From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

After over two years, I dusted off the KTM and hit the dirt! The
original plan was to go to Washbrook Farm MX this Wednesday, but the
weather looked a bit iffy, and after a two-year chicken period I went
for the closer but slightly more intimidating Wildtracks.

They were running a sequence of five sessions, each 15 minutes (12 in
reality because it takes three or so minutes to clear the track), which
to be honest was fine by me: it was very warm and I'm not exactly in my
teens.

I had to come off track after the first lap: the bike was idling slowly
when I warmed it up, so I raised the idle speed. As the bike warmed up
fully it was idling way too fast.

First session was a bit hairy - a freshly-watered track makes the bike
very squirmy, with the handlebars trying to flap everywhere, which
wasn't great for me given my long break. It's not as if I was ever fast
to start with, though today I wasn't the slowest on track. Not quite.
Err, novice group, as usual. Not helped by me hitting neutral quite
often (despite it being hard to select while stationary) and the bike
jumping out of gear a couple of times. Oddly, it didn't do this in the
later sessions.

The first session was red-flagged for a while, which is different to
tarmac red flags: you just stop on the circuit (on top of the next jump
if it's close enough), so the session can restart quickly. In this case,
a faller just after a big tabletop. This is my greatest fear really;
crashing in the middle of the track where oncoming riders can't see you
and can't stop instantly. This was demonstrated by the fact that a rider
in front of me hit the fallen bike and fell off too. Fortunately no-one seriously hurt.

Second session was much more fun, with the track drier and clear lines developing. It seemed to hold moisture quite well, so didn't get too dusty.

I did one more session, and seemed to be losing it: in tight corners,
running wide off the berms that had built up and as a result bouncing cautiously on the loose dirt outside them with legs flailing, while
faster riders (most of them) nipped past on line.

I haven't cleaned the bike: it does need it but I'm shattered. I suspect
that I'm going to ache tomorrow.
--

CHUMP #1 (CHarge Up Muppet)

Pip

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/08/2026 17:43, PipL wrote:

After over two years, I dusted off the KTM and hit the dirt! The
original plan was to go to Washbrook Farm MX this Wednesday, but the
weather looked a bit iffy, and after a two-year chicken period I went
for the closer but slightly more intimidating Wildtracks.

I've only ever ridden on dirt under my own navigation, never done a
proper course. Maybe I should before too much of me breaks down :-)

I haven't cleaned the bike: it does need it but I'm shattered. I suspect that I'm going to ache tomorrow.

Fun aches though :-)
--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly" http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:

On 02/08/2026 17:43, PipL wrote:

After over two years, I dusted off the KTM and hit the dirt! The
original plan was to go to Washbrook Farm MX this Wednesday, but the
weather looked a bit iffy, and after a two-year chicken period I went
for the closer but slightly more intimidating Wildtracks.

I've only ever ridden on dirt under my own navigation, never done a
proper course. Maybe I should before too much of me breaks down :-)

I'm well past the point of considering MX as a possible activity for
myself. I've ridden off road a bit though, and a two week adventure
doing that was draining enough.

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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 02/08/2026 20:37, YTC1 wrote:

On 02/08/2026 17:43, PipL wrote:

After over two years, I dusted off the KTM and hit the dirt! The
original plan was to go to Washbrook Farm MX this Wednesday, but the
weather looked a bit iffy, and after a two-year chicken period I went
for the closer but slightly more intimidating Wildtracks.

I've only ever ridden on dirt under my own navigation, never done a
proper course. Maybe I should before too much of me breaks down :-)

Intro days are pretty gentle - you get a bike and kit. Might be a bit
tame at first if you've done much off-road but they'll judge you on your abilities, I think.

I haven't cleaned the bike: it does need it but I'm shattered. I
suspect that I'm going to ache tomorrow.

Fun aches though :-)

Mostly! Though I do seem to have a diamond pattern of blisters on the
back of my right knee from the knee brace.
--

CHUMP #1 (CHarge Up Muppet)

Pip
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.motorcycles

On 05/08/2026 15:28, Mark Olson wrote:

YTC1 <ytc1@ytc1.co.uk> wrote:

On 02/08/2026 17:43, PipL wrote:

After over two years, I dusted off the KTM and hit the dirt! The
original plan was to go to Washbrook Farm MX this Wednesday, but the
weather looked a bit iffy, and after a two-year chicken period I went
for the closer but slightly more intimidating Wildtracks.

I've only ever ridden on dirt under my own navigation, never done a
proper course. Maybe I should before too much of me breaks down :-)

I'm well past the point of considering MX as a possible activity for

It wasn't always in my plan to do it :-)

myself. I've ridden off road a bit though, and a two week adventure
doing that was draining enough.

It can be bloody knackering
--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly" http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
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