Yesterday I travelled with Steve Thompson down to Monmouth for a Gwent Classic trial at Rockfield.
We had been told that the event was laid out for classic bikes but there would be a number of modern bikes that turn out for the ride around, so off we went expecting a good traditional classic trial.
The surroundings were very picturesque, set in the rolling countryside near Monmouth with rocky streams and banks along the edge of the farmland. Certainly a great part of the countryside and a farmer who is very pro trials as his son is apparently a useful rider himself.
The trial got underway at 11am with a format that was quite different to normal trials that we ride week in and week out. Essentially there was one route marked out for all riders (more about this later) and the entry was split into 4-5 groups of riders. Each rider was given a scorecard and each group was given a couple of hole punches and the idea was that each group of riders rode the trial together and observed themselves (similar concept to a round of golf I guess).
This meant that no observers were required and more sections could be laid out across the land available.
So far, so good - a great idea...... However in practice there were a few flaws to the plan.
Firstly - nowadays with such a variation in bikes and abilities I think it is amost impossible to hold a trial with a single route - the sections on the day were just too easy (for me and the majority of the group I roe with anyway). This is not necessarily wrong but I managed to complete the trial without losing any marks and others that did lose marks (going the wrong side of markers or the odd slip) had nowhere that they could recover the loss. I am sure that many enjoyed the trial as a fun day out and many will have lost marks and found it a good test but with such good land on offer slight variation on some of the sections to add a test for the more experienced riders would have made it more interesting and possibly attracted more riders to the event.
Secondly - the self scoring approach, although good in concept, just didn't feel like it worked. This may have been because the groups were a little too large but it never felt like I was riding a trial - more like a practice session with some other riders and a few markers dotted around for good measure. It always seems to add a little bit of pressure when an observer calls you into the section and you know you are being watched, this felt like I could go when I wanted, never sure who was actually observing (most of the time I think it was down to rider honesty) and there seemed to me no order to proceedings. We even had a couple of occasions where more than one rider was in the section at the same time.
Finally, it was all over in about 2 hours (2 laps of 15 sections with a £15 entry fee - perhaps not the greatest value for money?) and by the end we were just riding sections by ourselves and filling in the scorecard afterwards. I think the format needs some work, perhaps no more than groups of 4 riding together and nominated oberver from within the group observing each section on rotation?? Maybe I will give it more thought and try it at one of our trials in the future because it has the potential to work really well and be less reliant on helpers and volunteers to observe?
Anyway, as I said, I rode the trial without loss and it's not very often I have ever done that - even with pretty easy sections you still need to concentrate for the whole time to save any little slips. More importantly the bike ran really well and no bogging on opening the throttle - maybe because I was never in any real trouble and needing to snap the throttle open but I also conciously kept it running warm all day and it performed flawlessly.
It was a good day out in the sun and good to have my Dad riding for the first time in a while too! I am sure that Steve would have preferred to stay home and play golf though after a directional mishap and too much air in the rear tyre gave him 9 more marks that he ought to have dropped!
No pics or results but will add some if I get any..
Classic Trials
Monday, 13 July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Eventpost 39 - BMCA Trial Martley
Finally we managed to put on a trial on Steves farm next to our house, after 2 cancellations due to the weather the sun finally managed to stay out and it was on.
A pretty good entry of about 45 turned up and the sections rode well, however as the ground has been so dry for a few months the water that was dragged up the banks on the exits from the strem became quite slick and posed quite a challenge for some of the entry.
I started the trial at section 5 along with the rest of the Expert entry and straight away started losing marks that honestly messed up my head a little. A mistake on section 5 where I went to wide in the stream and nearly drowned the bike followed by a slack 2 on section 6 and I felt that any chance of a result had gone, however as the trial progressed and it became more slippery on the banks I had a word with myself and started to concentrate a bit more. After the first lap on the sections at their easiest I had dropped 9 marks, however on the worsening sections I managed laps of 5, 2 and 3 for a total of 19 marks.
The bike ran really well and only bogged on me once during the trial so either carburation is closer to where it needs to be or I am starting to understand how I need to ride it!
Results now in - Well done to Nathan as this was a great ride for only 9 marks and I am pleased with 2nd overall considering it is not very often that I manage to finish ahead of Steve Hay.
Results
2 Stroke
1. Jim Pickering 48
2. Steve Neale 66
Unit 4 Stroke
1. Nathan Jones 9
2. Dave Dawson 19
3. Steve Hay 21
4. Mick Chapman 35
5. Alan Borton 68
6. Dave Jones 71
7. Gary Hawkins 78
Pre Unit 4 Stroke
1. Pete Reed 67
Friday, 3 July 2009
Martley Trial - This weekend
Last night I went out on Dad's Scorpa and tried the sections that we will be using this weekend. Overall they are good and it looks like it will be a good trial as long as the weather stays fine.
If we get more than just a few showers we may have to ease off some of the routes and use some of the back up sections because the stream exits could get a bit tricky and we dont want to spoil the trial with riders stuck in the stream, but at the moment it all looks good for a great little trial!
Here is a short video of section 10. This will be the first time we have used this as it took some work with the chainsaw to clear the banks.
As you can see, the stream is nice and low so we will be able to use parts of the land that we have never used before which is always good as land seems to be over used in most areas.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Beezerpost 13 - Finished???? Are they ever?
I was asked to show a bit more detail of the bike so here are pictures of just about every angle - Hope that does the job Martin!. (click on any of the photos for larger pics) 
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