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I traveled down to Llanidoes the day before to ensure I got a good night’s sleep. I’d recommend doing this unless you live close by because it is a demanding day and getting up at 05.00 am to get there on time will have you flagging well before lunchtime.
Stopping over the night before in a local pub and enjoying an evening meal with a pint helps to focus the mind on the next day’s activity.
In the morning I woke up early and was keen to arrive at the farm after having a full English breakfast, which would set me up nicely for the day ahead. Outside was miserable, it had been raining for the last few days, there were low clouds, it was early winter and it was grey!
The course arrival time was 09.30 am but I was ready to set off early. My SatNav wouldn’t accept the coordinates that were supplied, so after looking at the map on the website, I knew exactly where I needed to go.
The road looked like it was going into the middle of nowhere (you need to make sure you know where you are going before you set off so that you don’t turn up late). If you choose to go the day before you can do a recce to make sure you know where it is as it was only 4 miles away from the town, you wouldn’t want to miss your day due to lateness!
The day started by signing in and getting kitted up, you don’t need to bring any kit except some base layers and thick socks. Everyone on the course was issued with shin and knee guards, trousers and boots to start with. Once these were on, we were then issued with body armour, a top (and waterproof jacket as it was wet on our particular day), a helmet, goggles and a pair of gloves.
The Yamaha Offroad Experience team ensured that we had the correctly fitted clothing before we congregated for an in-depth briefing about how the day was going to proceed.
There was an impressive array of Yamaha WR250’s and WR450’s lined up and after the briefing we were introduced to them. A detailed explanation was given on how to start and stop the bikes, along with some more detailed info about using them during the day.
There were lowered machines, some slightly less powered, the majority were 250cc, some full power, some restricted and some with extra restrictions to stop them being a handful.
There was something for everyone in the group. There was a good mix of male and females, some mature and some young, they’d come from all over the UK and had come in search of a great experience.
Introductions done, it was a case of choosing the right bike for the day, it was suggested I go for the WR250 that was slightly restricted. I didn’t mind what I rode because it was all about learning and not having the quickest bike there. That would not have been a good idea as I didn’t know anything about off-road riding.
Bikes started and warmed up, they were ticking over nicely. We were given the opportunity to have a little ride up and down and ensure we were happy and comfortable on the bike.
This was to give us the initial feel before we went off up the mountain track. It would be easier to swap bikes in the yard rather than be a few miles away and try to change them.
It wasn’t long before we were on our way out of the farm and up one of the tracks to a huge open field, we had a few laps on the field to get the feel of the bikes on grass as well as on the gravelly track.
The instructors had a keen eye on us all and when we’d completed a few circuits we were separated into two groups. Those who looked a bit more comfortable and those that were still getting a feel for this totally new way of riding.
The less experienced riders stayed and had a few more laps around the field and the rest of us were off to the next part of the course. It was a bit of a culture shock going immediately onto bumpy tracks, undulated ground, large boulders, tree roots, shingle, shale, mud, puddles, jumps, humps and bumps. The weather was poor and had rained for most of the morning, which only added to the fun.
As we made our way to the first learning area, Dylan gave us a briefing on how to ride, what our body position should look like and why it was important to ride in such a manner. All the information made sense, it was just a case of remembering what he had taught us and ignoring what our brains were telling us to do!
We were shown the circuit and given some time to gingerly make our way around the course and to apply the new techniques. As we improved our confidence started to increase and so did the speed, it wasn’t until the instructors came past us that we realised we were just pottering around.
The other group arrived not long after and there was a well-structured presentation on how to and how not to ride. A demonstration was given on how to position the body when standing, sitting and cornering.
Braking techniques were discussed along with the different reasons for not staying upright and on two wheels. Before we got going again for another practice session I swapped bikes to a RR with another chap, this meant it was double restricted.
I didn’t have a clue what the difference was until I rode it, this was a much tamer machine and was much easier to handle (in the hands of a complete novice). I was more than happy to give the other chap the more twitchy and powerful machine, this one put me more in my own comfort zone.
Now the fun began. We were off to explore the many miles of woodland, hills and different terrain. The rainy weather only added to the experience, it was muddy, slippery and a little soft in places. I am sure a hot dry day would be a bit easier but not so much fun.
There were tracks everywhere and without our guides, we would have been totally lost. There were various degrees of difficulty on each new route, some were wide and full of loose gravel, others were tight and required both feet down to paddle the bike through deep ruts.
