Mendip
Vale Winterhead Trial, 22/02/09..
Burners,
Squancey, Ben, Steve and Heath rode the Mendip Vale trial
not far up the road from Heath's, near Nailsea. This
was a completely new venue which, I believe, had never
been used for trials before... and what a place. Miles
of woodland with big climbs, nasty roots and green rocks
to catch us all out on. The club did a perfect
job as far as the sections went, all were cleanable but
also tricky and many were easily fived if you weren't
aware of what was lurking under the leaf cover.
The weather was also spot on, starting out a little misty
and gradually becoming sunny. The ground was slippery in
places but never boggy, although the great section layout
helped here as I did spot a few very damp areas whilst riding
between sections... thankfully we weren't routed through
these. In fact it is not often that I get home from an event
at this time of the year and not have to pressure wash the
bike down!
Ben had a terrible start to his day when he was baulked in
the first section only for his bike to stall and then the
Kickstart lever broke!! He took over Squancey's bike for
the rest of the day and rode the easy route.. (cop out!)
He wizzed around and finished about half an hour quicker
than the rest of us... if he didn't change his number over
it could be the highest Squancey has finished in a trial
for a while!!...
|
Burners nearly
at the top.. |
Heath
amongst the leaves.. |
...
Burners rode the 50/50 route and seemed to enjoy himself,
he cleaned a few of the expert sections he had to ride
and only failed one section on all three laps which was
the double blast up the muddy hillside and then a twiddle
through the trees.
He had suffered a nasty fall the day before the event
when we were out on the cycle trial bikes, dropping backwards
into a large lump of concrete. He has the bruise across
most of his back to prove it!!! But after a few sections
he forgot about the pain and got on with the job. His house
mate Steve was riding around in a windsurf helmet after losing
his crash hat the day before...!!
I was back on my own bike again in the over 40's, riding it
for only the third time in about 6 months, and kept stalling
it whilst warming up... I had become used to the Evo 300 4t
last week that just kept going and had engine braking if you
left the clutch alone going downhill!! My 270 has had the flywheel
weight removed so is quick on the throttle and doesn't chug
along on no revs. But the day on the 4 stroke had taught me
throttle control I think as I was getting grip where I wouldn't
have in the past....
|
...
I was using the low down grunt of the bike and feeling
for grip, whereas in the past I would have been far to
throttle happy. It may have also helped that I had fitted
a brand new IRC tyre on the rear the night before..!
** update**
...the results have just come in to me... bugger me,
I finished 2nd in class... tied with Tim Wheeler!!
Full results & gallery from links on the left.
Thanks to
all at the Mendip Vale club, and to all the observers...
I know Gary Scrivens gave up his days ride to observe and
i believe a few more did as well.
Thanks also
to Scott Anderson for letting me nick a few photos from his
gallery of the event...
|
Ben catching
some rays.. |
