I’d like to take a moment to tell you

[Steve_M]

18 minutes ago, husoi said:

I hate riding in gravel. even worse when the bike weights 300kg 

Dying to get the budget for paving the drive.

Maybe you would need to practice slow riding skills. Most riders are worried about how fast they can ride but few consider being able to control the bike at low speed.

The GS is ok on the gravel section of our drive, but it is quite compacted so not too much of an issue. 
 

I did a machine controls skill course with Martin Hopp (Hopp Rider Training) many years ago and a comment he made about slow riding has stuck with me. “Have the skills so that you choose where the bike goes, not where the bike allows you to go”. 
 

Which reminds me, after so little riding over the last year or so, I must go practice my slow riding and braking skills. 

[husoi]

5 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

 

Which reminds me, after so little riding over the last year or so, I must go practice my slow riding and braking skills. 

Exactly, only last Sat I realise how "rusty" I was on the ST at moments seemed like it was my first time riding

[Steve_M]

2 hours ago, husoi said:

Exactly, only last Sat I realise how "rusty" I was on the ST at moments seemed like it was my first time riding

I refresh my skills frequently, practicing on quiet lanes, and do at least one skills based event every year, whether RoSPA, trail riding, i2i, Better Riding days with Hopp at Cadwell or even Motogymkhana. 
 

I did feel rusty for my couple of hours out last week, riding up to Hartside, though