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The Essential Trials Stickie

Well we had the first event of the year up at Bear Mountain by Copperopolis. This was a new event local for us even though a few of us have ridden there in the prep phase. About 3900 acres overlooking a reservoir with lower scrub oak rolling grass with rocks, waterfalls and steeps in the hills above. 96 riders on Saturday, 94 on Sunday; place was abuzz with trials bikes and it's the first event in a while that felt pre-covid.

Rode OK, made some stupid mistakes that cost me some 5's (like starting a section in 3rd from the loop....and stalling it) but all in all did fine and had fun. Most of the sections had some technical parts but nothing too crazy or scary (ADV line). Almost went over the bars on a steep downhill where I hit a small stump near the bottom. As my bike started following my over and down it hung up in a tree; even though it was a bitch getting it out the tree probably kept me from doing a superman onto the rocks in the creek with the bike landing on top of me. That being said things were on the easy side so I expect the scores to be pretty low in general except for one thing: they did a timed Sunday event.

They sent riders out in groups of 4 every minute and marked it on your loop card; you then had 5 hrs to complete or you got points added for every minute you were late...I made it through my loop with about 10 minutes to spare, some people in ADV and EXP didn't make the time, not sure what that did to scores. Weird thing was I didn't dally or waste time, hauled ass around the loop (long one at 8 miles) and didn't spend much time walking sections; still barely made time.

Was fun riding seeing Toe Cutter and Under the Oaks and guess who made their first event? Beka and the Dub. Great to see them out enjoying this odd sport and they did well. Not too many clerical mistakes and they made one bike work between the two of them (not easy). All smiles at the end, I'm sure we will see them at more events as long as they don't conflict with D-36 and MORAN calendars.

Next one is at the end of the month at PC, I'll probably check to get that out of the way. Rocky Ridge is the next one with a Nationals at Schaad in May. We had a couple of pros out riding with us again, fun chatting with them in the section lines. They drive back and forth across the country 4 times a season...what a job.
 
Nice recap! I fived that same creek section you almost went over the bars on. I cut that last left corner before the small log too tight, back tire spun just as the front was hitting the log and I had to dismount. That was a very technical section for sure.

Not a fan of the timed start...at least when you start at the back. I felt rushed all day and on the last loop was riding through the loop so fast almost crashed twice. I made time with only 3 minutes to spare. There was a 1 point per minute penalty if you didn't make time.

Glad to see so many new peeps getting into trials! Will be curious to see how many riders we get at prairie city in 2 weeks :)
 
Place was amazing, a great place for trials and hope we return next year. I fived the same section but only because my bike was starving for fuel with the petcock in the on position ran normal on reserve, and yes tank was full. Struggled a bit on a couple sections just technical not scary and took a dip in section 2, glad it was the third loop. Had a blast riding my second trial in almost three years even though I've been riding trials regularly for fun. I was 4 min late at the end..oh well.
 
Had my floating front rotor get loose just before we rode at your house last week, caught it in the shop and tightened the bolts up good. Damn thing was loose again at the end of the second loop, had to re-tighten again! Just re-did it this pm and used lock-tite, hope that does it. If one of those backs out enough you'll lock the front and go over!

Rear just about stripped one of the hex heads just checking to see if the rotor got bent...go figure!
 
Sid my brother is having some issue with petcock on his beta dirt bike, wonder if you have little piece of dirt blocking the regular pickup on the petcock?

Scary about that front rotor bolt Luke. Could you imagine it coming out on a fast section of that loop and locking up front tire?
 
....SUPERMAN!!!....

The odd part was all four were backing out, not just one.

Took Beka's TRS for a quick ride, those bikes are pretty nice, may be my next ride...
 
Damn I'm going to have toe check my rotor bolts now. Need to pull petcock and check float level. Mark did you run race gas? Curious how it ran with all those hills.
 
I didn't get a chance to buy race race but did put in some VP 8 point octane boost. Seemed to eliminate the pinging. Hoping to get/try some race gas at local Livermore airport this weekend. Website says only $5.44 gallon but not sure that is correct.

I put nail polish dot on the rotor bolt and another dot on the rotor so I can quickly see if they loosen up. Same thing on the headset adjusters.
 
