The Boxford Byways near Newbury
What started out as a normal day trialriding soon developed into a disaster. The byways just north of Boxford offer nice scenery and the usual variations of grass, mud and stone riding, a little rutted in some places, but not too difficult. In some places the rutts were so deep and narrow, that the foot pegs were rubbing along both edges.
I approached the byway near Penclose Wood and saw a muddy puddle, and enjoying riding through those I went for it after an initial inspection. Problem was that the right hand pannier kept hitting the grass along the right side of the puddle and as the panniers are screwed on to the frame, and I left the alan key to dismantle the frame at home, I tried changing rutts within the puddle, but the engine guard hit the ground, as both wheels were stuck in between different ruts. As I was alone, I then had to lay the bike on its side and pull both wheels into the left hand rut, but as I tried to move off, the left pannier kept hitting the bank. I then unscrewed the panniers from the frames, but then the left footpeg and side stand got caught along the edge. By this time, water and mud had worked its way inbetween throttle grip and handle bar, causing the former to slip on the latter, leaving me with a reduced acceleration.
Disaster strikes
Help then came from three farmers and a lady who
suggested getting a horse to help pull the bike out, but
concerns for it's back limited us to man (and woman) power. Taking pictures as strangers are trying to help you pull your bike out of the mud is not adviseable, so unfortunately, none are available. After 4 exhausting hours in this hole, and not being able to think properly anymore, the AA fixed my throttle grip by the road side.
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