HUMM 2010 - Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness in the Pyrenees
 

HUMM 2010 - Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness

HUMM 2010, July 27-29

This is the 4th Annual Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness (HUMM) event. A two and a HALF-day, no GPS, ON or OFF-road orienteering event in the eastern Pyrenees of Catalunya, Spain and Andorra. Test your map reading and navigation skills, find hidden secrets and enjoy the fabulous riding. The roads are amazing, the scenery is breath-taking, and the people are wonderful - so why not come on down with us in 2010?!

Lots of improvements added, so check it out!

See the reviews and comments on the 2009 event here on the reg page, and here on the HUBB.

See you there!

Anyone need a new member to their team
 

Hi Guys
I have done the event for the last 3 years, with a group of friends, however they are unable to make it next year, I would love to do the event in 2010, but haven’t got a team anymore.
Question: does anyone or group need a new member to their team?
I would be doing the off road event, I am 40, competent rider both on and off road, will probably be doing it on a KTM 450 or a TTr 250. I do it for fun and am not really in it to win it, No one can beat the 2 Ian's anyway.
If anyone can squeeze me into their team I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks
Tony

P.S
I am very easy going,
map reading skills are ok,
just as happy sitting at the back following along as I am up front map reading..
As long as I am on my bike I am happy.
Sometimes drink a little too much red wine, and smoke a few too many ciggies.

Tony, not to worry - we normally have at least a half dozen looking for team mates, and we've done well matching them up - they've won in the past!

Get yourself registered and closer to the event we'll match up those who are still unmatched. And in the meantime, keep looking for team mates.

How technical is the off road option?
 

This would be my first time and I'm contemplating doing the off road course 2up on an F800GS, but am concerned the course might be a bit too technical. Is it mostly gravel fire road type stuff or tight forrest tracks or 100's of river crossings?

I noticed on the form it's an option so people clearly do it, are they completely mad like me?! :eek3:

Yes.

Been done, and they didn't do badly either, but - and there's always a but - your pillion will be walking on occasion! A rider did it with his teenage son on the back last year, and there was some muttering about the amount of walking he had to do (remember teenage ;)) but they both said they had a great time anyway, and they'd be back this year - on two bikes!

So yes, it's quite doable. MOSTLY fire roady stuff - but definitely some tougher stuff too. Remember though that you can always choose a different route if it's too hard. It's NOT A FIXED COURSE. And according to Austin, who laid out the course, it's ALL RIDEABLE by any reasonably competent rider on any bike with off-road pretensions, without pushing or carrying anywhere.

With any luck we'll be able to team you up with another pillion pair, but no guarantees.

See you there!

Grant

Newbies need Team member
 

Hi speeding Stag,

Myself and 2 other friends have recently completed Enduro africa for the first time and loved it. The 3 of us are looking to take part in HUMM and after seeing your post - you could be exactly wehat we need - an experienced team member.

If you are interested in joining our team - we would love to have you. We would be entering the off road under 650 category.

best regards


Paul:thumbup1:

Hello Speeding Stag and others,

I'm also looking for a partner for the HUMM 2010. This will be my first time doing something like this. Riding a Honda Transalp (xl600v) and having a little off-road experience this 40 yr-old is in for some madness!
You can contact me by clicking my name above.

Gina

Hi Guys
sorry for the delay in my reply, I have found a friend that has registered, so we are now two, if anyone would like to join us you are more than welcome.
PM me if interested
:scooter:

Doable on a GS Adventure?
 

Hi guys - bit of a forum lurker here making a first appearance! Very keen on doing the HUMM this year, but concerned that my bike is just too big!!

I ride a 1200 GS Adventure (I know, I know - but I also have a Kawa KDX220 for real off roading if that makes up for it), and the question is simple - will I be able to ride the HUMM on the adv without a) falling over lots; b) wrecking my bike; c) wrecking myself and d) making my mates (on 400/650s) wait for me all the time!?

I'm sure it is possible, but I want to have a fun time, not batter myself senseless lugging the beast around all the time. I've done a fair bit of off roading, but not on the 1200.

Do many do it on a big bike like that and what do others who've done it before think?

My mates are pestering me to sign up, but I'm hesitating a bit - let me know your thoughts!

Thanks
:thumbup1:

That's a little tricky to answer - but first, have you read the previous event reports on the reg page? The overall winner or over 645 class has always been an R1200GS or two. (Not an Adventure) In fact last year First in the over 645 class was a 1200GS and Africa Twin team, and second was a pair of 1200GS's.

So obviously you can do well on them! But it comes down to your experience on a big bike, and to a small extent your willingness to scratch it up a bit. The winning 1200GS last year ripped his skidpan right off and holed his crankcase on day one, fixing it with JB Weld trailside, then went on to win. And someone else holed his too, so if you're riding hard you'll want to think about better crankcase protection. There are rocks out there!

If you ride the 220 you MIGHT have a better time, and will fit in with the other bikes in your team for the under 645 class. Mixed sizes can ride, but they have to choose one class or the other - and have both the advantages - and disadvantages - of each size bike.

Big bikes slow off road, fast on, small bikes fast on trails, slow on road.
Mixed = slow everywhere - or fast enough everywhere?

That's one of the challenges - getting the bike choice and class right! :)

One team last year was a 1200GS with dog on the tank, and an F800GS with a passenger, and a couple of other assorted bikes. They sure didn't win, but had a good time, and that's what counts.

