The Essential Trials Stickie

[elemetal]

Yeah was sure fun riding up there again, love getting out on those rocks. 301 is really fun, love the way it jumps and move around; true test is the Hard Head. Typically Scott sets up really good stuff, can't wait to see what he gives us.

Pretty sure the big branch in the flowing creek is the one I pulled out for us to run it yesterday. Trying to get through there was fun but a little too wild, don't want to scratch the new ride yet (and I didn't crashing on the log pile at the end Testament to the 4t: I got up the impossible log holding pressure. Never could do that on the Scorpa...

See you in a couple of days!

 

[elemetal]

New ride.....

 

[The Toe Cutter]

they are great looking bikes for sure! Congrats again Luke, hopefully you get the stalling issue sorted

 

[undertheoaks]

I kept waiting for the, "do you want to ride it ?" ....lol

 

[elemetal]

Guess you'll have to get up there Sunday if you want to give it a try...

Just had to adjust the air bypass screw, went the wrong way at first so it was leaner hence the hard starting when hot. It was all fine for the second half of the ride and was good yesterday.

Going over my big log was different, couldn't make it happen at the low end at first. Was pretty frustrating so I started to experiment with position a little and whoa! Put my weight farther back and walked right up that thing. Seems as if the 4t likes weight farther back and also likes to be only on the rear, behaves really well with the front up. One of these days I'll get that rear wheel hop going....

 

[elemetal]

Well the first event since the COVID shut down has happened, been riding a couple three times a week, practicing and tying to impove skills etc to move forward in ADV class. NOT THIS WEEKEND!

Rode like complete shite, got my highest score ever and couldn't pull lines together. It was rather demoralizing, so much so that after the first loop I seriously considered DNF'ing and just going home. Stuck with it mainly because I just don't quit for reasons like that but as far as a trial goes it sucked, think I got 37, 32, 25! I'll be the average for the class was around 45 total....

Couldn't get my timing right on the new bike, power is so different. We had a couple of big rocks (4-5 ft) and I would've barely thought about on the Scorpa....5'd 'em on the 4t. Couple of hill climbs I couldn't get the traction I wanted and got caught out half way (more 5's). I was able to see a few spots where the 4t really shined and am hoping I can jive better with it in the next couple of weeks; was joking about selling it during the event. Had a few people offer to take it off my hands too...

2 weeks until the next one, hopefully I can redeem myself, felt like it was the first time riding ADV coming up from INT. Didn't help that half of the ADV sections were EXP but still; 95 points!? WTF.

On a side note, riding with everyone at Stony was a blast and the Husky works really well, all the work on the suspension was well worth it. Might be one of the reasons the trials went so poor, day and a half of enduro then an event may have messed me up.

 

[The Toe Cutter]

I wouldn't get too frustrated Luke, I think Tom B had 44 and rest of ADV B was in 70's and 80's. There were some tough INT sections and plenty places to take points.

Great trial though, nothing dangerous or scary. I had Muldoon on the ropes after the first loop (I had 10, Mike at 11) but on 2nd loop I took a 5 on section 3 trying a different line on the second big rock in that section, followed by 3 on Dan Davis's section. I think I was 10, 14, 11 so happy with that.

Mike tied Brodie on overall score (28), cleans, 0's, 1's and 3's so they went to whoever took first dab on 1st section of the day which was Mike on that first rock on section 6 (INT line). Pretty crazy they were that close!

Looking forward to the next event in 2 weeks, love riding that property. Too bad it's so far away from us. Keep up the practice on the new bike, you'll gel with it soon enough.

Couple locals were there. Brett (Beta) was checking that section with the uphill rock (section 3 I think) and Dario (Beta) competed Saturday but not Sunday.

 

[elemetal]

Mike tied Brodie on overall score (28), cleans, 0's, 1's and 3's so they went to whoever took first dab on 1st section of the day which was Mike on that first rock on section 6 (INT line). Pretty crazy they were that close!

I'll bet that killed Mike, especially to dab on that stupid of a spot. Even I cleaned that part of 6 each loop....Brodie was riding good too, if he rode a bunch he'd be EXP or even MAS.

See you at the next one, doubt I'll do worse....

 

[undertheoaks]

Yeah I think transferring from a trail bike to a trials bike had a little bit to do with it Luke and riding three days in a row is a lot for a 50 year old...lol. I won't be riding for a couple of months now as I have surgery on Monday finally, this covid has postponed my surgery way to long so can't wait to get it over with. How many riders were there and how did you do Mark I haven't seen any scores yet ?

 

[The Toe Cutter]

Yeah I think transferring from a trail bike to a trials bike had a little bit to do with it Luke and riding three days in a row is a lot for a 50 year old...lol. I won't be riding for a couple of months now as I have surgery on Monday finally, this covid has postponed my surgery way to long so can't wait to get it over with. How many riders were there and how did you do Mark I haven't seen any scores yet ?

Good and bad news on the knee Sid, looking forward to riding with you again! I think there were 48 riders total. Good size group were in MT for conquer the west which is maybe why total # was low.

I got third in ADV A.......with three riders total LOL. Brodie and Mike tied with 28 overall points, I was next with 35 total. Probably gave up 5-8 points on dumb dabs but otherwise I don't think I could have done much better. Some real though INT sections which were hard to get through without a 1.

