TRAIL RIDES WALES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (for people using our bikes)

If you wish, you can download the Terms and Conditions and Rider Information files (Word documents.) RTF versions are also available: T and C and Rider Information .

• To provide motorcycle riding tuition, motorcycles with off-road capability and protective clothing suitable for the participants as described by email or telephone conversation by the client when booking. Protective clothing consists of helmet and goggles, gloves, enduro boots, knee pads, body armour, long sleeve shirt or jacket and motocross or enduro trousers. These are provided in a range of sizes: boots from size 4 to 13; helmets from extra small to extra large; trousers waist size 28 to 44.
• No charge is made for use of our protective clothing or accidental damage (unless it is wilfully caused, e.g. breaking a numberplate when you are getting on)
• Please note that it is the client’s responsibility to satisfy him/herself that the bike is safe to ride during the day (e.g. if it develops a fault, or receives accidental damage). If in doubt, ask an instructor to check the bike over before continuing.
• CLIENTS SHOULD NOTE THAT PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE IS NOT PROVIDED.

Trail Rides Wales require the following:-

• To inform us if you have physical restrictions or a medical condition when you book. We are very happy to plan an appropriate route for you, but we need to know in advance.
• You must hold a motorcycle licence. (Can be provisional if you have requested the 125cc bike).
• To treat our motorcycles and personnel with respect. Riders showing no interest in learning to ride properly and who deliberately abuse our bikes will not be tolerated. The instructor reserves the right to cancel the ride at any time during the day.  One or two warnings will be given. The second warning may be given for a different reason. If the first two warnings are not heeded, then the day will be ended without refund.
• If over 18, to sign an indemnity stating that it is understood that this is a potentially dangerous activity.
• If 17, to be accompanied by a responsible adult who will sign the indemnity and our consent form, understands the nature of the activity and will be participating. If the responsible adult is not a parent or guardian, the young person needs to send an appropriately signed consent form to be received one week before the riding day.
• If 16 or younger and coming along as a sidecar passenger, a parent or guardian must also be participating (solo or sidecar driving).
• To be unaffected by alcohol or recreational drugs. Please remember this the night before!

Trail Rides Wales ask the client(s) to undertake:-

• To arrive at the meeting place at 9.30am or other specified time. If you are more than half an hour late, please send a text to 07891 036527 and 07786 922655 (these numbers are given on the directions sheets). If we suffer a vehicle breakdown we will send you a text if you have given us a mobile number.
• Not to say you are experienced unless you are! Road riding is irrelevant. Experience must be trail riding, trials, enduro or motocross competition or school, and must include familiarity with riding in a standing position. Riding round a flat field doesn’t count!
• To adhere to riders' briefings and all other instructions given.
• To take care of the bike. Please see Rider Information for some hints and tips.
• Whenever riding, to wear protective clothing which is secured properly.
• To inform us if there is a change in the number or type of people if this changes subsequent to the original booking. Remember that emails can sometimes go astray. If making changes, please ask for confirmation that the changes have been noted. Thank you.

PLEASE BRING!

• A drink of at least 500ml (2 litres on a hot day).
• A rucksack, if you have one you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, preferably with waist or chest strap. If not, let us know and we will bring one or two for your group.
• Spare underwear and socks, as even on a dry day, you may need a change of clothing. Some of the tracks we use have river crossings and puddles which can be quite deep.
• In winter and wet weather we provide enduro trousers. It is best to wear thermals or light tracksuit-type trousers under them. Jeans are not suitable.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers are available for Christmas and birthday presents.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• The deposit is not refunded in the event of cancellation by the client. There is no time limit on setting a new date, although if there is a price rise and your postponement date is more than six months later than the original date, the new price will apply.
• If you have paid more than the usual deposit, the extra amount will be refunded.

Cancellation by Trail Rides Wales:-

• Bookings early or late in the year could be affected by bad weather. Normally an alternative date will be offered.
• If an alternative date is impossible to arrange within a year, a refund less £20 per person will be made.

We know that when you gather on the day, there are a few nerves and a fair bit of anticipation and excitement. So please take the time to read and absorb this in advance. Thanks. If you ride a British or retro bike like an Enfield, or do not ride regularly on the road, please remind us when you arrive.