You're worried about them waiting for you - well, you'll be waiting for them on the road!

For those who have ridden it in the past, what do you think?

We're still undecided about doing the event this year. Not because we don't want to but we've only got limited holidays for the next 3 or 4 years. If we do come we'll probably leave the Harley's at home and come on smaller bikes to do the off-road event. But one bike is 640cc and the other is 654cc so can we both enter the same class? Don't care which one, we're certainly no threat to the competition!

For the purposes of the HUMM, we'd call you under 645 class.

Technically, "Mixed sizes can ride, but they have to choose one class or the other - and have both the advantages - and disadvantages - of each size bike."

In your case it's a technical detail that one is over and the other under.

See you there!

Grant

Lucky Boy
 

Hi all, My wife has been so kind as to book me up for HUMM this year as a surprise Xmas present (I know, she's too good to me).

I've got requests out with a few buddy's to make a team, but it's not looking too hopeful at the moment, so I may need to tag along with some others if possible...

• I'm looking at hiring a KTM 450. (I ride a 990ADV for commuting and travels and a Yamaha WR250F for my dirt habit at home)

• I'm not great a reading maps (though will practice until then, promise)

• I'm looking at doing off-road, off-road, off-road and off-road

• I'm 37, staying at the main hotel and like a drink (or two)

Any offers would be great. Cheers, Paul.

First timer
 

Hi all

I've just signed up for this years HUMM. :clap:
It's the first time I'm trying this, but I'm really looking forward to participate.

I'll participate on a 2003 Honda XRV 750 and have enlisted in the above 645 ccm offroad class.
If you have any available space on your team, please contact me. :mchappy:

I'm 42, live in Copenhagen Denmark and have been riding for 5 years.
In 2012, my girlfriend and I are planning on going from Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia, so this event is considered kind of a training session, in regards to gaining some offroad experience.
Map skills should be adequate. I've been in the Danish army reserves for about 15 years, so no problems there.

Looking forward to meet you all.

BR. from Copenhagen /Lars

Looking For Teammates.
 

Hi everyone,

I am looking for other riders in the off-road under 650.
I am 45 have an xr400 and live in Kent. I have ok/good riding skills, did 2000 miles on pistes in Morocco last year (and only fell off about 30 times! so getting better).

I know it is possible to get matched up as a solo rider..but i am more concerned with sorting out transport down to Spain.

PM or email me if interested.
Phin

In The Dark About This
 

Hi i am thinking about doing the (HUMM) my bike has a daytime mot (no lights) is this legal in spain. Do i need lights i will be takeing my bike to spain by van.

MOT (ITV) in Spain
 

Hi there Steve,
Maybe I can shed some light.
The situation here in Spain is strict, when we take our bikes for ITV (the Spanish equivalent of an MOT) everything has to be in place.
The Spanish system is different (don't we know it!) and there are only a few government ITV stations, it's very strictly controlled, there's no village garage with the ability to test for ITV.
So everything has to be as it should, lights, horn, mirrors, tyres, emissions etc all have to be functioning correctly (basically how the bike was homologated into Spain).
So we re-set our Enduros, take them to the ITV centre, take the test and then re-set them when they come back.

So under this ruling you'd think the answer to your question would be NO!
However, as your bike is not Spanish registered it does not fall under the same ruling.
As the UK is in the EU, the legal requirements of your country prevail.
That is to say, provided the vehicle is not here in Spain for more than six months (three if you are resident) and it is legal in your country, it is legal here.

So the answer to your question, is in fact, YES, it is legal! :funmeteryes:

However, something for everyone to bear in mind is that you must have all of your documentation with you at all time when you are on your bike.
This means current V5 (in your name), MOT (if required), road tax and insurance. You also need to prove who you are on demand (passport).
Copies of these documents are not acceptable!
In Spain you can go to a Notary (Notario) and have your documents copied in the Notary's presence, he/ she will stamp and sign the documents to legalise them, otherwise you require the originals.

What happens if I don't have my document on me? :nono:

Your bike will be impounded (they normally take you to the nearest petrol station), you will be given a form and you have to wait there (don't move the bike!) until someone either comes to recover the bike or brings your papers.
Then you telephone the number you have been given on the form and the police come back and witness either the collection (trailer or van) of your bike or the provision of documents. You can then move the bike.
Don't be tempted to move it without sign off, the consequences are not amusing!
So it's pretty inconvenient not to have your papers with you, as you can see!:oops2:

Hope this helps, please feel free to contact us if you need any further information, we'll be there supporting the HUMM and with our rental bikes of course.
All the best and safe riding,
Tim
:mchappy:

No longer in the dark
 

HI Tim thanks clearing that up, i have mot tax and insurance .so i am good to go :Dsteve.

Humm 2010
 

HI guys
I have been looking at this years HUMM and think it would be just wot i want to do,got the time off work and could go from the 23rd of july but all my mates are doing other things and i have got no one to go with :(would any one mind me tagging one with them or starting a new team ,id be going on my r1200gs from stoke on trent and i could meet up with others on the way or at Dover , ive been trail riding about 12 years, a trf member ,am 39years old and could be talked into havin the odd drink or 10,any ideas would be, great ; cheers Dave :scooter: (billy no mates)

Tim was spot on there with his advice - can't think of anything useful to add, other than both parts of your driving licience of course. Tim - have you found this out from experience?

TeamCat?
 

