Andalucian Trail Trip, March 07

[the white rabbit]

Just got back from a trip to Spain to ride some trails an hopefully improve some off-road skills. I have never ridden off-road proper in the UK, just a few tracks, done some off road-tours (well unsurfaced roads in reality) abroad but never had much instruction. So this trip was to have a holiday, ride some trails around 100 miles a day, and learn a thing or two. I'm no natural enduro or MX rider, but fun was had and I think I'll be better equpped next time the big pig goes offroad. Fortunately (and to my surprise) I was one to one with the guides. This meant it worked out far less expensive doing this in Spain (rainy Spain) than in sunny Wales.


I would guess Spain must have the biggest network of tracks and trails in Europe. You can almost literally ride anywhere. As its so rural these tracks and trails are an integral part of the infrasture. We saw only a few closed to bikes.

In no special order at mo, will sort that at some point.

Tilting at windmills
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140777504-M.jpg

Making me look small (as usual)
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140777546-M.jpg

We came up the little trail you can see leading onto the service road
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140777605-M.jpg

Singletrack through the fields after the olive groves
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140777284-M.jpg

The CRF230s we started out on. Nice little novice machines.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140550524-M.jpg

Miles of miles of tracks
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140777094-M.jpg

Not too many bridges, so lots of little water crossings
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140776479-M.jpg

Some loose descents (my personal least favourite...prefer uphill!). This imporived over the days. Well it had to....
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140776098-M.jpg

Plenty of places to play about. I think I've had the GS higher :oops: I gave up trying to get more air after going over the bars. Nothing broken :wink: We decided to move on before I was sampling Spanish hospital food:lol:
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140776036-M.jpg

Trev led on the Beta's. He's preparing to show me what I have to aspire too. Maybe in a few years. Like many things I wish I'd learned when my bones were made of rubber and I had less fear.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779546-M.jpg

Trev can't resist one of his favourite hills. I did :lol:
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140775370-M.jpg

Lovely gorges (on the Beta 450 here)
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140774950-M.jpg

The Beta 450 makes me look small as well :lol:. These are KTM engined. Decent suspension and seem to take the punishment. Its typically rocky trails where the Beta's get used.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779785-M.jpg

The end of the track. Straight down the mountain from basecamp at Competa
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779246-M.jpg

The simple life. Except when it comes to parking and getting the shopping home.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141527423-M.jpg

This fellow took 4 knobblies. Trev thought he had had it, but I picked him up and slung him onto the side and he shot off like a rocket.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779219-M.jpg

Some more water was crossed
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140775175-M.jpg

The tracks through the forests on the mountains were spectacular
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778998-M.jpg

Miles and miles of this. We rode over the mountain this day for lunch on the other side. Of course we had to come back again, so any tricky spots had to be revisited. Eeek.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778950-M.jpg

Other water splashes were ****ed up.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778889-M.jpg

There was much posing for the camera :lol:
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778834-M.jpg

Stuck in a rut. The line went here as did the momentum...the key on these trails. Keep it up and the Beta will just chug on up.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778651-M.jpg

Views were taken in
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778427-M.jpg

Andy with the CRFs. He can't reveal his identity.....
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141528829-M.jpg

Olive groves and mountains
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141528360-S.jpg

Home for that latter part of the trip, Competa
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141527292-M.jpg

Home for the first part of the trip, Trabuco
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141528577-M.jpg

Orange tree pruning
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141527814-M.jpg

Uncrowded Spain, about an hour from the Costas.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/141528967-M.jpg

Beer was drunk and dogs were befriended.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140778033-M.jpg

A great time, and thanks to Andy and Trev for the tour guiding and instruction. Lots of miles, long days and it all went very well indeed.

www.andaluciantrailtours.com (http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com) if anyone's interested.

[Jelster]

Looks bloody great Rich. I must get myself off roading this summer.

I bet you were well knackered every night after that lot.

I really fancy taking the Blade down to Andalucia. The roads are fantastic and areas like Granada are wonderful. Bit hot mid summer though !

[the white rabbit]

It was rather tiring. A few knocks as well. Bath, wine and ibruprofen :lol:

If I lived in the countryside there I wouldnt have a road bike, I dont think. I'd have a KTM....oh and a big ****-off quad :lol:

[Kylie]

Looks fantastic! Nice photos too.

I'd like to try some off road myself one day, but as someone who can only just get his toes down either side of my SV (and thats with the narrow seat option) I've always assumed a trail bike is a no-no. Only for tall folk?

[the white rabbit]

I'm only 5'8'' on a good day but I have short legs. The sit down when you are on them and as they are light you can lean them a little. I could only get one foot down on the Beta, tiptoe when nuts on tank. But I'm used to an oversize bike and also to falling off it at low speed which helps :lol: For this kind of trails you need to keep going anyway :lol:

[gettin2dizzy]

right, thats sold on me! might investigate if i can do it this summer :)

[DarrenSV650S]

Brilliant pics:thumbsup: That downhill pic looks terrifying! Don't think I'm ready to try off-roading yet. Looks like you had fun though. Where were you staying when you weren't riding?

