Try trials riding?? Ride report

[HoggyF]

After doing a bit of laning and liking the technical stuff i decided to bit the bullet and buy a trials bike as a couple of mates allready had them. 1st time out on the bike (as i haven't got a trailer) I was persuaded to enter a trial, never having ridden it further than the end of the drive. It was a bit daunting to say the least but a good bunch of blokes were there. I approached the 1st section, having just ridden a total of 400yds, and stood about having a look then launched into a stream, across it, out the other side then up across some tree stumps paddling like mad - no clean for me!! 2nd section was similar , cross a stream climb the bank then tight turn around a tree the dwon the other side. The day progressed in a similar fashion, launching the bike skywards, pulling it out of holes and ending up thoroughly knackered, (too many clothes on meaning sweating to death, I thought I'd be cold just "pottering about"). Could't finsh the trial coz i was too knackered, it was very wet and deep ,mud so you were pushing a paddling a lot combined with lifting the bike out of holes.

2nd trial done this weekend and much better crack allround, more sensible sections (without massive vertical climbs like the last one) and even ended up with some "cleans" which is an absolutely brilliant feeling, compounded by 5ing it on the next lap. The rides between sections can be 1/2 a mile or more through the woods, and at the end we spent an hour practising and letting another mate have a go.
If you've never ridden a trials bike have a go, its a damn sight harder than it looks and the old blokes in a boiler suits , wellies and some old twinshock are to be watched, they just potter through something you can't walk up without trying.
Sorry i haven't got any pics, was too busy riding and smiling.

[Blue_SV650S]

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself there!!

I too gave trials a bash, I did OK in the couple of trials I did, but turns out it wasn't really for me.

There was too much standing around eying up the section and then waiting your turn and not enough riding or my liking!

You are right about some of the old timer bikes and riders, make it look easy!! Were there sidecars there too ... they are most odd!!

The good thing about trials bikes is that there tends to not be quantum leaps in bike design every year, so at club level a say 5yr old bike is at no real disadvantage to a new bike! There are not many bike related motorsports where the same can be said!

Out of curiosity, what bike have you got?

I had a couple of Beta's myself!!
____________________
The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[Gazdaman]

G and I did a trial a couple of years back, on trail bikes. A guy let me have a go on a proper trials bike at the end, and it was such good fun!

I'd buy one in a shot if I found a club and some like minded fellows nearby.

I don't think I did better than a 5 on any of the sections, although I was 10th quickest on the special section, which was just a blast up a big hill, round a technical bit and back down again.

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/images/meeting_318.JPG

There would need to be a trials bike in my 10 bike garage.

Gaz

[G]

I presume you got rid of your trials bike blue?

As Gaz mentioned I did that trial for trail bikes event - I had a pamp and did a bit better than Gaz I think in the end, but not massively so.
I also had a go on a decent recent beta or something at Tony Moto where they had a 'test' day where you could pay a tenner and get some time on one (I was actually out for ages). It didn't actually make me think 'wow' so much, so I dropped acquiring a trials bike down the list a bit.

However, do want to get one and play some more as it seems a generally useful skill to have in the off-road arsenal.

A trials bike is the last piece in my 'full spectrum' garage - be pretty happy with the range of bikes I've got once I've got one.

[Blue_SV650S]

[HoggyF]

Blue - I bought a Gas Gas JTX250 1997 its a bit old but been really well looked after and was dirt cheap and yes there was 1 outfit there, whats that all about? Is it not hard enough on 2 wheels??

I don't think you could find a cheaper motorsport, £15.00 entry fee and £5 juice lasts all day.

At the trials I've been to there's little standing around, only on your first lap when you need to work out your route through the section. What we tend to do is miss out maybe the 1st or 2nd section on the first lap to beat the crowds then do them twice on the next lap, never waited more than 5mins i would say.

The parts between the sections on the first trial were almost harder than the trial itself, one bit was riding along a path about 10" wide rising up and traversing the side of a hill with about an 80foot drop to your left, when your knackered and arms are going you don't look down !!! I wussed out on one bit where it was a near vertical climb of about 14foot to exit the area of the last section - i found an easier route, I'll leave that till I'm a bit more exerienced.

I understand Trials is not for everyone and would probably have stuck to trail riding, but was struggling for people to go out with whereas I know quite a few people into trials and wanted a trials bike since Kickstart

I'm amazed at how torquey trials bikes are, you can crawl along in 4th gear at about 3mph then crack it up to about 30mph all in one gear. I think I'm now addicted!! just need a good trail bike in my fantasy garage as well.