Trial this past weekend was fun as always such a cool place to ride. This place is so slippery when dry, I really struggled and rode tight the first loop especially after starting at section 7 that was an expert line. It had two ups that were way out of my comfort zone with little run up. The rest of the sections were at an expected level and nothing scary, section 9 were toecutter was checking had a weird angled log that was a bit tricky...thanks for the advice Mark saved me from a 5 with that foot peg trick. All in all a good trial with my scores being a 28, 13 and 9 however I came down with a stomach illness that had me puking on the last loop and all the way home, ended up calling in sick today. Looking forward to the next event in Grass Valley next month.
 
Thanks for the report Sid. Kept thinking it would've been a fun event to get to, guess I have to wait for next year... Stomach thing sounds nasty, hope you're feeling better. Back is still a little whack, these things take forever to get better!
 
Sorry to hear about the stomach issue Sid, that is no fun. I heard similar stories about section 7 having some scary ups. Looks like most people had pretty high scores 1st and 2nd loop until I guess some burms were established in the loose stuff.

I rode "our" EXP line in my section after the trial and glad I decided to check. The base of my thumb is still pretty sore. Hoping it will be back to normal in another week or two.
 
Good to hear the thumb is getting better, did something similar to my pinky finger then I keep snagging it on stuff so it doesn't heal....still isn't right a month and a half later...

Planning on the TDS trial, hoping I get some peg time in before it arrives as I've been off for more than 2 weeks (eek!)
 
Well that TDS place is pretty cool, those MTB trails were just too much fun to rail, I think I had as much fun on the loop as I did riding the sections. Actually, I rode crappy for loops 1 and 3 so riding the loop was better than those two!

Sections were technical but overall fun, ADV rode quite a few EXP lines so that made it a challenge. Not riding for almost 2 months didn't help me be consistent, I messed up a whole bunch of stuff in the first loop even though I did get a clean on Section 3 (still not sure how I got over that rock and up the hill). Last loop I thought I'd clean Pat's section (6?) and had good corner speed coming into that last rock but my line took me over the top rather that off to the right and I got stuck. Oh well.

First loop I got 35 (eek); second got 11 (I can actually ride); 3rd was 24 or something (tired). Probably won't make Schaad in May so see you at the next one (I think roman crumble at the property). Gotta get some peg time in and am supposed to get my TRS in the next couple of weeks and get used to that thing before the next event.
 
That loop was soooo fun! Can't imagine how good the dirt was on Saturday. Agree, pretty technical trial and think we rode like 6 or 7 EXP sections. I got real lucky...section 10 on third loop, got a 1 then going towards truck and noticed tire totally flat. Sidewall gash on brand new tire :( Checking Sunday at Schadd.
 
We all know what rock gave it to you...that last big one on the way out. $200 down the drain.
 
elemetal said:
We all know what rock gave it to you...that last big one on the way out. $200 down the drain.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Do you think one of those patches that has a plug built it would hold up while riding? The hold is on the sidewall about 1/4" away from the tread.

I think a regular old plug would hold air in the garage but once I start riding I don't think I can trust it to hold up. Tom B told me he had a flat (don't think it was a puncture though) and Brandt K had one too.
 
Depends on the size of hole, the split I got at Schaad a couple of years ago was 1" long...if just a small tear/hole you may be able to plug it, worth a try as you only have $200 to gain. Most likely fail in 10 or 15 hrs but you never know until you try. Plugs kinda rely on the swell to the inside keeping the pressure from shoving it out; if the hole is oblong there's a good chance it will push out.

They haven't posted scores but if Brant and Tom b DNF'd maybe I didn't place so bad : )
 
Well not much activity in this thread...

Picked up a new TXT Racing 250 a couple of weeks ago so I can stop borrowing my girlfriend's bike.

We'll be at the British American Cup at Lombardi Ranch next month. Hoping to make a couple/few other PITS events this year too.

WsLEno0.jpg
 
Congrats on the new bike!! The BAC is going to be muddy but always fun. We have some other club members in NV so hopefully you can meet them at the BAC.
 
Good to see you got your own! I'm curious to see how the New ktmgassers hold up over time. Original ones were not known for a strong build and I bet KTM will remedy that.

BAC will be interesting, very slick with mud and mossy rocks I'm guessing. There's that Prison Hill trial in Carson City again this year and a good number of PITS members from the Carson/Reno area.
 
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