Track Sense Off Road School |
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The appeal of riding off road – apart from it doing wonders for your
road riding skills – is the sheer adventure of going
places where no person with a mud allergy has ever dared
venture. The Track Sense off road school is just off Junction
2 of the M25 [now near Heathrow] and offers not only the
experience of an off road track, but also huge climbs and
descents, and a vast woodland section to get lost in. National
Enduro rider Gary is the instructor, with former road tester
and racer Ian Cobby lending a skilled hand.
Come off big time in the dirt and you’ll be unlucky
to get anything more than muddy, but there is the inconvenience
of picking the bike up again. And sure enough, the first
drill of the day is to learn how to pick a bike up the easy
way, before moving on to a series of other exercises. We
practised controlling the bike at low speeds through expert
use of the clutch and throttle and weighting the pegs; slow
speed control says more about your riding skills than anything
else. We got a feel for the brakes by riding in a straight
line and slamming on the rear pedal, causing the wheel to
slide out spectacularly. We did the same with the front
brake, learning to release the lever just before the front
wheel tucked; Kevin Schwantz once told me the best way to
learn to brake is to take a dirt bike off road and do these
very exercises. We then learned to power up and down steep
climbs and dips, and how to attack the berms – the
amount of grip you get in the dirt is astonishing. And after
lunch, we put it all into practice. |
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That afternoon Gary took us for a trail ride through the woods,
and we were given some free practice time as well. Feeling relaxed
and confident, I couldn’t get enough and found myself tearing
round the venue long after the blokes on the course had packed
up for the day – the lightweights!
HARRIET RIDLEY, TWO WHEELS ONLY, JUNE 2005
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Advanced training
Track Sense offer a full day out and provide the latest
in off road machinery, so you can get a taster before you
splash the cash on a bike for yourself.
Located just 2 miles from the M25 [now near Heathrow],
they have a piece of land that I can only describe as off
road nirvana. On tricky climbs, massive berms and the most
amazing woodland sections I have ever ridden, you’ll
learn how to get a bike across terrain you’d think
would need crampons and ropes.
Off road expert Gary Taylor guides a maximum of 8 riders
through different hazards at a pace most would feel comfortable
with, promising more riding than my tired body could handle.
CHIPPY WOOD, BIKE MAGAZINE, JUNE 2005 |
Lessons in mud
Propelling yourself up a steep 10 metre muddy incline doesn’t
seem like the sort of thing that’d come naturally to anyone
used to the regular and more two-dimensional discipline of road
riding. But it and all the other things we learned today do actually
translate back to road riding as well as being a bloody good laugh
in themselves.
The advantages of doing a school are fairly easily grasped. You
don’t have to buy your own bike and kit, and you don’t
have to go to the trouble of finding somewhere legal to ride.
Off roading teaches you about subtleties like balance, throttle
and clutch control, it instils trust in your own and the bike’s
abilities, it also gives you an appreciation of what it’s
like when you’re on the edge of a spill, with plenty of
time to think about how to resolve it.
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your front brake until the bars are completely sideways?
Where else can you practice slow control to the point of
dropping the bike? And if the worst does happen, the bikes
are super tough and you’re not going fast enough for
it to hurt. Anyone can do it; all you need to bring is a
sense of humour and a willingness to work up a sweat.
Ride Magazine took 39 year old road rider Mark Meacham
along to the Track Sense off road school for a second opinion;
here’s what he had to say:
" I’ve been riding for 8 years, but until
today I’d never ridden off road. I’ve always
wanted to, because it’s something a bit different
and a fresh set of skills. It’s tiring, but very good
fun. The school’s excellent; the lessons were easy
to understand, the bikes are really good, and the kit is
nice and new. I’ve found off road riding easy to adjust
to, especially with the tuition I’ve been getting
here. I wouldn’t buy my own off roader, it’s
too much money, but today has been fantastic and I’d
really like to do something like it again.".
DAVE BATCHELOR, RIDE MAGAZINE, MAY 2005 |
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Enjoy the great outdoors and learn new skills on a tailor-made
course
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WHAT IS IT?
A course run by Track Sense for people who want to have
a go at trail riding but don’t want to risk investing
in a bike and kit.
WHAT WILL I LEARN? All the basics from
getting on and off the bike to riding the trails, including
body position, and clutch/throttle control. By the end of
the day you’ll be riding over terrain you would have
thought impossible at the beginning of the day.
WHO TEACHES ME? The instructor is Gary
Taylor, a British Enduro Championship rider. Based just
2 miles from the M25 in Kent [now near Heathrow], in the
perfect location for anyone in the southeast, the venue
is fantastic with a large bowl, perfect for learning to
ride on the dirt, and miles of trails through the woods
for when you’re more confident.
WHO IS IT AIMED AT? People who can ride
a bike but have little or no off road experience. There’s
also a level 2 course for those with previous off road experience.
WHAT DO I TAKE? Just you and your money.
For £199 Track Sense supply everything you need –
bikes, clothing & instructor.
IS IT ANY GOOD? MCN gave it a go and
found it perfect for novice off road riders. The bikes are
great; they handle fantastically and have enough power without
ever being threatening. |
By the end of the day Gary had us riding up hills that I thought
were impassable. Riding on the dirt, standing up feels very alien
at first but soon you’ll realise why you need to do it.
And by the end of the day it starts to feel completely natural.
JAMES TINDALL, MOTORCYCLE NEWS, 13 APRIL 2005
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