The Sphinx LDT

[Rich Beale]

Another interesting Long Distance Trial last weekend, ‘The Sphinx’, hosted by the Cheltenham Homeguard Club.

Myself and Trev were up Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed and had time at the start time for breakfast.. the event starts on a farm with an outbuilding for registration, food n drink.

The day consisted of a 55 mile lap and 30 sections - plenty of varied trails but not that taxing.. at one point, much to my alarm, we were on the Fossway - I hates it, too flat, no rock !!

Despite being a ‘short’ 55 mile lap, we were out from 9 til 4, partly as a result of Trev insisting on changing a tube, me stopping to eat and Ian (Fews) joining us and spending a fair bit of time investigating the shrubbery..

The sections were mainly loose, off camber climbs, thick muddy ruts and only one that I’d call ‘meat & drink’.. section 13 ! a rocky gully that you enter via a deep rut.
- Trev didn’t like the look of that rut.. and attempted a ‘high line’.. but hit a branch and face-planted into the rocks.. OUCH! there was Claret everywhere !!
In sympathy the observer offered Trev another attempt.. No chance, Trev was off - ‘once bitten, twice shy’.

Overall I thought the sections were great, do-able and only 3 that were a bit heart stopping .. with steep muddy climbs with turns, roots, steep descents.. . Yikes!!
But we did them all.
Club Honour was upheld.

The observers and organisers couldn’t of been more friendly and helpful.. one observer went nuts when I cleaned the nasty climb - I reckon he thought me and my old Honda were going to come to grief!!

The feeling of completing these events is fantastic! Getting back to the start, with body & bike in one piece and chatting with the other finishers is rewarding.

When the dust had settled, Trev came home 3rd in his Class and I was 4th in mine.
Ian was a DNF ( probably at risk of a Court Marshal by Manty ).

The Moor to Sea is next, in two weeks.
Bring it on!!

Rich B

[Ian Abram]

Another interesting Long Distance Trial last weekend, ‘The Sphinx’, hosted by the Cheltenham Homeguard Club.

Myself and Trev were up Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed and had time at the start time for breakfast.. the event starts on a farm with an outbuilding for registration, food n drink.

The day consisted of a 55 mile lap and 30 sections - plenty of varied trails but not that taxing.. at one point, much to my alarm, we were on the Fossway - I hates it, too flat, no rock !!

Despite being a ‘short’ 55 mile lap, we were out from 9 til 4, partly as a result of Trev insisting on changing a tube, me stopping to eat and Ian (Fews) joining us and spending a fair bit of time investigating the shrubbery..

The sections were mainly loose, off camber climbs, thick muddy ruts and only one that I’d call ‘meat & drink’.. section 13 ! a rocky gully that you enter via a deep rut.
- Trev didn’t like the look of that rut.. and attempted a ‘high line’.. but hit a branch and face-planted into the rocks.. OUCH! there was Claret everywhere !!
In sympathy the observer offered Trev another attempt.. No chance, Trev was off - ‘once bitten, twice shy’.

Overall I thought the sections were great, do-able and only 3 that were a bit heart stopping .. with steep muddy climbs with turns, roots, steep descents.. . Yikes!!
But we did them all.
Club Honour was upheld.

The observers and organisers couldn’t of been more friendly and helpful.. one observer went nuts when I cleaned the nasty climb - I reckon he thought me and my old Honda were going to come to grief!!

The feeling of completing these events is fantastic! Getting back to the start, with body & bike in one piece and chatting with the other finishers is rewarding.

When the dust had settled, Trev came home 3rd in his Class and I was 4th in mine.
Ian was a DNF ( probably at risk of a Court Marshal by Manty ).

The Moor to Sea is next, in two weeks.
Bring it on!!

Rich B

Good report where are the pictures?

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[Rich Beale]

This is competition FD!
We don’t have time to pose for photos...

[Ian Abram]

This is competition FD!
We don’t have time to pose for photos...

Yes but really you should get photos so we the enduro bike owners can look on in wonder

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[Mike Mant]

Well done guys . wish I could have been there. Looking forward to the Moor to Sea. Meat and Drink with mushy peas. Is ian Fews Doing it??? ian Abram wont be . I've heard he a Veggie.

[Ian Abram]

Well done guys . wish I could have been there. Looking forward to the Moor to Sea. Meat and Drink with mushy peas. Is ian Fews Doing it??? ian Abram wont be . I've heard he a Veggie.

Hope you meat boy's have a great time I shall be in Leeds checking out the Dales for a future run

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[Mike Mant]

Well done ian . Not a lot of trails in the dales , 2006 NERC act saw to that. Still you can be known as Mrs Dales Diary and show us the way.