Although I have had my Tenere for more than 2 years now I have never taken it off road. So yesterday, b eing a bit bored on a damp and drizzly morning I decided to go for a ride and reacquaint myself with a few local roads and the odd legal green lane still left in Sussex. I suspect Greatescape and Jo75 are familiar with both of them.
I had completed my first lane which lead me to north over wet slippery, slimy and heavily rutted downland chalk. This stuff can be lethal but I managed it without incident by slowing down a bit and taking it easy.
�Great� I thought and I headed off to my next lane nearby. This begins (or ends) at the top of a local hill. As you can see below the weather wasn�t exactly great.

Anyway, a quarter of the way down I lose it on the wet muddy chalk and end up sprawled on the side of the trail giggling a little. Unharmed I get up and heave the bike upright and notice the chain is off and trapped between the swing arm and a bolt on the rear sprocket. Then the realisation:-

• Bike is facing downhill.
• I cannot get it onto centre stand.

BOLL***s!

I started to have the thoughts �Am I going to be stuck here?� and �who can I call to rescue me?�. I am sure many of us in the offroad fraternity have had one of these thoughts or similar before at least once. Well, I was damned sure I would have to get out of this myself as my previous riding buddy and go to rescuer has long since emigrated to Canada and I was sure he wasn't going to be turning up anytime soon! Selfish B*gger.

Anyway, after 30 mins of heaving and leaning the bike over on its side stand I manage to wrestle the chain free. One handed too. I am left knackered and sweat is pouring from me. Thanking my luck stars, I gingerly make it down the rest of the trail and I am free.

The moral of this tale? If you decide to go out on your own:-

1. Make sure you do your maintenance.
2. Don�t go out on Mitas E07�s on wet chalk as worn as these!
   
   
   
   

Having a little rest after the incident.

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Bike: 2008 XT660Z Tenere with various bits and bobs added or subtracted

A very busy day.
Alls well that ends well though eh?
And i little the wiser too no doubt...

We must meet up, be good to get out with someone on the lanes.always safer!..

At least you weren't hurt....and the bike looks fine! That wet chalk . is so slippery I'm not sure any tyre would cope with it! My worst injury was after wiping out at speed on chalk.. ( on a mountain bike! ) ...broken elbow / broken and dislocated shoulder and a piece of flint stuck deep inside my arm! Much safer on the Tenere! Steve

That sounds like a bad one Steve!..your right about the tyres , slippery chalk is not easy on any tyre!..but it does make it more interesting and challenging..

I was annoyed with myself as I have mountain biked for decades and used to green lane all the time until about 8 years ago.

Anyway I got away with it and no damage, apart from pride. Was a laugh though!

Sounds nasty Steve. It reminds me of several incidents I have had over the years. Will save that for another time though.

Jo75, yeah would be good to get together some time for a ride. Might have to sort out some new tyres for the slippy stuff first though. he he

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Bike: 2008 XT660Z Tenere with various bits and bobs added or subtracted