I did the Off Road Skills Level 1 last weekend and am now paying the price, with aches in places I didn't know I had!
I drove to Wales in a howling gale and torrential rain, fearing the worst for the course. The Old Tredegar B and B was warm, dry and welcoming and the pub was only a short walk away.
On day 1 we drove to the ORS base where we were allocated bikes, got our kit (boots and gloves for me) and rode to the site. It was my first ride on nobblies and I don't doubt this was true for several of us as one bloke fell off on a roundabout on the way to the site.
We were split into 2 groups; those who had off road experience and those that didn't. I was in the latter group. 10 of us with 2 trainers. First exercise, lay the bike down and then pick it up again. A fully fueled gs is a heavy bastard! A morning of basic riding skills on a flat but muddy, slippery field, getting used to the feel of riding standing on the pegs and using body weight, of which I've got plenty, to steer.
After a decent lunch we progressed to riding fire trails, up and down increasingly steep hills, skidding (great fun), falling off (less fun) and more riding. That evening we all (40 students and instructors) went for a meal together at a pub. I slept well that night.
Day 2 was more of the same, only more extreme and it was lashing down all day. It got muddier by the minute and puddles got deeper and deeper. For experienced off roaders what we were doing must seem tame, but to us novices riding stood on the pegs on a muddy track with arms stretched out sideways was a hell of an achievement. Steep down hill with no brakes or deliberately locking the front wheel on gravel, deliberately stalling on a hill and having to turn the bike round to ride back down. Each completed task was a victory and cheered and clapped by the other students, with loads of encouragement from Gary and Kevin, the instructors.
Gary and Kevin got loads of practice helping us pick the bikes up after we took tumbles. No one got badly hurt, just a few bumps and bruises.
The final exercise involved riding up and down extremely steep, but short hills, with tight u turns between the ups and downs and lots of falling off! We then rode back to the base, handed back the keys and got our certificates with a round of applause for each student.
Is it worth £500+? Absolutely. I went from absolute beginner to having some ability and a great deal more confidence in what I and the bike can do. I did things that I thought were impossible for me, a fat, lazy 60something. I laughed more than I have for ages, learnt loads, enjoyed the company of many strangers and have a real feeling of success. I ache like a good'un and my riding kit is disgustingly filthy, but it was brilliant. I can't recommend it enough.
I drove to Wales in a howling gale and torrential rain, fearing the worst for the course. The Old Tredegar B and B was warm, dry and welcoming and the pub was only a short walk away.
On day 1 we drove to the ORS base where we were allocated bikes, got our kit (boots and gloves for me) and rode to the site. It was my first ride on nobblies and I don't doubt this was true for several of us as one bloke fell off on a roundabout on the way to the site.
We were split into 2 groups; those who had off road experience and those that didn't. I was in the latter group. 10 of us with 2 trainers. First exercise, lay the bike down and then pick it up again. A fully fueled gs is a heavy bastard! A morning of basic riding skills on a flat but muddy, slippery field, getting used to the feel of riding standing on the pegs and using body weight, of which I've got plenty, to steer.
After a decent lunch we progressed to riding fire trails, up and down increasingly steep hills, skidding (great fun), falling off (less fun) and more riding. That evening we all (40 students and instructors) went for a meal together at a pub. I slept well that night.
Day 2 was more of the same, only more extreme and it was lashing down all day. It got muddier by the minute and puddles got deeper and deeper. For experienced off roaders what we were doing must seem tame, but to us novices riding stood on the pegs on a muddy track with arms stretched out sideways was a hell of an achievement. Steep down hill with no brakes or deliberately locking the front wheel on gravel, deliberately stalling on a hill and having to turn the bike round to ride back down. Each completed task was a victory and cheered and clapped by the other students, with loads of encouragement from Gary and Kevin, the instructors.
Gary and Kevin got loads of practice helping us pick the bikes up after we took tumbles. No one got badly hurt, just a few bumps and bruises.
The final exercise involved riding up and down extremely steep, but short hills, with tight u turns between the ups and downs and lots of falling off! We then rode back to the base, handed back the keys and got our certificates with a round of applause for each student.
Is it worth £500+? Absolutely. I went from absolute beginner to having some ability and a great deal more confidence in what I and the bike can do. I did things that I thought were impossible for me, a fat, lazy 60something. I laughed more than I have for ages, learnt loads, enjoyed the company of many strangers and have a real feeling of success. I ache like a good'un and my riding kit is disgustingly filthy, but it was brilliant. I can't recommend it enough.