So who wants to do a rally? (big bike rally challenge)

[Mike54]

Yep that's another part - roadbook based rallies over 2 or even 3 days with some road liaison sections.

Good to hear the 1 day thing as an intro idea - Sweet lamb is a "rally moto sprint" which is pretty much 98% fire roads with some easy offroad in between. Fast course but achievable by pretty much any bike ie a great intro.

Some people ride the liason sections pretty quickly, but some ride them at trail pace, doesn't matter really, whatever you are most happy with.

The riding in teams thing - yes, lots of people did that at keilder, and have the chance to do it at the hafren as the online entry system they use allows you to "start near" ie your mate enters, he or she is number 120 say, you just write 120 in the "start near" box as do your other mates. So when you go off from the start there could be 10 of you pretty much together assuming you are all of similar ability.

This is great stuff though, keep it coming, it's really interesting to hear peoples views.

[Mr Free Market]

Reading all the replies...why dont we just invade salisbury plain for the weekend as it has everything poeple have suggested...doing routes backwards with plenty of fast and techy stuff...even thro in the whoops and Honey down bottom..

Tramp, I think that you might run into some errrrrr issues running an "organized" event on the Plain – also, as training schedules change, sometimes the access gets closed off at short notice. That could b*gger thing up !

[g00ner]

Good question, I want to ride my 990 in conditions it was designed for but don't know if I have the necessary skill level or fitness to complete a Hafren or Beacons Rally currently.
I'm not a complete numpty, I trail ride and have ridden Morocco etc but have neither the inclination or funds to risk trashing my bike on a course outside my abilities

I'd enter a one or two day fire road event if one was offered, if only to use it as a learning curve for my abilities (or lack of)- if I liked it I'd be back for more. I did enter the BBRC 500 as a taster but it got pulled, shame that..

[MR X]

I had intended to get over and try a rally or two ,but due to a slight miss hap and still not being able to hold on , it will not be this year . I am willing to travel five hours just to cross that bit of water and then have to drive on the wrong side of the road for a few more .

I think if you were to get away from the enduro type course and more of the fast fire roads with some tricky bits thrown in , ( just remember coma and despres got pissed of this year when he had to do to much mud , lol )
It would give them that have never done this form of sport the chance to just plod on the fire roads and catch there breath . if some read some of the reports back from the rallies this year on all of the sites that get posted on they my just stay away .
Now don't get me wrong I am no rally god , you have a good few of them as it is , I am just middle of the road , but I do like to have the chance to hold the throttle to the stop knowing that nothing is coming the other way , but for me life is orange !!

My thought are you need to get a few more write ups from the rallies, from them that just plod and go mainly for the ride and not the race ,bang in a few photos as well , get it out on as many sites as you can and keep doing it and you should get a few more going .

[V_King]

I love rallies like big bike challenge, but you have to have a budget set aside for it, which I don't have at the moment.

entry fee + set of tyres + fuel + insurance + license + broken bib and bobs after the rally = all adds up, to a quite expensive weekend

I hope the rallies will still go strong, within a few years, when I'll be able to take place in one.

[Mike54]

V, Definitely no need for a new set of tyres each event.

For anyone who feels either a bit rusty, or who wants a "taster" type day to find out what it's all about and also to learn a few skills too, I think Moly would put one on if there was the interest (Burt and Moly run the BBRC and Moly is ex British Enduro Champion etc, both are excellent riders and ACU qualified coaches). If you like I can contact him and get one of them to maybe put something up on the BBRC website?

[Shunt]

A taster day would be great idea to get stuck into for next year for me

[V_King]

V, Definitely no need for a new set of tyres each event.
....

unless using a trailer or a van, rear would go with all the commuting. plus the competitive side - new tyre is a new tyre

[Mike54]

Yeah point taken if you ride to and from the event but it does depend on what tyre - knobblies will obviously not fare too well on a long-ish trip to and from the event. I've found that it's easier/cheaper/more fun to go with a mate or couple of mates and borrow a van from another mate. Some guys on the big bikes take a spare set of wheels with them with knobblies and change wheels when they get there then back again on the sunday. That's proper hero stuff in my book. They bolt the other set one each side of a pannier rack.

[nibby]

Would like to see a bit longer special tests i.e. if its a 65 mile lap, 55 mile being a special, with technical sections that you have the option to take the easy route but if you did you would have time added on to overall etc etc.

I would also like to have a bit more navigation thrown in. I suppose this is more like the European type events but why not in the uk? probably health & safety!!

If it's going to be competitive then have a proper test over a longer period not just balls out for 8 mins.

Also facilities need to be better, again if you are paying good money you dont want to be camping in a field full of sheep sh** and no shower facilities. Well I dont anyway :unsure:

They are great events, very relaxed and really good atmosphere which for me makes the event. But for me to be a regular and not just dip in and out it would need to be a bit more like the above or I might as well go trail riding for the weekend.