Green lane bimble

I have been pleasantly surprised to find out, courtesy of an OS Wayfinder
map, that there are several BOATs (Byeways Open to All Traffic) within a
few miles of where I live. I spent a very pleasant couple of hours this
afternoon bimbling along some of them on the TW200. It coped very well
with ruts, loose gravel and mud etc. This green laning lark is jolly good
fun - and the only other traffic on these lanes was a solitary horse and
rider.

There are quite a few more of these BOATs within a 20 mile radius so that
should take care of a few more sunny afternoons.

 

I have explored a couple close-ish to where I live.

Main problem has been making sure I have enough fuel in the KTM 200.
I need one of those transparent tanks.

And you're right it is good fun, not as much as being out in the wilds
of wales but close enough and at the moment feels like more fun than
150mph madness on a sports bike. Clearly I am getting old.

Quite. I must get to Salisbury plain but i think that's a chuck it in
the pickup job.

 

Agree huge amounts of fun, and usually a softer landing when it goes a
bit wrong (says he recovering from a broken collar bone doing exactly
this). Be warned, soon you'll be looking for a bike that allows you to
explore the Pyrenees with all your luggage, Last year found a rooute
that was ~80% off road across the length of them - huge amount of
giggling all round.

cheers

Soanners

 

I have explored a couple close-ish to where I live.

Main problem has been making sure I have enough fuel in the KTM 200.
I need one of those transparent tanks.

And you're right it is good fun, not as much as being out in the wilds
of wales but close enough and at the moment feels like more fun than
150mph madness on a sports bike. Clearly I am getting old.

+1

Quite. I must get to Salisbury plain but i think that's a chuck it in
the pickup job.

Come over to our place in Melksham, Leave the pickup there. Come out with us
on a little 'bimble' if you like.

JB

 

I went through a tank of fuel playing around on the local BOATs
yesterday but found no mud at all. The ford I went to have a look at was
about 6" deep so a bit tame but I still had a load of laughs.

Try using http://www.trailwise.org.uk/gmaps/gmap.htm to locate lanes
then mark them on a map, it's cheaper than buying random maps and hoping
to find something.

 

I'd be quite keen on tagging along if you do plan anything. I'll make
sure I bring enough oil.

 

Not a problem Simon. When we go out, we normally only do about 40-60 miles
actually offroad. As we have at least 3x 1980s stroker trail bikes
including mine, we don't tend to go too mad, but we do go to some
'interesting' places.
There are some cracking trails on and around the Plains. There really are.
To make it easier for everyone, we could all meet up in Devizes. there is a
safe small carpark to park cars/trailer etc right near the start of a trail.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...7576,-1.983708&spn=0.003606,0.013733&t=h&z=17
Next outing will be 3rd July. Meeting up at about 11.45am ish.
Drop me a line if you are up for it. I think you still have my email addy?

JB

 

Ooh...

Now, that is tempting.

The KTM is pretty slow on the road since I think the gearing is a bit
shit for road use. However it's fine for off road, although I might drop
a tooth off the front maybe...

And re the third of July... Sounds good to me!

 

Sounds good. It's in my diary.

 

I still need to get my van sorted out for personal use but would
certainly be up for a trip to the plains at some point. I'm not sure
about the 3rd July but I'll get down there at some point.

I've got enough lanes around my way to make a full day out but the
biggest problem is that I have to link them together with sections of
tarmac and I think that's where my fuel consumption problems start.

If anyone fancies a day out in Beds, Northants and Cambs give me a shout
and we'll sort something out. Most of the lanes are fairly wide and the
only problem with them at the moment is that they're rock hard and it's
not easy to spot ruts in grassy areas until you're right on them. I've
done most of them on the Tenere so big bikes are ok but you'll get very
hot and very knackered inside a couple of hours.

 

Cool. I'll post a link to a better map of meeting point and 'proposed'
route. Meeting in Devizes means only about 1-2miles of tarmac all day. And
there is the British Lion nearby for a post ride beer/pisstake prior to
setting off home.
Hope Sweller can make it too.
cheers.
JB

 

I should have said "OS Landranger maps" (not "Wayfinder"). These show
BOATS quite clearly. However, that looks like a really useful link -
thanks! I already have maps for my local area but that will be really
useful if I want to go further afield.

The mud that I found was in areas that would probably be fords if the
weather wasn't so dry. I must say, the ruts in some places I went are
quite impressive - at least a foot deep in places and hard as concrete
because of the dryness. Once in one of those fuckers there is no option
but to stay in it until things level off a bit.

 

It's good for finding which areas are worth visiting but unless you join
the trf (or similar) you can't get access to the full maps that show
closures alongside other routes than you can ride on. I suspect that if
I had the time to go out every weekend and was going to other areas I'd
pay to get that access then buy a satnav loaded with mapsource (or
similar) and use that rather than paper maps.

I decided to be a criminal element and go up a lane that's got a
temporary closure in place and it seemed fine until I'd gone about a
mile then it started to resemble a WWI battlefield with holes that you'd
lose the bike in if the ground was wet. I'd heard that it wasn't
somewhere to go riding on your own but that only pushed me harder to go
and do it.

 

Not a problem. We go out most Sundays.

JB