Mothers Day Trials Ride

Mother’s day trials practice.

Well as it happened we had nothing planned for today, well apart from a meal tonight for Mother’s Day.  So rather unexpectedly at about 9am my son Martin suggested we go to Nash Mills to have a play on the trials bike.  I really didn’t need to be asked twice, some drinks and sandwiches where made the car was loaded and by 10am we were on our short trip to the Mills.  Today Martin could get to use his new gloves and helmet which he’d been brought for his birthday.  On our short journey we had a little bet on how many people would be there practicing, something we tend to do just for the fun of it.  I’d bet on two vans while Martin had decided it was going to three, however on our arrival we were both surprised to find no one was there.

 

We opened the gates drove in then locked them behind us.  We were surprised that we were the only ones there as the day was nice for the time of year, mild with broken grey clouds revealing hidden spring blue skies.  The barren winter soil now giving birth once more to dormant spring flowers.  Green shoots were breaking the earth and buds were beginning to burst, there was even the yellow glow of flowering daffodils. 

Martin was soon kitted up and off riding the wet and soggy ground, while I sorted out the unorganised mess that was scattered all over the boot of the car.  Once the fuel was mixed and the tools sorted and put away I finally got changed ready to ride.  Whilst waiting for my turn to ride I decided to have a look around and plan the tactics and route I would use once mounted up.  It was then I noticed the wildlife that was watching me.  Hidden in the dormant brambles was a rabbit gently grazing on the fresh shoots.  He seemed totally unworried by my presence and even when I approached him to try and get a better photo, he just sat nibbling.

It was soon my turn to ride.  The tyres were now already clogged with sticky mud giving me as much traction as a greyhound on a frozen lake.  Weird things were afoot with the wet ground playing silly buggers with the grip.  Sharp downhill left or right turns weren’t always happening, even with the handle bars on full lock the bike would just push forward ignoring any attempt to turn.  Lots of braking and clutch control had to be employed, along with slow balanced riding.  Obstacles were also being driven into because the blip of the throttle that’s used to pop the front wheel up and over, were just resulting in the back wheel spinning.  Doughnuts were easy to preform, even I could manage one with my lack of riding ability.

 

Although only a short day, it was fun filled and challenging, on fresh ground there was minimal grip, but once disturbed it was almost impossible to get traction.  I attempted one short but steep concrete climb.  It didn’t go well, the front wheel crested the climb but the back wheel then started to spin and I started my scary backward descent.  The concrete now had a greasy film of mud covering it.  I attempted the climb several more times, but with the launch area had now becoming more and more churned up and the climb wetter and more slippery, it was simply well above my level of ability.  Some of the muddy steep descents were just a case of hanging on and hoping that I could make the turn at the bottom.  Logs were fine to start with but once covered in mud they became an altogether different kettle of fish.  But I must admit a little riding is a lot better than no riding.