michael_t

I should also note that it doesn't seem to matter if I bring in a top level rider for a show or a couple novice riders the general public seems to enjoy both. My sense is having an old fella try to hop over a log and do a few tight turns with a possible dab or 2 is something people can relate to and might actually see themselves doing compared to seeing somebody do a 8 ft splatter onto an obstacle... 2 very different shows I keep trying different things to raise interest in the local area but it is really tough.

It may be that everyone can relate to a bicycle and a very simple bike at that... "looks" like a kids bike no suspension no bells or whistles but he brings it to life it is like magic!!! People can't relate to a trials bike it has a motor lots of pedals and levers they have seen people jump the length of a football field on a dirt bike what is the big deal about riding 6 ft up a tree? hard to relate to something you have never tried or appreciate how difficult it is. When I put on shows I usually let people come and try to balance the bike it is funny how many people just figure the bike would just balance itself (they wouldn't think that about a bicycle). The general public doesn't see riding a motorcycle as exercise after all the bike does all the work right? If you can't relate to it its pretty tough to appreciate it.

I think it depends a lot on how you ride and what you are used to... your best bet would be to ask somebody to try their 200 and let them try your 300. My guess is that you would really like the 200 I know I like mine and when I try larger bikes I like mine even more. The 250 is probably the best all around bike for a non expert unfortunately you do see first time riders getting 300 factory race bikes thinking the bike will make the rider but in truth a 200 will make you a much better rider in the long run (learn to go slow in order to go fast) sometimes good things come in a little smaller package .

just depends if it goes viral... - pretty hard to know what people are thinking? It may be they just don't crash enough this crash video has close to 4 million views ??? http://youtu.be/8d3r2LNNiUA

Well as luck would have it, it looks like we might head over to the UK for a family holiday in July 2015... Might not have anytime for trials as it will be the first time my kids (14 and 16) have crossed the Atlantic so I am sure our agenda will be full... but hopefully I will be able to sneak away to at least observe a "real" trials event .

Awesome video Steve - thanks for sharing... http://vimeo.com/drywall/review/107545027/548ba5c255

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Great to see a video of a novice lap... I always struggle with setting up the novice course so this was very helpful. I was surprised how far apart your sections are but it would make for a nice break between sections. The scenery was amazing! It would be closer for me to head to the UK than to head to the other side of Canada to ride a trials event. Do you think anybody would be willing to share a bike with me for a few sections if I made the trip?

Always enjoyed riding on my own as a kid but at 52 with a wife and 2 kids to think about I seldom do and when I do I am very cautious. Glad to hear you made it out alright and thanks for the reminder as it is always good to keep in mind how easy these types of things can happen.

Good luck this weekend to all the competitors, volunteers, and organizers remember it is your choice to have fun don't forget to have a few laughs along the way. I will get out there one of these days. A friend of mine just moved back to BC, the last time I was out there was for his wedding might have to head back to visit him and check out this VMC. I'm afraid it would just make me jealous to see so many people out enjoying trials. Play safe!

Congratulations !!! That is an awesome start to what I am sure will be many more. Funny reading end of winter as we are ending summer here in Nova Scotia

Yeah I hear you... I took my camera to our last event and didn't get one picture. Weather sounds perfect I should have flown out and given the juniors a run for their money .

Just a note for people who may not be familiar with Canada as a Nation, it actually does go further East than Ontario... Sorry Steve, I couldn't resist a little Eastern humor . All joking aside I hope you have an awesome event and am really looking forward to the results and pictures. I am also most interested in the format of the champ shoot out sections a little video of it would be awesome!

Thanks Steve, I would actually really enjoy that. I have never been to an away event... I would also like to get to the world round in the States maybe next year will be the year, are you going to drive down? I actually have relatives in both Rhode Island and Ontario.