Hi,

I'm another solo newbie - maybe this topic should become a dating agency :thumbup1:

I'm well keen on registering for the Mountain Madness together with Klaus, my BMW G650 X-Country. I live part-time in Tarragona, along the coast near Barcelona, and part-time in the Catalan Pyrenees!

OK, my credentials, or lack of them:

Age: the wrong side of fifty - just.
Experience: 1975 - 82-ish (can't remember exactly, it's the tablets you know!) :scooter:Triumph T140 Trident, Ducatis; 350 Mac III and 450 Desmo, Laverda 750 SF2* - what a silly, silly boy!

Off-road: just getting the hang of it in the Pyrenees but plenty of free time to pratise before July - including in those very same hills!

Motivation: riding-wise I'm just along for the craic really, not a competitive type . . . so no neck-breakers on the team please!

Map reading: actually quite good, used to do 'real' orienteering as a cadet in school.

Secret weapon: I speak Spanish and Catalan, so I can always ask for diretions, and perhaps better, remember unpronouncible place names like Castellar de n' Hug - which means (Baron) Hugo's domain -or Bosc de l'Orri d'Andreu - the woods of Andy's sheep fold! :D

Habits: clean in thought, word and deed - can be pursuaded to imbibe!

So maybe there is a potential team: 'Team Cat-attack'**, i.e. me, Barcelona Pat possibly, or anyone else from around here.

My bike is 652 cc's so I'm with the big boys I guess :(, but could you clarify this Grant, as there seems to be some leeway - I mean what's seven cc's between friends! I'm not sure if Pat is interested or just being helpful about the headlights issue above, as his profile bike is a Suzuki VL800.

So, I've gone ahead and registered self with the provisionally named 'Team Cat-attack' in the over 650 cc fun-loving, easy-going category - so let's wait and see.

Regs

Simon

* which of course ended up in Brighton bankruptsy court - only joking!
** or should that be Team Cardiac-arrest!

Simon, you're over 645cc, so that's it! :)

IF you have a team member with an UNDER 645cc bike, then you can choose whether your team will be in the under or over class, as discussed above.

The reason for the break at 645 is that an F650, KLR650 etc are all effectively in the same class as a 1200GS - big and heavy offroad, with a good turn of speed on the road - COMPARED TO a DR350 or KTM 525EXC or TTR250 or similar serious small and light off-road bikes, that are slow on the road.

And just a little note - the over 645 class is HARDER than the under 645 class - the overs have won overall every year.

hope that makes sense!

If you're having trouble getting a team mate, no worries, go ahead and register and get yourself sorted, we can easily team you up with some compatible folks - in fact the dominant team over the years, "The Two Iains", we originally teamed up! :mchappy:

Keep looking and discussing it here, that's great, but if you don't find someone by closing date no problem, we'll find you a team mate so you'll be ready to :scooter:

Hi Pat thanks for bringing that up ,i have old type GB licience (one part) is this a problem .. steve

Evenin' all,

Thanks for the quick adjudication Grant, no problems at all on that score.

One question/doubt though:, what do you mean by harder? More difficult than the under 650, longer, steeper, through tickets of rotating knives (only joking :innocent:). Seriously, the way I read it, the teams get to plan their own route around the checkpoints and use their own judgement about how tough the trail is likely to be - is this the case? Sorry to be so naive, it's tough being a virgin you know!

Slightly more seriously, are all the legalities checked out. The thorny issue of organised motorsports in controlled nature reserves has cropped up in the press again lately here in Catalona. I know that if one goes wrong the fine can be severe, especially for the organisers. But bearing in mind I have Spanish plates I'd get no quarter from the Constabulary if there was a bust. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to put a dampener, but it is a live issue!

I could try to look up the regs if that will help, but you know what you're organizing and where not me.

Regs

Simon

I love the idea of rotating knives, may we should mount them on the wheels - sounds like Roman chariots! :)

By tough I meant harder to win - the fastest guys are in the over class - as in the overall winners have been on over 645s every year. But then some of us like a challenge ;)

Always interested in what's happening. We're not there, so hard to keep up with the latest. Please find out what you can and email me,
thanks, Grant

Hi Grant et al,

This is the controversial law:

DECRETO 166/1998, de 8 de julio, de regulación del acceso motorizado al medio natural.


Which means '. . . of the regulation of motorised access to the natural environment' - well, that's lawyers for you!


I can't find a version in English, nor am I a lawyer, so I won't offer to translate. It's all common sense really, but all laws sound horrendous. I think the key is in how seriously it's been, or is about to be, implemented and enforced - a complicated issue in Spain! But the important areas are:

• what is a forest road? - answer just about everything, but the authorities can prohibit bikes on anything less that 2 metres wide and they can also limit or prohibit access in designated areas - but all of these must be signalled (section 5)
• blanket speed limit of 30 kph unless it is an organised sporting event (section 10)
• definition of informal groups and organized groups (section 19) - if you're all going the same way following a route, your an organised group
• size limit of informal groups is 7, i.e. six I guess (section 20), above that and you're a mob! - or perhaps by default an organized group
• organized groups must get permission (section 21 - which also lists the, not too difficult, conditions for compliance - famous last words!)
• indemnity - a sum of money has to be paid up front to cover material damage caused by an organized event (section 29)
• the fines I was talking about range from light (€60-300), through severe (€300 - 3,000), and then very severe (3,000 - 30,000) (section 37)

I guess the lesson is either get organized or pretend we're all there by coincidence. Oh and by the way, you also have to have your documentation on you, including details/personal registration of the event.

