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By stinkwheel
#88440
Cross-posted from another forum.

Having built a trials bike, I thought I ought to do a trial on it.

I'd originally signed up for my local one with the Fellside Auto Club but it was cancelled due to high winds (mostly in forestry). So a few weeks later, the Middle England Classic Vehicle Club were also holding one in the Durham Dales.

Now trials riding (not trail riding) is a test of skill and bike. Modern trials use really specialised bikes that are super low geared, very light and involves riding round a course of tricky turns and obstacles. The sections are against the clock and you are given time penalties for missing markers or for putting a foot down.

Long distance trials are more back to the roots of trials riding where you navigate between sections on roads/tracks and are then observed doing that section. There is no time limit (with certain exceptions). Effectively, you are given penalty points depending on how well you ride the observed sections.

Most carry a possible 12 points. At the simplest, if you "clean" a section without putting a foot down, you get 0 points. If you put a foot down (even just a dab of a toe) you get 12. Some are sub-divided so still get 0 for a clean, you drop to 6 points if you get past a marker and 12 if you don't make that marker. Others are divided with markers counting down from 12 to 0.

There are a couple of additions. One is a Special Test where you ride as quickly as possible round a series of cones, a bit like a rally special stage. You can put feet down on these and it's used as a tie-breaker. Some sections also have a re-start where you have to stop on a line then start going again within 5 seconds.

The ideal trials bike is very lightweight and geared very low with the ability to deliver explosive power. It has lots of well damped suspension, a low seat height, low centre of gravity, lots of ground clearance, effective brakes and a feather-light clutch. The rear tyre should be as fat as possible and the front wheel is usually 21" to let it climb easily over obstacles.

So not an royal enfield bullet then. A modified road bike designed in the 1950's and made in India.

The bike has quite a few modifications. It's geared as low as I can get it on standard parts. It has marginally longer shocks fitted, a bash plate to protect the sump, wide handle bars, a high level exhaust to increase ground clearance and moved footpegs to change the centre of gravity and make it easier to stand up on the pegs.

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Tyres are interesting. They are nominally "road tyres". You aren't allowed wide gaps between tread sections and you can't have an unbroken tread right across the tyre. This is to help prevent damage to the countryside, after a point, the tyres just spin instead of gripping and chewing up the track. It's fair because the rule applies to everyone.

A week before the trial, you are sent out a "road book" with directions for navigation. I sat down and converted this into a kind of shorthand using navigation "tulips" and printed them out on a long roll to fit in my homemade road book holder. This is the main way you navigate.

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I duly turned up on the morning of the trial. There were about 40 bikes entering varying from some 1950's trials bikes right up to someone on a modern "proper" trials bike. Lightweight twinshock bikes seem best for these long distance trials. You need to have enough road speed to get between sections and enough fuel capacity. The guy on the modern trials bike had to stash fuel bottles round the course.

Because this is a motor sports event, your normal insurance doesn't cover you so you need to be a member of the ACU and you need to be a member of a motor club, they arrange insurance cover for the duration of the event. The other document I needed was my MOT certificate.

So after scrutineering, which is fairly minimal, mostly to make sure your bike isn't actually dangerous, you register and get your race number.

Then bikes are set off in pairs at 1 minute intervals.

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From there you make your way to the first observed section.

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There is a certain amount of waiting about at the start of each section because only one bike can go over at a time. Plenty of time to get nervous and watch how other people make a start.

Here's where there is a big difference from a normal trial. Long distance ones do not usually allow inspection of sections first. You just have to go and see what's in store.

So Section 1 of my first trial! All I could see was a relatively steep muddy grass slope up to a slight hump, then a sharp left turn. After a minute or so, the bike then reappeared back down a similarly steep muddy grass slope. The section as fully sub-divided with 12 to 1 markers.

Ok. Stand on the pegs, don't stop, not feet down, try to control the speed with the throttle. Stay in 1st. LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING! I went up the hill not too badly and negotiated the turn. Then another grassy mound and a drop onto what looked like a muddy goat-path about 8" wide with a steep drop on one side. Ok, look ahead, look ahead! the back end of the bike was slewing about all over the place as the tyre slithered in the mud and failed to find grip, then the front slid too and I put a foot down to stop myself going off the edge. This killed all momentum, and I stalled and laid the bike down. Well, could be worse. I got the the 5 marker. Still have to get off the section though.

Restarting is really tricky though, got it running, set off and realised I forgot to flip the footpeg back down so one foot on the peg and the other in mid air. Not good. I somehow slithered and footed my way to the end of the section. Utterly roasting and fighting for breath.

Here's another competitor on the "muddy goat path" bit on a pukka classic ossa trails bike. There is a 20 ft slope to his left. Apparently you aren't to go left of the blue markers! :roll:
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Did I mention it was outrageously steep?

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Second section incorporated a similarly steep "goat path". it was sub-divided. I got a 6 here before the arse stepped out traversing a muddy slope of leaf litter and I fell off altogether. Got tangled up in the kill switch lanyard (which didn't kill the engine and got sacked-off for the day) but eventually go back on and made an exit back to the main track and section 3.

