Sibbo
09-08-2007, 07:20 PM
Just thought I would fill you all in on a bit of riding I did the other day in Austria.
I went with a bunch of old guys who all had KTMs (strange people) and I also had a KTM. A bloody heavy, slow 525. Na, I should say, it was OK.
As I rider, I dont do enduro or trail riding, so hill climbs and tight single track is very different to me. As is riding on a rear tyre that was basically a 18inch slick, but I was told it will be OK, cos its not wet......well we did have a bit of dust.
After a quick stint in some leaf covered tracks (that were slippery to me), with big drop offs beside the track, I knew I was in for more shit I was not used to. Then we got to the first hill climb, which saw me get about half way and stop (read - crash). Apparently wheel spin and trying to go as fast as you can is not the way to do Austrian hill climbs. Slow and in first gear, chug a chug up the hill is the way.
I did not get the hang of no wheel spin, as I had no rear knobs, so how the fk are you meant to get grip???!!!!!!!!! But the other fkers did it and then one of them jumped on my bike and just slowly putted up the hill. At that stage I wanted to go home, cos I got owned big time.
Some of the other highlights was being BMX bandits on bike around the town. The first thing that was done to number plates was that they were covered in mud, so u cant get in trouble. We then rode up a huge flight of stairs to cross some river (the Danube) and got some nasty looks from the people at the top (so I proceeded to chuck a big wheelie off over the river). Actually, I was one of the better guys on the back wheel (my only saving grace(they were also impressed by stoppies)).
We basically rode everywhere were we were not surposed to be, bloody great fun. The quarrie was fun and I finally got the hang of hill climbs, cos I could hit them hard and fast and had a bit more room (ie no fking trees to crash into!!!).
And some of the little town we went though, so nice and the castle that we stopped at....OMG!!!
I had a goood night sleep that night, only to get up and do the same shit, but this time we had rivers and rocks that are not so grippy.
So first river crossing.....yep, u guessed it, me in the drink, well only on the other bank, so not too wet.
Which was similar to what I did at the first log crossing......you really have to hit them straight on....fking stippery bastards!!!
But after that, all logs and rivers were crossed perfectly. I actually got through a big channel thing without falling off (it was easy) and 2 of the stooges behind me, fell off in it. So I felt good about that.
I should get some pics emailed to me soon, so will add them later.
But I have to practice tight, steep, loose hill climbs, cos I am shit at them!!! Although I did improve and was much better on day two.
I only broke 2 indicators (who has indicators on a dirt bike???), 1 side stand and removed a radiator guard. Not too bad for the amount of time I ate dirt, but bloody great fun.
I went with a bunch of old guys who all had KTMs (strange people) and I also had a KTM. A bloody heavy, slow 525. Na, I should say, it was OK.
As I rider, I dont do enduro or trail riding, so hill climbs and tight single track is very different to me. As is riding on a rear tyre that was basically a 18inch slick, but I was told it will be OK, cos its not wet......well we did have a bit of dust.
After a quick stint in some leaf covered tracks (that were slippery to me), with big drop offs beside the track, I knew I was in for more shit I was not used to. Then we got to the first hill climb, which saw me get about half way and stop (read - crash). Apparently wheel spin and trying to go as fast as you can is not the way to do Austrian hill climbs. Slow and in first gear, chug a chug up the hill is the way.
I did not get the hang of no wheel spin, as I had no rear knobs, so how the fk are you meant to get grip???!!!!!!!!! But the other fkers did it and then one of them jumped on my bike and just slowly putted up the hill. At that stage I wanted to go home, cos I got owned big time.
Some of the other highlights was being BMX bandits on bike around the town. The first thing that was done to number plates was that they were covered in mud, so u cant get in trouble. We then rode up a huge flight of stairs to cross some river (the Danube) and got some nasty looks from the people at the top (so I proceeded to chuck a big wheelie off over the river). Actually, I was one of the better guys on the back wheel (my only saving grace(they were also impressed by stoppies)).
We basically rode everywhere were we were not surposed to be, bloody great fun. The quarrie was fun and I finally got the hang of hill climbs, cos I could hit them hard and fast and had a bit more room (ie no fking trees to crash into!!!).
And some of the little town we went though, so nice and the castle that we stopped at....OMG!!!
I had a goood night sleep that night, only to get up and do the same shit, but this time we had rivers and rocks that are not so grippy.
So first river crossing.....yep, u guessed it, me in the drink, well only on the other bank, so not too wet.
Which was similar to what I did at the first log crossing......you really have to hit them straight on....fking stippery bastards!!!
But after that, all logs and rivers were crossed perfectly. I actually got through a big channel thing without falling off (it was easy) and 2 of the stooges behind me, fell off in it. So I felt good about that.
I should get some pics emailed to me soon, so will add them later.
But I have to practice tight, steep, loose hill climbs, cos I am shit at them!!! Although I did improve and was much better on day two.
I only broke 2 indicators (who has indicators on a dirt bike???), 1 side stand and removed a radiator guard. Not too bad for the amount of time I ate dirt, but bloody great fun.