What is the GLC?
The Green Lane Crew is a bunch of like minded people who just want to ride their road legal, fully insured and taxed off road style motorcycles along the legal byways of the UK without getting involved in all the political nonsense often associated with it. We like to think of ourselves as an alternative to more stuffy trail riding fellowships out there, and unlike them, the GLC is totally free to join and ride with. We are not some bunch of hooligans tearing up the countryside, the vast majority of members are aged 25+ with respectable jobs, children and all the other 'normal' things that go with life. We welcome anyone who wants to ride with us as long as their bike is road legal. We just want to ride.
How does it work?
The best thing to do is join our forum because this is where all the action takes place. By joining, you can take part in all the light hearted banter (please don't take any of it too seriously!), find out who's riding and where as well as getting involved in some of the more exotic trips abroad. There is normally something going on every week, especially around the Herts/Beds area.
Will I fit in?
Everyone fits in if they have a bit of a sense of humour, wants to ride their bikes (no matter how badly!) and generally wants to have a bit of a laugh. We DO have some massive ride-outs which some of the more stuffy clubs frown upon, but we believe that if it's legal, ride it as much as possible before we lose them! You most certainly do not need to be some sort of riding God, most of us are pretty rubbish and we all roll our sleeves up and help each other along the way. Age is no issue, we have a massive cross section of people who share the same passion, from business owners to pizza delivery boys - it does not matter one bit.
Do we ride like lunatics?
It probably depends on what you deem to be a bit crazy. We don't go mad with the speed, but we do fall off a lot and try some silly things. We are very aware of other byway users, and contrary to popular belief, we ride with care and attention, stop and turn engines off for horse riders, give way to Rambliars, and try not to crash into mountain bikers. Having said that, if we do get some idiot trying to pull us off our bikes or giving us abuse, we might like a bit of an argument as we feel we really don't deserve to be treated in the way we are sometimes subjected to.
Why should I join the GLC?
Why not? We ride a lot, don't have pipes and beards and enjoy friendly banter. There is no better way to get in to this off road stuff than joining the GLC. No political correctness, how refreshing is that! By joining, which is FREE, you will meet loads of new people, ride lots and do not have to worry about all the political rubbish. You will also gain a pool of people who may be able to help you with bike issues, where you can ride and all sorts of other stuff - there are over 550 active members on the forum!
Where do the GLC ride?
The GLC started as a small group of people from Beds/Herts and has attracted lots of riders from that area, but as the GLC grows, there are many more people joining from all over the UK. Most of the ride-outs are around the Home Counties, but more and more are arranging trips around Yorks, Lincs etc. There are many special trips organised such as North Wales, Peaks, Lakes and even Spain so wherever you live, you should stumble across some GLC members along the way.
I have a 'dual sport' bike, is that good enough?
If you are riding a BMW GS or similar you may find the winter months a bit difficult, especially if you are using tyres that are more suited to the road, but you are still more than welcome to give it a try - we don't discriminate by what type of bike you ride as long as it is road legal. There are a few members that ride quite bizarre bikes so I would not worry too much about it, but be prepared to pick it up a lot! Some people even ride those orange Austrian bikes that are actually made in India hehehe.
I want to try off-road riding but don't have a suitable bike - any suggestions?
If you want to give trail riding a try before committing to buying a bike and all the protective gear then you can book a tour with someone like TrailWorld who hire all the bikes and kit and take you around the byways of Herts and Beds. They also do trail riding schools, motorcycle trials schools and even tours in southern Spain. Have a look at http://www.trailworld.co.uk for more info.
I am new to off-road riding and am worried I will hold everyone up
Don't worry about holding anyone up, you ride at your own pace, other riders are happy to wait at the end of the lane for you, while others will be more than eager to help you through the tougher stuff. If you are really worried about your ability then perhaps do a TrailWorld Off Road Motorcycle School or similar first.
SUNDAY 20th DEC 2009
Be a part of what we hope will be the largest ever single off-road rideout in the UK this Christmas!! Can we beat last years record of 53 participants? We are going for the 100+ this year and everyone is welcome - including Trials and Quad bikes! Click for more information.
We now have our very own calendar of events on-line! Click the logo above to see it.
Click the Ugly Fucker above for details and dates on Boss Hog's Enduro Practice Days and other gay stuff.
TRAINING SCHOOLS
Try something a little different and have a go at Motorcycle Trials Riding. Bike and kit is all supplied and if you are a member of the GLC Forum you can get a £45 discount! Just let TrailWorld know your Forum ID when you book and you will get the discount. Click here for more info about the school in Hertfordshire or call 01582 842244 and ask for Paulus the Woodgnome! You can also PM the Gnome via the Forum.
If you are just starting out in the world of green laning and adventure riding and would like to learn the basics then an off-road motorcycle school is a great place to start - you don't even need your own bike and riding kit! If you are a member of the GLC Forum you can get a £45* discount! Just let TrailWorld know your Forum ID when you book and you will get the discount. Click here for more info about the school in Hertfordshire or call 01582 842244 and ask for Paulus the Woodgnome! You can also PM the Gnome via the Forum.
