V2XS

Long weekend in Paris with Lucy – organised by me this time! I had been to Paris a couple of times before but far more years ago than I care to remember and had fond memories of the experience. So I thought a trip to Paris in the spring time would be a nice thing to do. I could and would have gone on my own but it is usually more interesting to go with someone else and the first person I asked was Lucy and she said yes.

Our little apartment (AirBnB) was perfect and the location was ideal, near Montmartre. We had three full days and managed 25,000 steps per day and covered all the main sights. The weather wasn’t very encouraging but we managed to avoid getting wet. Lucy insisted on visiting the Haute Couture Boutiques, which seemed to be frequented by orientals. And she managed to find some lovely summer shoes for Bella (not from Prada though).

Overall I did feel a little let down because the Paris I remembered was exotic and foreign and exciting. Having lived in France for 15 years the novelty seems to have worn off, which is a shame. On an earlier visit the Pompidou centre looked new and exciting, now it is looking a bit old and tired – like many of us I suppose.

Nevertheless it was wonderful to spend some time with Lucy and we had a great time. Although Lucy wasn’t very impressed when we stopped to chat to some artists in Montmartre and they thought Lucy was my girlfriend!

New trials bike !

Earlier in the year, I sold my Scorpa Trials and Scorpa T-ride and replaced them with the KTM 250 EXC, on the basis this would be a do-everything bike. However, having gained a reasonable amount of experience with the KTM I have come to realise that the only thing I am reasonably competent at is low speed balance and control. These are important skills when negotiating difficult terrain on a very tall heavy bike. Once the speed gets up the KTM comes into its own and loves to go fast, providing an amazingly comfortable and controlled ride. But at low speed it is very easy to dump it on the floor – something I have done a few times. Trying to hone my low speed skills further on the KTM by riding around and over obstacles in the garden is just too difficult – what I really need for this type of training is a trials bike!

After some research (as usual) I found a Montesa 4RT 250 4T – the same bike as ridden by Toni BOU (well I think his might be a bit special, but has the same name). Went to see it and it all looked good except that it wouldn’t start. The seller was very annoyed because “it always starts first time”. After an hour or so of checking the usual things and failing to get any life I left him to it. However, I did contact him later and make an offer as the rest of the bike looked good and surely it can’t be that hard to fix?

We agreed a deal and I bought the non-running bike. After some checks I traced the problem to the high pressure fuel pump – it is a fuel injected bike – which was completely dead. the genuine Honda replacement was very expensive but I managed to find an equivalent off another Honda model. Now running fine.

Stripped the rest of the bike for cleaning and checking and all still OK, but when attempting to ride it, the clutch was dragging making it very hard to control and impossible to select neutral. Changed gearbox oil and removed 2 of the 6 clutch springs to no avail so ordered a new clutch pack. Once I had fitted that it ran perfectly.

My brother Chris came to visit recently and was rather taken with the 4RT (he only has road bikes) and spent quite a bit of time riding around the garden, doing figure of 8s etc. But then he tried to move up to some log hopping and it all went wrong…

Three day event 10-12 April. I was on my own this time but teamed up with two other guys who were first timers – Tom a 20 something engineer at Triumph on a newish Honda CRF250L – a heavy, under powered trail bike with worn hard compound knobbly tyres and Joe a 30 something property developer on a brand new (just had first service) KTM 450. Tom had loads of road bike and off road experience but had never used a road book. Joe had done very little off road but loads of road riding and track days, etc.

As the local and “experienced” road book user I led the way on the first day. All going well until we came to a slightly uphill single track, a slope up to the right and a drop off to the left. Across the track was a smallish log sloping down from right to left. Easiest to get over at the left hand side but close to the drop off. I wasn’t going to risk trying to jump it so tried to just roll the front wheel over. As soon as it was on the log it slipped left and wanted to head down the slope. After a few attempts and bikes queuing up behind me one of the guys got off and helped me lift the front wheel over – a bit of an embarrasing start! On the last day we did the same bit of trail again and I jumped the log OK.

