14th May, Ian Muirs, Whitemans Valley Road, Upper Hutt
Some days you should just stay in bed. This weekend started with an argument and somehow never seemed to recover.
Mum and dad had gone to Cambridge for the last round of the National CC and then to Ohakuri (Atiamuri) for Round 1 of Sean Clarkes Dirt Guide series. I was home alone and not really sure what I wanted to do. In the end I decided that I wanted to go to the trial so I contacted Geoff for a ride to Wellington, and teed up uncle Robert to drop me at Geoff’s on Sunday morning.
Uncle Robert has never let me down. Without his help I would have hardly gone to any club events this year. Geoff also is a great help. I can usually rely on him to give me a ride. To say that I really appreciate it is an understatement. Geoff always stops at the BP in Otaki and Sunday morning was no different. As usual he shouted me a hot chocolate. It’s sort of funny because the people at the service station always seem to recognize us.
I haven’t ridden a muddy trial in ages and I just didn’t cope with the conditions. The sections seemed too tight and I just couldn’t get myself to commit to anything. On section eight I had a silly fall because I just wasn’t focused enough. I fell and jammed my thumb on a rock. Boy did it hurt! This section must have had a bit of a curse because Gerald Bull (one of the twin shock guys) had already had a nasty fall on this one and had needed assistance to get back to his car.
It was quite a high scoring day for everyone but especially for me. Along with Paul Wheatley, I got the most number of fives of anyone. I never made it through sections two, four and eight all day.
Eight was a bit of bad luck. The first time my back wheel skidded out because I picked the wrong line. I thought it would work but it didn’t. The second time was my silly fall, and the third time I stalled it.
Two had a steep bank with no run up. The first time I made this bank but then failed to commit to the last climb. The other times I never even made the first bank.
Four was a wickedly tight zig-zag up a steep hill where each turn involved footing. All the yellow riders struggled but I still think that I should have been able to three it. I should have been able to drag mysdelf through the first couple of corners but the last one was a bit steeper and harder and there never seemed to be enough momentum. By the last lap I had basically given up and didn’t even make a proper attempt. My excuse is that my thumb was sore and I was tired.
By the time Geoff dropped me back at Awahuri I was exhausted. It was an OK trial but not a great day.