Is green laning in the South a dead/dying thing?
Discussion
Years ago I did plenty of green lining around Berkshire Hampshire Oxfordshire (based out of reading). I then took a break the 12 years and recently got back into biking via off road courses, hiring bikes in Africa, etc.
My other half is now "into" it, got her license, and we have plans to go to Europe a couple of times a year, a few trailer trips to Wales/up north, etc - that means our own bikes of course. Neither of us want to ride on the road unless we have to so all trips are planned 90% off road.
But my plan was based around being able to get her lots more experience with days out riding from home - instead of developing basic skills halfway up a French mountain! But looking on the local TRF site (and web in general) it seems nearly everything locally has been closed. Even the TET which passes south of me is mostly small tarmac lanes through villages with the occasional 20 yards of gravel!
I could satisfy my biking urge with continuing to rent a bike for week in Namibia or whatever - But she needs to get better before being able to join me at that level........... I got "good" whizzing round lines on a KTM 20 years ago, blasting home for jet wash and done in time for tea - is that now not doable unless you live in the shadow of Snowdonia?
Tempted to upgrade the mountain bikes to E bikes and stick to peddal power
- Someone convince me it is still a hobby that exists in the south!
My other half is now "into" it, got her license, and we have plans to go to Europe a couple of times a year, a few trailer trips to Wales/up north, etc - that means our own bikes of course. Neither of us want to ride on the road unless we have to so all trips are planned 90% off road.
But my plan was based around being able to get her lots more experience with days out riding from home - instead of developing basic skills halfway up a French mountain! But looking on the local TRF site (and web in general) it seems nearly everything locally has been closed. Even the TET which passes south of me is mostly small tarmac lanes through villages with the occasional 20 yards of gravel!
I could satisfy my biking urge with continuing to rent a bike for week in Namibia or whatever - But she needs to get better before being able to join me at that level........... I got "good" whizzing round lines on a KTM 20 years ago, blasting home for jet wash and done in time for tea - is that now not doable unless you live in the shadow of Snowdonia?
Tempted to upgrade the mountain bikes to E bikes and stick to peddal power
- Someone convince me it is still a hobby that exists in the south!I'm further South than you, well extreme South West in Cornwall.
Used to spend a lot of time greenlining up to 10 years ago, it was popular, never short of a group to go out with. But yes, it's dropped off drastically.
I now compete in half day trials so still get off road kicks here and there's often practice days/evening - good fun but the scenery doesn't change.
One area where popularity is frankly weird is LDT/Road Trials, bear in mind these bikes are road legal and were you'd find regular green laners/TRF members. Again I still do this, in Cornwall we struggle to get 25+ entry whereas years ago, an entry of 100 was a given. However, we compete in events in Devon, Somerset & Wales, even these vary, we a newish event near Plymouth a few weeks ago, entries closed at 120. This weekend we're doing one in North Devon and there's just over 50 - I can't think of a reason for the variation in numbers.
I think it became quite a 'fashionable' hobby in the late 90s/early '00s but has gone low key again like it was previously.
Have a look at local events, you may find people running LDTs/Trials where you can compete for fun or offer to help, you often see the event organisers following the competitors picking up score sheets/markers/stragglers.
Used to spend a lot of time greenlining up to 10 years ago, it was popular, never short of a group to go out with. But yes, it's dropped off drastically.
I now compete in half day trials so still get off road kicks here and there's often practice days/evening - good fun but the scenery doesn't change.
One area where popularity is frankly weird is LDT/Road Trials, bear in mind these bikes are road legal and were you'd find regular green laners/TRF members. Again I still do this, in Cornwall we struggle to get 25+ entry whereas years ago, an entry of 100 was a given. However, we compete in events in Devon, Somerset & Wales, even these vary, we a newish event near Plymouth a few weeks ago, entries closed at 120. This weekend we're doing one in North Devon and there's just over 50 - I can't think of a reason for the variation in numbers.
I think it became quite a 'fashionable' hobby in the late 90s/early '00s but has gone low key again like it was previously.
Have a look at local events, you may find people running LDTs/Trials where you can compete for fun or offer to help, you often see the event organisers following the competitors picking up score sheets/markers/stragglers.
Trouble is the other half.....I could get my kicks flying off to Namibia, hire a bike a bugger off into the desert for a week - or do a few H&H type stuff over here. But she needs to build experience beofre we can both fly off - the idea was she would get half decent by riding weekends here then we could holiday in Peru and do some ADV riding. I just get the feeling that riding off tarmac in the South (outside an "event") is pretty dead.
I picked up the trans Eurpe Trail where it passes south of me and drove it in my car for an hour to find the "off road" bits.....there was one, and even that I managed to do.....in My A45 AMG!!!!! Might have to move to Northern Oz....they seem to do ok!