Section 3 and 4 was much simpler, Approach on a rutted, muddy track then up a steep hump and out on a similarly muddy slope. I kept my wits about me, carried some momentum up the slope then totally lost traction with the rear wheel. There was a moment where I was on the pegs, stationary and balancing with the rear wheel spinning before the inevitable exit stage left for 11 points. The exit track was very slippery but I got past the 6 point mark before losing traction and footing my way out

A pause to catch my breath, undo my jacket because I was absolutely baking and a wee chat. It turns out that not only do i have much narrower rear wheels (3.5" being the maximum I can fit, 4 or 4.5 being the norm) but the 12psi i put in them is about double what others are using.

Next area was about 15 miles of mixed road, byway and deeply rutted track away. About halfway along the track I stopped and let half the air out of my tyres. Some of it was just paddling the bike along and scrabbling for grip while avoiding very deep puddles (one guy flooded his engine and had to pull the plugs and kick the water out of it).

Section 5 was in open moorland. A muddy gate mouth followed by a very steep climb up a sheep track and crossing a jeep track that was contouring the hill. The bike was labouring up the track but I kept my head up and chugged up to the top for a clean! Thinking (not for the last time) that I need lower gearing.

Next section was accessed through a partly dismantled drystone wall and necessitated riding the bike up and over a large stone. I hooked up an the belly pan on the first attempt but got up and over it then along another sheep track to a short, wooded section. this started with a very steep drop down into a gully, a sharp right then picking your way along between some trees. As soon as the front wheel dropped in, the engine stalled and I had to re-start for 6 points.

Back out through another wall and back to the road and 15 miles of single-track fell roads.

Section 9 was only a 6-pointer. A straight run up and increasingly steep slope. I had neither the traction or gearing for it and only got halfway up before stalling out.

Section 10 was a short approach to a deep, rocky ford then a climb up over a hum with a sharp right on top. Now I'm confident the bike is pretty water resistant and I've negotiated a few river crossings before on sportsbikes so I was reasonably confident about this. Look ahead, plenty of momentum, focus on the far bank and be prepared to react.

As soon as I dropped over the bank, the engine stalled again leaving me stood in the water for 10 points. Bike fired up again immediately and I cleaned the rest of it. Damn!

Another competitor negotiating the ford on a 1950's enfield. (it turns out he binned it about 2 seconds after this picture coming up the bank).
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I did better than some! (another enfield)
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Made a total arse of setting off on the next section, which went up a steep hump then back down onto a muddy track. Missed the footpeg and dabbed right off the line for 12 points.

Another stupid error on section 9, missed a marker post, left the section and bogged down somewhere I wasn't supposed to be anyway for 10 points.

Then there was a lovely, long, high-level track across the roof of the world with (finally!) A stony bottom with lots of water on but an adequacy of grip!

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Then back onto the road and off the the next section.

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Sections 10 and 11 were in a quarry. I got to the start of section 10 which was a long, very steep drop down into the quarry. Looked down it and decided that it crossed the line between pushing my limits and pushing my luck. if I came off on that, it could have done some serious damage. Next section followed on from it so I asked to just be marked down for the maximum 6 for both. It's supposed to be fun and a trip to hospital was not in my plan for the weekend.

After that there was a short hop to Stanhope for a mandatory 30 minute lunch break to allow the marshalls to reset. Had a bit of a chat with other competitors. Found i wasn't the only one to decide not to plummet down a near-vertical slope into a quarry.

Also met the trial organiser who it turns out I met 10 years earlier in a motorway services on the same bike when i was on the Round Britain Rally.

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Al was absolutely boiling by this point so stripped down to a t-shirt and took the lining out of my jacket.

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The next two sections were cancelled and made a "ride through" due to a near total lack of grip anywhere on the section. All the guys on old heavy brit Iron were struggling to get up at all, even when walking the bikes up in gear and I had a near miss when the whole bike washed out from under me and nearly got run over by the following bike.

Another road run right up to the top of the Dales on the Durham Northumberland border saw us at an abandoned lead mine. Stone under the bike again!. Section 14 was a drop down a rutted stone track, drop into a ford, then up a very steep, stony track. Again, the bike conked out as I dropped into the ford. I now realise there is an issue with the bike. I don't think the carb can cope with dropping into an abrupt down angle of over 30 degrees but they kindly looked the other way as I restarted from the water and marked me as a clean :)

Next was the Special Test. Ride round and between a pattern of cones on a gravelly, muddy yard in best time. Great fun. 66 seconds, about middle of field.

Section 15 was a nightmare of deeply rutted, swampy peat-bog with a climb up a steep muddy bank. I consider myself lucky to have got the bike out at all and needed help from a marshal to drag it out after I binned it down a steep bank. 11 points.