On a brighter note, if you haven't heard back from the Local Authority within 15 calendar days of your application to run the event, "En el caso de que éstos no se pronuncien en el plazo de 15 días naturales . . . ésta se entenderá otorgada por silencio positivo." you can take that as permission to ride! (section 21.1)

OK, well I wish I hadn't started this. I probably sound like some sort of crazy paranoid urban legal freak - which I'm not - but as I said before, the issue has been raised again lately. There's talk on Spanish and Catalan bike forums, which I can keep an eye on, but as a non-native speaker it's hard to sort out the wheat from the chaff amongst people who, for very good reason, have a high sensitivity to infringements of what they deem as their rights to free speech/association/roaming, etc., and sadly it's all too common for hyperbole to rule.

I'd better sign off now and dream sweet dreams of mountains, pastures, mud holes . . .

Simon

Hi chip eater

Count me in - I don't think it's gonna be a problem to team up with someone this year - It seems there's a lot of lonely riders out there.:thumbup1:

BR. from Copenhagen /Lars

OK, panic over.

I've now found the archive of the debate. This year's controversy is that the law, which has proven to be unworkabe, should be revised. The relevant minister promised this over a year ago but nothing has happened.

One of the motorbike organisations* has brought the subject up and that was what all the fuss was about. The answer was a big flo on the law, basically the view is that with the financial crisis no-one needs more expensive regulation, so for the tie being everyone just plods along as ever - only a very few green lanes are prohibited and signposted and there are precious few forestry police around to enfroce those that are!

Anyone who speaks Catalan can see the video here - but you'll have to select the 'Tema del dia', theme of the day, for 10/2/2010

Grant, I would send you the programme by email if I know what your address is!

Cheers

Simon
* in fact it was two NGOs led by the same bloke, Jaume Mimó, the Federació Catalana de Motociclisme and the Associació Catalana d'Access al Medi Natural

Phew and it's only Monday morning!

Thanks Simon, That's good to hear - we didn't think there was a problem, but you did get us worried - nice to have it confirmed that all is good! :mchappy:

Contacting me is easy - see the Contact link at the bottom of every page, Or click my name at the top of the post, and "Send email to...", or: My name is Grant, and I'm at HorizonsUnlimited - easy! :)

thanks for checking into that and bringing it to our attention, we'll be be keeping an eye out. Anything further you hear, please let me know.

see you in the Pyrenees!

Yes, glad that's over. Now all I have to think about is joining/forming a team!

Quite happy to take to luck on the day, of course, but it would be good to built some kind of a taem beforehand, bonding, all that sort of stuff.

So - anyone with a 650-ish single, not too interested in the competitve edge, likes/interested in good food and wine, jazz, gsoh . . .:cool4:

We put teams together as of close of registration end of JUNE, so lots of time to do a team-building weekend sky-diving or a meditation retreat... ;)

Van.....
 

Steve, I've an XR400 - any room in your van? Share costs/share driving......:innocent:

I did the HUMM in 2008 on a GS1150A with a friend on a 1989 Africa twin. Other than a deep and rapid water crossing we managed most routes - albeit with a little damage - but had a great laugh doing it. We are back this year on a Tenere (for me), and a KTM950 (for Ashley). We are riding there and back and happy to extend the team out to any remaining single riders out there. Talljohn.

Flying in?
 

I am hopefully getting my bike and kit taken down for me as I am tight on time this year.
I am flying into Barcelona on Monday night from Luton and hiring a car to travel up to La Molina.
After the event on Friday morning I am going back down to Barcelona airport to pick up my other half who is flying in at 1400hrs before we head South for the weekend.
Anyone who wants a lift in either direction let me know.
Leaving Barca @ 22:30 Monday 26th .... going back to Barca for 14:00 Friday 30th.

Simo-n-ice... we must meet up for a beer at the event ... Im 'part time' there too... a bit further South toward Tortosa... have a couple of lightweight traillies down there.

Maybe Cat-Attack is on!
 

Evenin' all,

There may be a team Cat-Attack* in the making! davontour, yamaha Tenéré, has replied to my plaintive wails and we may be meeting up and talking turkey. So we seem to be in the 650 league, soft riding styles preferred and, easy on the jazz! :innocent:

Furthermore, thanks to Barcelona Pat - there's also a possibility of a seperate meet for all in the Catalonia/Pyrenees region in late March, although the two could overlap.

So, thanks to talljohn for your encouragement, and 'Hello' to part-time neighbour Harv - I live full-time in the city of Tarragona, just to the north of you in Tortosa, and part-time in the Pyrennees north of Lleida. - a beer somewhere sometime would be very welcome Harv!

Watch this space! :D

Cheers

Simon

* the name 'Cata-Attack' is by no means fixed!

Whats the average age? Havent planned anything yet for this summer, im 23 In July. Looks like a fun event. 2 bad most of my mates that ride motorcycle ride sport bikes.

Age range last year was 15 to errhmm, around 60-ish! :) 23 is fine, we had several in that range last year.

Average? probably 30's-40's. It's not a wild drunken party for sure, everyone's pretty focussed on getting in the most and best riding they can.

Sport bikes CAN ride the road event, but if they ride at hyper velocity for the whole two days they'll end up in jail or hospital. If they ride sensibly, they'll have a blast. OR they can ride their sport bikes there, and hire some great dirt bikes, getting the best of both worlds.

See you there!

Team Cat-Attack bears its claws!
 

