Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
green lanes ... off road green lanes ... off road
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



Like Tree6Likes
  • 1 Post By Tim Cullis
  • 1 Post By Turbofurball
  • 3 Post By *Touring Ted*
  • 1 Post By badou24

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17 Jun 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: midlands uk
Posts: 224
green lanes ... off road
How fast do you ride your bike off road ?
Over the years i have ridden many off road routes .
but have discovered a new way to ride them .......slow !
You can see so much more !!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17 Jun 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,105
Can't say I ride much off road at all, except when there's no alternative. And even then it's always been slow. I do run off road though (even slower!) and others ride pedal bikes.

Reading through trip plans / reports both here and on other sites there does seem to be some kind of pecking order developing where riding off-road is somehow more 'overlandy' than sticking to the roads. I've often wondered how the accident / injury statistics compare. I've ever injured myself once running on pavements / roads but I've broken bones / sprained ligaments etc quite a few times running on rough surfaces.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 17 Jun 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wessex, UK
Posts: 2,136
I do nearly all of my off road riding by bicycle these days and I certainly do that slowly, usually at about 5-10mph and normally incident free apart from the recent head on with another cyclist on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal in the US.
My only serious coming to grief on a trail was cartwheeling my GS on The Gibb River Road in Western Australia caused by going too fast so a lesson learned there.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18 Jun 2023
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,080
When I lived in East Sussex I went out a few times with the local TRF. Not impressed. Riding far too fast on bikes with very loud exhausts just ends up setting every single walker and horse rider against us.

But the real reason I gave up is the dearth of connected routes. Compare this to Spain where I can ride for hours without seeing tarmac.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19 Jun 2023
Turbofurball's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Catalunya
Posts: 277
Yeah, apart from pootling along the Ridgeway I didn't do green laning in the UK much, simply because it was rubbish.

When I'm going off road it depends on where I am, out in the desert on a long open unpaved road with good visibility road dust is the limiting factor for whoevers behind, lol. Near my house nobody can do more than 10kmh or so without serious bodily harm, I enjoy the pootling pace there and enjoy the scenery (or challenge on the hard bits). There's no feeling like being in the middle of nowhere and the only sign of civilization you can see is the old donkey trail you're riding along
__________________
FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 20 Jun 2023
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,657
I've actually got into off-roading much more. So much that I don't really bother road riding anymore. It's just so dull in comparison.

The U.K is very hit and miss. I pretty much only offroad in Wales and very Northern England. Where you can still have a great experience.

I don't ride alone or navigate myself either. It's too much of a pain linking it all together.

I go with companies like MotoJunkies. Where you are guaranteed two full days of offroading with nice people and guides who know the place inside out and who are respectful to others and follow the countryside code. On lanes that you NEVER see walkers or hikers.

It's all about inside knowledge and who you ride with. The last time I went out, I think we saw three walkers in two days of riding.

It's thrilling, exciting, challenging and a great team effort. There is no other disipline of riding that increases your skill, fitness, balance and composure as much as trail riding.

But again I stress. It's all about WHO you go with. You will find that it is the small minority of riders who go quick, ride obnoixious bikes and cause damage. But obviously theyre the only ones you hear about.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21 Jun 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: midlands uk
Posts: 224
I remember leading a group in the Picos mountains a few year ago , and we stopped by a waterfall, and most of the group just talked about there bikes , and " what oil is in your gear box " etc !!
They totally missed the concept , and getting to places that are off the beeton
track !
There are some great places in wales to ride . and views to die for , but you need to know where they are !
i tend to ride on my own and enjoy the countryside , but take great car where i ride for safety !
Keith
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21 Jun 2023
Turbofurball's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Catalunya
Posts: 277
That links back to the "are you more of a biker, or a traveller?" thread!

Waterfalls are cool, pity there aren't any here
__________________
FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21 Jun 2023
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by badou24 View Post
I remember leading a group in the Picos mountains a few year ago , and we stopped by a waterfall, and most of the group just talked about there bikes , and " what oil is in your gear box " etc !!
They totally missed the concept , and getting to places that are off the beeton
track !

Keith

I've often thought that, that the real journey is prepping the bike before you leave and that the actual trip is almost an afterthought. Cynical? Probably, but the number of which sat-nav, luggage, stove etc questions vastly outnumbers those about what's worth seeing and why. I've certainly been guilty of that.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
CHINA 2016 "THE LAST GREAT FRONTIER" 6 MONTHS 24,000 KMS. on a chinese 125cc PART 1 single-handed Ride Tales 39 11 Mar 2017 23:31
Tales from the Saddle klous-1 Ride Tales 88 4 Feb 2016 20:30
From Almaty to Aktau through Uzbekistan (Through the eyes of motorcycle tour leader.) Mara Luchezarny Ride Tales 12 22 May 2015 06:33
One Heart, One Ride suhasrocky Ride Tales 15 22 Mar 2014 20:40
Wales, Autumn 2013. Part 1 oldfenners Ride Tales 3 19 Feb 2014 20:03

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 23:44.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top