Here's someone on an SS90 with a pitbike engine on that section.
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A short hop to section 16 and I didn't do much better, a steep climb up into more rutted peat and a narrow, technical route along a sheep path. Once again got too much wheelspin, not enough momentum and stopped on the spot before the first marker for 12. Carried on and binned it again in a morass before dragging it back onto the track.

Now a longish road ride and a bit of tricky navigation before turning off down a farm track. This got steeper and rougher with some challenging, downhill parts in slippy conditions to section 17.

This was a drop through a shallow ford then an ascent up a very rocky, deeply rutted track with loose stones. Got a 6 here.

Frankly, I'm not sure where section 18 started and finished. I got a 12 anyway. There proceeded to be the steepest, most rocky, most deeply rutted track I've ever set eyes on. I landed up down in a totally washed-out rut higher than my head riding over a 30 degree jumble of loose rocks no smaller than a dinner plate. The bike kept running out of power and stalling and as I went up, the clutch was getting closer and closer to the bars.

By the time I got to the top, I don't think I could have kick-started it once more, I was just starting it, winding the engine up and banging it into first and letting it crab and slither its way up. I genuinely wouldn't have though it possible to ride a bike up that at all, never mind a 350 bullet with me on it.

A stop for a breather at the top and tools out to adjust my clutch.

The next green-lane to the exit was no better, although at least level. At one point I watched a bike in front of me all but disappear into what looked like a puddle but which was waist-deep. (he got it going again). Most of it seems to be damage from 4x4 use. Trials bikes and cars don't dig holes, they just wheelspin and compact the dirt.

The last two sections (real trials classics, one of which is known as the "velvet path" which has been part of the Beamish Trial since before WW2) were cancelled because of a new landowner sending solicitors letters to the trial organiser. The organisers were in the right and had all the correct access permits in place but there wasn't time before the trial to take action to enforce this. It was decided to avoid a stand-off.

Then all there was left was to navigate to the finish for my pre-ordered dinner bangers and mash and home for a hot shower!

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I finished out of 30th out of 37 starters with 5 retirees. Not the worst anyway!

I'm utterly delighted both I and the bike made it through.

I definitely need WAY lower gearing. I've got a mod in hand for that.

Bash plate was utterly essential. My engine would have been scrap before halfway without it.

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The battery box is in the way, but not so badly as to need to move it. Maybe put a sticker on there.

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There is a reason works trials bikes take the brake rod above the axle.
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Some oil lost from the primary. Probably when the bike landed on its side.
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It turns out you CAN flip and use the pillion peg mounts for your footpegs and they do not come adrift or rotate, even under extreme duress. However the steel U-section I used to attach the pegs took a hammering.
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The gear lever modified itself to a more suitable location, where it can stay.
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Even high-level exhausts can hit the ground if the rider is incompetent. Bandage is not rock-proof but does stop you burning your leg.

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Photo credits to Fred 4 foto and Mrs stinkwheel
By Daiwiskers
#88442
Great write up
Well done for finishing

You will find you have a lot more confidence on the road as well as your off road skills improve
That little twitch that would have had you puckering will just be shrugged off

Once again well done Dai
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By McMurdo
#88445
Congratulations!! I was hoping to do similar but that seems to be a harsh test for bikes like ours - I'm amazed you got to the end - real gritty performance on an Enfield 350!

Valuable info about the brake rod - please let me know what you do to switch it to a top mount, if you manage it. Will the cam work in both directions?

Again - well done!
User avatar
By stinkwheel
#88446
The cam will work either way but the shock I have fitted doesn't allow sufficient clearance for the rod, even if I put a dog-leg bend in it.

Some shocks have a bigger gap between the bottom of the spring and the swingarm attachment which you can sneak a rod past.

My options are leave it be (which is what I'm going to do) or convert it to cable.
By RoSy
#88451
Well done 10/10. Knackering but good fun isn't it, I did the same years ago on an AJS 500 just a stripped down road bike, before I moved on to a OSSA MAR and at the same time with a factory 350 Enfield & chair, I was crap but what what fun. I even rode in a trial with the great Sammy Miller and did he make it look easy as he just bounced along this stream bed and up the bank while I was struggling to pick the Ajay from the same stream bed. Do another couple and it gets a bit easier, you now know what parts of the bike need more mods, so it improves each time.
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By trophyvase
#88539
That comment about Sammy Miller is one I can endorse. For years I used to watch the Welsh Two Day Trial/Enduro and other similar events in Mid-Wales. And in their heyday to see Geraint Jones or Arthur Browning or Andy Roberton fly through sections that so many others simply could not navigate was always an education bordering on a aesthetic pleasure! It’s the style of champions to make look easy what is in fact anything but.

Yes – well done SW!
By mart
#98313
if you wanted to fit a 4.00x18 rear tyre/wheel a Crusader / Continental swingarm will fit straight in and give you ample clearance. However, the shock mounts on this swingarm are approx. 1.5 inches further forward than the bullet item so may cause clearance issues between the upper shock and frame. Another benfit is the flat/straight rear axle plates which would allow a larger rear sprocket to be fitted, if reqd.
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