The Fates were benign last Saturday when davontour and myself arranged to meet in the Pyrenean town of Berga. The sun shone, the birds sang and, amazingly, we ran straight into each other in the town centre, which is much larger than either of us had imagined!

So, the upshot is that it seems we meet eye to eye and have the making ¡s of a team for the Big Event. It's not an exclusive club, however, so if anyone likes the look of our corporate profile please get in touch with either of us. Here goes:

Bikes: 650/750 singles
Location: Catalonia; this is not too important but may come in handy for our possible training weekends - see below
Objectives: to finish the course, preferably in one piece and to have a great time doing it - we are NOT out to win any prizes!
Style: consensus over coersion; that is to say "No awkwards sods!"
Age (not the bikes!): let's just say we're into the grey zone
Sex: strictly by appointment!

We've decided to stay at the hotel during the event and I at least will then carry on camping further south in the Pre-Pyrenees, if anyone wants to tag along that'll be fine - I know some pretty awsome routes!

In the spirit of the event we've decided not to do our training sessions in La Molina, even though that would be the most convienient place for us both to meet. Instead we may have a few training sessions in a TOP SECRET desert location way to the south of the Pyrenees! So ideally, anyone joining the team should be able to travel to the Catalonia/Aragon border sometime around may/June. But this is a) not finalised and b) not essential!

I guess that's it for now - purrrrrrr! :smiliex:

Team Cat-Attack bears its claws!
 

Simon / Davontour
Were you thinking of off-road or sticking to the black stuff (not referring to guiness of course ..but then again ...hmmm!)? We can discuss more at end of the month - but despite my bike sounding like a tractor, I don't think it'd get through the mud!

Like the approach - and starting to think seriously about doing it - though it would have to fit in with my big summer ride. Curious that you say you are more on the grey side - I too seem to have more colour on my chin these days than on the top of my head!

Off on travels again t'morrow - so won't be checking in for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to 27 or 28th.
Cheers

Cat- Attack - getting bigger by being better?
 

Attachment 3068Hi Pat, great to hear from you, although sorry we seem to have been ships that pass in the night, perhaps!

First the bad news - yes David and I are into going on the off-road circuit, both our bikes and our boots are geared up for it. But bearing in mind your bike I had wondered about signing you up as our official groupie - an honorary position that only requires ceremonial duties of course, not the Full Works :innocent:

On a brighter note I see that there is a possibilty of renting a bike through the HUMM team - don't know if that would suit?

In the meantime - let's have a great time on March 27/28th. I blazed the trail after meeting David last weekend - before the blizzard but it didn't exactly feel like it! Note the interesting effect of the Great Snow that paralysed Catalonia during the week of March 8th and a timely reminder to allow extra braking distance during adverse weather conditions!

Cheers

Simon

Team Cat-attack springs into action!
 

Spring - geddit? Oh well, never mind. In the first few days of spring the severe weather relented and gave David a window through the snow to meet at the best place to cross the Pyrenees, the Gate of the Good Water (in keeping with the Top Secret nature of our training, all locations are given in cryptic clues!), so we were able to have a session of team building and pre-training, er, training!

Attachment 3172

After a brief tour of the valley and its amazing roads, and surreal sights, - here we have Gaudi on a Natural High, perhaps - we headed off to a good supper and rest at our Top Secret Mountain Hideout.

Attachment 3161

Sadly, David was only able to stay for one night so we were only able to trail lite as his Tenere was fully laden from his madcap trip to Britain - just to have a set of bespoke panniers fitted!

Attachment 3173

Nevertheless Team Cat-attack was able to see some of the splendours of the region - none the worse for the imminent return of inclement weather - at exactly 1,676 metres I'm not sure if this is low cloud or high fog!

Attachment 3163

Not to forget Barcelona Pat, who, having declined the honour of being Team Cat-attack's own Groupie, despite its purely ceremonial rôle, is the Team Cat-attack Fan Club's member #1 - and, being the only member thus far, the de facto President of same.

Attachment 3164

Pat and I met last Saturday at the official Team Cat-attack greasy-spoon biker's caff - Can Pere (Pete's Place - and far from greasy, the food's excellent!). Following the meet an excellent day's riding was had by both despite the vastly different approaches to the biking experience of said Cat-attackers!:funmeteryes:

As well as introducing President Pat to some of the marvels of the region, Simon's unerring sense of where to get a good scoff led to the new offical Team Cat-attack restaurant, canteen*, and bar near Berga where Pat, evidently a gourmet of some stature, was able to sample a hitherto unknown (to him!) local speciality, rabbit cooked in a chocolate sauce, while Simon gorged himself - at Pat's expense :innocent: - on cap-i-pota, a dish meaning 'head-and-hoof', or in this case trotter:- a marvel of unctuous gastronomy for lovers of tripe, brawn, faggots and other offalatic (ouch!) delights!

So far so good. The next training session is as yet unplanned; either at a Top Secret location near the Costa Brava, of once again in the Pre-Pyrenees. The original desert training weekend is still on for late June/July, but so far its location is so Top Secret even Team Cat-attack doesn't know where it is yet!

Meanwhile, counterfeit membership cards of Team Cat-attack are now known to be changing hands at prices upwards of 1,000,000 shares in Google.cn, so prospective members should contact either Simo-n-ice or davontour for a prospectus!

Regs

Simon

* that's another cryptic clue

Fuel
 

Hello- This is my first post here, and my first time going to HUMM!

