UK4X4
Expedition Leader
Well after a few days pottering about running the bike in, and a fresh oil change
yesterday I went on my first trail ride with friends...
Oh god I hurt today
The group went from newbie like me to an experienced rally raid rider ..
Being a road biker in the past dirt and gravel was driven round and not over..
In at the deep end was an understatement.
Meet point 0700hrs.....1 off 700ft high dune..
Not the best place to start out on your first day ever off tarmac
Yep I took the chicken route up.
2-3 rd gear and rooster tail of sand, there was no way I was not going to make it up....mmm this cornering on 1 ft deep fluffy torn sand is not easy
Make it to the top.....they than hair off along the ridge of the dune with huge drops either side..
I just keep the gas on and try and point the dam thing in the right direction...not looking over the edges
Make it across the first 1km with no mishaps, then hit a road..
I'm already panting like mad dog in the mid day sun and the rest sprint up the otherside onto a lowers set of scrub and dune to their MX course, I make it up and over and 3/4 of the way around , cresting a peek the bike goes left and I head straight on.
I'm on the sand, the bikes still putting along.
some ones stolen my lungs
I need air- I can hear my newbie shadow asking if I'm OK
Still no air
I manage to get on my hands and knees but still nothing
After a few thumps to my chest my airway opens again with a deep heavy wheeze.
Still can't talk, all I can do is moan like a girl as my lungs strugle to re-inflate themselves
The bikes turned off and gradually the moaning stops .......oh man
No other pain.... I get up still can't really talk, other than to say I'm fine, but just big time winded.
The others do a few laps, while I rest the concencus is back over to the big dune, I make it off the sand and back to the road, then take the sissy route on a dirt track back to the base of the dune.
The others sit on top.....no way Jose...thats enough sand for one day.
After a while the group descends and they's decided to hit a trail..oh good I say...
Yea right a sand filled trail just as chewed up as the big dune, this time though there's trees and bushes either side and that same dam ripped up sand.
oh finally some dirt, at least riding on marbles in a straight line is relatively easy, just the corners suck....whats this rear brake thing....remind brain....rear brake only on marbles.
Hit some washed out sections in the wadi and pick our selves across the rocks
dam ******** and other expletives another sand filled gully, I'm third in the group with rally star leading and another experienced guy second, leaving me weaving my along the trail like a drunk in high wind, with nothing but a diminishing dust trail to follow
Hit a few washed out sections to arrive at a dust filled bowl were Number 2 rider had been doing some somersult practice after hitting the wash too fast and launching himself up the far bank.
He's OK but the rads busted, back to road is the order...for the bike to be picked up later by trailer
everyone heads off in roosters of that foul sand...I'm tired concentrating on nothing but keeping this slippy bad tempered growling cat between my legs and the front wheel heading for my savoir hard pack.
Made it back on the road works track...two head for a trailer, the rest head back to the MX track and I do a wimpy time out and head slowly back to my house, down through the road works
Later over a few beers and a lovely bottle of two of muscatel wine liquer
the days tails are told.
My single dump was rather good compared to some they say, and am no longer a virgin.
Others had multiple small unplanned near misses with tress, inanimate objects and others behind me too fell into the torn sands of Muscat.
The guys who's boots were seen twice during his unplanned flight was undamaged but for his pride, the rad will be replaced or repaired by some happy indian in the wadi kabir workshop souk
Today, I hurt, big time
bad wrist, big welted bruise on my leg, my stomach mussles recently retired from active duty have re-appeared and are complaing about yesterdays abuse
my rib cage hurts and my upper body aches.
The good, well next week another ride and if this smile lasts through to then then I'm doing well
Did I mention a hate the sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yesterday I went on my first trail ride with friends...
Oh god I hurt today
The group went from newbie like me to an experienced rally raid rider ..
Being a road biker in the past dirt and gravel was driven round and not over..
In at the deep end was an understatement.
Meet point 0700hrs.....1 off 700ft high dune..
Not the best place to start out on your first day ever off tarmac
Yep I took the chicken route up.
2-3 rd gear and rooster tail of sand, there was no way I was not going to make it up....mmm this cornering on 1 ft deep fluffy torn sand is not easy
Make it to the top.....they than hair off along the ridge of the dune with huge drops either side..
I just keep the gas on and try and point the dam thing in the right direction...not looking over the edges
Make it across the first 1km with no mishaps, then hit a road..
I'm already panting like mad dog in the mid day sun and the rest sprint up the otherside onto a lowers set of scrub and dune to their MX course, I make it up and over and 3/4 of the way around , cresting a peek the bike goes left and I head straight on.
I'm on the sand, the bikes still putting along.
some ones stolen my lungs
I need air- I can hear my newbie shadow asking if I'm OK
Still no air
I manage to get on my hands and knees but still nothing
After a few thumps to my chest my airway opens again with a deep heavy wheeze.
Still can't talk, all I can do is moan like a girl as my lungs strugle to re-inflate themselves
The bikes turned off and gradually the moaning stops .......oh man
No other pain.... I get up still can't really talk, other than to say I'm fine, but just big time winded.
The others do a few laps, while I rest the concencus is back over to the big dune, I make it off the sand and back to the road, then take the sissy route on a dirt track back to the base of the dune.
The others sit on top.....no way Jose...thats enough sand for one day.
After a while the group descends and they's decided to hit a trail..oh good I say...
Yea right a sand filled trail just as chewed up as the big dune, this time though there's trees and bushes either side and that same dam ripped up sand.
oh finally some dirt, at least riding on marbles in a straight line is relatively easy, just the corners suck....whats this rear brake thing....remind brain....rear brake only on marbles.
Hit some washed out sections in the wadi and pick our selves across the rocks
dam ******** and other expletives another sand filled gully, I'm third in the group with rally star leading and another experienced guy second, leaving me weaving my along the trail like a drunk in high wind, with nothing but a diminishing dust trail to follow
Hit a few washed out sections to arrive at a dust filled bowl were Number 2 rider had been doing some somersult practice after hitting the wash too fast and launching himself up the far bank.
He's OK but the rads busted, back to road is the order...for the bike to be picked up later by trailer
everyone heads off in roosters of that foul sand...I'm tired concentrating on nothing but keeping this slippy bad tempered growling cat between my legs and the front wheel heading for my savoir hard pack.
Made it back on the road works track...two head for a trailer, the rest head back to the MX track and I do a wimpy time out and head slowly back to my house, down through the road works
Later over a few beers and a lovely bottle of two of muscatel wine liquer
the days tails are told.
My single dump was rather good compared to some they say, and am no longer a virgin.
Others had multiple small unplanned near misses with tress, inanimate objects and others behind me too fell into the torn sands of Muscat.
The guys who's boots were seen twice during his unplanned flight was undamaged but for his pride, the rad will be replaced or repaired by some happy indian in the wadi kabir workshop souk
Today, I hurt, big time
bad wrist, big welted bruise on my leg, my stomach mussles recently retired from active duty have re-appeared and are complaing about yesterdays abuse
my rib cage hurts and my upper body aches.
The good, well next week another ride and if this smile lasts through to then then I'm doing well
Did I mention a hate the sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
