Devon TRF Group Forum

OK, thanks for that.

Pardon my ignorance,but what is a 'Knowledge day'?

Extract from 2010 event, so normally run along these lines.

Shared Knowledge day by Noel


The idea came from Doug Piper - So many newbies seeking broadly similar information and more than enough experienced riders to bore em to death. Just a simple matter of connecting the two.

And as is the way in the Devon TRF Group, we always encourage good ideas - So who did you have in mind to organise this Doug. Surely not the mythical somebody else? Ah ha, well done mate. We will, of course, help you all we can. So Doug's idea became Doug's project.

A venue was already available in the form of Haccadown Woods and Barn and while there were murmurings from the Deep South and discussions regarding alternative venues, it was decided that we use Haccadown because there was no problem with cost, dates or variable numbers attending.

Marketing was done using the Newsletter and the DTRF forum. From the initial responses it looked like we could be catering for about 20 knowledge seekers, Doug then drafted some lists that would make up a topic or groups of topics that would allow up to 1.5 hours to cover, suggesting 4-5 modules during the day.

As we got closer to the day, a few dropped out and we told those who were attending to bring their bike and riding kit but not to expect a blast around the woods. This was, after all, a learning day.

Hot drinks were already available at the venue, so everyone brought some lunch and we all duly arrived at the allotted time. Lecturers at 9.00 and the 14 or so, knowledge seekers at 9.30, giving us some time to set up the various props and projector systems.

As the weather was pretty acceptable, dry and not too hot, we opted to set up outside the barn, surrounded by bikes, which created a good ambiance for, ' those who do it in all weathers'

Originally we were going to run simultaneous lectures in order to keep the group sizes down but when we realised that a group of 14 was not such a handful, we decided that we would all sit through all the lectures and only do them once.

It was collectively decided that Doug should go first, so he kicked off with Tools, Hints & Tips and worked his way through various trackside scenarios and get you home options. Who would have thought there was so much to discuss as Doug worked through his list. Its surprising how much we take our hard earned knowledge for granted.



Flat point and cross head s/drivers
Pliers,
Knife
Spanner and or Socket set which will fit all of the nuts and bolts on your bike
Spark Plugs
Split Link
Tyre / Tube / Tyre Levers
Air Source
Locking Wire
Test Lamp
Tape
Cable Ties (big and small)
Saw
Rags
Mobile Phone
First Aid Kit
Fault Finding (basic)



Then we had a talk on Bike Setup & Maintenance from Paul Studley. Paul gave us loads of really good advice and had everybody's jaw on the floor when he showed us how to get a tyre and tube off and back onto a rim, effortlessly. I still cant believe that I've never seen it done the way Cappn Paul does it and no struggling to get the valve stem into its little hole in the rim. Paul covered the following topics -

Positioning Controls
Foot peg types
Tyre Pressures & Condition
Regular Checks:
Check Suspension linkage
Chain & sprockets adjust and lube
Engine Oil Changes
Air Filter clean and oiling
Drain Fuel Bowl for water
Check Brake Pad Wear
Check Wheel Bearings
Check Head Stock Bearings
Check and adjust all cables
Check lights
Check all Nut & Bolts for security
Maintain Silencer packing
Cleaning bike
Suspension Setup


After lunch we brought all the chairs back into the barn so that Brian could give us the low down on the TRF Code of Conduct, Navigation using GPS, maps and overlays. A very slick PowerPoint presentation that required a solid wall in a darkened room.

Brian succeeded in convincing me that the GPS system that supports ordnance surveys 'memory map' is the way to go and that paper maps are likely to become useful only for strategic planning or shortcutting from your planned route. However just like modern mariners, you still have to be able to navigate your way around without the high tech equipment, as its not 100% dependable.


Then it was my turn and after getting everyone back outside, I found myself stood in front of a crowd of expectant faces and suddenly realised that beyond looking at Doug's list, I had not actually prepared anything by way of a structured lecture. In fact this was the moment when it suddenly dawned on me that, although I had spent far too many hours boring folk with the dubious benefit of doing things my way, I had never actually delivered a structured talk or lecture to anyone. Gulp, where's Doug's list anyway? Whew, here it is, titled Bikes, Kit, and Energy Management.

I quickly ran through the Trial, Enduro, Trail and Motocross options then drew a total blank when it came to cycle parts.
Do I have any? Oh yes, there they are on Doug's list, read it out and ask for comments? That makes it interactive teaching doesn't it? Hey, I can do this!

The only bit I had thought about was body temperature and energy management as, being over a certain age, I give a lot of thought to lasting the day and going to work the next day (or 3), and so I was able to finish on a confident note.

My list read -

· Bike Cycle Parts (Optional) :- Tyre types, Tubes, Exhausts, Chain Guards, Number Plates, Hand Guards, Extra Lighting

· Protective Clothing :- Helmets, Goggles, Gloves, Body Armour, Jackets, Trousers, Knee Pad/Braces, Boots, Bags/Hydration, Waterproofs

· Energy Management :- What, When, and How much to eat and drink. Maintaining body temperature, Effects of overheating, Exposure/Extreme fatigue, Minimizing effort whilst riding.


By now it was 4.30 pm and our idea of demonstrating some tips for riding techniques was abandoned, as we all felt that we had done enough theory and opted for a riding session round the woods. This was an opportunity for some to get a taste of the upcoming Haccadown Woods fundraiser and for others to assess how much time and effort will be needed to cut back the new bramble growth and generally mark out the course.

It was generally agreed that Doug's project was very useful for exchanging knowledge and even the experienced imparters of knowledge conceded that they had learned some useful things. I have no doubt we will run something along the same lines in the future and it may be that in time our lecturers will evolve into slick professionals. Well done Doug and all who took part. Noel