[StreetHawk]

Looks like great fun mate!

I think we have all been to Spain, drank beer and befriended a few dogs haven't we?! ;-)

[the white rabbit]

Looks like great fun mate!

I think we have all been to Spain, drank beer and befriended a few dogs haven't we?! ;-)

:lol:

They arranged B&B in the village and a hotel in Competa. All cheap and cheerful..well cheap and very nice.

[Pedrosa]

Oh dear Dr.Bich. You not many too miles from that nice man Peter Henry and you not telling him you be in town? I sure he be very upsetted at hear this.:-?

[the white rabbit]

I was thinking of going to see the old baldy but I only had one day off and I understand tracking him down among the goats can be difficult.

[Pedrosa]

Dr.Rich I am been told he has adapted to some of the traditional Andalucian hill people ways much too much,(if you knowing what I be mean?;) )

[Stig]

Awesome Rich, looked like a wicked time you had. And by looking at all the pics, you had good weather too. :thumbsup:

Not my cup of tea, but cool none the less. :cool:

[cuffy]

Fantastic pic's there Dr, that looked like one hell of a gradient on the hill climb you declined....;)
That does look like serious fun...apart from the fact i'd end up in the local A&E if i ever attempted something like that :(

[K]

http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779785-M.jpg


Awwwwww, dat so cute. :smt003

:smt047

It does look like this had been photoshopped to make you look even... um... to make the bikes look bigger!;)


It sounds, and looks, awesome though. Something I'd love to do, but whilst I can ride round a track OK, I think being capable of falling off 'safely' on one side only makes this a bit of a no no for me at the moment.:(
All in good time though.

[mac99]

S'alright I suppose ...;)

Imagine how much riding you could have done if you didn't stop every two minutes to get the camera out.

[Demonz]

Man that looks like so much fun. Nice pics DR.

[mattSV]

Great pics Rich.

I think I've had the GS higher :oops: I gave up trying to get more air after going over the bars. Nothing broken :wink: We decided to move on before I was sampling Spanish hospital food:lol:
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140776036-M.jpg

Pah - you call that a jump - time to revisit that road we did on the North/South on the way to Hawes :D

[kwak zzr]

great pic's Dr! glad you had a good time :)

[Quiff Wichard]

brill rich- I love reading your exploits..


however... "beer was drunk and dogs befriended".... sounds just like a normal saturday night in Stoke mate!





a bit upset that there is no pic this year of you drunk out of your tree in the back of a wagon being paraded around the town with a silly grin on your face.!!.. that one was ace !

[the white rabbit]

K, I was stood in a dip, honest.
Matt, its just so much easier to get air when your not expecting it 8-[. Taking this up at my age is unfortunately not conducive to MX antics :lol:
Quiff, I was pretty much there on my own so drunkeness somewhat subdued. Ibruprofen was the drug of choice. But its likely I will be drunk and carted around in some rural contraption at some point this year, so don't be too concerned :lol:

[fizzwheel]

Cool that looks like an ace holiday. I've done a bit of MX but only on a proper track, Liz looked at doing something similar to that in france this year, but I dont think we'll have the spare cash to do it.

[gooner]

Looks like a cool holiday :cool:, gonna have to try it

I ride a Yam TT-R250 on the green lanes down my way...TOP FUN. Never has falling off been so common and funny. I recommend it to everyone to try at least once

[the white rabbit]

Looks like a cool holiday :cool:, gonna have to try it

I ride a Yam TT-R250 on the green lanes down my way...TOP FUN. Never has falling off been so common and funny. I recommend it to everyone to try at least once

Just got back from a short spin on the GS. Went up a few lanes, got it covered in cow poo, lots of cars, found a little green lane I knew. Spent half the time waiting for horses to go by...it was only a mile or so.

I was spoilt in Spain. Oh well.. :lol:

[gooner]

Just got back from a short spin on the GS. Went up a few lanes, got it covered in cow poo, lots of cars, found a little green lane I knew. Spent half the time waiting for horses to go by...it was only a mile or so.

I was spoilt in Spain. Oh well.. :lol:

Lots of off-road guys over your way, try http://www.trailbikemag.com/forum/ , they'll be able to point you towards something suitable for a GS :thumbsup: ...have fun

[the white rabbit]

Ta for that :grin:

[Jdubya]

Looks like you had a really good time...might look into that for next year...looks awesome!

[K]

But its likely I will be drunk and carted around in some rural contraption at some point this year, so don't be too concerned :lol:

I'm sure it could be arranged at the North/South Rideout if you can make it afterall.:p

[Richie]

Rich, like every adventure you undertake, You always manage to make me very envious.:notworthy:
Great photo's too.

[Amanda M]

Looks like fun :D Great write up, Dr Rich.

[Law]

Great photos, sounded like great fun. :)

This fellow took 4 knobblies. Trev thought he had had it, but I picked him up and slung him onto the side and he shot off like a rocket.
http://richhelyer.smugmug.com/photos/140779219-M.jpg


Those worms are tough little things aren't they? ;) :lol: