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Hafren 2004

Well, what a mega event, a perfect course for a big twin, lots of fast tracks, but interspersed with plenty of tough bits that weren't actual stoppers.

In true style I'd managed to a) end up with rushed maintenance (freeing up a seized gearbox from the Cambrian a couple of weeks before) and b) getting dates wrong and failing to realise that I'd have to be in Wales for scrutineering on Saturday, meaning an overnight stay, with no accommodation sorted.

I solved this last conundrum by arranging to visit a slightly deranged biker mate with a vast motorcycling video collection who lives on the Wirral for the Saturday night. This allowed me to get psyched up by drinking beer while watching people endlessly crash on the Arzberg mountain enduro and the Rachau hillclimb. Cracker.

So, up early and a two hour drive had me at Sweet Lamb by 8. I dragged the bike out of the scrutineering shed and immediately dismantled the clutch, which had been misbehaving the day before, following the fitting of a new clutch pack. The cause was finally tracked down to stupidity on the part of the mechanic/owner.

There then followed an hour and a half of chatting to different people, while sorting start times, Marianne (quick bit of hosting/web support), Ian Packer (hi Ian, I should have chatted longer, I was in a panic), Stan the LC8 man (second event following the Cambrian and getting faster), Pat Creagh (Africa Twin boy and one of Phil Gunn's mates), Martin Whitehouse (West Midlands TRF regular rallyiste), and various others.

Which rolls us round to go time, we were out at 10.30, right at the back with the slower riders, the multi cylinders starting together. I was off the start line immediately after Stan (Gareth Healey really) on his KTM 950. This allowed me to shout advice as I went round Stan as he nearly laid the KTM down on the first left hander at the beginning of the timed stage. I'm sure he appreciated it.

This first stage, with it's included MX track, which had me flopping the ‘Fant over the jumps and tabletop, seemed to go on forever. In fact I forgot I was on it at one point and was surprised when the finish boards suddenly appeared. A short shale track blast led to the start of the second stage, which allowed a break, during which Stan reappeared. Start time, behind Stan, on to the second stage. This, as those who did it will know, included the snotty wood section, a muddy, crappy track through the trees, with a 100 yards of grim root and stump infested, rutted, peat half way along. Stan and I arrived at this vaguely nightmare section to find some poor bleeder struggling with his CRF250X (come on mate, you could stick that in your back pocket and walk through). We parked up and gave him a hand to unstick the sumpguard and get moving. This gave us the chance to check out the best line (left hand rut). So, with a bit of speed on and back wheels spinning we both managed to clean it.

The exit from the wood took us to the end of the stage and a little breather. This was handy for me, as I'd lost the bungie cord holding the seat on. This was a replacement for the excellent Italian cord that I'd used since I'd smashed the catch off on the Ryedale Rally. Unfortunately I'd lost this well designed gem, which had survived a trip to the Stella Alpina amongst other events, when I crashed on the Cambrian chasing Pat Keenan.

So I half undid the tow strap I carried under the seat and used that to tie it on. Not well enough as it transpired.

Various riders had parked up for a rest by this time, with a couple of others struggling to clear the interesting looking shale climb that was the route out. After a couple of minutes the climb was clear and the waiting group set off up it. Without thinking I let the group go first and then followed.

Now, the technique with a big bike, when it comes to tricky bits, is to keep a bit of speed on, as you have a lot of weight to hustle up, through, or over things. The weight can take control if you're going slowly and then you're in trouble. With a bit of speed (not too much) the whole thing has so much momentum it'll generally stay in a straight line and just crash through obstacles.

Of course, going up this climb, this bunch of jokers start doing their trials rider impression, picking their way up standing on the pegs. I'm behind them, slipping the clutch, with unprintable thoughts going through my head. Still, good climb though, got a chance to blast it a bit at the top.

There then followed 25 miles of liason, a mixture of fire road with the odd tricky bit thrown in. It did seem pretty endless at times I must admit, for a fair part I was riding on my own in the middle of nowhere, thinking ‘I hope I haven't got lost!'

After about 10 miles I caught a group of riders, who'd stopped to admire the view, just as they were pulling away. There then followed a friendly drag race between some bloke on a WR thingy and me, which I won, and then I nailed down about a mile or so of fire road, standing on the pegs and doing my Kini impression. Good Fun.

