Discussion
Just bought a CRF250L to do some green laning and the guy i bought it from along with a few others said you need to join the TRF for info and routes etc.
Joined it for £56 for the year and there is a note saying the forums have been taken down but it doesn't say how long ago and when they will be put back up again. That was the main reason to join. Anyone got any info about the situation?
Joined it for £56 for the year and there is a note saying the forums have been taken down but it doesn't say how long ago and when they will be put back up again. That was the main reason to join. Anyone got any info about the situation?
You really need to get in touch with your local group. It took me a couple of months from joining the TRF to getting to some meetings with the local group but it’s been brilliant since. Loads of runs going and a really good bunch.
I’d suggest finding your local group and turning up to a club night.
I’d suggest finding your local group and turning up to a club night.
It all looked very quiet on FB and I had trouble getting on the forums when I joined. I think most groups use group chats for arranging rides now so you need to get hold of someone or meet them to get connected to that. Is worth the effort, loads of rides organized and loads of good local knowledge.
I joined 18 years ago and keep it up as I think they do decent work keeping lanes open etc. But I found the local group to be just horrific to go riding with, just so "officious" about it all. Didn't like me doing any wheelies anywhere, not even on the road transits, wanted to stick to a max 30 mph all the time on trails. In reality they went a whole lot slower than 30mph. Also, constantly wanting to stop and check maps, routes, signage, even when it was clear where we were going!!!
I am sure that some groups are better than others, but I just gave up with them, such a bunch of miseries!! We got a decent group together who go out together and it is so much fun, we're not hooligans, we are respectful and enjoy the experience and surroundings, but occasionally arse about because that's sort of what it is all about, IMO. We do a few hours, go to a pub for something to eat, carry on. There was so much faffing about in the TRF, I swear we do twice the miles compared to the TRF group I used to ride with.
So I recommend joining them and supporting them, but if you find them to be a bunch of old women, don't worry too much, get some mates together and go out with them.
I am sure that some groups are better than others, but I just gave up with them, such a bunch of miseries!! We got a decent group together who go out together and it is so much fun, we're not hooligans, we are respectful and enjoy the experience and surroundings, but occasionally arse about because that's sort of what it is all about, IMO. We do a few hours, go to a pub for something to eat, carry on. There was so much faffing about in the TRF, I swear we do twice the miles compared to the TRF group I used to ride with.
So I recommend joining them and supporting them, but if you find them to be a bunch of old women, don't worry too much, get some mates together and go out with them.
poo at Paul's said:
I joined 18 years ago and keep it up as I think they do decent work keeping lanes open etc. But I found the local group to be just horrific to go riding with, just so "officious" about it all. Didn't like me doing any wheelies anywhere, not even on the road transits, wanted to stick to a max 30 mph all the time on trails. In reality they went a whole lot slower than 30mph. Also, constantly wanting to stop and check maps, routes, signage, even when it was clear where we were going!!!
I am sure that some groups are better than others, but I just gave up with them, such a bunch of miseries!! We got a decent group together who go out together and it is so much fun, we're not hooligans, we are respectful and enjoy the experience and surroundings, but occasionally arse about because that's sort of what it is all about, IMO. We do a few hours, go to a pub for something to eat, carry on. There was so much faffing about in the TRF, I swear we do twice the miles compared to the TRF group I used to ride with.
So I recommend joining them and supporting them, but if you find them to be a bunch of old women, don't worry too much, get some mates together and go out with them.
Sounds like my experience of our local group,too.I am sure that some groups are better than others, but I just gave up with them, such a bunch of miseries!! We got a decent group together who go out together and it is so much fun, we're not hooligans, we are respectful and enjoy the experience and surroundings, but occasionally arse about because that's sort of what it is all about, IMO. We do a few hours, go to a pub for something to eat, carry on. There was so much faffing about in the TRF, I swear we do twice the miles compared to the TRF group I used to ride with.
So I recommend joining them and supporting them, but if you find them to be a bunch of old women, don't worry too much, get some mates together and go out with them.
Jazzy Jag said:
Sounds like my experience of our local group,too.
I would hope it wouldn't be the same for all regions but suspect they would be a bit stuffy with things like speed and wheelies etc. If (when) I return to the UK and pick up a bike I would intend to ride with them a couple of times to learn the trails around that area and likely bin them off if they were giving it the walloper chat and find some other like-minded dirt enthusiasts to hit the trails with instead.
I'm a member of the TRF and it's not like that now, at least not in my area and other areas I've ridden with in the SE. The TRF spends £10ks every year keeping roads open and also helping to repair them - so don't want anybody doing wheelies in sight of houses and roads as it reflects poorly on the TRF and therefore makes life harder to keep these roads open and can waste money already spent.
