I must admit I was unsure of what to expect today. It was last May when I last rode a classic trial and then I was on my Ariel. This was going to be quite different, someone elses bike that I had never ridden before, back on a 2 stroke, those leading link forks were a bit of an unknown entity to me and finally the fact the normal rider of the bike generally wins when he rides it so a bit of a lose lose situation because if I did well then it was to be expected on this bike and if I didn't do well then it must be the rider as the bike normally wins - I do like a challenge!
The trial was bloody cold as you can imagine and the area had recently been under water so was a bit boggy but generally the sections were rideable and marked out about right for the conditions.
I had a bout 15 mins on the bike before the trial and found that it handled very well indeed, the suspesion worked fine, brakes were good and the engine ran as sweet as a nut, able to pull very clean in 1st and 2nd gear from nothing. The thing that impressed me most was the way it was so balanced and could turn on a sixpence. The leading link forks seemed to offer no disadvantage at all.
A couple of cleans on the opening sections settled me down and all was going well with the exception of a bashed finger trying to clean a gap between 2 trees that was just a little narrower then the bars. On to sections 9 and 10 where the going was more boggy and required plently of revs and a bit of speed. After riding the Sprite for a while I was dreading this as it never really gripped too well in that going, however this was a different story - a powerful engine that comfortably pulled 2nd gear got me agross the bog and round the corner much easier (and quicker) than expected and I needed a 3 to get back on line as I had overshot a cambered turn.
Things went pretty steadily and I got used to what the bike was capable of but as I did then so did the sections deteriorate at the same time so laps of 5, 5, 3, 8 left me on 21 and quite pleased with the outcome.
I will certainly be putting more consideration in this direction with my next classic trials bike. Thanks to Alan for the loan - much appreciated..
Results
1. Steve Hay 18
2. Dave Dawson 21
3. Nathan Jones 21
4. Gary Hawkins 36
5. Brian Dale 36
6. Dave Jones 42
7. Pete Reed 45
8. Pete Kirby 45
