Trying Trials Riding
On Wednesday morning I received a call from Bob Clark of Mountain Motorcycle.
We had met Bob several weeks earlier when our good friend Ted McDowall invited us out to try his trials bikes.
Bob saw how pumped we were at this awesome sport and we quizzed him about the used selection of bikes he had.
His call came just before the weekend as he was inviting Kim and I out to try a trials competition and offered us some bikes to use for the event.
After Kim and I finished jumping up and down we high-fived and told him we would be there.
We awoke on Sunday morning to torrential rain, but it did not matter as we were going trials riding.
As we arrived we met up with Bob who was unloading some awesome Beta and Sherco machines.
He pointed us in the direction to register and as we entered the Canada Pacific Trials Association Club House every one was super helpful and letting us know how the event worked since this was just our second time on trials bikes.
The event was also only ten bucks! This was an observed trials event and so how it works is you leave in small groups and follow a marked trail.
At an observed section you arrive and shut off your bike and walk the route which is just a short section of obstacles, tight corners and slippery roots.
The rest in your group watch and count your foot dabs as you go.
You get a zero for doing the section clean, 1 point for a foot down, 2 points for two dabs and three points for three or more dabs.
If you roll backwards, stall or go outside the course it is an automatic 5.
We tackled the junior course along with 4 others and Bob kindly came with us to help us along the way even though his skills were well beyond our beginner skills.
As I tackled each different section I got better and better and felt more comfortable on the bike.
These machines are amazing and it feels so natural to hop them around and climb slick roots and rocks.
The tires seem like they have glue on them.
After 10 sections were followed the trail back to the start of the course for our second lap.
It was a little more challenging as the course was a little beat up from the unending rain and previous riders.
We dialed in the loop mush faster and I even ended up with 3-4 flawless sections.
Bob even called me a real trials rider.
Unfortunately after he did I would make some huge mistake that would leave me with a 5, therefore deflating my ego.
If you love any type of moto then give trials riding a go.
You will be amazed at what the bikes can do and where they can take you.
Like all other types of moto the people in the club were awesome and enjoyed helping newbies like us better technique while riding so we would have more fun.
After all that is what this stuff is all about.
We had met Bob several weeks earlier when our good friend Ted McDowall invited us out to try his trials bikes.
Bob saw how pumped we were at this awesome sport and we quizzed him about the used selection of bikes he had.
His call came just before the weekend as he was inviting Kim and I out to try a trials competition and offered us some bikes to use for the event.
After Kim and I finished jumping up and down we high-fived and told him we would be there.
We awoke on Sunday morning to torrential rain, but it did not matter as we were going trials riding.
As we arrived we met up with Bob who was unloading some awesome Beta and Sherco machines.
He pointed us in the direction to register and as we entered the Canada Pacific Trials Association Club House every one was super helpful and letting us know how the event worked since this was just our second time on trials bikes.
The event was also only ten bucks! This was an observed trials event and so how it works is you leave in small groups and follow a marked trail.
At an observed section you arrive and shut off your bike and walk the route which is just a short section of obstacles, tight corners and slippery roots.
The rest in your group watch and count your foot dabs as you go.
You get a zero for doing the section clean, 1 point for a foot down, 2 points for two dabs and three points for three or more dabs.
If you roll backwards, stall or go outside the course it is an automatic 5.
We tackled the junior course along with 4 others and Bob kindly came with us to help us along the way even though his skills were well beyond our beginner skills.
As I tackled each different section I got better and better and felt more comfortable on the bike.
These machines are amazing and it feels so natural to hop them around and climb slick roots and rocks.
The tires seem like they have glue on them.
After 10 sections were followed the trail back to the start of the course for our second lap.
It was a little more challenging as the course was a little beat up from the unending rain and previous riders.
We dialed in the loop mush faster and I even ended up with 3-4 flawless sections.
Bob even called me a real trials rider.
Unfortunately after he did I would make some huge mistake that would leave me with a 5, therefore deflating my ego.
If you love any type of moto then give trials riding a go.
You will be amazed at what the bikes can do and where they can take you.
Like all other types of moto the people in the club were awesome and enjoyed helping newbies like us better technique while riding so we would have more fun.
After all that is what this stuff is all about.
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