I picked up the trans Eurpe Trail where it passes south of me and drove it in my car for an hour to find the "off road" bits.....there was one, and even that I managed to do.....in My A45 AMG!!!!! Might have to move to Northern Oz....they seem to do ok!
From what I've seen of that Euro trial on-line, it's geared up for adventure bikes rather than proper trail bikes.
Fancied getting a twin shock & doing one of Austin Vince's events.
TBH if it's just the pair of you it'll be a lot less hassle than organising a group. Surely a case of loading the bikes onto a trailer & heading to Wales, weekend in a pub/B&B and some trails - organised or otherwise.
Fancied getting a twin shock & doing one of Austin Vince's events.
TBH if it's just the pair of you it'll be a lot less hassle than organising a group. Surely a case of loading the bikes onto a trailer & heading to Wales, weekend in a pub/B&B and some trails - organised or otherwise.
graham22 said:
From what I've seen of that Euro trial on-line, it's geared up for adventure bikes rather than proper trail bikes.
Its designed for stuff up to 600 - i Think the issue is everyone has stupid big ADV bikes and so use what they have. There are plenty of sections (in Europe) you'd be ok on a GS doing but also enough sections where you'd struggle to make the advice to use something smaller. My choice would be a 701 Enduro.Fleegle said:
I wouldn't say it is dead, if anything the numbers seem to be swelling in the TRF branch I belong to.
I think it varies drastically across the country and I guess availability of good land/lanes encourages groups/clubs - where are you?We're short on byways this far down in Cornwall, many have been made into bridlepaths or were bridlepaths anyway but used historically without fuss but with consideration despite being illegal, illegal usage became enforced when the interest/activity picked up.
Yet once you're 30/40 miles from where we are, there are many more good proper lanes.
graham22 said:
I think it varies drastically across the country and I guess availability of good land/lanes encourages groups/clubs - where are you?
I'm in Surrey. There seems to be quite a lot of short lanes around here, which when joined together with minimal road work can see you out for most of the day at a 'legal' pace. I did 70 miles a few weeks ago of which I would say 45 was off road. I'm also only an hour away from Hampshire, where you can easily do a 100 mile circuit I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Surrey branch is the 2nd largest in the country. The guys I tend to go out couldn't be further from the stereotype that people associate with the TRF. That said, they are very respectful of the other lane users - but it may be a case of too little too late. Our group has some very active people constantly battling with the local authorities in order to keep the lanes open
Certainly have a look at Road Trials/Long Distance trials.
Below are a couple we do, what neither clip shows is the lanes used between observed sections, both use a lot of private forestry land. Both of these events are approx. 90 miles and I'd say only 25miles or so is on the road itself.
You'll need a trials rear tyre and a £10 ACU Trials licence but most trail/enduro bikes are used:
https://vimeo.com/208917099
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-bDZymcJ2g
Below are a couple we do, what neither clip shows is the lanes used between observed sections, both use a lot of private forestry land. Both of these events are approx. 90 miles and I'd say only 25miles or so is on the road itself.
You'll need a trials rear tyre and a £10 ACU Trials licence but most trail/enduro bikes are used:
https://vimeo.com/208917099
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-bDZymcJ2g
I did a LDT last year and definitely ant to do more. You'll get to ride where you can't usually go.
There are lots of lanes around Surrey as Fleegle says, and a fair number in Kent although you'll have areas where you ride a st of lanes and then have to do a bit orf road work to get to the next. But it's doable.
There are lots of lanes around Surrey as Fleegle says, and a fair number in Kent although you'll have areas where you ride a st of lanes and then have to do a bit orf road work to get to the next. But it's doable.
Fleegle said:
I'm in Surrey. There seems to be quite a lot of short lanes around here, which when joined together with minimal road work can see you out for most of the day at a 'legal' pace. I did 70 miles a few weeks ago of which I would say 45 was off road. I'm also only an hour away from Hampshire, where you can easily do a 100 mile circuit
I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Surrey branch is the 2nd largest in the country. The guys I tend to go out couldn't be further from the stereotype that people associate with the TRF. That said, they are very respectful of the other lane users - but it may be a case of too little too late. Our group has some very active people constantly battling with the local authorities in order to keep the lanes open
There were a couple of people out on some out by Ranmore when I went in the car over the Christmas break, I felt a bit sorry for them as it tipped down with rain and there were some quite deep puddles/trenches which were about waist high in parts and full of muddy water, one of the guys said you won’t get through there!, but was pretty easy work for a Landcruiser and a Discovery.I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Surrey branch is the 2nd largest in the country. The guys I tend to go out couldn't be further from the stereotype that people associate with the TRF. That said, they are very respectful of the other lane users - but it may be a case of too little too late. Our group has some very active people constantly battling with the local authorities in order to keep the lanes open
Green laning would be great fun on a bike in the summer, in the winter I think I’d stick to doing it in a car.
