BMW Off Road Part 4

And then it was time to start crossing streams. It seemed when it was demonstrated. All we needed to do was ride down one side, through the stream and up the other side. And after a couple of early falls, everyone made. For my own part, my first attempt stopped in the water, due to a clutch/hand/brain interface problem. The second attempt cleared it, but I forgot to follow the trail to the left at the top, stalled, and toppled over unhurt. You can’t help but laugh.

More trail riding was followed by the last lesson of the day; stopping halfway up a hill, restarting, and continuing on the way up. Again, it hinges on keeping the bike in gear to counteract gravity. And then it was back to the trailer for lunch.

Sadly, a headlight failure on my borrowed CBR600 meant I had to head for home after a final few words with Pavey and Plumb. Sadly I missed out on the mysterious two days finale at a place only referred to as ‘Henry’s’ (the instructors name locations after the people that first crashed there. But I still managed to put my experience into practise.

Leaving the training area on the CBR and getting up to speed for the four and a half hour ride back to Peterborough, I took a wrong turning, shot over a hill way to fast, and faced a very steep, gravely trail at 60mph on road tyres. Despite locking both wheels numerous times, I eventually came to a perfect stop, turned round, and carried on my journey home.

The BMW Introduction to off Road Skills course is for riders of any experience aged over the age of 21, and the Advanced Off-Road Skills course builds on the Introduction course. Both courses cost £325 for World of BMW members, and £355 for non-members. It includes instruction, bike hire, insurance, lunches, and a three-course evening meal. But does not include accommodation.

For more information, contact: 08000 131 282 or click here. And there are still dates available for 2004 on October 5-6, and October 8-9. And on October 11, BMW are running a Brecon Beacons Adventure for anyone who has completed the introduction course, learning to navigate with Dakar style pace books, and exploring a further few thousand acres of the Brecons.

To read an interview about the Dakar race with Nick Plumb and Si Pavey, click here. Or choose a link on the right.