There were about 7 of is in all. I went along on my TTR.
It all started at their base on Curtis Road Industrial Estate on the western edge of Dorking one-way system…
Once everyone was kitted up – a sight to behold! Pete gave an intro to the bikes, starting and gear change suggestions, use of the choke (remember those?) and then on to some basic pointers on off-road riding, all carried out at the compound.
We then went for a road loop around Dorking to give everyone a chance to get a feel for the bikes and their controls before heading off to a small field round the corner from their compound, where we completed several laps of a small loop track that has been worn in the grass. After a little slalom test on the track we then went to the adjacent field where they’ve built a ‘hill’, no more than about 6 feet high, allowing some practice taking the bikes up and down inclines.
We then set-off for the morning ride to Bockets Farm, then Polesdon Lacy and on to Ranmore and then eventually down London Lane. We stopped for lunch at the Wotton Hatch, where they tolerated our muddy boots and thankfully supplied lots of water, as it had been hot and thirsty work. Everyone had coped extremely well with the morning ride with one of the less confident guys very wisely opting to skip the last section, which was down London Lane into Shere. We had earlier stopped at the top of Beggars Lane but done a U-turn, but there are fewer options to skip that one, where as there is a nice road alternative to London Lane.
The afternoon continued with Wolvens lane then past the bottom of Leith Hill and on down to Walliswood, Pisley Lane and Green Lane where we came across the ford.
Everyone got through without a dunking, which TBH was a bit disappointing!
It was my first outing in my new Knox Action Shirt and allowed me to give my TRF shirt an airing!
The bikes are the original Fantic 250 casa's with carbs and TBH, were a bit finickity. However, they are soon to be upgraded to the newer Fi versions. Off The Kerb are also planning to open another location over in Hampshire 'somewhere', so expanding the range of trails over which they operate .
