Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Hier volg my boere ingilse weergawe van die dag. (Ignore typo's)

Both Mike and I never ridden on sand before.  It was with great anticipation that we lined up before the entrance to the dunes.  A short but detailed intro into the basics of sand riding and a few exercises saw the green team (novices) aiming for the sand. Stand up, look up, power up. (or something to that effect.)  I followed Mike who did a fall less trip to the top.  About three quarter distance up I miss juged the incline of the dune and were too afraid to roll more throttle on. Took liedown nr. 1 for me.

Reaced first goal. (entered)

I departed before Mike to the 'campsite'.  Wow this was MUCH easier now that we are on more solid sand. I watched the other bike tracks, lean back (if I remember), steer with my bum (after I got a fright and were reminded) then suddenly I had to make a dicision, tracks going right, left middle, which way to go?.  I chose a bit to the right and WOOOAAAA, een moerse downhill on the other side of the dune.  Bang-gat kicking in, instructor warnings searched, !@#$, he never mentioned what to do if you concentrated so hard staying on top that the enormity of the downhill engulf you. Ok, descision time, with no experiance on such a downhill I decided to go at an angle.  No problem, speed OK, angle OK, decent OK, almost at the bottom , why the hell is the bike trying to point UPWARDS.  Too late. I stop, kill the motor and started to run up the dune to warn the other rookies to rather go left as it is MUCH flatter.  I dont want anyone to land on me!!!.  At the top and gasping for air Mike just reached the lip of the dune and stopped.  I pointed the 'better' route and he waited for the others to avoid my line.  All the way back down agan.  The dune was fairly steep and I could pick the bike up quite easily.  I rode down and up the next 'softish' dune to the campsite without any issues.

Technical analysis: Going a dune at an oblique angle.

The back wheel will slide quicker down the slope because of the traction and spinning.  You need to steer a bit downhill to counteract this.  For the novice this is a bit disconcerting as you are actually 'scared' to go down too fast.  I practiced this a few time on different slope angles.  Speed is also a big factor in the downward angle of the front wheel.  

Campsite

With the nerves a bit calmer at this stage we went up and down the 'trackless' dunes.  As time went on the lekker places had so many tracks that it took more and more concentration to ride.  A few times my leg were streched to the limit as I tried to keep the bike upright but it still move as 'dont use the front brake' still ring in my ears but the right foot is on the ground so only a miracle will allow me to use the rear brake.

A view from the Loo

As I walked to the bushes up top for a leak it suddenly dawend on me.  We men were made to work our whole life. Women also work (sometimes).  At least for us there is no problem to go for a leak. You look (search), you walk, you look back (peek), you undo and then do. As simple as that.

I got rid of the inners of the jacket and trousers and off Mike and I went for another ride. Up a smallish dune, Mike went straight down and I did an oblique decent, went around and aimed for Mike's tracks.  Next thing was a 'van gogh' at the base of the dune.  The picture (taken after lunch) do not show the depth of the dip just at the base.  Mike's front wheel is where I entered the dune (or hoped to enter) and the one straight down on the right is where he descended. 

My Van Gogh

Technical analysis: 

As the front wheel went down the dip (I was standing, leaning back) I got pulled down and forward by the handelbars (obviously).  No problem at this point.  BUTTT, now the front wheel is climbing out the other side while me body still go down.  With bent elbows there is no hope in hell that a standing body can be pushed back by bent arms in that few split seconds. My chest landed on the screen and finally on the handlebar brace.  Under normal circumstances the body and arms would prevent the 'bottoming out' of the chest.  Here the angle of the dune was now MUCH steeper as the back wheel is still on the outer end of the dip.  I basically stopped within 2 meters up from the base of the dune.  Would a pro be able to prevent the incident? In this case I dont think so.  If he tried to apply power and wheelie the back would still go down the dip and both wheels would hit the dune simultaniously and the change from horisontal to incline momentum would make the tyres dig in deeper. Well!! if all things considerd and executed in split timing it could be done.  

This brings me to the next issue. LOOK AHEAD.  Why did I not see the dip? Mike and I went back after lunch to take the picture and that allowed me to do a 'post mortem'.  You see the color change between flat and dune.  Does that imply that there is a DIP.  I thingk YES.  How deep is the issue.  I thought it was the same as where Mike descended.  Big mistake, I now have three nipples (at least not for ever)

The result (Three nipples)

The 'outride' after lunch were much more enjoyable and I only dropped it once more at the steep downhill.  Motor died, must pull clutch, will go too fast, !@#$, start motor (while still going down the hill), !!@# I'm still going, hole where the previous two bikes fell coming up fast, still standing, enter same hole, lying down, damnnn.  I did some 'training' on the way back and reached the gate without any further incidents.

My son Mike.  He had his first off for the day on the way back on top of one of the dunes where he could not carry enough speed in the soft sand and his last one on the way out. Well done boetie.

We thanked everyone (most) at the car park and took a leasurly ride home.  At this stage the body was starting to ache.  As we rode into Durbanville I had to stand up as both 'bo-bene' started to cramp.  We decided to get some stretchies at the hardware store (we needed some in any case) and then get a few beers at the off sales. (Ma was nie by die huis en ons drink eintlik Rum) With a case of beers strapped on we reached home.

Don't drink and Drive

Nou kan ons sit en rus.  

Relax and legal drink

Will I do it again.    DEFENATELY

The old body is 'nogal styf' today but again THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED.

OOOO Neels and Anna-Marie, You are booked for jucy patties at my next .....

P.S.

I hope Rusty concealed the braai ashes.

Till next time

Adie