Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Michelle, post: 640302, member: 16598"] A couple of you know my secret and I know one is laughing at me, so I thought I better come clean so you can all laugh at me. Whilst in Oregon, I fell in love with the TTR125L & had emailed Henk to tell him, knowing full well he'd not be impressed with that. a) we can't really afford me to get another bike b) he's a two stroke nut c) hell, I dunno, but there has to be a c We were standing around about a month ago talking to some guys about a ride coming up & Henk asked me if he could get a new tyre for that. My reply was only if I could get a new bike. Raised eyebrows appeared, a lot of cackling until he replied that yeah, I could. End result is we're waiting for my bike to come in. I was going to buy an ex-demo but the price was quite high as it's a road legal bike (not necessary for me) and for a bit more I could get an electric start model. We were hoping it would be there for the trailride I wanted it for, but it wasn't. Instead, I rode the demo model which isn't lazy-legged. Now I know we often recommend them for new riders, and believe me, I still think they're great for that. We'd (me) been wanting to lower the KDX but I just wasn't sure about it. We ride a sand-based forest in winter & a clay-based one in summer (it is never totally dry, it has ruts, bog holes, tree roots and is pretty technical to ride). People either hate or love it, personally I love it, even though I struggle there. I've been told I need a smaller bike but because of the other forest, I've been adamant I don't. I love the power of the KDX in the sand, but don't need it in the bogs. Weekend before last, we were in the muddy forest playing & marking trails, with me getting stuck a couple of times which Henk helped me get out of. One other time I remember I got stuck, but got myself out of that, something I couldn't have done on the KDX but had no trouble with the TTR. I fell off a bridge (everyone else just had moments, I decided to complete the moment) and we both struggled to pick the bike up as it was that slippery you couldn't get a grip and kept wanting to slide off the bridge yourself (the bike stayed up there, it was just me on my butt). At one point, I was wondering why Henk kept waiting for me but didn't think too much of it. I did think it wasn't very good that the one time I could've used a hand he kept on going. Later on in the week he admitted that he was pushing as hard as he could to keep ahead of me lol. Then on Sunday we had the trailride. I did sign on until a friend turned up, so quickly finished gearing up, warmed up the bike & by that time her husband had come back, so he took us on the kid's loop that they'd cut the day before. This friend has been riding about 4 months (at a guess) and had never ridden in this forest but heard plenty about what it was like. Her husband was keen for the two of us to swap bikes (she rides a CR150F) but we never got around to it. He'd been that impressed with me/the bike the week before - apparently he'd gotten home & raved to her about the TTR. The two of us cruised around the main trail with me helping her get out of predicaments when needed and giving instruction before obstacles (like the bridge, I told her I was going to walk the bike across, but we both just paddled over it). At the top of the hill past that we got talking to some guys & they all commented how they'd been really close to falling off - it made them feel better when I told them I had the previous week hehehe. When her husband went to pass us, he stuck around for a few minutes to make sure we were okay & that was the last we saw of him till the end of the ride. One of the places I got stuck the previous week had been bridged (much better) so that wasn't a problem this time. I had a few moments/got stuck but felt better watching other riders have troubles there too. My friend & I had a good ride on our baby bikes and I can't wait to get back there (thankfully it didn't rain till Monday otherwise it was going to have been a way different story). We had to cut the ride short as their kids were turning up (we turned up late anyway) and just spent the rest of the afternoon playing on the kids' track & talking. Henk had been extremely dubious about my choice of bike but now agrees with me as to why I wanted it. I've felt very guilty about getting another bike which is basically just for this forest, but after riding it, I say stuff it. I want to enjoy riding (I do) and if anything will help with that (long term) I'm all for it (I've done the same with him when he's wanted another bike). I still feel guilty about everything all of you did for me while I was there and I guess that's been part of my guilt about getting a 2nd bike too. However, it means we've got spare bikes if you come over and I know it also means my KDX won't be replaced anytime soon (I never expected it to be as I don't need more power obviously lol). BTW the photos aren't forgotten, they're scanned waiting for me to finish naming them & then burn CDs to send over. Oh, I forgot to mention - it's all your fault anyway hehehehe. One thing I have noticed is going round off-cambre turns, I notice I'm really weighting the correct peg even though it still feels wierd. Ah well, enough of my drivel, I just really wanted to share that with you as it was playing on my conscience. I really do need to try to take pix next time we're in that forest so you can see what it's like - Oregon when wet but smaller hills & more ruts, bogs & tree roots is as close a description I can think of. Michelle [/QUOTE]

Verification: Which ocean is California closest to?