Cossack Owners Club

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 Paul Thomas, AKA - Studsnapper - July 2009

The 28^th February 2008 was a momentous day for me, but a worrying date for everyone else; I passed my bike test.  Then on the 1^st march I collected my outfit from David Angel at Banbury.

If you could have seen me riding up and down the driveway at F2 you would probably thought he’ll never get home in one piece.  I did try to take part of the hedge with me but eventually David sent me on my way.  Driving through Banbury on a Saturday morning with plenty of islands and a big Tescos to get past, it’s not easy when you’re not sure where the brake pedal is.  Somehow or another I made it back to Birmingham, via Stratford, with frequent pulling over to wave the traffic, building up behind me, past.

The next few weeks saw me pottering around the country lanes close to home, getting the hang of riding three wheels instead of two, (just why you can’t take your test on an outfit is beyond me as I effectively had to learn to ride all over again).

Early April and it was my first long distance ride down to Popham for a week-end get together of Team Grim.  On the Saturday a very brave Dave Cox clambered into my sidecar to be my first real passenger.  He survived although I am not sure how.  Up hill and down dale, very twisty narrow country lanes and very steep hills.  It’s quite funny when you think you are in third and you drop it into second, only to find you’re already in second and have actually dropped down into first!  Pulls quite sharply to the right, doesn’t it?  Any way back at camp Dave let me have the benefit of his experience and put me right on a few matters, including going down the jump.  He tried hard to get me to go up, but I declined.

I had a lot of fun riding round the field until a certain Old Boar and a Younger Grim started riding around me, trying to flick the emergency stop switch.  I decided to stop and let them get on with it, far safer than me trying to avoid them.

Towards the end of April Steve invited me down to his place for a driving lesson.  With the autocom he was able to instruct me as we were going along.  I was able to learn a lot over that weekend, so much so that he said “You don’t need the ballast any more, and anyway I can make use of that steel”.  That was that, out came the steel.

Back home on the Monday I decided to go for a spin, ‘coz I now know how to ride this bike.  Oh how wrong I was.  Turning left off a main road the wheel lifted a little.  Then going round a tighter left hander you can all guess what happened next, the wheel lifted big time.  Suddenly I was on the other side of the road!  Fortunately nothing coming and I managed to career back on to the correct side.  What the car driver behind me thought I don’t know, but it was a big wake up call to me; I still had a lot to learn.

On the May Day Bank Holiday weekend I headed out to Church Stretton and the Long Mynd.  The Scouts have a weekend backpacking event and I went along to watch them struggle past the pub.  The Long Mynd involves a long and narrow road with passing spaces and a big drop on one side.  It was great fun and I was beginning to feel happier riding the bike.

The later May Bank Holiday saw me meeting up with Chris and Steve, and Bill and Mary in Central Wales.  We had a brilliant time riding around the Élan Valley in glorious sunshine.  Oh but the ride back on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t think I have ever seen rain and wind like it.  The pub seats when we left were rather wet and even with another coat over my motorcycle jacket, every piece of clothing was still soaking wet.  Good fun though.

As previously mentioned I help out with the Scouts and our troop had an adventure camping weekend at a place called the Biblins on the River Wye.  The campsite is about a mile down a rough track, quite steep, but good fun.  After pitching my tent I needed to move the bike to the parking area.  It was facing the wrong way so I just put it in reverse and rode backwards.  One lad was filling his water container and just     looked open mouthed at me and wet his feet as his container overflowed.  Anyone would think he has never seen an outfit in reverse before. 

We also were canoeing that weekend and the launch site was about ¾ of a mile down the site so I volunteered to tow the canoe trailer. Oh what fun and the looks I got, most hadn’t seen a sidecar never mind a motorcycle and sidecar towing a trailer. 