There's a basic code of conduct - you need to agree to this when you ride as a TRF group, for example, slowing and usually stopping when you come across horses. Reason being horse riders have equal access to the road and can also have significant influence with the council so it doesn't pay to piss them off. We're nice to everybody- especially near houses and roads shared with other people.
But join up and ride the roads in the middle of nowhere, there are lots all over the country and you can ride more vigorously there without risking our access to the roads. The national speed limit (from memory . . .) usually applies on these roads, so 60mph - but it's down to you to choose how fast to ride. Go beyond your local area and discover just how much land there is !
There's a basic code of conduct - you need to agree to this when you ride as a TRF group, for example, slowing and usually stopping when you come across horses. Reason being horse riders have equal access to the road and can also have significant influence with the council so it doesn't pay to piss them off. We're nice to everybody- especially near houses and roads shared with other people.
But join up and ride the roads in the middle of nowhere, there are lots all over the country and you can ride more vigorously there without risking our access to the roads. The national speed limit (from memory . . .) usually applies on these roads, so 60mph - but it's down to you to choose how fast to ride. Go beyond your local area and discover just how much land there is !
seveb said:
I'm a member of the TRF and it's not like that now, at least not in my area and other areas I've ridden with in the SE. The TRF spends £10ks every year keeping roads open and also helping to repair them - so don't want anybody doing wheelies in sight of houses and roads as it reflects poorly on the TRF and therefore makes life harder to keep these roads open and can waste money already spent.
There's a basic code of conduct - you need to agree to this when you ride as a TRF group, for example, slowing and usually stopping when you come across horses. Reason being horse riders have equal access to the road and can also have significant influence with the council so it doesn't pay to piss them off. We're nice to everybody- especially near houses and roads shared with other people.
But join up and ride the roads in the middle of nowhere, there are lots all over the country and you can ride more vigorously there without risking our access to the roads. The national speed limit (from memory . . .) usually applies on these roads, so 60mph - but it's down to you to choose how fast to ride. Go beyond your local area and discover just how much land there is !
Reassuring to hear! There's a basic code of conduct - you need to agree to this when you ride as a TRF group, for example, slowing and usually stopping when you come across horses. Reason being horse riders have equal access to the road and can also have significant influence with the council so it doesn't pay to piss them off. We're nice to everybody- especially near houses and roads shared with other people.
But join up and ride the roads in the middle of nowhere, there are lots all over the country and you can ride more vigorously there without risking our access to the roads. The national speed limit (from memory . . .) usually applies on these roads, so 60mph - but it's down to you to choose how fast to ride. Go beyond your local area and discover just how much land there is !
The TRF are quite small in numbers, so their web pages and forums aren't always up to date or busy.
There was a National TRF chat forum, and most TRF Groups also had their own forums too.
The National forum was changed, to a Facebook type forum, on which it is harder to keep discussions going, before posts are lost from view. However even the National forum has issues, as it's currently suspended following inappropriate posts.
Some groups still maintain their own discussion forums, where they post up rides and socials, but again, being only a hobby forum, it may take a few days for the admin to grant you access.
Don't give up trying to make contact. The local group will offer you rides, some even have all their lanes recorded for GPS overlays, or offer a map marking process.
National TRF are currently working on a National lanes mapping database, which if successful, should allow a greater ability to ride in different parts of the country.
There was a National TRF chat forum, and most TRF Groups also had their own forums too.
The National forum was changed, to a Facebook type forum, on which it is harder to keep discussions going, before posts are lost from view. However even the National forum has issues, as it's currently suspended following inappropriate posts.
Some groups still maintain their own discussion forums, where they post up rides and socials, but again, being only a hobby forum, it may take a few days for the admin to grant you access.
Don't give up trying to make contact. The local group will offer you rides, some even have all their lanes recorded for GPS overlays, or offer a map marking process.
National TRF are currently working on a National lanes mapping database, which if successful, should allow a greater ability to ride in different parts of the country.
Biker 1 said:
Are there actually enough BOATS in SE England to make it worthwhile?
Don’t know about the SE, but around me most of the good lanes are unclassified roads.That means you can’t just use a map to find good routes and it’s where the TRF really help. Locally, the rights of way issues are more about the “list of streets” than the deffinative map and BOATs
Crapaud said:
I joined my local trf but everytime I tried to join a ride I was told it was fully subscribed by the regulars. After a year of this I gave up.
I had heard and expected this, but couldn’t be more different to my local group so guess it’s down to making contact and seeing what the local group is like. My local group, If someone posts they fancy a ride the following weekend, there will be 4 or 5 others that join and one or two that volunteer to lead... Really good group.
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