I’d love to get an off road bike at some point but really want a 2 stroke and there’s not that many road legal ones
.Walter Sobchak said:
There were a couple of people out on some out by Ranmore when I went in the car over the Christmas break, I felt a bit sorry for them as it tipped down with rain and there were some quite deep puddles/trenches which were about waist high in parts and full of muddy water, one of the guys said you won’t get through there!, but was pretty easy work for a Landcruiser and a Discovery.
Green laning would be great fun on a bike in the summer, in the winter I think I’d stick to doing it in a car.
I’d love to get an off road bike at some point but really want a 2 stroke and there’s not that many road legal ones .
I have done it in both summer and winter. Winter can be challenging and the same lane will be different with each passing week, but its only when you stop that you will start to feel the cold. I'm not overly fussed about going out in the height of summer - 1. You sweat one out 2. the dust gets to the back of your throat 3. there are more walkers/dogs/horses about which makes for a very stop/start rideGreen laning would be great fun on a bike in the summer, in the winter I think I’d stick to doing it in a car.
I’d love to get an off road bike at some point but really want a 2 stroke and there’s not that many road legal ones
.As for doing it in a car, unfortunately for the 4x4ers, this is the group that are becoming the biggest reason for lane closures
I live in Rossendale (Lancs, Pennines) and there are huge areas of moorland and trails all over the place. I - and my mates - used to just ride these illegally all the time, however I haven't since my KTM got stolen 4 years ago. The police evidently had some DRZ400s but by all accounts they weren't catching anyone on those 
I never had any bother at all with walkers and ramblers, just smile and be polite and they were the same. I even had one old boy help me get my bike out a a bog and then share his coffee with me.
In future I don't know if I'd bother anymore, I think the way forward are some of those rather tricky electric mountain bikes, which I can also get on the cycle to work scheme so effectively half price. They look a lot of fun without any dubious legalities.
I never had any bother at all with walkers and ramblers, just smile and be polite and they were the same. I even had one old boy help me get my bike out a a bog and then share his coffee with me.In future I don't know if I'd bother anymore, I think the way forward are some of those rather tricky electric mountain bikes, which I can also get on the cycle to work scheme so effectively half price. They look a lot of fun without any dubious legalities.
I was thinking about this the other day.
Do we think it will see a resurgence with electric bikes ? And more importantly are we heading back to the days of the sports mopeds with pedals type of thing, i.e, could we get and electric enduro bike that with pedals that then falls into the electric bicycle category and becomes usable on bridleways.
Do we think it will see a resurgence with electric bikes ? And more importantly are we heading back to the days of the sports mopeds with pedals type of thing, i.e, could we get and electric enduro bike that with pedals that then falls into the electric bicycle category and becomes usable on bridleways.
Harry H said:
I was thinking about this the other day.
Do we think it will see a resurgence with electric bikes ? And more importantly are we heading back to the days of the sports mopeds with pedals type of thing, i.e, could we get and electric enduro bike that with pedals that then falls into the electric bicycle category and becomes usable on bridleways.
We are already seeing it - both Bultaco and KTM do them, Bennetts the MV Agusta dealer in Barnsley rings a bell.....Do we think it will see a resurgence with electric bikes ? And more importantly are we heading back to the days of the sports mopeds with pedals type of thing, i.e, could we get and electric enduro bike that with pedals that then falls into the electric bicycle category and becomes usable on bridleways.
http://www.bennettsmotorcycles.co.uk/bultaco-e-bik...
Fleegle said:
I'm not in the slightest bit pro electric......I'm a bit averse to change
..........BUT, the biggest thing that would concern me with an electric bike is you can't hear them coming. That's not particularly good for walkers when you are going into a blind turn
You shouldn't be going that fast into a blind turn that you cannot stop, surely...........BUT, the biggest thing that would concern me with an electric bike is you can't hear them coming. That's not particularly good for walkers when you are going into a blind turn
Let's face it - the general public gets pissed off with the noise of bikes; I would think they'd think it better that they're quiet.
Dog Star said:
We are already seeing it - both Bultaco and KTM do them, Bennetts the MV Agusta dealer in Barnsley rings a bell.....
http://www.bennettsmotorcycles.co.uk/bultaco-e-bik...
Looking at the link it looks like none of these would be seen as electric bicycles in the UK so would not be allowed on bridleways. They could be registered but then would only be allowed on the same green lanes that petrol bikes are allowed.http://www.bennettsmotorcycles.co.uk/bultaco-e-bik...
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff