Rolling backwards.

[SM_998]

Im fairly new to trials, started in December. 

On one of my early events, I got penalised with a 5 for rolling backwards on a section. Not very far, maybe 10 or 12 inches. 

So im rather confused when I watch all the hopping about to see really good riders jumping backwards and even rolling backwards. This morning there was a clip of a rider bouncing his bike around and rolling back into a prime spot pointed out by his minder.

Are there different sets of rules for club trials and national events?

Im not moaning at all, just confused 

Cheers all

[lineaway]

We went over a decade without being able to roll back. The rules were all over the place. Some places the good riders could hop sideways and then reposition themselves. Quite silly as it was the same spot if you would have just rolled back. The world rounds did away with the no stop about 3 years ago. Most places have gone back to the roll back is legal, but if you dab going backwards it is a 5. Finally there is a push for all trials to get the same rules. Very hard for an outsider to understand our sport. 

[lemur]

Yes to it depends on the rules set out by the organizer, the alternative to no-stop is to time limit the section.  You're lucky my wife is not checking, she watches the front wheel and if it rotates backwards even a little you just 5'd.  

Edited May 1 by lemur

[trapezeartist]

I can see the arguments for both no-stop and stop allowed. I'm inclined to the idea that stop allowed is necessary at national and international level but not a good idea for club riding. Both systems leave a lot of grey areas that really need to be clarified by the rules. It would really help if the ACU and AMCA (in the UK) would publish rigorous rules about stopping so that riders are no longer marked at the whim of the observer.

[Tr1AL]

I think the rules in the UK are very clear. The rule is NO STOP with stop allowed. Watch this years SSDT , a trial that is marked under the no stop allowed rule , and the top riders were stopping and  then hopping the back wheel sideways about a foot before setting off again at certain sections .That in my opinion is not stopping , stopping is when you have not moved for more than about 5 minutes which is still not really stopping it is a brief lull. I hope that clarifies the current system. If stopping was stopping Doug Lampkin would have had quite a few more marks than he did along with plenty more of the field of  riders. Rolling backwards is OK as long as the observer on duty thinks that it is.

Remember , as long as the observer  follows his own set of rules and applies them exactly the same to all participants , then it does not really matter what the actual rules are.

Edited 45 minutes ago by Tr1AL