This weekend there was another Classics trial, this time the Border club at Froncsysltte, near Chirk.
Tim had decided last week that it was time to move up to the Clubman, or yellow route, so this was to be his debut.
The "paddock" was the concrete yard of a truck dealers, very civilised, and the course was set out on the Llangollen club's ground at Fron Woods.
Hamish (HRO) came along to watch, and had brought his camera with him, so there should be a few good photos to add to this at some point.
The yellow route is trickier than the white route, but also longer, giving Tim plenty to think about!
I can usually remember my own scores, my memory of Tim's may not be as accurate!
Section 1 was an easy start, Tim cleaned this on all 4 laps.
Section 2 was up a stream bed, with loose slippery rocks to contend with. Tim had a couple of 3's here, and a couple of 1's.
Section 3 further up the stream, more of the same, Tim a couple of 3's and 1's.
Section 4 was easier, but Tim missed a gate on the 1st lap, thus gaining a 5, but clean for the remaining 3 laps.
Section 5, a slippy uphill right hander, up through a shallow rocky gully, and a jink to the right at the top. Tim managed a clean on this, and a 3, but a couple of times he may have been marked down as 5 for not going out of the end properly! I lost a silly dab on the 2nd lap here.
Section 6, a tricky one! Plenty of direction and elevation changes here, with some slick roots thrown in for good measure. I 5'd this on the first lap, not enough momentum over the roots, Tim cleaned it twice though!
Section 7 was straightforward, except for the turn at the bottom. I had an uneccesary dab here, again on lap 2. Tim had 3, 1, 1, clean, so improved as the day wore on.
Section 8 had a real sting in the tail, a greasy off-camber exit that was taking lots of marks. Tim's fist two laps ended in 5's, but then he managed to get out for 3's. Mine were 3, 3, 1, clean, made my day that one!
Section 9 began with a small rock step, then a tight turn to a drop down a ledge. Tim got kicked sideways by the rock and into a fence on the 3rd lap, so 5'd, but managed with 1 the rest of the laps.
Section 10 was a slalom through a jumble of rocks, which Tim got lost on the first lap, but recovered for a couple of cleans.
I've not got an exact total for Tim then, but my laps were 8,5,1,0. Of course, I'm on a modern mono, but I'm actively looking for a twinshock bike now. Hopefully, by the next time I'm in a trial with Tim, we'll be on similar machinery.
Mark
Tim had decided last week that it was time to move up to the Clubman, or yellow route, so this was to be his debut.
The "paddock" was the concrete yard of a truck dealers, very civilised, and the course was set out on the Llangollen club's ground at Fron Woods.
Hamish (HRO) came along to watch, and had brought his camera with him, so there should be a few good photos to add to this at some point.
The yellow route is trickier than the white route, but also longer, giving Tim plenty to think about!
I can usually remember my own scores, my memory of Tim's may not be as accurate!
Section 1 was an easy start, Tim cleaned this on all 4 laps.
Section 2 was up a stream bed, with loose slippery rocks to contend with. Tim had a couple of 3's here, and a couple of 1's.
Section 3 further up the stream, more of the same, Tim a couple of 3's and 1's.
Section 4 was easier, but Tim missed a gate on the 1st lap, thus gaining a 5, but clean for the remaining 3 laps.
Section 5, a slippy uphill right hander, up through a shallow rocky gully, and a jink to the right at the top. Tim managed a clean on this, and a 3, but a couple of times he may have been marked down as 5 for not going out of the end properly! I lost a silly dab on the 2nd lap here.
Section 6, a tricky one! Plenty of direction and elevation changes here, with some slick roots thrown in for good measure. I 5'd this on the first lap, not enough momentum over the roots, Tim cleaned it twice though!
Section 7 was straightforward, except for the turn at the bottom. I had an uneccesary dab here, again on lap 2. Tim had 3, 1, 1, clean, so improved as the day wore on.
Section 8 had a real sting in the tail, a greasy off-camber exit that was taking lots of marks. Tim's fist two laps ended in 5's, but then he managed to get out for 3's. Mine were 3, 3, 1, clean, made my day that one!
Section 9 began with a small rock step, then a tight turn to a drop down a ledge. Tim got kicked sideways by the rock and into a fence on the 3rd lap, so 5'd, but managed with 1 the rest of the laps.
Section 10 was a slalom through a jumble of rocks, which Tim got lost on the first lap, but recovered for a couple of cleans.
I've not got an exact total for Tim then, but my laps were 8,5,1,0. Of course, I'm on a modern mono, but I'm actively looking for a twinshock bike now. Hopefully, by the next time I'm in a trial with Tim, we'll be on similar machinery.
Mark