I'm riding my Yamaha WR250R to the event from Germany.:scooter:

Unfortunately this thing only has a 2 gallon tank and can make it about 100 miles between fill-ups when riding hard off-road.

In the past, how long have the off-road riding days been? Miles/Hours? I'm trying to figure out if I should buy an aftermarket tank ($$$) and/or how many MSR or Rotopax bottles I should bring along.

Welcome!

Your tank size is small, but there are fuel stops at many of the small towns - they are marked on the map. Most teams stop for lunch in one of the towns, so pick one that has fuel and you're fine. You should carry a litre or so extra to be sure, but you're also running with others in your team - so as long as someone has a big tank and you bring a siphon hose you should be fine! :) And a litre container is a handy way to transfer fuel too.

We also have the event mid-week because fuel can be hard to get on the weekend! (Medical and other support can be difficult on the weekend too.)

Start time is 0800, and check in is 1800, so it's a good long day but not a killer.

have fun!

Hi Folks

Another loner here considering joining the fold. I rode the humm in 08 (when Grant was able to link me up with a team) and thought I might give it another go this year since it is in the school holiday again.

Although I'm on a 652cc bike, above the 645 boundary, I would probably prefer to link up with some smaller bikes. For all my bike is a BMW, being an Xchallenge it is a dirt bike, not an off road tourer. I would rather ride the trails than head out on the road to the farthest points for the highest score.

I checked ferry prices today (from Plymouth) and got prices of £470 rtn to santander or £160 to roscoff. Looks like I will be going via roscoff then. I would expect to take a couple of days to ride down (I rode my ccm back to roscoff in a day last time but it was a bit of a mission). I'm going to hang fire on booking anything for a couple of days in the hope that somebody may be up for joining me on this side and riding down together. I'm also thinking about a day or more riding off road along the pyrenees before or after the event. I have some useful GPS routes for this.

I am pretty good with navigation, competent rather than blisteringly fast off road and enjoy a few glasses of beer or wine. I'm planning to camp as well (exiled scottish cheapskate) if that makes a difference.

Cheers
Rossi

My team mates from last year can't make it so I'm looking for someone to ride with.

Last year was great fun and although we said we wouldn't take it too seriously, we were a bit fired up on day 2, having done quite well on day 1, and we came in 3rd in the over 645 group.

I will be taking it seriously this year and I'm looking for one or two others to team up with.

I can read a map but some of the checkpoint descriptions are a bit cryptic for me (or just plain misleading) so you need to be a bit of a lateral thinker.

Update:

We have finally been able to make some welcome changes to required dates for booking and ordering stuff, so the good news is that registration will PROBABLY be OPEN till JUNE 29. See below for details!

Posted on the event page:

Important: Registration closes when we are FULL!
OR...

And yes we will REMOVE the registration form and post a note that we're full and registration is closed.
Otherwise the following holds:

The HUMM 2010 event registration fee is £159, payable in full by May 31 or within 7 days of registration after that date.

No refunds after May 31.

After May 31 to June 29, you can still register at £179.

June 29 to the event day - Yes you can register, but: £199, and you will NOT get a tshirt. Hotel space may or may not be available. You may get a photocopied booklet and map!
------------------------------------------------

We can put teams together before then if you ask, or we will wait till closing date and put them together then, which of course gives us the most flexibility.

Just registered for the HUMM 2010:clap: and simply can't wait.

My boyfriend will be going too, but I hope Susan and Grant will put us on seperate teams. More fun this way.

I ride a BMW F650GS and I have been riding for about 2 years. Done some gravel and off road, but not a lot. However I compensate with enthusiasme and willingness to experiment. :mchappy:

See you all in Spain :palm:

Henriette, Copenhagen

Hello all, Henrietta, and to start with, Rossi!

I'm planning to continue my trip in the Pyrennees after the HUMM and I'd be fascinated to talk about your routes. I live in the pre-Pyrenees near Tremp, southwest of La Molina and have some great routes there that I can show you. Next week my teammate in Team Cat-attack and I are going to splice them all together into what I hope to be well over 100 kms of virtually continuous off-road. We'll be making a 'circumnavigation' of the Conca de Tremp, which is a huge depression surrounded by very varied limestone Sierras - you can get an idea from my earlier posts and I'll be making a googlemap of the route when I eventually get home in two weeks time!

On the Friday after the HUMM I'll be catching up with Mrs S at a super campsite, Camping Collegats, where we have booked a plot as we have a small but raucous pack of huskies, called 'The Pack', so we have to plan ahead, especailly at that time of year. So that's the day to plan a cross mountain route from La Molina. I won't be able to ride with you on the Saturday as I'll be doing a turn-around at our holiday cottage nearby, while Mrs S gets 'her' BMW G650 X-Country back! To this end I'd very much like to pick your brains about your Beemer, as I'm thinking about this a second bike. My main worrry is the seat height.

Now for Henrietta, and indeed anyone else: Team Cat-attack is open to all, see our 'manifesto' for details! This includes you Rossi, but I guess you're looking for a bit more action!

Cheers

Simon

Maps for HUMM 2010
 

What Map(s) do we need for this years HUMM?

I know we are sent one as part of the entry fee/riders notes, but want to make sure we have a spare, and enough for 1 each in the team!

Thx
Mike.

The maps were sent last Tuesday, so your team mate should have the map Mike.

FWIW - the map is #14, Bergueda. Available from Sanfords if you want an extra.

We have a couple of extras just in case of a disaster.

