Two age old questions?

How could you 5 me? I wasn't stopped with my foot down!

How could you 5 me? I didn't roll back with my foot down!

We've been dealing with those questions as a club for 30 years.

So we're toying with just counting dabs...up to 5. That's pretty cut and dry. He either put it down or he didn't.

The arguments are:

A rider can be stopped for a long time with a foot down and only get a 1.

A rider can roll back multiple times with only one foot down and get more than one shot at an obstacle and only get a 1.

Anyone have any experience with only counting dabs?

I ran a club event using the 12345 scoring, then the club voted on how they would like the scoring to be, 12345 system wasn't favored.

The things I noted were the scores are very high, more fives than you would normally get, so it would make sense to make easier sections, ours were not hard at all.

Riders prefer to have every chance they can of getting thru for at least a three, this system took away that chance.

Is it a fairer way of scoring, I think it is and you get a truer result at the end of the day.

Is it easier for the observer not having to make a judgment call, again I think it is.

Will it catch on, I don't think so! people just don't like getting fives.

Dab, our little group tried it last year once. It does make scoring very simple and easy for rookies and bystanders to understand. The biggest complaint we had was from some of the "vet" riders.

They didn't like the fact that they could ride out of a section and still get a 5. They liked being able to dab as many times as they wanted and still come out with 3. Many felt that after the 5th dab, they would simply pull out of the section without attempting to finish.

I personally liked it fine, as it kept you fighting right up to that 5th dab...not that I'd ever get that far

Riders prefer to have every chance they can of getting thru for at least a three, this system took away that chance.

Will it catch on, I don't think so! people just don't like getting fives.

I think this probably says it all. Seems to sum up the con arguments we've encountered when discussing this in our club. Thanks Ishy

The guys that do the Baraboo (I think) trials use this system, and use a group of boy scouts to observe it. Citytrials I hope can come on and answer this one, I think he rides with that group some?????

My opinion it is a great idea that removes all the crud judgement calls out of it. I like it.

But then I wouldn't be able to paddle through and still get a 3...in just about every section.

But then I wouldn't be able to paddle through and still get a 3...in just about every section. 

It's a fair comment Charlie, and the one most used for this system, but it wouldn't be hard to correct by making the sections easier.

The biggest resistance to a scoring system like this or gate trials is peoples ego.

The thing i don't understand is why struggle thru a spectacular looking section for a three.

But then

The thing i don't understand is why struggle thru a spectacular looking section for a three.

Because it's better than a 5?

The biggest resistance to a scoring system like this or gate trials is peoples ego.

...and there's the bottom line.

I mean really, what difference does it make what the final score is, big numbers or small??? Isn't it really only a comparison between riders and your previous scores?

The thing I liked most is that not only was it easy to score and understand the scoring, but it really seemed to show the rider abilities and rewarded the guy who really fought for the 3 over the guy who simply walked his bike through (sorry Charlie )

I personally can't see any-thing wrong with the 12345 approach (admitted, i'd have a lot more 5's in my results, as would every-body else). Also, how many riders have actually marshalled at meetings. Only just marshalled a trial that had side-car units involved, i soon learnt that the riders had the same rules as a solo-rider (1235), BUT if any part of the passenger touched the ground/tree was an instant 5 (That caused some arguments).

Gaff.

I have only just started in Trials, and have only attended self marking trials, but I have found myself marking myself for 5 if I dab a lot. It's not really a concious thing (more a mistake), but I do feel I have failed a section if I had to rely on lots of dabs to get through. However as a 'newbie' I get frustrated at 5-ing a section just because I paused to prepare for an obstacle, which as a newbie is something I have to do.

I must also comment that three or four of the other new riders (who have taken part in more trials than myself) don't bother to mark themselves as they see no point, personally I don't see how you can gauge your progress without noting your marks.

I guess it'll be a while yet before I am riding in observed Trials, so things may change by then.

In my opinion, counting the 12345 dabs would be exellent for beginners, It would suit them, they would achieve more, learn more in the sections and they would enjoy the trial more, rather then 5ing straight away.

However the more older/experienced riders should know better and would have riden using the rules, therefore they are used to getting 5's when they fail. There the rules, they should stick to them.