The next problem was the MOT. I asked a local dealer who he used for his MOT’s and booked an appointment.  The day duly arrived and off I went only to find the road closed due to road works, and a long diversion in place.  Fortunately they were looking out for me and they had moved the barriers to widen the entrance so I could  drive through. The actual MOT was no problem.

Sometime during the early part of the year Chris (my sister) and Steve invited me to join them for a holiday to France.  In a rash moment I agreed.  Now you will remember I only passed my test a few months ago and also I have never even driven a car abroad so it was fun.  We set off for France via the Isle of Wight.  Steve never does things the easy way!!!  Ferry from Poole to Cherbourg then followed Steve and Chris to Le Manoir d’Herouville in Litteau.

I enjoyed riding on the wrong side of the road and only had a problem when I went off exploring by myself and came to a crossroads with no paint markings on the road.  I found that a little confusing as to where I should be.  Back by ferry to Poole and I was stopped by customs on both crossings,. I must look sinister.  The East European Rally was next, which has been reported in the magazine.  Then I took part in the Jumbo run to West Midlands Safari park.  A very enjoyable day out.

Next came the Popham gathering.  Team Grim gathered on the Thursday to get everything ready.  I did nearly 30km just riding round to put up the direction arrows.  Friday was also a practice of the ride out route, which was a good thing as I had to take over from Steve Boar for a couple of miles when he had his puncture.

Then came Dent which to me seemed a long long way on the bike.  Steve arrived on Friday morning and off we set going the pretty way up the middle of the country via the Peak District and Homfirth then the lovely industrial north.  Steve led through Settle to show me the impressive railway viaduct and just before we got to Dent I had a rear puncture.  20 minutes later we were back on our way.  The weekend as a whole has been told by others in the club magazines.

I went down to the Winter Treffen at the Three Magpies near Devizes.  It was cold (well it was the Winter Treffen after all) but it was very pleasant riding along in the winter sunshine.  As ever the pub was good and there was a hard frost during the night.  But a good time was had by one and all.

Christmas was spent with Chris and Steve.  It was arranged that I went down on the outfit which was a good job, as some low life wrote my car off; (I spent a lot more time riding the bike than I expected in January).  Back to Christmas and Boxing Day.  On Boxing Day we took to the roads once more, this time with Steve (my brother) in my sidecar, and his boy Christopher (my nephew) riding in Steve’s (my brother-in-law) sidecar for a days ride. We did about 80 miles that day and after visiting Anne and Peter Ballard for a cup of tea and a natter started our return journey. Steve and Peter had been having a quite chat together and I soon found out why. The journey back included a mile or so of green-laning.  What fantastic fun we had bouncing around the potholes and disappearing in clouds of steam. My passenger had a grin from ear to ear as did I as this was my first time experiencing what a Ural can do.

Back home and just trundling around as needs be, it’s amazing how people you’ve never seen before (or will ever see again) just come up and talk to you about the bike.  It’s a great attraction.

Finally for the year my brother, Stephen (the other Steve), who has acquired my off road style125, and I went exploring in the Tapster Valley near Henley-in-Arden.  We found some unclassified country roads with signs saying unsuitable for motor vehicles.  Well it was like red rag to a bull so off we went.  The first road was successfully ridden but the second was a different story.    We were making steady progress upwards; yes it wasn’t flat, straddling the mud down the middle scraping a bit more off with the side car when we came across a big hole.  There was no chance that we, with are limited off road experience could get round this, so it involved me reversing for about ½ a mile or so, slipping backwards when the brake was touched, gouging into the mud with the brake pedal, footrest, exhaust pipe and cylinder head.  Hard work!  Back on normal roads I rode through two fords and Stephen said they changed colour with all the mud.  I had to jet wash the bike carefully when I got back as it was plastered with mud.

It was a great way to finish of my year.  I would not have nor could I have dreamt that after 12 months I would be exploring off road.    I’ve had a fantastic time and thank every one who has given hints and tips on how to survive riding.  Here’s to the next year.

Paul Studsnapper Thomas