Hello Grant,

I mailed you a few weeks ago asking about the maps and Susan told me that this year they would be handed out on arrival - so can you clarify the above two posts?

This is particularly important as I'm now in the wilds of Galicia until the day before the HUMM so a) I can't recieve the map at my address, and b) I can't get to any map shop for another copy, which is why I mailed you in the first place!

Can you also tell me which map series your "#14 Berguda", is from?

Thank you

Simon

That was the plan - but a lot of people requested them in advance, so we sent them out - and I forgot about you being on the road. No worries - we'll set one aside for you two.

Detailed info on map:

ICC: Institut Cartografic de Catalunya 14
Bergued�*

More available from:

http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/bergueda-141981/

http://www.mapsworldwide.com/sku_10916.htm

Hope that helps!

by the way, have a look at ICC - Institut Cartogr�*fic de Catalunya

Thanks Grant,

If you sent it by normal post then the map should be waiting for me at thge address I gave when registering, otherwise it will have been returned by the time I get there.

I may also be able to buy the ICC map in Tarragona, where there is a branch of said Institute, on my way to the HUMM - if they have it in stock as Berguda is at the other end of the 'nation'!

Thanks

Simon

All were sent by normal post, yes.

It's late I know ... but ... are there still places for the event and in the Manolia hotel?

yes we can squeeze you in. :)

Tyre change?
 

Hi Susan and Grant.

Lars and I will be riding from Copenhagen to the HUMM event, so we changed to street tyres. Will there be any workshop fascilities available on the camp for tyre change? If not, I hope there will be som experienced travellers willing to supervise a tyre change. :mchappy:

See you all soon.

Henriette

No problem - there will be tire changing available, or you can do it yourself with a few pointers! :)

HUMM / Gendarmes warning...
 

Riding back from the HUMM last year, I got screwed by the Gendarmes on the last peage on the A26 as you close in on Calais (just before J3 - Saint Omer).

I got flashed by a forward facing camera on the A26 heading north from Paris, and the Gendarmes were waiting for me at the Saint Omer peage (before I paid!). Now as motorbikes don't have a front number plate, there was absolutely no evidence that the camera photo was me, and I never saw it. Unless of course they were making it up. I tried arguing the case but they cops weren't having it. So they relieved me of 90 euros, confiscating my passport whilst I went off to get it. Was a struggle to get a receipt and the Gendarme refused to show me his ID. Theiving barstewards.

OK it was a fair copy - I was speeding - but not excessively as was keeping below the max rated speed of TKC80's - <100mph. But was really got me was that they felt able to fine me without evidence.

So if you are going to speed - here's a plan to avoid my plight. Come off the A26 at J4 (Inghem) and head to St Omer. Rejoin at J3 which is just downstream of the peage. Head for Calais and hopefully avoid getting screwed. Check it out on google maps.

Enjoy !

Mike.

Sounds like a con to me. I've been stopped a few times by mobile radars and they always show you the reading on the radar gun. Also, I doubt that they can get the photo off the speed camera live. You probably think now that you should have denied that you were speeding and insisted on seeing the evidence (with the benefit of that great thing - hindsight)

Apparently some statistics were published for, I think, 2008 where there were 2 million speeding bikes flashed by speed cameras. Of these 1.5 million were forward facing cameras and 400,000 were rear facing but the no. plate was illegible. In the end only 80,000 resulted in fines.

This is where it starts to get interesting. I did insist on seeing the evidence, but to no avail; my request was followed by garlic and onion fuelled laughter from a man in overly tight blue pants with a "screw les anglais" look in his eyes. Am pretty sure it was a con; but will never know. However, it was late on Sun, I was tired after a night out in Paris and starting a new job the next day. On balance, the "cheaper" option was to just pay and get home. I just wish I'd had the time to fight it ! Sometimes its best to just let these things go. However, next time I am riding I will come off the autoroute and go around that Peage for sure ! This year its motorhome & trailer, so no chance of speeding.

If you are on the campsite I'll give you a hand. I have levers etc. Can't guarantee I will have the right spanner to take the wheels off though.

There will be 2 of us, both with bmw Xchallenge. Mine has the grey lowered seat and tools stored on the front of the bashplate.

Iain

Transport Back to the UK
 

hey all,

at late notice my team-mate has had to pull out. no problem for the HUMM itself as i think i have a team to join, and no problem getting down there as i had always planned to ride on my own via a 30th birthday party in guernsey.

however.... my team-mate was going to hire a trailor and drive down, and i was going to dump my bike on his trailor for the trip back to the uk... without a trailor my only option is to ride my bike back but that is really going to interfere with my planned week in the sun on the costa brava after the HUMM...

sooooo does anyone have space in a van or on a trailor for a mild mannered Super Tenere and a couple of metal panniers?? i'd be more than willing to pay her way.

:biggrin3:

Hi Ian, Thanks for your offer, which I see now!!!! :thumbup1: Lars, Ashley and Long John helped me out, so I was in good hands. But thanks anyways.
Henriette

France is not the UK. There is no requirement for speed traps to be big white vans staffed by people in dayglo jackets, or for them to show you any evidence.

You won't have been stopped because of the fixed camera photo, you'll have been caught by a manned speed trap a few miles back up the road from where they stopped you. You won't have seen this speed trap, it will be hidden. The first you will know is when you reach the second group of police and they pull you over.

They won't show you a reading on a radar gun, because they don't have the radar gun. They've just been radio'ed your details and the speed you were doing.