It soon became clear that I was holding the team up so Tom took over – and vanished into the distance. It’s not the bike it’s the rider… Joe was second and me last. I had more experience than Joe and maybe better technique but he had way more balls. He did have a few offs though. Traversing a steep slope to get round a fallen tree he lost balance on the wrong side and fell off. The bike was almost upside down I started to try to lay mine down to help but he said he was fine and just picked the 450 back up no problem – strong as well as big balls. Where the track was open Joe was opening up the 450 and flying ahead, but he had problems with traction on hill climbs and was slow on descents as he preferred to sit down for some reason.

Part way through the second day the 450 ground to a halt and I spotted he was out of fuel. We tipped the CRF upside down to get some out of the tank to manage the final 10k to the lunch stop and refuel.

Towards the end of the second day Chris added an optional steep and tricky hill climb – it used to be part of the main route but he removed it as there was too much “carnage”. I started in second but needed drop to first as it was very steep and I was going very slow trials style. When I got the top the watching guys said I made it look easy as others were using lots of revs and wheelspin on the way to the top. Trials rear was good on this. Half way up I passed Joe who had launched the 450 off the trail and into the undergrowth – all OK though.

With Tom out front sorting out the route Joe and I could just concentrate on riding and trying to push along which was perfect for me and I got faster/better each day. I didn’t fall off but had several close calls (not as many as Normandie). Joe had to leave after Day 2 so it was just Tom and I on the last day.

I did the first bit to warm us up and then Tom took over and disappeared – except that I was making more effort to keep up. I found that riding flat out I could keep up with him, but I could only ride at that pace for a limited time before I started to make mistakes and then backed off a bit. He was so much faster than me through corners – carrying speed and being very smooth. I find myself braking for corners until I can see how tight the corner is and the surface conditions, so I was coming out of the corner way behind. The only places I could match his pace were on descents (don’t know why but I seem to be quite fast on these) and on fast, open but bumpy/rocky trails – but I think that is more to do with the capability of the bike (stability and suspension) – maybe that’s the case for the downhills as well?

In Normandie we were always the tail end charlie’s so it was nice to be up at the front. On the last day we overtook everyone including Dominique (lead organiser) and were back at the hotel first – even though it was a 150Km day.

Fantastic experience for me and really pushed my ability and developed my skills on faster riding. The concentration required is massive though. There were a few trails which weaved through woods, where there are trees every few feet that you are weaving in and out of – some not much more than a bars width apart. Then there are roots across the trail, old sawn off stumps and the usual dips and bumps and ruts to throw you off line. Going through these slowly (trials style) is one thing but trying to keep up a good pace really focusses the mind. It is also an advantage being at the back. There was one bit where you built up a rhythm between the trees, but the track suddenly turned tightly and both Tom and Joe ran into a tree – no harm done.

I am not currently able to pop the front wheel up over obstacles. However, I found that just bouncing the suspension (if you time it right) can do much the same thing. We ran along some gravel roads (far too fast) and they have quite agressive speed bumps. The bike will handle these on its own but you really feel the impact. By bouncing the suspension you can minimise the shock. In fact there were a few times where I got it just right and it the bike just floated over the bump.

The Bike…
Ran perfectly 100% reliable. Two other bikes broke down – a Gas Gas with a broken gearbox and a KTM with a snapped chain. Still running way too rich off idle – have now got a Suzuki needle to try.
Need to look at gloves, grips, palm guard as I have developed some blisters.
Trials rear tyre – great on the rocks, terrible in mud and mediocre on loose surfaces – will be changing for a knobbie.
My detuned setup works really well – nice controllable power without the big hit. I had thought I might need to undo some of the mods in order to keep up but it was no problem – never short of power. Engine lugs really well – but needs to run more crisply.
Quite a bit of oil spooge from the exhaust – now running oil at 60:1 – sure sign of a rich mixture particularly in the range where I tend to operate.
Mods for next time..
Make my own road book mount / buy my own reader – saves lots of setup hassle. Their mount was a bit high – hit the reader on branches a few times.
Not got a final figure yet but fuel consumption seemed very good.
Did quite a bit of gearchanging without the clutch – which seemd to work well – hope the bike can take it. Will check the state of the oil and drain plug when I change it. Two issues – one is the simple fatigue of the finger – I have a blister there too. The other is not wanting to release any grip on the bars to operate the clutch.
Neutral is hard to find and the clutch drags a bit when hot. Managed to find neutral twice when I didn’t want it – once half way up a hill clmib going from 2 to 1 and the second when crossing a stream.
Running 8psi front and rear.