The riding was tough going in places but this was interspersed with easier open trails where you could stand up on the pegs to rest and relax.
Because we weren’t used to the riding technique and were holding on too tight at times, it was demanding on the body. We were given pointers to try and then as the morning progressed it became easier the more you relaxed and allowed the bike to move about underneath you.
As a newcomer to this sport, the whole experience was simply amazing and breathtaking. A dryer day would have made it easier to see, instead of looking through steamed-up goggles on the inside and rain splashes with mud on the outside. I suppose this made things a little more interesting and I’m sure at times helped with not always being able to see what was coming up next!
Heading back for lunch, we were not riding quite so slowly as we made our way back down the mountainside on a very gravelly track. The bikes were sliding around but because of our trust in the coaching we copied Dylan as he demonstrated the way to ride. Like a line of ducklings, we were soon back at base to chill out for an hour and rest, ready for the afternoon session.
Lunch was provided, along with crisps to get the salt levels back into the body, bananas to give the slow boost of much needed energy and a good supply of sandwiches and refreshments.
Everyone was feeling the after effects of the morning’s activity. It was a little quiet over lunch but as soon as we had all eaten it was back to a hive of activity and chat before our afternoon session started.
We all set off at the same time to retrace our steps back up the mountain. Once we got back to the top we separated into three smaller groups, which were led by three instructors, there was a fourth on hand for any issues or problems.
As we set off with four riders in our group, the terrain started to get a little more demanding. The tracks were narrow with deeper ruts, standing up was the way to go and looking further ahead to keep on line, the bike would wallow in the ruts but keeping the drive constant was the clear way to negotiate the ruts.
In some of the tighter areas the tree branches were so low you had to duck right down to avoid them, sometimes sitting down on the seat and still having to stoop lower.
Some of the trails were steep and one particular one stood out more than the others, a very steep downhill section with loose mud that was ankle-deep. First gear was necessary to negotiate the descent, the bike was sliding almost all the way down, gaining traction just now and again as the engine revs increased dramatically as the bike tried to gain grip.
Once at the bottom, it was a sigh of relief to be in one piece – or was it more luck than judgment?
Other trails were just as demanding with the inclines and extreme cambers ready to catch you out. The day was wet, so the conditions over the shiny slate made riding very interesting.
Because of the tuition and guidance, along with the growing confidence, the instructor knew where to take us to give us a challenge. But at no time was it too much to handle as their perception of our ability was spot on at all times.
Uphill sections were encountered with differing difficulty, loose rocks to contend with one second and then tree stumps and roots the next. The surface changed constantly, the bike moved sideways at almost every twist or turn but by now the riding techniques and methods were becoming more natural. Although a huge challenge, it was also a great achievement.
After an hour or more of winding our way back and forth, we met up with the other groups in an open clearing. We exchanged stories and experiences before we were shown a circuit that we could ride around on our own, this was so that we could put what we’d learnt into practice on our own and experience the challenge of riding without a guide.
The instructors were always close to hand as they rode around the same circuit, it wasn’t until they came past on the back wheel, making light work of the terrain and jumping over every bump that you truly realised the skill that these guys had. They unleash it at will, when and wherever they choose to do so, being in the hands of British Offroad Champions gives you a real sense of security.
After our shenanigans around the made up circuit, we headed back as one group down the mountain back to the farm. Once there, the routine was to hand back the bikes and take off all the clothing that were all going to be jet washed, we were then given a debrief on the day’s events before we said our goodbyes to one another after sharing a few more stories.
H2 – Conclusion
This is an absolute must for riders of all abilities. It is a superb way to experience the motorcycle moving around underneath you as well as learning and putting into practice new riding skills.
The Yamaha Off Road Experience has been running for many years, Geraint has successfully grown the business with a fantastic structure and has the ability to engage and deliver first class guidance and coaching with a very experienced team.
Dylan is a key trainer and his ability to pass on knowledge and precise information is key in a robust learning environment.
Riders will come away knowing they have been in demanding situations, but learning takes place at the correct pace to make huge gains in ability and skills. Confidence grows and abilities improve minute by minute, you have to be out of your comfort zone at times to be able to find the inner strength that lies beneath.
This course is a must for anyone who wants to improve their riding skills – it is an absolutely fantastic experience! Learn more
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