STOP OR NO STOP




MY GOD ! He's using that clutch!!!




  Trials Central had a debate going on reference the relative merits of the skills required to ride Stop
or No Stop Events and this has naturally wandered on and off topic until it can often mislead the
reader as to what is actually being discussed. I thought I would air my views on the subject along
with the changes of the "rules" as I have seen them through the years.


 Going back to trials, as it was, it was fairly simple in so much that an area was either naturally
gated, like a gorge, or artificially taped off as boundaries that couldn't be crossed with a gate
marker thrown in to show the competitor where the route went and in some cases powdered
chalk was also used. This was our "SECTION". From the time your front wheel spindle crossed the
imaginary line between the OBSERVED SECTION BEGINS cards until it did the same at the
OBSERVED SECTION ENDS cards you were under the eagle eye of the observer or checker as we
now tend to call them.



A Classic high speed DAB


 A few simple scores could be achieved, a single dab would score 1, touching more than once was
a 3, and the worst result was a 5 for, failure, becoming unseated or both feet on the same side of
the machine, crossing a boundary, or failure of the front wheel to rotate in a forward direction, or
what we would call a stop. An in balance feet up situation was NEVER penalised! There were NO
gates for different classes. In terms of skill the rider had to negotiate all the obstacles within the
section by first finding the correct line, or a line that he or she could ride minimizing the hazards.
Next select an appropriate gear for the conditions and machine and then ride the given section
using  balance and throttle control to complete the task without incurring any penalties. ... and
if you could do that then you got the covetted CLEAN. The basic requirements of a GOOD Trials
rider were;

 1. Good natural balance.
 2. Throttle control.
 3. Experience.

 Trials machines were either adapted road going bikes or detuned scramblers but the general
build requirements were always the same.

 1. A low compression engine
 2. Low gearing
 3. Responsive carburation off idle
 4. Large weighty flywheel action
 5. Suitable suspension
 6. The highest ground clearance that could be achieved

 ...... and more recently we have seen all the variations of head angle, footrest positioning,
handlebar shape and position and so on. 

 The first major change was the introduction of the "2" which we certainly needed to show the
differences between the "sit down" leg it to eternity ride, and the one dab shortly after entry,
100 yards of feet up brilliance in a muddy ditch, only to dab again just before the ends card and
get the same 3 !



The Good Old CENTIPEDE 3

 So when did things change? Well the introduction of "Kickstart" and Arena Trials saw the start
of the hopping and bopping, nose wheelies and all the rest. As I said earlier in "real" trials no one
would penalize you for stationary in balance manoeuvres and as turns got tighter and tighter
eventually things started to change. Previously if the turn was too tight you only had two choices,
either run the front wheel up the bank and wheelie it off onto the line or take a HUGE planned DAB.
With the advent of the"trick rider" the machine could be run up and down the bank several times,
in a series of "three point turn " manoeuvres until the bike was pointing where you wanted it....
very clever, and all is well unless you put your foot down. 

 At the end of the 70's machines are certainly much more capable and organizers are making trials
harder and harder to the point where some sections are "all or nothing" and have moved from
"challenging" to "downright dangerous".



Another Clanging 5, Scotland 1978

 Take an event like the Scottish Six Days of 1978 when it has become a "World Round" and the
winner Martin Lampkin loses 99 and yours truly, who would finish in the first 15 or so in an Open
to Center loses that many a day! Believe me when normally you are in the upper echelons and
are now losing 100 out of 150, trials is not the fun and enjoyable sport you signed up for. Very
similar to the last few rounds of the current World Series where the top men are on similar scores! 



Even the best lost 99

 As we have seen, techniques, styles of riding and the now continuous use of the clutch are all part
of the modern scene and sections themselves seem to have gone to levels that only a few can
achieve. Dogged determination, willpower and strength will not prevail up a 10 foot wall nor leaping
giant chasms to land on another rock, and if being stationary with a foot down only scores a one
then I'm losing my mind! Thank goodness we still have the Vintage scene where old bikes can be
ridden in the more traditional style that I grew up with. So when it comes to the final decision, stop
or no stop...... well I don't want to stop so I guess I'll just keep doing what I do best, feet up,
pretty good balance, no clutch, and delicate throttle control, it worked when I was 16 and now the
numbers are reversed it still works today! 

 



The way "I" like it



Tony Down...... No intention of stopping!