Trials Blog - Shiny Pegs - Trials UK

Trials Blog - Shiny Pegs

• 10th July 2010
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I've discovered a great way to make the pegs on your bike shine, without actually touching them - and mine are absolutely gleaming. All you need to do is go for a ride in a field in the rockiest part of Yorkshire. A field where all you can see for hundreds of yards is rocks. A field where the majority of rocks are approximately 12 inches high with rough abrasive edges. A field where a trials course has been set out with every section having rocks who's sole purpose is to continually attack the bits of metal that stick out of the side of your bike. Any rust, discolouration or tarnishing on your trials pegs simply falls away!

This week I, along with Rick and Clive Armistead (yep, I'm delighted to say that my nemesis Rick is back in the saddle) and plenty of other novice and beginner riders took part in a trial up at a place called 'Ian's Rocks'. Whilst the name of the venue has the potential to be the title of a soft porn movie, I guess that "Ian's Rocks" should have told me something about the potential pummelling my pegs would get over a sustained 3 hours period.

Today's trial was another spectacular Yeadon & Guiseley DMC production. I know I've mentioned it before, and apologies for going on about it, but for those of us who lack the necessary bottle to attempt a trial where you may lose your life, or at the very least, a limb, Yeadon & Guiseley offer a wonderful, well thought out, well laid out alternative. The people are great, their courses and sections are great and I really look forward to every one of the year's Y&G trials.

So, after struggling to find the venue, I arrived, I hurriedly said my hellos to all the faces I knew and then set out to start the trial. In true Armistead style, we sensibly set off at section 2 and literally flew round the first lap with no traffic in front of us whatsoever. I dropped some silly points on the first lap, took the immediate layer of rust and tarnishing off my pegs and set off for lap 2. 

Now, at this point, I want someone to tell me why and how 'arm pump' occurs. It's a strange phenomenon which sometimes affects me and sometimes doesn't. I can ride all day without being affected, and then, like today, after no more than 30 minutes, my arms are screaming out at me. That, and my grip goes to pieces and I look like I've only just got on the bike for the first time. (Any suggestions for avoiding arm pump, or simple fixes would be appreciated. Please leave your ideas in the comments section at the foot of this page).

Anyhow, lap 2 goes OK as does lap 3. A few more silly mistakes, which I know means that Rick is pulling into the lead, and a full-bore 5 for stalling the bike while marooned at the top of a triangular rock. By now my pegs are becoming the shiniest part of my bike and they're beginning to blind people as the sun reflects off them. I think I am going to go to bed tonight with the sound of metal grinding on rock ringing in my ears.

Lap 4, and, due to the most intense arm pump known to man, I've lost the feeling in both hands. I am having to 'lean' on the handlebars rather than grip them and I am beginning to fall behind the other lads. 

Finally, I get to section 10/40 and ride a clean (how, I'll never know). Time to let my arms rest a while. But no. Like a tool I think to myself "I know, I'll take advantage of the fact that it's a nice day and I'm here on my bike, I'll have a go at getting up that big rock". 'That big rock' was probably no more than 36 inches high, but it was staring at me, willing me to have a go at getting up it. I went for it. I started my 'run up' and blipped the throttle to bring the front wheel up and...nothing. My arms were so buggered that my wheel lifted no more than 4 inches off the floor and I flew, conkers first, into the handlebars. 

I couldn't see my own face so I'm unsure whether I went blue or not. My conkers, on the other hand, almost certainly did go blue. I gave them an almighty 'thwack'.

So, I scored well but I think Rick beat me quite convincingly today - of course, I'll let you know. But it's not all bad news. On the upside, I have exceptionally shiny pegs and enormous gonads.

I think I'll nip to the Doctors on Monday to see if they could take away the pain but leave the swelling. Now that would be a result!