• Everywhere we go is open to the public. Please be courteous to other users we meet. Many of the local people we encounter frequently are friendly to us, and we wish to preserve this.
• Please be considerate and don’t do wheelies or stoppies, or use high revs in towns, villages and in particular the farmyards we pass through.
• Stay on track. Riding on the land beside the track is a criminal offence, and could lead to YOU being reported to the Police for prosecution.
• Consider the surface you are riding on. If grass, do not use excessive throttle or brakes as it tears the grass up. Once damaged, you have a slippery muddy lane in winter and a dusty rutted one in summer.
• If you find the bike a bit tall, plan to stop with the bike in a rut, or beside a bank where you can put your foot down higher than the ground.
• Be careful when swinging your leg over, as you can break the numberplate or rear light if you are careless.

Care of the bikes:-

• Ride through water slowly sitting down – too fast and water gets into the electrics and even into the combustion chamber which can cause engine blow–up. If you are unlucky enough to fall off in water, and the air filter has gone under, do not try to start the bike until it has been dried out. (We lost two bikes in 2011 because of water in the engine. Parts are £1500 to 2000, so the bikes are not worth repairing.)
• It is often easier to get neutral from second as you are slowing down. You can’t usually get neutral after you have stopped. If you can’t get neutral and are waiting for more than a few seconds, stop the engine on the kill switch. Do not sit with the clutch in! The clutches on trail bikes get used a lot more than road bikes, and it will start to drag if you keep sitting still in gear.
• If you are on a Husky, the sidestand is lightweight and designed only to support the bike. It is imperative that you let the stand up before you get on, and get off before putting the stand down. If you don’t, you will bend the lug and bolt.
• It is amazingly common for people to ride after lunch with the choke on! Considering how badly this makes the bike run, you would think that the person would comment but they don’t. So if you put the choke on, remember to take it off again. This is particularly relevant on the Huskies which have a hot start button just outside the choke (hot start is red, choke is black.)
• Hot start is rarely required on the 250s, but if you are not sure about using it, please ask.
• Please don’t alter the tyre pressures on the bikes. They are set correctly for the terrain we use.
• If you get stuck on a hill and can’t get any grip, don’t keep trying. Wait for help. One of the Huskies burnt the clutch out when it was less than a month old because of a rider wheelspinning it on mud for about five minutes. It ended his day early and he had to wait around for about two hours before he could be picked up (the time it took for the others to get back and the van to come out to him).

• Water-cooled bikes – please check radiator isn’t leaking (coolant is bright green).
• Check throttle action is not damaged.
• Check engine for oil leaks (especially the casing beside the gear lever).
• If the bars are not straight, it is unlikely they are bent – usually the forks are twisted and it is easy to straighten them, so just ask.
• If the clutch or brake lever is pushed up or down, it can easily be straightened. Please ask as the nut and bolt need loosening (especially where attached to master cylinder).
• Likewise if the clutch bracket gets pushed in, it can be pulled back out. The Huskies have a hydraulic clutch and the lever can get knocked forward and will jam. Do not force! (It can break the master cylinder – mega expensive!) Just unscrew the little plastic adjuster a bit, and it will unjam. When back in the correct position, do the adjuster back up a little bit.
• If a lever is broken, we will usually have a spare and can replace the broken one.

• If your brakes seem to be getting spongy or the travel is increasing, please mention it. The disc brakes can suffer from hydraulic fluid leakage if the master cylinder takes a knock and the junction nut loosens.
• Be careful to ride with your foot out slightly (except in deep ruts) to avoid keeping the rear brake on by mistake.

Please don’t wear ear plugs, as we need to talk to you. When not wearing the goggles, bring them down on to the chest or put round the back of the helmet as Colin and I do. Don’t put above the peak (they fly off) or on the chin guard (lens will fall out, or they will steam up). Be careful when putting them on or taking them off to make sure the lens remains in its retaining slot. As many people find goggles irritating, we can provide safety glasses as an alternative.

As a footnote, we know that falling off is often part of the learning process, and accept that minor damage will occur to the bikes. Don’t be afraid to tell us if you think something is not quite right. Very often it can be sorted out quickly and simply. When we load the bikes at the end of the day, it is not unusual to find that a rider has put up with uneven handlebars or a gear change that is stiff, without mentioning it, probably because of embarrassment. But a little bit of applied pressure would have straightened the bars or gear lever, and given a more comfortable ride for the rest of the day. So talk to us!