LoriKTM
Super Power AssClown
Well, I was hoping to write this report two weeks ago, but our spring out here has been quite wet. Rain was forecasted for the previous event, and I decided that I didn't want to ride my first trials in the rain. Found out I made a good choice...
Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day. Dave and I had it planned, we could ride the loops together, me in the Rookie class, him in the Novice class. He would be there for encouragement, and to help if I needed it.
(Rookie is the beginner non-points paying class, Novice is the next level up in our district). I had spectated at a few events last year, and the Rookie lines looked pretty do-able for me.
I don't know if it was the weather from the previous event or what, but I was the only Rookie signed up yesterday. Last year I know there were at least a half-dozen or so Rookies. :(
Then I found out that the way the loops were arranged, that the Rookies only rode sections 5-8 in the loop across the road, and all other classes ride sections 1-4 in the main loop by the pits, then they ride sections 5-8. Great, so I won't be riding with Dave after all. So he takes off, with a "good luck, see you in a bit.." then I start my bike and wander over to my first section. Then found out that the hardest part of the day was going to be getting TO the sections! The last part of the connector trail was a steep, greasy muddy bank leading into a creek. Follow the creek for a bit, and there's the start of the section. I walked it, and then took a shot at it. Not enough momentum to get up and around the tree, so I got a 5 right off. As I was making my way to the next section, here comes Dave. We wander off to section #6. I managed another 5. By this time, I was really upset. Then the connector trail went over a log and up an incline, where I promptly looped the bike out. I stopped and had a nervous breakdown for a few minutes. I was ready to just quit for the day-- ridiculous that the connector trail should be so difficult!
I finally regained my composure. Dave just waited for me while I recovered, and gave a few pointers on riding. We proceeded to section 7. A small downhill, to a right turn, then up and left and out. I CLEANED it! (I flopped the bike over right after I got past the "Finish" markers, but I cleaned the section). Proceeded to Section 8. Skipped section 8 because I'd heard that Rookies weren't supposed to ride it. I turned in my scorecard, and got the next one. Well, whether I decided to use it or not was another question... Dave comes rolling in shortly after, convincing me to ride another loop. Well, maybe. I gave him a few minutes to run through sections 1-4, and then met him again at section 5. I managed a "2" this time. Got a 5 on number 6, and cleaned #7 again (without crashing after the finish, even). Even made it over the log and up the inlcine that I had looped out on previously. Found out that Rookies were supposed to ride #8, so I gave that a shot. Very steep downhill, right hand turn, then down and out. Washed out the front wheel just as I was going to make my turn, and got a 5 there. I turned in my card, and talked to the promoter. Since I was the only Rookie, it didn't really matter whether I did 3 loops or 5. So I thought I'd just do the 3 loops. I let Dave get his next two loops in, and he was doing very well. He came back to start his 5th loop, and I went out with him and rode my third loop. By this time, the main lines were all very well beaten in (except for the Rookie lines, of course). I totally bungled Section 5-- forgot where my line was. Section 6 had given me trouble all day, and this was no exception. Section 7 I had been cleaning, but only got a 2 this time. And the steep downhill of Section 8 caught me again.
What a frustrating day. I accumulated 49 points, for only riding 4 sections 3 times. Sheesh. And strange enough, since I was the only Rookie, I manage to take home a 1st place trophy for the day. Not how I like to come by my trophies-- I'd rather earn them. Dave did very well, tying for 2nd place in the Novice class with 10 points on the whole day.
But I must say that the people and riders were terrific. "Are you having fun?" and "Do you need someone to catch for you?" and "It's good seeing you out here" were things that I heard frequently that day.
Right now, though I need to go and start honing my skills. And find that number for Carl Peters, so he can give me some pointers! :eek:
I would have figured that 10 years of dirt bike riding would have given me a better start for trials, but I was wrong...Sunday I was a beginner all over again.
Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day. Dave and I had it planned, we could ride the loops together, me in the Rookie class, him in the Novice class. He would be there for encouragement, and to help if I needed it.
(Rookie is the beginner non-points paying class, Novice is the next level up in our district). I had spectated at a few events last year, and the Rookie lines looked pretty do-able for me.
I don't know if it was the weather from the previous event or what, but I was the only Rookie signed up yesterday. Last year I know there were at least a half-dozen or so Rookies. :(
Then I found out that the way the loops were arranged, that the Rookies only rode sections 5-8 in the loop across the road, and all other classes ride sections 1-4 in the main loop by the pits, then they ride sections 5-8. Great, so I won't be riding with Dave after all. So he takes off, with a "good luck, see you in a bit.." then I start my bike and wander over to my first section. Then found out that the hardest part of the day was going to be getting TO the sections! The last part of the connector trail was a steep, greasy muddy bank leading into a creek. Follow the creek for a bit, and there's the start of the section. I walked it, and then took a shot at it. Not enough momentum to get up and around the tree, so I got a 5 right off. As I was making my way to the next section, here comes Dave. We wander off to section #6. I managed another 5. By this time, I was really upset. Then the connector trail went over a log and up an incline, where I promptly looped the bike out. I stopped and had a nervous breakdown for a few minutes. I was ready to just quit for the day-- ridiculous that the connector trail should be so difficult!
I finally regained my composure. Dave just waited for me while I recovered, and gave a few pointers on riding. We proceeded to section 7. A small downhill, to a right turn, then up and left and out. I CLEANED it! (I flopped the bike over right after I got past the "Finish" markers, but I cleaned the section). Proceeded to Section 8. Skipped section 8 because I'd heard that Rookies weren't supposed to ride it. I turned in my scorecard, and got the next one. Well, whether I decided to use it or not was another question... Dave comes rolling in shortly after, convincing me to ride another loop. Well, maybe. I gave him a few minutes to run through sections 1-4, and then met him again at section 5. I managed a "2" this time. Got a 5 on number 6, and cleaned #7 again (without crashing after the finish, even). Even made it over the log and up the inlcine that I had looped out on previously. Found out that Rookies were supposed to ride #8, so I gave that a shot. Very steep downhill, right hand turn, then down and out. Washed out the front wheel just as I was going to make my turn, and got a 5 there. I turned in my card, and talked to the promoter. Since I was the only Rookie, it didn't really matter whether I did 3 loops or 5. So I thought I'd just do the 3 loops. I let Dave get his next two loops in, and he was doing very well. He came back to start his 5th loop, and I went out with him and rode my third loop. By this time, the main lines were all very well beaten in (except for the Rookie lines, of course). I totally bungled Section 5-- forgot where my line was. Section 6 had given me trouble all day, and this was no exception. Section 7 I had been cleaning, but only got a 2 this time. And the steep downhill of Section 8 caught me again.
What a frustrating day. I accumulated 49 points, for only riding 4 sections 3 times. Sheesh. And strange enough, since I was the only Rookie, I manage to take home a 1st place trophy for the day. Not how I like to come by my trophies-- I'd rather earn them. Dave did very well, tying for 2nd place in the Novice class with 10 points on the whole day.
But I must say that the people and riders were terrific. "Are you having fun?" and "Do you need someone to catch for you?" and "It's good seeing you out here" were things that I heard frequently that day.
Right now, though I need to go and start honing my skills. And find that number for Carl Peters, so he can give me some pointers! :eek:
I would have figured that 10 years of dirt bike riding would have given me a better start for trials, but I was wrong...Sunday I was a beginner all over again.
