2 Day Course Brings Out the Best in the Riders

Yes, we started the day with tea and coffee round the fire pit. The first of our Stage 1 Plus courses of the year was run over a Friday and Saturday mid February. The 2 day syllabus gives riders the chance to put the basic building blocks of off road riding into place and get plenty of time on the bike. From body positioning and bike handling, through braking on the flat and downhill, to riding off camber and even tackling the first stream crossing there was a lot to take on board.

Day 1 included running through bike handling drills initially round strategically placed coloured cones, and then moving on to similar drills but using the natural obstacles presented by the trees in the woods, taking tighter and tighter turns on loose and uneven ground. Getting to grips with braking techniques on uneven ground, firstly on relatively flat terrain and then moving on to downhill braking drills. The principles of clutch control were covered with exercises including the “momentum hill” helping to develop finesse with possibly the most important control on a motorcycle. Day 2 gave us the chance to up the ante a little, plenty of nice long trail rides around the beautiful East Sussex venue and recapping the Day 1 content. The braking drills continued and hill climbs and descents saw riders tackling steeper and steeper hills, building their confidence from day 1. Culmination of the second day was the optional stream crossing, dropping into the stream, riding through it over hidden rocks and tree roots, then riding out of the stream, up hill back to the start point – lots of whoops and cheers when riders got through albeit with wet feet.

Paul King
14th February, 2022

Get going

Choose your adventure

Whether you’re a seasoned vet or a first-time rider, there’s a course tailored for all levels!

01/09/2026

BeRightBack @ Desert Rose 2026

Now in its 3rd year, the annual BeRightBack day at Desert Rose never fails to deliver. Be Right Back is a growing community for women in and around the automotive world, where passion for bikes and cars, connection and experience-making collide. It was created out of the real need for women who felt like they didn’t quite fit into the typical automotive scene and wanted a supportive, fun and empowered space to meet like-minded people, build friendships and enjoy the culture together. BRB hosts a wide range of events from casual social meet-ups like breakfast gatherings and drive-outs to special celebrations like International Women’s Day collaborations and women-centred track days and off road riding experiences. All designed to bring women together around bikes and cars in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. At its heart, BRB is about connection over horsepower, linking women who love bikes and cars not just for the machines, but for the people, experiences and shared stories that make automotive culture richer and more inclusive. If you want to know more about BeRighBack jump onto their website here.

4 minute read

31/08/2026

BSMC Members @ Desert Rose

At Desert Rose we have a long partnership with London’s BikeShed. For the last 5 or 6 years we have welcomed groups of BSMC members to our training facilities. They have joined us on our trips in Portugal, the Pyrenees, Morocco and taken part in rallies through Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and north Africa. We have been to their epic show at London’s Tobacco Dock and hosted group chats at their Shoreditch HQ.

4 minute read

10/08/2026

Desert Rose to attend Moto-Union Celebration

Desert Rose have been invited to attend the Moto-Union event on the 20th September 2026. Moto-Union 2026 returns to the South of England Showground in Ardingly, bringing together enthusiasts and iconic machines — from classic bikes to off-road and racing legends. Moto-Union brings together a collection of Japanese and Italian motorbikes, alongside race bikes, off-road machines, rare classics, modern performance motorbikes, and stunning custom builds. Whether you’re a seasoned rider, collector, or simply appreciate great engineering, there will be something to inspire you. Check out the event site and get your tickets here .

3 minute read

28/07/2026

CampVC 2026 10th Anniversary

We have been coming to CampVC for some years now and it really has grown. This year for their 10th Anniversary the team asked if we could bring more bikes. Never one to step back from a challenge Patsy made sure we upped our game. We took 20 electric dirt bikes; OSET TXP 24s, EM Escape XRs, an Arctic Leopard and of course our brand new fleet of Zero X line bikes. Add to that 16 of our Beta enduro bikes some of our own bikes, the Triumph TF 250 E, Yamaha TTR 125 and Patsy’s Dakar bike from 2004, a KTM 660.