Intotrials

I know how you feel! The first time I rode it I under estimated how fit you need to be. I was riding in the British championships and regular nationals to a reasonable standard and being young with attitude expected it to be a breeze. It certainly knocked me down a peg or two! The following year I made sure I was physically prepared and it made all the difference! Unfortunately on the 5th day heading for a top twenty finish my bike seized up on the road and it was game over. My advise to anyone attempting the SSDT get as fit physically and fit "bike wise", as you can and make sure you prepare your bike & kit immaculately with plenty of back up and spares. As been mentioned if the sections don't drain you the weather and moor crossings will!

If I recall correctly, MAJESTY stands for - Mick Andrews, John E Shirt, TY it was the brain child of Mick Andrews and Yamaha importer (at the time) John Shirt Senior. I believe it was a stock TY that was modified & improved by these two guys, more power, different geometry, different seat & tank... Mick was heavily involved with the Yamaha factory and John was the UK Yamaha importer both form the Derbyshire area I could be wrong, somebody with more knowledge of the history of Majesty will correct me. I was just a school boy rider at the time and was getting coaching from Mick and my father was friends with John so I'm just going off my memory from when I was a young lad.

When I said benefit of the doubt, that's what I meant. With modern trials it can be difficult to define what a "stop" is exactly. Years back it was quite simple you just watched for the wheels to stop turning. These days a bike can be still on the move with both wheels stopped. What I try and look for is a lack of forward motion, but even then this can be erroneous. You are quite correct, if its no stop then to be strict to the rules, any pause of forward movement regardless how brief is a fail. Try observing like this at a championship event, you'd be lynched.

I agree with you entirely, what I witnessed was a p*** take this was the reason for my original posting. I know how tough it can be to observe, I have done so on many occasions. Being a rider myself I tend to give most riders the benefit of the doubt, I'm quite lenient if the section is a tough one (maybe I'm wrong to do that). But I won't favor any particular rider/s, its only fair to everyone to be consistent. A friend of mine observed at the world round a few years back. He fived Bou for stopping, there was hell to pay but he stood to his guns to the disgruntlement of the spectators. The five was overruled by officials later in the comp for being "too harsh". I don't necessarily blame the observers as it can be a nightmare job at times. But in the case I mentioned which happened to be at the SSDT, it was a blatant failure of the section, which many other lesser riders had completed clean. I felt this was totally unfair to everyone.

Yes (my bold), sorry I've gone off the main topic slightly. Yes my initial grumble was that a top rider was witnessed by myself and also recorded on video to have blatantly fived a section under the no stop rules in the SSDT. I won't disclose any name because I suspect this person is not the only top rider to get away with it and my opinion will make no difference anyway. In the grand scheme of things it probably all evens out and maybe doesn't matter too much. But, I just felt on this particular occasion the offence was so blatant it made a mockery of the rules and was unfair for all the other riders. Like I said, it took the shine off for me, especially as I have a lot of respect and admire the rider in question.

When I'm out on my practicing I often try out sections with stop allowed and then no stop allowed. Amazingly if a section is well plotted its often quite surprising what can be achieved without stopping, when at times you may feel you need to stop. I have a section where I practice I have never cleaned. Its a very long and technical section and quite tight in places, I tend to stop and correct my self many times during attempts. A couple of weeks ago just for fun I attempted the section in 1st gear (there is quite a big step mid way so I usually do the section in 2nd) and tried to stay moving. To my surprise I manage to complete the section no stop and did it for a quick prod. Yes i had to scream the balls off the bike to get up the big step, but I found parts of the section easier without the stopping. I attempted the section again in 2nd without stopping but found the bike getting away from me and had to use the clutch more to tame the power just to stay in control without the stops. I now ride this section no stop and I know there is a clean ride just around the corner as I only ever have the odd dab on it now. I enjoy both styles of riding, I love the trick riding, with the back wheel hops and the jumping from rock to rock, i'm pretty good at it for an older rider. But I also love the feeling of flowing methodically through a section, smoothly and in full control just floating over the terrain. But sometimes I find myself riding both styles to complete a section. This is where the problem rises, how do you observer such a section if the rules are no stop? A brief momentary pause as you flick the bike can be very skillful and great to watch. As an observer how do you five a person for such an impressive ride even if they have stopped for a blink of an eye? Pre- trick riding days this wasn't a problem. But you can't undo progress, you have to adapt.

The rules then need to be adhered to the letter, no exception.

This is a good example, I think consistency across the board is the key. But to truly achieve this then what ever rules are in place for the event should be adhered to, with no exception. The difficulty is enforcing those rules without facing conflict and abuse, and often interpreting them (as in - what is deemed as a stop).