Today we had our second event for the year (of 3). It was a fantastic day, sunny and about 23 degrees ©. I had spent 3 days earlier in the week setting out, building the sections and just had the start and end gates and any last minute changes left to do. Fellow riders had helped me out but even with 2 or 3 people it is hard to gage if things are going to be too tough or not tough enough (leaves you thinking about it in the middle of the night). I had a pretty good idea who was coming so we decided on 3 difficulty levels (we had typically been just using 2 levels). I got up in the morning and printed the score cards, a waiver for people to sign, and a score sheet (that I didn't use). had a good breakfast, skipped church and hit the road 20 minutes out I realized I had forgotten my boots and had to go back, by the time I got my boots it was clear I "might" have had time to go to church after all . The event was about 30 minutes drive away and when I got there most of the riders where already warming up. The event is part of the local dirt bike association (NSORRA) annual membership drive that we get around 200 riders out for some trail riding, MX riding, safety training, chatting, a chance to see what the local dealers have to sell and lastly our little trials event #2. I let a few people try my bike and was able to talk one fellow into riding the event (he was interested in buying a bike and giving it a go) I rushed around to put up the gates and hole punches, had a quick bite to eat (the proceeds went to cancer research ). The trial was set to start at 1:00 and we were pretty close I had everyone sign the waiver handed out the score cards and held a quick riders meeting. I let everyone know we would walk the sections and ride together the first lap then break up for the remaining laps. We had 8 sections and planned on 4 laps. We finished lap 1 at 3:00 so decided to go with just 3 laps. We had 3 riders in each division so everyone was going to podium if they finished . The day went on with everyone having lots of fun, it was a real workout the guy I was sharing my bike with couldn't believe how much work it was (he was kicking my ass so I didn't feel to bad for him). The sections where a bit difficult but everyone stuck to it, I only had to adjust one section after I lost my bike in a hole in the junior line and landed on my a*** and figured it was just too tough for us novice riders and went around it instead. I would say from the scores below that the sections were doable but could have been a bit easier... We keep learning! At the end of the day nobody got hurt and everyone said they really enjoyed it and thought the 3 classes worked very well. There are some great pictures of the 8 sections posted here even the sequence of when I found the bad section - from oh oh, to, where is my bike?, to, happy I was wearing my padded suit: http://dualsport.smugmug.com/2014-Ride-Reports/2014-09-14-Trials-the-Drive-to/ After the event I packed everything up and headed home to post the scores and put a little ride report together for your enjoyment and here are the scores: Going to sleep well tonight !!! Cheers, From Nova Scotia, Michael T.

http://youtu.be/fMX5niekjug

Sounds like the tape might have been set a bit high if the wheel was able to get under it and pull it forward (should be between 10 and 30 cm high). I think I would say the boundary moved to the other side of the axle, not that the axle moved on the other side of the boundary given the bike did not go backwards during any of this. Certainly a tough call and it could go either way, hopefully the rider respected your call at the time but I'm a softy and think I would have let it go as long as the tape didn't break.

Great to have the right tools

Great reading! Here in Nova Scotia I try to put on 3 events a year the next closest events are in Quebec (about a 10hr drive). I have never been to an event that I haven't helped organize. Luckily there are riders locally that have been at events so they where able to help me get started. I also had a talented Quebec rider come down to give me pointers for my first event (5? years ago). The fact that I am typically the worst rider at the events helps but it is really easy to make sections to tough (especially when you are setting advanced sections but can only ride novice). Reading posts like this one is always very helpful in my quest to grow the sport here in Canada . My next event is this weekend, I will go for 8 sections 3 or 4 laps depending on the day with 2 lines Novice and Advanced. I always try to find out who will be there and with only 15 or so riders typically showing up I have an idea of what will work but really I should have 4 difficulty levels Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced to cover the current riders but it is just too much work for this volunteer to pull off. Cheers, Michael T.

http://youtu.be/FozZELPyJME

Thanks for the correction... it did seem odd to me that they wouldn't bring their own bikes... it just goes to show don't believe everything you hear during trials practice

Interesting discussion. I heard that when the world round was in the States all the other riders were able to take stock bikes from the US and with a few modifications ride them compared to the Honda team that brought their bikes with them. It certainly sparks this sort of debate ... but is it because their competition bikes are so unique or because Honda has the resources and it is just simpler to ship the bikes. I know if I had the option I would much rather ride "my" bike that I had running just the way I like it, than to try and reproduce it by modifying a brand new bike. It is kind of funny that when Toni moved to Honda people thought he was going to kill his career moving to a 4 stroke now it seems people are saying would he be that good if he was riding a 2 stroke . The thing that puzzles me the most is whether having somebody of his caliber helping or hindering the sport... when you see him riding without even having the motor on you can't help feeling a little defeated before you even start... on the other hand it is awesome to realize what a hell of a lot of hard work and talent can actually produce with respect to trials riding.

After a trip to Home Depot I decided against rebuilding the practice wall with 6X6 and simply made a 4X4 frame around the top of highest part of the wall as it took the worst beating. The whole wall had actually collapsed forward but I dug it out and nailed it back together... hopefully it will hold up for a bit.

I had a couple of good offs last week. I wear a pressure suit (or whatever they are called) with chest, back, shoulder, elbow and kidney belt all in one suit. I was glad to have it as I went over backwards onto my back on the rocks then got my leg stuck under the bike between the tire and bike frame... It took a bit for my riding buddy to stop laughing but he eventually helped me up. I always carry a phone and if I am on my own I typically don't do much more than trail riding. The phone is also handy for taking pictures after the fact like this one from a few weeks ago...

That looked like a great way to be spending a day. Did you ride the same section more than once before moving to the next? We typically ride the whole loop makes it a bit tougher to remember the section when you get back to it As far as adjustments you might need to be a bit more careful next time... LOL LOL