For many of us, The Long Way Round ignited the passion. Riding a big adventure bike around the world like Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman did in the hit TV-series is the dream, but the reality is that the road to the point where you are even ready to contemplate a massive trip like that is very long. To get the initial taste of adventure, you are much better off starting with a much smaller bike, over a much shorter distance, and riding much closer to home. Like most things in life, it's a matter of gradually building up your skills and knowledge. It’s all about baby-steps and patience…
To get our heads around how to start on the path to adventure riding greatness, we talked to Richard Jeynes, who has ridden in some of the most challenging parts of the world: beyond the Arctic Circle, across the Sahara, in the high Himalayas, and many more. While he runs motorcycle expeditions to the far-flung corners of the world, his company, Trailquest, also has a training base in the UK, where he introduces novices to adventure riding on a fleet of beginner-friendly Royal Enfield Himalayans – just the man to give us the advice on how to get our adventure game on.
Let’s start with the basics… Richard, what exactly is adventure riding?
“I get asked that a lot. In my opinion it’s any riding that takes you off the beaten track and, possibly, slightly out of your comfort zone. It does not have to be extreme off-road although many road riders get nervous once the Tarmac runs out! This is a shame as the majority of the world’s roads are gravel or dirt, and if you are afraid to ride them you are really restricting where you can go. To be able to confidently ride when the Tarmac ends, dealing with problems as they occur, and feeling comfortable in unusual and often very remote places is what makes your ride an adventure.”
How did you get into adventure motorcycling?
“I have always been involved in expeditions and outdoor activities. I studied Archaeology at university and served as officer in the British Army. Travel to remote areas has always been a passion, and when I got the opportunity to start a business that covered all my interests I did not hesitate. Trailquest has been going now for over 20 years and has undertaken adventures all around the globe – from the Arctic Circle to the Southern tip of Africa and many areas in between.”
Why would anyone take on the challenges of adventure riding?
“Even if you have no intention of ever doing a big off-road expedition, learning how to handle a bike on challenging trails and in difficult conditions will boost your confidence and automatically improve your road riding. Advanced road riding courses do little to help riders off-road, but off-road experience definitely helps your road riding.
“And if you feel like taking on the paths less trodden, you need to have some adventure riding skills to keep it enjoyable. At Trailquest we train riders for the real world of adventure travel where the journey is more important than the destination, and where absorbing the cultures of the areas we ride through is more important than how fast we get to the finish. We cover all aspects of adventure travel including planning and preparation, survival skills, navigation, hostile environments, expedition first aid, camping skills as well as riding skills. We are also happy to train riders on their own bikes and we only offer one to one or one to two training. There are no large groups where weaker riders can get left behind at Trailquest.”
What advice would you give anyone contemplating adventure riding?
“Do it! Some of our most experienced clients had never considered doing motorcycle adventures until they had tried an Introductory course with us. Once they did that, they realised a whole new world of riding experiences had opened up to them. Time spent training is never wasted.”
What is the biggest mistake those new to adventure riding make?
“Generally, those new to the game try to do too much too soon.
“They often buy bikes that are far too big and powerful to handle easily off road and they often only attend training after they have had a bad experience on an ill-prepared or poorly though-out trip. People spend a fortune on gear but avoid spending on training. The phrase “all the gear and no idea” is very apt in this activity!
“New adventure riders often underestimate how physically fit they need to be, and many simply do not have even the basic skills to look after themselves and their bikes when things go wrong. We have had clients who cannot even replace a bent brake lever or do not want to get their bikes dirty.
“Many get pushed into buying all sorts of add-on items for their bikes that, in reality, are simply doing nothing more than making a heavy bike even heavier.”
What advice do you have for aspiring adventure riders?
“Prepare thoroughly. Undertake training and start with a bike smaller than you might otherwise ride on the road. Build your skills in a progressive manner and start off with small trips before heading off on the big adventure. Get yourself fit. Finally, do as much research as you can before you buy an adventure bike. If you cannot pick it up when dropped, push it easily up a steep hill or get your feet flat on the ground when stopped, find a bike which you can.”
About Trailquest
Trailquest runs adventure riding courses on a one-thousand-acre private estate, with easy access by motorway (J2, M50), mainline railway station (Ledbury), and even a private airstrip for light aircraft and a helicopter pad on site. They have a close link with a nearby five-star country house hotel offering special rates for Trailquest clients.
For further information about the courses and expeditions that Trailquest offers, visit www.trailquestadventure.com