The gear…
Wore the same camo gear as Normandie but without the lining and with less layers underneath. It was a tricky choice as we had mornings at 2 degrees and up to 17 and sunny in the afternoon. Also had the risk of rain.
Gradually moving to using goggles and accepting the slightly restricted visibility and steaming up issues – easpacially when riding with others. Dust is a big problem with the cycling glasses.
In a similar way I need to switch to a full face helmet – fighting through undegrowth and brambles is a risky business.
Gloves – need to look into this to help with blisters.
Rucksack – small rucksack packed to be super light but including essential tools, water, etc is the way to go, rather than strapping stuff on the bike (which I did in Normanide)

Training
The running and cycling I’ve been doing is esential for building endurance in the leg muscles to be able to stand on the bike for long periods – this is standing knees bent like skiiing.
Need to do something to build grip strength/endurance as this is the weak point – I now don’t have enough grip strength left to crush a grape.

Oh and I’ve signed up to do the Sport Adventure Morvan in October…

Through the wonders of Facebook and Messenger I’ve made contact with a bunch of local guys who do trail riding, the FB Group is called a Lot of Bikes, which is how I refer to the group. I have been in touch with them for a while but Sunday was the first time I had been out for a ride.

What a fantastic day out !

Trailered the bike to the start “John’s place” – but only about 20 min away. Followed another guy from Albas who I vaguely knew called Andy (bought Pod’s old Clio) in his van with his son Adam and son’s bike. Turns out Andy doesn’t ride much any more but used to a lot in the past etc.

Met up with the others – very relaxed and friendly. Seemed to be old ‘uns and young ‘uns – fathers and sons. I was probably the oldest but possibly had the newest (best??) bike. The young lads were bonkers and raced about everywhere – everyone was way faster than me and the pace was fast anyway. John has set up a motocross track in his garden and I pootled round a lap of that – while the lads roosted round and took off over the jumps etc. He also has an Enduro loop through the woods which was more to my taste – did get stuck once but managed pretty well for a first attempt – some steep bits up and down and a rocky dried up stream.

Once everyone had arrived and got set up we were off down a never ending series of superb trails – from wide open very fast (for some) to tricky weaving in and out of trees to very scary climbs and descents. One of the team was Albertine (a lady) who has a reputation for being a bit slower (like me) and falling off quite a bit. Her second fall of the day resulted in a fractured wrist and a visit to hospital – but that was the only real injury of the day. Falling off seemed to be the norm – especially the youg guys. I managed to stay on but was proceeding with caution. At some point we came across another private motocross track with even bigger jumps and drops – I pootled while the others ripped.

Lunch stop to eat our sandwiches, refuel and carry on. Don’t know how many hours or miles we did but got back about 4. I hope the video will show something of what it was like.

Really great day – very exhilirating. Pleased that the bike ran perfectly and happy with the setup. The detuning has given it a much more linear and safer power delivery. Not sure about my tyre choice as everyone was using enduro knobblies and I did struggle for grip on some loose sections. I tend to ride standing up which is generally good but I need to look at cornering technique as I am slow on corners, but they were tending to sit down and stick a leg out – motocross style to lean the bike harder into the turn. Might also be that my tyres are meant to run upright – no side knobs.

Another technique I need to learn – a few places we were going at a reasonable speed and came across a ditch across the path. They were pulling up the front wheel and partially jumping the ditch with the rear tyre hitting first on the opposite side. I was slowing down and riding into and out of the ditch. Maybe only a couple of feet across. My technique is very dodgy if the ditch turns out to be deep !

Very dusty following the others on some trails and often splattered with rocks from the bike in front accelerating and spinning the wheel. My open face helmet and “sunglasses” maybe not the best choice. Everyone else with full face (motocross) helmets and goggles.

This was a Sunday afternoon and at one point we came through a very quaint old stone village with a cafe/restaurant – lots of diners sitting enjoying their lunch with a bottle of rose in the sun – bunch of lairy bikers blast past in a haze of 2 stroke smoke. Where do you picture yourself in this scenario ?

Hill Climbing – King Of The Hill

At one point in the ride we came across a steep hill climb and so the boys set off to “have a go” – which showed it was far from easy so I declined. The best perfomance and King of the Hill award went to Tanel who just made it look easy…