Comps - what to expect?

[Nonnac85]

I recently started trials and will maybe do some events. I just wondered what sort of thing to expect from a beginner route ie type / height of obstacles etc so I can get practising!

[Kevinfor]

I have never competed but since it would be for beginners I cant imagine there being anything you cant simply roll over

[isitafox]

Whereabouts are you based? Best trying to come along to watch one (find details on www.biketrialuk.co.uk) then you know what to look forward to, also a good idea to check out Tartybikes competition guide video

[Callum219]

Huge verticle rock steps etc

[bing]

I've copied my reply to another topic on this subject to here for you, plus a bit added in

White route is beginner level, but at tykes its locked out unless you are aged 6-10

Green is novice, nothing massive, 90% rollable but quite technical

Blue is intermediate, some large stuff, still quite technical

Red is expert, lots of big stuff, steps and ledges, side hops and stuff. Power moves etc

Yellow is elite, its all massive stuff, you have to be one of the top riders in the country to take this on. Not for the faint hearted.

As im a novice(green route) level rider with a couple of years experience(and quite a few with age, im 32 this year), i feel i can offer a few tips for the budding comp rider.

I can't stress enough about dabs/tactical dabs. If you need to reposition your body/bike after a dab, do it all with your foot on the floor. Don't lift off then put down again as you'll be penalised. Another trick is find something to wedge your front wheel against, so you have 3 points of contact, to enable you to rest your hands/feet even if its only for a few seconds. Trust me, it makes the world of difference, and gives your mind the chance to regroup so you can carry on. I use this trick quite a bit, and it certainly helps on the longer sections.

Another one for novice/intermediate riders is dont try to get up stuff cleanly unless you are absolutely confident you can do it. Don't be afraid to use a pedal or crank arm, or bash plate/ring. That's what they are there for. There is no shame in going up to pedal on an obstacle, then using your body weight to rock it over.

And last of all, don't rush it. Take a few seconds here and there to think about things. There are 2m 30 secs to get through the section, and very rarely will you get timed out. I've found after a few years of doing comps that if you rush into it, you'll more than likely have a bale, and end up with a 5. On the first gate, look for somewhere to get your front wheel up nice and safely to you can roll out and onto up the next gate

Hope this little bit helps, if anything sounds wrong dont hesitate to point it all out

Dan

Edited August 31, 2013 by bing

[dngr2self]

Another tip is to remember you have lots of space within the section, you don't need to go directly from flag to flag. Also, don't be disheartened if you don't do too well at your first comp, I totally bombed at my first one but gradually got better. Overall they're worth doing as, in my opinion, they help you improve a lot as a rider.

[trialsiain]

My biggest problem at comps is trying to rush , that's when I lose balance and make mistakes

[dezmtber]

The last comp I did I had 30-50 seconds left after the end gate. But I dropped loads of 5's from rushing sections.

Best bit of advice I have is talk to the other riders and walk the sections before riding them I would say that part is more than half the work.