The course then turned sharp right down a long sandy, rutty down slope. I slowed and let Mr WR past and followed him down. I was being slow and careful, so all his mates went past in a gang, only to find a snotty section as the track went left-right. They all spread out and fell off, which stuffed me up and I'm off as I attempt to change ruts. There then followed three more off's to finish the downslope as I lost my rhythm and energy.

After this, one more fire road and a sandy climb got us to the start of stage 3. This one was a laugh as it had a nadgery rutty bit first then some fire road curves, I was behind Stan and stopped on the rutty section to help manhandle the LC8. Once on the fire road I had a good tussle with a bloke on an XR400, who got so carried away that he broadsided it in to the recumbent cut trees that marked the end of the stage.

So back to the start for a lamb burger and out for lap two.

Great, first timed lap, opportunity for a comedy of errors.

10 seconds into the first stage the seat comes loose again, I have to do the rest of the stage keeping my bum stuck to the seat, knees clamped to the tank, not good for the stage time.

On to stage 2. I'm away well, into the wood following some bloke on a KTM 250 going at about my pace. Cardinal error, if he is doing my speed on a 250 he can't be that good, I should have made the effort and got past before the shit bit. Because, at the shit bit, he turns into the best rut and promptly gets stuck. I'm getting intolerant these days, worrying about my stage times, so I'm behind with steam coming out of my ears (I shall quickly add I would have given him hand if it had taken longer), I have to wait nearly a minute while he struggles and then we are out. Needless to say I nailed it past him after that.

Big liason to stage 3 (which I manage not to fall off on, apart from a very slow bit where you go past a farm, I wave at the farmers, out trimming a hedge, and promptly fall off at an easy left turn by a gate, putting a bar from said gate through my groovy screen and bending my GPS mount. Drat. All due to a slate slab hidden in the mud).

So stage 3, I clean the nadgery bit at speed, turn on to the fire road, hit the power a moment too early, and spin the back wheel out. It costs me a minute to pick the bike up, waving on the nice guy behind who offers to help. Still, had a good time thrashing down the rest of the fire road trying to make up the time.

Another Lap out of the way.

Last lap's a short one, only the first two stages to do, so I'm still feeling confident.

Out for the first stage and I'm going well, I pass a couple of bikes and come to a sort of T junction turning marked with just a log and the glimmer of a green arrow. I turn right and then notice the track's looking a bit unmarked. Couple of minutes more, I see some more arrows, take the turn and then realise twenty yards on that I'd been looking at the back of the arrows. I'm in a quandary now, I keep going as I don't know how much I've cut out. When I get to the end of the stage, I realise I've cut out the entire MX track. That's blown that then.

Ah well, let's get the last stage done, see if I can get one clean time.

Transiting between the stages I get it a bit wrong on one corner, pulling a most enjoyable full lock slide. 10 seconds later the rear's all over the place, it's a flat tyre.

With the aid of 4 rocks the rear wheel is clear of the ground. Out with it, tyre off and I'm thinking ‘if I get a move on I can make the stage'. Sure enough, at that moment a marshal turns up. ‘I'm closing the course, mate'. Typical.

I get the spare tube in and another marshal arrives, who lends me an electric pump that's a bit quicker than my rather weedy bicycle pump. Wheel in and the marshal directs me to shortcut so I can rejoin the course minus the stage. Still 20 miles to do though and it's starting to get dark. After a bit the rear tyre is still feeling soft, so I stop to pump some air in. Fortunately as it turns out, as yet another marshal arrives and sends me back up the track to another short cut that has me back at the MX track, very near the start, after only a couple of miles. The course has been dismantled by now and it's amazingly difficult to navigate without it.

Even though the start is just out of sight on the other side of the MX track, I still put in an unnecessary half mile loop before getting back. Finally though it's down the slope to find the car and trailer and load up.

For the last hour or so I've been disappointed about managing to DNF myself, but, driving back I realise I've enjoyed the whole day hugely, and it's been a fantastic event.

Thanks to all the organisers.

 

 

The Start.	Start closer.
I'm bored, waiting to start, so here are some pics taken at the first corner.	Stan, the KTM man (and Missus & Dog).
The pits area (quite literally)
1st timed stage, look closely, the seat's come loose and I've got my knees clamped to the tank to keep it in place.	Looking a bit of burke.
Top tabletop.	Finished, note hole in screen.