Trail Riding

What is Trail Riding

Phoenix Trails provide customers with a relaxed training environment, using small-capacity motorcycles.  We concentrate on teaching various techniques, which customers can practice at both our on-site facilities and on nearby legal By-Ways. These By-Ways are Open To All Traffic, (BOATS / Green Lanes).

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To do this we provide 4 different levels of training.

Taster Sessions

These 2.5 hour sessions take place at our Foots Cray training facility.

We’ll cover numerous skills for riding a motorcycle on unpaved surfaces in this session.  You will also tackle various obstacles such as ruts, steps, inclines, and declines. Everyone will practice these skills in an area that replicates many Green Lanes in the UK.

Beginner / Level 1

The first 60 minutes of the day will cover all the skills that are taught on the above Taster Session.  After this we venture out on to the nearby Green Lanes where you can practice all your newly acquired skills.  Your instructors will endeavour to find routes that are both achievable, but also challenging for the whole group.

Intermediate / Level 2

Ideally to attend this you will have needed to have completed either a taster day or a beginners’ day.  It may also be suitable to those who have ridden off road before.  However, we ask customers to be honest with themselves.  The skills for riding off road are very different to road and track riding. Even if you’re a very experienced road or track rider, you should keep this in mind and choose the level of trail riding day that suits you.  We want to provide all customers with the best experience and having one rider who is struggling reduces that experience for everyone.

The day will involve a briefing, reminding customers of the previously learnt skills and some practice time on our private training areas, before venturing out for an extended ride on the available Green Lanes.

Extended / Level 3

The day will start with a briefing. After this, we venture out onto the Green Lanes of your chosen site.  It is a long day, covering many miles, where fitness and endurance, play as much a part as technical ability.

The day is intended to consolidate the training that you have previously received. You can also use this to establish how much you can reasonably achieve in a day.  This will assist you to plan your own trips away.

What we provide for all trail riding experiences

We can supply all your protective equipment.  Helmets, boots, gloves, jackets, trousers, and even motocross-style body armour if required.  You may wear your own equipment if you wish. However, we do insist that your boots are high-leg adventure-style boots at the minimum.

There is very limited “Plus-Sized” clothing available, or even suitable for off road/adventure riding.  If you happen to be of this larger stature, please give us a call before booking. This will allow us to ensure we can accommodate you.

We will also provide a light lunch during the road rides on the full-day courses.  The longer spent on this stop will reduce the amount of time spent riding.  It is particularly important to manage this time on the beginners day.

Fancy a longer trip to Spain? Working with Trailworld.co.uk, we offer 3 or 4 day trips to the Andalusian mountains in southern Spain. To book, click the link below or call 0330 223 4000

The Bikes

At Foots Cray the fleet consists of Honda CRF250L’s and Fantic XEF250’s One of these is lowered.

We also have a learner legal XEF 125 Although it is CBT compliant, that unless you have been riding regularly or have previous off road experience, then you will have to complete a taster day before being allowed out onto a level 1 day

At Codford, the fleet consists of Fantic XEF250’s and one lowered CRF250L.

At Bolton, for West Pennies and Peak District, the fleet consists of Fantic XEF250’s and one lowered CRF250L.

The lowered CRF250’s at each site are suitable for riders with an inside leg measurement of less than 29”. For those below 5’ tall, it may not be possible to accommodate you.  Please give us a call to discuss this before booking.

With limited numbers of lowered bikes, we must operate a first come, first served system. With this in mind, please highlight your requirements when booking to avoid disappointment.

For group booking of 3 or 4 customers, if you cannot find a suitable date, please call with a few suggested dates and we will do our best to accommodate them. 0330 2234000

What we ask you to provide:

• Your valid motorcycle licence. (plus a CBT certificate for the 125 learner legal)
• Suitable clothing for under your protective equipment, depending on the weather conditions of the day.
• Dry socks and maybe even clothing for your journey home.
• A towel (No matter what time of the year, you will probably get wet at some point during the day).
• A small backpack to carry any personal items, snacks and water that you may wish to carry.
• A good sense of humour.

As you would expect for the UK’s largest Motorcycle Training School, we have all the resources available to make your session, “the best fun you can have with your clothes on”. To use the words of one of our customers!

We match all sessions to your experience from complete beginner to expert. We regularly have 5 courses available. All are led by one of our qualified instructors. You’ll receive expert training on riding, rather than just a guide for the day.

We focus on training during the courses, with a high emphasis on the correct techniques correctly for the conditions. We always follow the Trail Riders Fellowship Code of Contact and spend time on teaching that as part of the session.

Don’t just take our word for it, see what David Williams, the Evening Standard Motoring journalist thinks about Trail riding with Phoenix