Starting out - advice please...

[jerrytlr]

Hi all

I've fancied doing some off road trail riding for a long time, and have finally bought myself an EC300. Possibly overkill for a debutant, but there you go.....it looks nice.

I am trying to line up some proper tuition. However, I am struggling a bit to find anything here in deepest rural France, and I am itching to 'just get out and have a go'. So, my question - can you far more experienced riders offer me some advice and tips re. how to get started? I have some fields I can ride in (grass), and I have some forest trails on my doorstep.

What would you do?

Over to you.... as ever, any help and advice very gratefully received!


Cheers,

Jerry
ps I am 49, so broken bones take a bit longer to heal than they used to :-)

[einsteingarage]

Congrats jerry. That bike will put a grin on your face every time you ride it.

Best advice I can give is to spend as much money as you can afford on the best gear available. Like asterisk cell knee braces , sidi boots, leatt neck brace etc.

You need the equipment know not later

Start in the field and move to the woods when comfortable. Also find a riding buddy, if he is better remember to ride at your own pace or you will get hurt

Be patient. It takes a lot of saddle time to get better. Just ride and have fun

[hamilton]

Originally Posted by einsteingarage

Start in the field and move to the woods when comfortable. Also find a riding buddy, if he is better remember to ride at your own pace or you will get hurt

Be patient. It takes a lot of saddle time to get better. Just ride and have fun

+1 sounds like good advice to me.

[john r b]

+2 excellent advice protect the body and have fun!!!! riding on a grass track
(open field) is terrific fun.

[Bandit9]

Learn the Fundamentals. Get Gary Semics Practice Manual. It tells you how to ride. Like holding on with your legs and not your arms/hands. Standing instead of sitting. Keeping at least 1 finger on each lever at all times, ready in a nano second to react. Huge basics that if you know about them early, make your experience much richer.

Also I found Shane Watt's Dirt Wise DVD Set very helpfull.

Get all the protective gear for your body.

Get good Tools.

Learn to love wrenching.

Learn how to Set Up your bike (jet it clean and suspension working for you, not against you)

Understand Arm Pump and learn how to manage it.

Become an expert on Hydration

Make Fitness a part of your life.

Ride everything. Open stuff, Tight Stuff, Technical Mtns, MX, Enduro, Dual Sport.

[jerrytlr]

This is great advice, thank you so much... keep it coming :-)

The best thing is nobody has said how stupid I am to get an EC300 from the off!

So far I have

- ordered the Shane Watts DVD
- got some Alpinestars Tech 10s (second hand...) on their way
- found myself a really comfortable, reasonably priced (last year's model) Airoh lid

For now I will ride with my road gear (Rukka Gore Tex) which has built in CE armour.

I will check out neck braces.

Suspension and jetting will have to wait until I have a better feel for the bike.

As soon as the boots arrive, I'll be off for some rides - will let you all know how it goes!!

Cheers

Jerry