RIDER SKILLS: Taking to the Trails!

Riding ‘off-road’ might look intimidating from the outside looking in, but it doesn’t have to be, particularly when you’re being shown the ropes by Phoenix Trails.

Fancy a bit of trail riding but don’t know where to start? With centre’s close to the legal-lane abundant Salisbury Plains, North Downs, West Pennines and Peak District, the good folks at Phoenix Trails have got you covered.

It’s a spin-off of the ever-popular Phoenix Motorcycle Training school, which has over 20 road-focused training centres and has built up an enviable reputation in over 20-odd years in the game. The trail thing’s a little more recent, but in that time they’ve carved out a little niche for themselves, focusing on legal trail-riding and practical skills that transfer to the road, in contrast to the abundance of centres offering more extreme MX and Enduro experiences. if you want to hone your skills, search out some top lanes, and have a belting day riding through some of the UK’s best scenery, these guys are well worth a look. We spent a day meandering around on some Fantic XEF250 Trails just a stone’s throw from Stonehenge, under the watchful eye of the Salisbury Plain Stig. Here’s what our editor Ross learned.

STAND UP AND LOOK UP

If you’re riding off-road, you need to get comfortable with riding while stood up on the pegs. It’ll help improve your forward vision and force you to focus beyond your front wheel and avoid fixing on a target (and subsequently hitting it). It’ll also help offer better control, as the bike can move more freely beneath you and soak up bumps and lumps more easily. Ensure your knees are straight (but not locked) and your elbows are out to help you and the bike work in unison.

BE PREPARED

You never know quite what to expect when you’re on the rough stuff, so you’ve got to be ready to react to changing conditions quickly. Basically, you need to be ready to take some speed off in a hurry should you need to. You can feather the clutch and take drive away instantly, knock your way down the gears and make use of engine braking, or use the back brake.

RELAX

Like riding any motorcycle, you need to try and stay relaxed. Don’t hold on to the bars too tightly, and don’t tense up when you approach an obstacle. Focus on being as smooth and fluid with your movements as possible. When riding stood up, your arms should be relaxed, with elbows out and your palms down – and your legs should be straight, but not locked.

FORGET THE FRONT BRAKE

Braking off-road is a much different experience to on the Tarmac – hard, aggressive braking isn’t going to end well unless you really know what you’re doing on the dirt. Instead of using the front brake for around 80% of braking, you should be using both your engine and the back brake to take speed off. It’ll be strange to start with, but with a bit of practice you’ll soon get the hang of it.

STICK TO THE RUTS

Picking the right line is essential when riding in the dirt, but in some cases you’ll find yourself walled in by a deep rut with nowhere to go. Don’t worry though; just ride the rut, keeping a close eye on what’s coming up ahead and you’ll not go far wrong. If you need to paddle to feel comfortable, that’s cool, but you’re always going to be better off (and in greater control) by standing up on the pegs and getting your weight over the front end of the bike.

KNOW THE RULES

Strictly speaking, trail riding is not ‘off-roading’. All routes used are public highways with vehicular rights and as a consequence, both bike and rider must be fully legal. By law, motorcycles are allowed to ride on Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) and Unclassified County Roads (UCR), so be sure to check your local OS map before heading out. It’s also important to remember that it’s not a racetrack; keep the speed sensible and remember you’re sharing the trail with other people (cyclists, horse-riders, walkers and more). Be respectful and you’ll not go far wrong.

PHOENIX TRAILS – GIVE THEM A SHOUT!

There are four different levels of training to choose from across the four centres. You can opt for a 2.5-hour ‘Taster Session’, which’ll see you tackling ruts, steps, inclines and declines in a closed environment, to build a solid foundation of skills ready for you to take to the trails.

The beginner ‘Level 1’ course covers all the same stuff as the ‘Taster Session’, but also includes a chance to hit up the local Green Lanes so you can practice all your newly-acquired skills in real world conditions.

The intermediate ‘Level 2’ day takes things a step further. In an ideal world you’ll have completed either a ‘Taster Session’ or ‘Level 1’ course, but there’s a bit of flexibility if you are a decent rider and feel confident in your abilities. It’s better to be honest with yourself though, and if you’re not sure you’ll be able to cope with a full day on the trails, you’d be better off opting for one of the more beginner-focused sessions. It involves a briefing to go over key skills, and a chance to practice on a private training area, before you get the chance to venture out for an extended ride on the local lanes.

The extended ‘Level 3’ follows a similar format to ‘Level 2’; starting with a quick briefing before getting straight out on to the lanes. It’s a long day on the bike, covering big miles – with fitness and endurance just as important as technical ability.

Prices range from £99 for the ‘Taster Session’, up to £270 for a full day of Level 1, 2 or 3 training. For your cash you’ll also be able to borrow all the kit you need: helmets, boots, gloves, jackets, trousers, and even motocross-style body armour is available. You’re welcome to wear your own approved riding gear, too, though you’ll need to make sure you’ve got some high-leg adventure-style boots (at the very least). And lunch is included, too.

If you fancy something a bit more intensive, Phoenix also work together with Trailworld.co.uk offering three- or four-day trips to the Andalusian mountains in southern Spain. If you want to know more, give them a shout direct.

For more information, visit: www.phoenixmotorcycletraining.co.uk