Again, France is not the UK, you've just got to accept that it's their country, their rules, and that speeding back towards a ferry port is really asking for trouble.

On a more positive note, got back to the UK on Sunday after another great HUMM followed by a week or so touring back up through France - Tenere loaded up to the max neatly sidestepped any temptation to speed anyway :D

HUMM 2010 Crash Antics...
 

HUMM2010 Antics - Check this YouTube vid out

- I was riding my mates 1200GSA up a steep rocky climb - too fast - hit a large tree root and got pinged off to the side.
- Binned it and managed to face plant a tree and invert the bike and get one of the pots over the bank and embedded in the soft ground.
- Took 7 people to lift the bike back onto the track.
- Damn those 12's are heavy.
- No damage to me or the bike.
- Funny thing is that it's my mates bike. He bottled the climb and we swapped bikes so he could go on my 650XC.

Thanks to all those that helped levitate the GS and to DaveH for filming. All quite convenient being in the middle or nowhere, stuck, and a few minutes later 9 HUMMers turn up. What's also quite funny is the Tim from Loco Motos also turned up with his Disco and trailer en-route to pick someone else up.

Enjoy!

Mike.

nice one mike... in a similar vein, there are a few pic's and text here of our humm, right up to the point where i tried to get my team-mates s10 up a hill and holed the engine casing...

Super Tenere Owners Forum • View topic - HUMM 2010

Tim was on his way to our bike when they passed by the fallen GSA on day 2... all good fun eh?? :biggrin3:

Chris

More footage
 

Hi all

I'd also like to contribute to the pics and footage. These three were taken near CP 226 in the south.

YouTube - HUMM 2010 - Charles from "Team Lost":oops2:


YouTube - HUMM 2010 - Lars from "Team Lost"
YouTube - HUMM 2010 - "The Irish" - Stephen & Arthur


- and last but not least
YouTube - 20100728 3 doh

More will follow as soon as I find time to edit the rest of the material.

Cheers

Great stuff guys, keep it coming! :funmeteryes:

Perhaps this kind of dated attitude wasn't helpful when you were caught speeding. It's a bit rosbif Jeremy Clarkson; and being English doesn't give immunity.

There is at the moment in France a big crackdown on those who speed, because of the huge number of road deaths, I think 8000 last year. Nobody likes being done for speeding.

You're right to avoid the autoroutes in future - much more pleasant! But watch out on the lesser roads for mobile, hidden, rear facing speed cameras there too. I have found the French cops much more open to reason than their UK counterparts, and got off with a few things.

There are often speed traps on the autoroute from/to Calais, because lots of mostly English motorists and motorcyclists go well over the limit there. It's an attitude thing.

Better luck next time.

So what is the attitude of the French registered vehicles that come hurtling past me way in excess of the speed limit (160-200kph at a guess)

French Gendarmes are like most other European police forces - some are reasonable and some are power crazed twats.

Hi Simon.
How are things in sunny spain.
Ger F650gs Ireland

Hey Gerry, good to hear from you!

I'm afraid that "Sunny Spain" is a bit of a misnomer! As it happens I'm posting this under about twenty inches of rain, or so it seems! Seriously, probably no more than an inch or so in the last hour - and at last this means some COOL weather! Local riders are now taking to the trails once again, having left July and August for the proverbial Mad Dogs and Englishmen . . . and the dealers' showrooms are beginning to fill up with tasty looking second hand KTM 250s, so you never know!

Meanwhile, I've been celebrating my 53rd birthday with, among other things, a great ride out across some of the sierras here, most notably the Sierra de Montsec - dashing back home as the thunderclouds of a big cyclone overtook me with some torrential rainfall - real meteriological drama that I love!

So, how was your trip through the rest of Spain after the HUMM - a certain Nordic Godess of our mutual aquaintance tells me you're a bit of a dark horse with repect to the ladies accompanying you on the road/trail - do tell!

Cheers

Simon

Hi Simon
Sorry for slow reply , i dont be on here that much.
certain news travels fast it seems . The trip got cut short as i had to make a dash to a hospital in london but it was great. I need to get to spain very soon for lots of reasons .
Was at the first ever Paddy dakar here in Ireland last weekend. Similar to the HUMM in theory!. See utube link for the start
YouTube - Start line Paddy Dakar 2010
There was a color full bunch taking part and being road legal for everyone was not a high priority.
i have a link on flickr for the HUMM pictures. my mail address is automationtechnology1@gmail.com
All the best
Gerry

a couple of vids of our short-lived HUMM below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nelcs7u6P_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEhwXN0QE4M

hopefully next year we'll make it to the second day....

chris

Hi Gerry,

Good to hear from you - shame about the truncated trip in Spain - maybe we should team up next year and explore the regions I told you about - see below. I'm going there next weekend - but on a birdwatching trip! Actually I'm more interested in the company and the craik as nine of us are renting a house over the long holiday weeekend, joining forces with foods (and wines of course!) from our diverse homes across Spain.

Next spring I'm planning to explore the Sierra de Moncayo region, not so rugged as the Pyrenees but challenging enough methinks, especially as the region is almost completely deserted and virtually unmapped (OK, there are military maps but these are very hard to come by!) so it's a case of follwing one's instince - and the compass of course, if anyobe remembers what they are these days!

Thanks too to you kiwi's for the videos of your trails and tribulations, the first section became my Nemesis in a way and it's been good to revisit the experience in virtuality!

Cheers to all

Simon