 

[elemetal]

transferring from a trail bike to a trials bike had a little bit to do with it Luke and riding three days in a row is a lot for a 50 year old...lol

Yeah, Kevin also said he has trouble switching back and forth, takes a bit to readjust. May have been a little tired but felt fine, been riding a bunch recently so 3 in a row doesn't seem too bad, we'll see for the next event (BTW I'm 51...)

Hoping for good results on the knee, if it was sore after we rode your place a couple of weeks ago that indicates a deeper issue.

 

[undertheoaks]

Super old then 51....lol.

 

[elemetal]

....maybe I'll change my screen name to Geezer....

 

[onto1wheel]

Dang, for months I was hoping to finally get to an event, and had the 6/14 event on the radar. Then, 6 weeks went by with no mototrials riding (and other reasons). Oh well. Maybe I'll try for a July event.
Congrats on the new bike Luke, looks awesome. I tried a 2018 Montesa 4T a few weeks ago for about 2 minutes, long enough to understand it would take me some time to adjust to 4t. Should be a blast once you adjust

Did someone say geezer? (my T-shirt) :
:afm199

 

[elemetal]

That's pretty funny, D. I'd copy it and use it but would get some odd looks at the club; especially from all the guys that are 65+...

 

[elemetal]

Had the Hard Rock trial this weekend, conditions were good with 87 riders Saturday. 2 top 5 pro men were there (Davis and Cooper) with the #1 junior also. #1 an #2 womens (Maddie Hoover and Kylee Sweeten) along with their manager Louis Forsley (a really good rider as well). A real treat to chat with them in section line and see them ride amazing stuff like it was nothing. Day started by watching Davis do a spat up a 6 ft, sharp edged rock from a kicker almost 10 ft away. Rev it up and launch, made it look easy; imagine going from stopped then hitting a 6" rock a bike length away and clearing a Honda civic to land on the bed rail of a 6" lifted truck....

Started on Sunday and rode poorly, stalled in my second section (5) then missed a gate in my 3rd section (5) 'cause I was still pissed about the stall. Tipped over on a rock in 4th (5) and put a hole in my left cover right where there is a pressurized oil passage: DNF. That oil passage is sticking out 1" more than anything around it, poor design as far as I'm concerned.

Drove back to the shop, switched my bar ends and levers back to the Scorpa and brought it home while I wait for the new cover for the 301. Haven't had a DNF since 2006 at Cowpile, not really enjoying the 301. Everyone says you'll get used to it, after 2 horrible events and saying in my helmet "this isn't any fun" I'm wondering why I should bother? Gonna' ride the Scorpa at home and at the next event but am likely putting the 301 up for sale, we don't get along.

2 weeks until the next one, same place.

 

[The Toe Cutter]

Sorry to hear that Luke, saw the DNF on loop 1 and was wondering what happened. Must have been Clive/Matt Cullins section with that nasty initial rock that had a steep drop off.

I think that was one of the best trials in terms of being technically difficult, but not dangerous. Only section I cleaned was 8 but had a bunch of 1's that could have been cleans. I would say give the 301 another chance once you get your confidence (in riding) back using the Scorpa. As you know, this sport involves a lot of mental confidence and concentration so when that's off, nothing else seems to work.

I befriended a guy in Hayward Hills who has 2 acres at his house to ride. Not a lot there, little rock garden and some elevated hills but no red sticker restrictions . He just bought a 300 montesa from Brian P and two used bikes for his boys. I'm sure he would be fine with you riding there if you're interested.

 

[undertheoaks]

Oh wow sorry to hear about this, I was thinking about it and it took me a while to get used to the beta 4t like almost a quarter of the season, that being said you are a bit more smoker then stoker, ��
I saw that a few of the US pros were circling around hitting local events here and there, sorry I missed them, 87 riders wow ! Look forward to riding again, first day of PT today. Mark is that Brent or Brett ? He used to ride a Beta right ?

 

[The Toe Cutter]

Oh wow sorry to hear about this, I was thinking about it and it took me a while to get used to the beta 4t like almost a quarter of the season, that being said you are a bit more smoker then stoker, ��
I saw that a few of the US pros were circling around hitting local events here and there, sorry I missed them, 87 riders wow ! Look forward to riding again, first day of PT today��

Get that thing healed up so we can ride Sid! Keep us posted how the PT goes.

 

[elemetal]

Yeah it was Clive and Matt's section but I had it clean all the way to that first big rock going up to the stream. Dabbed making the turn and up the rock easy, it was that next jumbled rock up, didn't make it and fell left into that pokey one. Didn't seem like a DNF fall to me, scratched the frame a little and was glad I had the fork protectors on there, didn't even think to look at the cases, it was that minor.

I keep hearing about " it takes time" and I understand that, I'm just trying to figure out what I get in return for this step back/adjustment. I like how you can place the front with the 4t, not sure about the rest. Mentally I feel it's more like a big cat ready to leap, the 2t is more like a gazelle ready to run; kinda the same way with the big bikes. 2t is more playful in my mind; 4t is more for purpose; I seem to do better when playing.

Brian is shipping me the replacement today/tomorrow so I'll have it up and running by the end of the week. Riding the Scorpa tonight, can't wait to see how it feels.

Enjoy the PT Sid (not), first step on a longer path but we'll be out riding soon.