Want to do some off road riding, need to know where to start

[K6K]

Will be there sunday with tom & jt

Ok hopefully make it down, I'll see how I go on Sat at the Sandpit....I struggled fitness wise at the two man last weekend so getting some 'sand' time in is a must.

Where did you learn to ride K6K?

Will have to find a day to go down to Thundercross Valley sometime... busy this weekend so hopefully it stays dry next week, can't wait

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I had a go on a friends bike at the sandpit first and got my own bike a week or so later. My first real ride was at Kimmys on the enduro loop which is probably not the best for a first ride. After that I just went to charity farm trail rides for a while which are very friendly to beginners. Because you are coming from a road background you will have an advantage in that you will have the mechanics of riding a bike down. The problem will be that there will be a lot of road riding habits that you will really need to avoid on the dirt. I probably left it way too late but earlier this year I got some coaching from Chris Birch. The improvement in my riding from just a 2 hour session was huge. I would recommend riding for at least 3 or 4 weekends (get confident on the bike) then booking in for a session with Chris.

[SpikedPunch]

For serious off roading what you really want is a golden chocobo, it'll take you over over any terrain, might wanna practise on a green or black one first.

(Sorry, couldn't help it...KEWH!)

Thunder and the Sandpit are both really good! Sandpit has a KDX to hire so if you're seriously looking at that bike would be a good op to give it a proper test ride.

[L Rider]

oh by the way just called and it opens today!!!
And you are allowed to do the B loop I described.
His boy said its still pretty wet down there though!!

Cheers all!

Awesum thanks for that - least there are options for us learners still

[chocobo_ff]

...
I would recommend riding for at least 3 or 4 weekends (get confident on the bike) then booking in for a session with Chris.

Sounds like a good plan, I thought about contacting him but wasn't sure whether it's worth the money/time without going for a few rides first, something on the to-do list then

For serious off roading what you really want is a golden chocobo, it'll take you over over any terrain, might wanna practise on a green or black one first.

Lol, don't even get me started on that

Thunder and the Sandpit are both really good! Sandpit has a KDX to hire so if you're seriously looking at that bike would be a good op to give it a proper test ride.

I was looking at the Sandpit because it's slightly closer and had more info that I could look up on the net, but will do some calling around in the next few days and go from there I guess!

[Ktmboy]

Yep, I really don't see what the bid deal is with sand. It's easy to ride at the moment and if you go in the week it's near empty. Thave a kdx to hire which is fine to learn on, and the staff can tell you some great, safe, easy tracks to cruise round on. Thunder is great to, but if you go on your own and get a bit lost you can easily end up in a bog or slippery hill which will just piss you off if you are trying to get to grips with it.

Ahhh, thanks for that Rupe. Saved me story, but I'll tell it anyway.

Its like anything, wrong place, wrong time, wrong bike, wrong gear and wrong information.

Most who have trouble learning to ride sand tend to try when its summertime and the sand is dry and deep. At this time of year, winter,its easier to ride sand than to be skating on your butt every 2 minutes in the mud, hence wrong time and place.

Some use a friends bike or are wrongfully advised and buy their first bike
which is often not set up correctly(add, dunga) for the type of riding they are going to be doing e.g the set up for sand is quite different to hard packed clay. Hence wrong bike and gear.

Lastly a few words of advice for a beginner goes a long way. If someone(chop, myself) was to spend 2 hours with you on your first day I bet that we would advance your skill level within that day to that of someone that has been riding sand for a month or 3.

Our KDX is set up for Woodhill and I'm quite happy to arrange for someone, if not myself, time permitting, to spend a bit of time teaching the basics of off road riding. We literally have a few hundred that learn to ride sand every year.

[chocobo_ff]

Ahhh, thanks for that Rupe. Saved me story, but I'll tell it anyway.

Its like anything, wrong place, wrong time, wrong bike, wrong gear and wrong information.

Most who have trouble learning to ride sand tend to try when its summertime and the sand is dry and deep. At this time of year, winter,its easier to ride sand than to be skating on your butt every 2 minutes in the mud, hence wrong time and place.

