New to Trail Riding ? - The TET and the TRF

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One of the side effects of the Trans Euro Trail (TET) is the increase in the number of people that are now able to take their bikes ‘off-road’ or I should say, onto un-paved roads.  The TET Facebook page has 14,000 followers after 12 months (the TRF 10,600).  (Figures from July 2018).  Adventure bikes are now the best-selling bikes on the market, to both existing and new bikers.

   

BMW GS 1200’s were the top 2 selling new bikes in 2017 (2000 units), with Honda’s AT coming in at 5^th (600 units).  This has been the case for several years previously.  The result is that there are now many more people that want to take their bikes onto un-paved roads. 

The TET provides a great opening and a relatively easy option for them to do so.  Many of the routes us TRF boys and girls normally ride, at least round my way, would be near to impossible for the average big bike rider.  I have no inside information but for many years, it would seem to me the TRF has not been ‘encouraging’ people to venture onto the trails, in the fear that more riders would spoil trail riding, either by riding irresponsibly or by making the pastime so popular that the sheer volume of riders would attract such an adverse reaction that the resulting negative opinion and the subsequent lobbying would close the few trails we have left.  (I would welcome a TRF comment here to confirmed or correct.)

Under new leadership, again in my opinion, the TRF now seem to be taking an alternative direction and are actively encouraging new riders onto the trails.  The hope being that an increase in the number of members, all riding responsibly and contributing to local economies, will help with positive lobbying.  The more of us supporting the hobby, the less likely those in power are to try and deny us.  By those in power I mean politicians.  I encourage everybody to find out who your MP is and write to them in support of every trail riding issue that arises in your area.  You can be damn certain the NIMBYS and ramblers are.

The recent fund raising for work on the Old Coach Road by Steve Stout and Cumbria TRF is a shining example of the power of the increased community of trail riders from across Europe.  A JustGiving page and campaign was created to raise £10 000 to properly fix a classic lane.  Whilst the TRF and regional TRF groups contributed most of the cash to the project, there was also a fantastic response from the TET community following a couple of Facebook requests.

I think it is vital that the TRF and its members embrace the new entrants to our hobby.  We should welcome them with open arms, we should help to educate them into the ways of the trail and the responsibilities that we all have to ensure the continuation of our pastime.  That said, I have been equally bemused and amused by some of the questions posted on the TET Facebook page.  Popular topics include tyres, boots, which bike? do I need insurance? … We were all beginners once.

There is always lively, supportive discussion and usually very good advice given. 

Both TRF and TET have codes of conduct.  It is clear the TET used the TRF ones as a starting point.  I would like to add my tuppence worth to any new trail riders.  Incidentally these points are true, inalienable, incontrovertible and proven by years of rigorous science, done by people that did chemistry and physics at school for a couple of years.

• Wear proper protective gear, you will fall off.  Many times
• It’s a road, your bike needs to be road legal and insured to go on roads
• You should fit proper, fully knobbly road legal tyres
• If you are travelling with luggage use only soft panniers and bags as they are less likely to snap your legs.  They don’t need to be road legal.
• Don’t ride alone, if you do, let somebody know where you are going, slow down and don’t crash heavily.  Light crashes are also discouraged.
• Wear proper off-road/MX boots with loads of protection
• You won’t need that buff or fleece layer, you will be warm enough
• It’s not a race track.  There could be a dog, a horse or a child round the next bend.  Slow down
• Be friendly, smile, wave or nod, and give way to all other trail users.  You might need them to help pick your big, daft bike up
• Keep to the track
• Spend money in rural areas.  Packed lunches are rubbish anyway
• Carry all the spares and tools you could possibly need.  Be self sufficient
• Bring a paper map as well as a GPS enabled Satnav
• Ride a small trail or enduro bike.  Just buy one.  Because you will want to do more, and ride more technical trails, which you will not be able to do on your AT or GS, unless your name is Chris Birch.  Are you Chris Birch?  I thought not

So, now you have the right bike, attitude and kit sorted we can all begin to use the trails in peace and harmony, and in perpetuity. 

The great thing about being a biker is that you know that if you need help the first biker that comes along will stop and do what they can to help.  The TRF network is a great example of this, as is the TET community.  On a recent trip into northern Europe we were amazed by the amount of help and support we were offered when we ran into difficulties or needed something. 

It seems likely that many of us are members of both the TRF and signed are up to the TET community.  It seems to me to be a great opportunity to harness both bodies for the good of us all.  Please continue to make the effort to talk to, and to support any new riders you come across no matter what they are wearing or what they are riding and encourage them to join and get involved in the TRF.   Do not mock their choice of elephantine motorcycle, that would never do.  For clarity I had a KTM 990 up until recently and I loved it, I only sold it as I needed the cash.  Otherwise I would have kept it for ever.  It did go off the tarmac.

I wonder how many of the UK based TETters know of the existence of the TRF, or the French TETters the Codever (French TRF)?  I wonder how many other countries have similar bodies?  Wouldn’t it be great if the TET communities in each country were supported to form similar bodies to the TRF in countries that do not currently have a lobbying organisation?

Please visit our podcast here;

The Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast