October Beginners and Wobblers Trial
Sunday 16th October 2005
Specially designed easy sections for newcomers to the sport of Trials. Just turn up, sign on and 'wobble away' without any pressure. If you want to start Trials this is the event for you.
Photos
Reports
By Matthew Grant Browning
"Beginning to Wobble"
I have been preparing my 7 yr old son Alasdair for a life of frustration, debt, strained relationships and physical discomfort. How? I have introduced him to the fine sport of motorcycle trials. For this we required a suitable bike and in order to access this fairly quickly I turned to that global car boot sale….E Bay!! I procured a TY 80 ( as this has been the standard beginners bike and did not cost the earth!!)
Training began in earnest about three weeks ago ….thus preparing him for his first trial. What better event that the Sidcup Club Beginners & Wobblers Trial on 16 th October. ( Not to mention the fact that it has been a while since my old TY250 had a proper run…not to mention that it had been some time since I had a proper run!!).
Since this was young Alasdair’s first trial we were accompanied by mum and big sister ( who was reluctant to say the least). We set of in the old but not so faithful VW camper with the TY80 inside and TY250 on a bike rack. By the time we had pulled up at Canada Heights a tie down had snapped and my bike was no longer perpendicular to the road – I was assured by someone that this had only just happened as it ‘looked okay on the M25’!!
After signing on and being scrutineered, we set off for section 1. Alasdair’s face when he saw the steep decent told me that he was perhaps not as well prepared as I had thought. I allowed him to take a 5 ( if only to stem the potential tears) onto section 2…he decided that he would perhaps do a bit, which of course was fine. To be frank he was not really up to doing any of the sections and rather than to frighten him off completely I suggested that he join some of the other younger kids that were just practicing on a few mounds near the van.
I decided that I would at least attempt to blow some of my trials cobwebs away and decided that I would get back on the course. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and having chosen the red route I realised that the old magic was still there ( although intermittent). I was conscious that my wife was supervising Alasdair and that he was the main reason that we had come. After doing one complete lap ( for a shameful 3…if you don’t count missing a bit of a section…and not doing section 10 at all). I returned to the van to find a hot cup of coffee, biscuits a sullen daughter and a surprisingly relaxed wife. I spent the rest of the trial ( and you may have seen me) bobbing about taking pictures and guiding my young protégé in the art of USING THE BLOODY CLUTCH….sorry.
Thanks to everyone that put the day together – despite everything Alasdair has got a taste of the real thing and is no less enthusiastic for it
Pre Event Info
Start : 10:30am
Entry is "enter on the day", you will need your ACU Affiliation (Affiliation will be on sale) and an ACU club membership card (Sidcup day or ret of year membership available)
2 routes; one very easy (for LDT riders and wobblers) and one of normal novice standard for trials bikes
This event is not a MX/Enduro or an expert trials practice
For more info contact Alan Clarke (email or 01634 201268) or Peter Burton (01737 211642)