Trials Blog - Wednesday nighter - Trials UK

Trials Blog - Wednesday nighter

• 5th May 2010
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I had a go at my first Wednesday night trial this week.  Sponsored and run by Trials UK, the Wednesday night trials make use of the local training area up here in North Leeds, Swaine Woods.  They’re well patronised by many of the local riders because they offer a relatively light midweek trial, but I think for most it’s an excuse to get a midweek ride on your bike.

Kindly, this year Nige of Trials UK has included a brand new course for ‘newcomers and starters’ and I’m sure he had me and riders of a similar ‘limited’ ability in mind, but having walked that course with a couple of riders I thought it would be too easy for me and that I would have a go with the big boys.  It was time to step up!

Section 1 was a section that I had practiced not 2 weeks before.  It was something I knew I could do, something I could clean, but – and this seems to be a continual problem for me – as soon as you put flags in front of me I go to pieces.  No surprise then that I took a 3 on the first section.  Section 2 was a tricky ride up and over some very muddy and wet stones before turning sharp right through some trees then a really sharp left to get out of the section.  2 dabs there and it was on to section 3.  Through a tight gap in the trees, a left round the big rock the up and over some very big tree roots before exiting the section.  A single dab there and I was feeling OK. 

On to section 4 then and this is where I had the first failure of the night.  We had to ‘hop’ over a stream before looping left to go up the stream.  I stalled my engine for a 5. 

Section 5 was a big hill climb and, after taking a fall a few weeks earlier on the same hill I had a lapse of confidence.  I asked for 5’s on the hill but Gareth convinced me that I could do it.  After much coercing I eventually agreed and, after choosing 3^rd gear I raced up the hill then left round a tree at the top.  CLEAN!  Then on to a killer section 6 which, if I am honest, was way beyond my capability.  It was a steep but short drop into a tight right hand bend, then a left and down over some rocks at the top of a dry stream bed before taking a right and going up and out of the section.  I virtually walked my way through before moving on to section 7 which was a drop down over some rocks, a right turn to traverse across the hill and a bounce up over a small rock to finish.  A single dab here before moving to the last section, section 8. 

Well, it didn’t go well.  As I entered the section (between 2 rocks on the side of a hill) I lost my balance and ended up taking a fall, effectively laying the bike on its side and running down the hill.  A very kind rider decided to help me out by picking up my still running bike – although what he didn’t realise was that the handlebars were twisted all the way round and he grabbed the bike by the throttle.  It lifted him clean off his feet and both he and the bike came crashing down the hill a good 30 feet.  Clearly he was shocked so I spent a bit of time making sure he was OK.   After 5 minutes I went to see what was wrong with the bike.  It seemed OK but for a broken lever and a smashed throttle cover.  I carried on.

After another half lap of 2’s and 3’s I was travelling between section 6 and 7 when I came off at the top of a hill.  I rolled and flipped my way to the bottom before stopping, winded, in a heap. I had hurt my right arm, was worn out from the ride and felt that I’d had enough.

Another half trial completed. Maybe I’d bitten off more than I could chew?

(Mike vs Rick Update: For anyone wondering how I did against Rick, my adversary and riding friend, at the last Yeadon & Guiseley trial, well it was closer than you could imagine.  We both had the same amount of points, I just beat him on number of cleans).