Some use a friends bike or are wrongfully advised and buy their first bike
which is often not set up correctly(add, dunga) for the type of riding they are going to be doing e.g the set up for sand is quite different to hard packed clay. Hence wrong bike and gear.

Lastly a few words of advice for a beginner goes a long way. If someone(chop, myself) was to spend 2 hours with you on your first day I bet that we would advance your skill level within that day to that of someone that has been riding sand for a month or 3.

Our KDX is set up for Woodhill and I'm quite happy to arrange for someone, if not myself, time permitting, to spend a bit of time teaching the basics of off road riding. We literally have a few hundred that learn to ride sand every year.

Thanks for the info Ktmboy. At the moment I'm thinking of probably going next Wednesday/Thursday, what's the availability of your KDX like during the week? Reason I'm thinking of going during the week is obviously less people, so I won't get in the way as often and probably easier to get one of you guys to give me some tips

Oh and do you guys have any protective gear I can rent?

[Rupe]

Thanks for the info Ktmboy. At the moment I'm thinking of probably going next Wednesday/Thursday, what's the availability of your KDX like during the week? Reason I'm thinking of going during the week is obviously less people, so I won't get in the way as often and probably easier to get one of you guys to give me some tips

Oh and do you guys have any protective gear I can rent?

If you get the chance to get some pointers/help on your first outing fromkymboy or chop it would really help you to have a good day. Take it if it's offered.

[Ktmboy]

Thanks for the info Ktmboy. At the moment I'm thinking of probably going next Wednesday/Thursday, what's the availability of your KDX like during the week? Reason I'm thinking of going during the week is obviously less people, so I won't get in the way as often and probably easier to get one of you guys to give me some tips

Oh and do you guys have any protective gear I can rent?

Give Louise a ring in the office during the day. basic gear at this stage depending on size. Boots, helmet, goggles and gloves are the main.

Even though there can be more peps there during the weekend its never crowded and you will still feel lonely out on the tracks.

[chocobo_ff]

If you get the chance to get some pointers/help on your first outing fromkymboy or chop it would really help you to have a good day. Take it if it's offered.

Yep, which is why I'm thinking of going during the week when it's a bit quieter, then hopefully they'll have more time to get me started

[chocobo_ff]

Give Louise a ring in the office during the day. basic gear at this stage depending on size. Boots, helmet, goggles and gloves are the main.

Thanks, will do that tomorrow sometime. I actually emailed you guys this afternoon but a phone call is probably quicker anyway

[Midget200]

Thanks, will do that tomorrow sometime. I actually emailed you guys this afternoon but a phone call is probably quicker anyway

There's quite a big group of people out at The Sandpit on Wednesdays that can keep you company, it's 'Girl Wednesday'. Yesterday there were quite a few guys as well, and a couple that hadn't ridden much! Maybe we'll see you out there. Yeah pointers from people who know what they're talking about is awesome!

[chocobo_ff]

There's quite a big group of people out at The Sandpit on Wednesdays that can keep you company, it's 'Girl Wednesday'. Yesterday there were quite a few guys as well, and a couple that hadn't ridden much! Maybe we'll see you out there. Yeah pointers from people who know what they're talking about is awesome!

Cool, I plan on going next Wednesday depending on weather, so if you see a chubby-ish Asian guy on a rental bike that keeps falling off, that would be me

[tommorth]

the sandpit is wicked dureing the week trails are all freshly groomed ready to carve up and theres hardly anyone there . Hardly ever see anyone there on the trails even when the carparks packed though.

[chocobo_ff]

the sandpit is wicked dureing the week trails are all freshly groomed ready to carve up and theres hardly anyone there . Hardly ever see anyone there on the trails even when the carparks packed though.

Went out and bought myself some gear, now I'm covered head to toe, and have booked a KDX200 at the Sandpit for Wednesday, so will be there rain and shine!

[SpikedPunch]

Awesome, good luck! And have fun