Absolutely (my bold) though my grumble is I witnessed the opposite to what you mention. I saw a top rider blatantly five a section, he got stuck on a rock, stopped dead, went backwards off the rock to recover and struggled a while to get moving again to continue the section - not a, "well the observer was just lenient" situation in my eyes. It was videoed and now has suddenly "disappeared" from the web. I love trials and I love the SSDT I just don't want the scoring to turn into a farce. As you say people pay good money for the privilege to ride the event, surely everyone deserves a fair result at the end?

Exactly and though I feel strongly about things not being fair across the board its very easy to get caught up in not offending people in the process. I don't want to criticise observers because the vast majority are decent folk who give up their free time to endure bad weather so we can enjoy a good days sport. They also, as been mentioned here, sometimes get pressured into making decisions they probably feel are incorrect. This can also be off putting for the observer and may result in them not volunteering again! Most clubs struggle to get people to observe so I believe they should be supported by the organizers and the rules adhered to for ALL riders with no exception. Maybe when a rider or minder complains to the observer beyond what is reasonably acceptable the observer is given the option to give the rider a 10 for getting abused. There is an observer at our local club who sticks strictly to the rules. If its no stop and you pause for even a brief second you are fived. This seems a bit harsh and trust me, I have felt victimized when fived by this person for what I thought was a great ride. But he is the same with every rider, no exception. I witnessed him give a five to a "top" rider once for a brief pause. There was hell to pay, but he stuck to his guns and the score stood (not sure if the rider appealed to the organisers). I just felt that in the SSDT this year a couple of incidents were so blatantly fives, it took off the shine for me personally. I witnessed some myself and I and some of my friends have seen video footage of some, which has now mysteriously been deleted. Cheating goes on in all sports to an extent, lets face it some people are chance'rs and if they are allowed to get away with something once will often expect it all the time. In the grand scheme of things the results may not be much different either way, I'm just appealing to the clubs and organizers to try their best to keep our great sport fair for all.

I have ridden and observed at many levels for over 30 years so I know what you are talking about. I totally agree that some observers are "bullied" into making decisions they would otherwise choose to make differently. I've been on the receiving end of some generous and some harsh decisions myself many times over the years and accept that things even out in the long run. Actually it doesn't really matter in the long run, its just a bit of fun. But I'm a strong believer in fair is fair and that what is good for the goose - is good for the gander. I witnessed some very biased observing at the SSDT and it put a little bit of a cloud over the event for me, more so than what would normally bother me. I just want to protect our sport and want to keep that "gentleman's" approach to it rather than win at all costs attitude.

My first post is a "grumble" which I didn't want to do. I actually wanted to post about what an achievement it is that Dougie, even in his forties, can still show the young guns the way! But for me personally this win was over shadowed by the lack of consistent observing, so I would have felt like an hypocrite rather than stating my true feelings. Which by the way are very passionate about our sport! My apologies

Ok, I agree corruption is a bit of a strong word since trials at this level is an amateur sport. I have ridden the SSDT many times and have found the folk to be decent and friendly so I'm not aiming my "grumble" at every observer, that was not my aim, though i maybe should have written the post differently. I apologize, as i get very passionate about the things I love, and trials has been my hobby for over 30 years.

I've done a fair bit of observing myself over the years, I appreciate how tough a job it can be. When I ride an event I'm always very grateful for the volunteers who give up their free time and stand out in all weather so that we can all enjoy a days sport. I know and appreciate that its difficult at times to stick to the stipulated rules. Especially in no stop events where a rider has put so much effort into completing a section which may have resulted in a brief pause. It can be difficult as an observer to make a judgement, that adheres strictly to the rules. I have been at the receiving end of being fived and cleaned for committing the exact same offence. I can except this if i feel that the observer is consistent and fair with everyone. The SSDT is a fantastic event, well organised and a cracking week for all. But the observing is shocking! Now I don't want to grumble about it because the good folk who do the job have generously given up their free time, but I feel that the observing is so inconsistent that it often is a farce. Mentioning no names certain riders seem to get away with murder, un-fiveable. There is video footage (some has now since been deleted) of well known riders blatantly fiving sections going un-penalised, I have also witnessed this myself first hand. I have witnessed a well known rider completely stop, go backwards, briefly struggle to get the bike moving then eventually get out the ends cards and given a clean. Then the same observer dock a unknown rider a five for a very brief stop. Although I have known this type of behavior has gone on since the dawn of time, it seems that the corruption is getting worse.