adjustments and repairs outside the cafe

By now we were only a short distance from Barbury Castle so we headed for that and the promise of a warm drink and food. The lane leading up to it is one of the best in the area, and although short is nice and hilly with some jumps that are fun to leap off.
Sitting in cafe tucking into a bacon and egg sandwich we both commented what a fantastic day it had been so far and we were really glad we’d come out. I checked the phone for messages and Scott_rider and been in contact asking where we were. He informed us that he was “in a village with a stream running through it” I thought that it was more than likely either Great Sheford or the next one, so I said we should meet at the M4 junction. Not getting a reply we backtracked our route after filling up with petrol near Chiseldon. Zulu had another woopsy after the radio mast I think, the muddy going was starting to take its toll. i was starting to feel the strain in my arms as the winter gloves make it harder to hold on properly and this tires you out. Thinking Scott knew the route to sugar hill a decided to go that way so that we didn’t miss him.

TRO notice by Sugar Hill

just in case you didn't get the idea - stay off!

Unfortunately there is a temp TRO on this route so we headed back the way we came earlier. By the time we’d made it back to the gallops the sun was starting to get low so I knew we’d not find Scott on this rideout. I got a sms saying he was more or less lost and didn’t know where he was, so he was backtracking and going home! Picking up the pace and racing the setting sun we carried on briefly stopping at the petrol station so Zulu could top up his front tyre which had started to go down - he had another off near Chievely.

Cracking on we headed north but near Beedon Common I was alone once again so turned around to find a slightly dazed and sore Zulu looking at his bike on the ground. Neither of us was too sure what had happened as this bit is fairly smooth but somehow he’d head butted the ground fairly hard. I’d like to say this was the last slip up but there could have been another one I’m not sure! All in all a good 100-mile ride, even Zulu enjoyed it – but then again, South Africans are a strange lot! By the way I saw a ‘police traffic incident support vehicle’ on the closed section of the ridgeway, any ideas?

moments after the last (?) crash of the day
who the hell knocked me off?

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