Barbara

Entry form and online entry from here http://www.biketrialuk.co.uk/CompPages/2017EssexCup.html

Need an observer?

I am very sorry Ross, to you and to all the riders. I have just been copied in to an email maligning me and saying that the website would be misleading to riders. It was my intention only to help riders find the information, nothing more. The comments received were such that I will not try to help any further and the website has been taken down again. The sport is now entirely in new hands.

Site back up.

Andrew, could you please be there for 8.30am on Sunday to help me get the signing on tent ready and help with getting people to sign their on-line entry forms? Could I also have a volunteer please for 9.00am to deal with those who haven't pre-entered?

Just come back in to this post to re-read and noticed this quote. For information, this was NOT Tim McParland, this was Simon Ackerley himself who made this speech about the club needing help. Tim was the guy who asked people at the end to let him know if they wanted team jersey's for the BIU Worlds.

This post is a good example of why people give up bothering to volunteer to do things for you.

Felt that I needed to post personally on this topic, not as Biketrial Federation or as TykeTrial as usual. Many thanks for all the kind comments about me. There are no 'politics' involved in my decision to stop helping at TykeTrial. I first got involved in February 1998 when my son, Chris, started riding trials ... that's 18 years ago! I became involved in helping at national level in 2000. My son stopped competing in trials in 2001 when he moved on to BMX. I took a couple of years out from the Tykes committee in around 2005 due to 'over-enthusiastic' parents (and no, I'm not naming them) who wanted to dictate and to change the rules to suit their own riders. The entry level dropped from 100+ at each club event to around 30+ within about a year. I later re-joined the Tykes committee, and with the help of such as John Peacock and Wayne Mahommet (for those who remember them) rebuilt the entries to around 60-70 per club competition. Sadly in 2013 my husband became seriously ill and passed away; at the same time I was suffering from my own illness and felt that I had no option but to retire again from TykeTrial - not because of any 'politics'. In 2014 I underwent a serious operation and happily have almost fully recovered from my own illness. So, late in 2015, when hearing that the entry level at TykeTrial had again dramatically dropped to the 20+ level, I volunteered to run (with help) some "practice / fun days" in the hope of increasing the entry level again for the club. Such an event would not require the extensive paper-work and preparation that is needed for a 'competition', and would be aimed at riders of all levels just enjoying natural riding at some great venues. Unfortunately this did not come off and I found myself increasingly pulled towards running competitions again for the club which I didn't feel was achieving my aim. Therefore when the TykeTrial Brimham event was coming up recently, I found myself in the situation that, because of the World events the week before, there was absolutely NO-ONE to help me organise and run the Brimham event. I cannot run them on my own - I contacted everyone on the Committee and had no option but to cancel. (I will add that one of them didn't event bother to reply to me!) It was at this point that I realised, I don't need this stress! I don't have a rider of my own, I do have two beautiful granddaughters that I'd like to spend my weekends with! And I'm not getting any younger! In addition, I must say that I have for a while been feeling VERY deflated with the lethargy shown by riders. I put a lot of work (and personal expense) into the preparation of an event that is completely unseen by anyone (unless they've done it themselves) and riders CAN'T EVEN BE BOTHERED TO PRE-ENTER. Once upon a time, TykeTrial entries would close at 120 riders, and we would have a waiting list of those who wanted to ride if anyone dropped out! Nowadays we're lucky if we've got half a dozen pre-entries up to a couple of days before and the rest come in at the last minute or even just turn up on the day without letting us know. Can anyone explain to me WHY organisers should bother to try to do special events or put on any extras for you if you can't be bothered to let them know you want to come? How many riders (not ex-riders) actually read this part of the forum and comment? Look at the post about the Ackerley's venue Olde Home Farm No matter what anyone says, most people always have a reason for doing what they do. Parents only help out because their child is involved (I only came along in 1998 because my son rode) and when their riders move on to other things, the parents move on too. That's just the way it is, and rightly so. However, occasionally you get some people who do something for no reason other than they like helping others: Graham Tickner running Crowthorne Club does it because he enjoys it; I'm not sure exactly why Kevin runs the Scottish Club, but I'm pretty sure he enjoys doing it. Personally, over the years Brian and I made some great friends and we enjoyed the social side, and I like nothing better to see new riders coming along and watching their progress. Even though I don't see Ali C very often nowadays, I have fond memories of his very early years riding at TykeTrial. I remember Danny Butler, Ben Savage, Andrei Burton, Owen Gawthorpe, Jack Carthy and many more names that you'll know well coming along to the comps in their early years and I am so proud that all have done so well for themselves and hope that I helped a little in their progress. It's all very well for people to criticise competitions and 'the politics'. Many people do have their own agenda, but that's life, that's how it usually is in everything. There will always be cliques no matter what you do or where you go - you have to learn to recognise it and decide if you want to do something about it and join in ... make the clique a big clique - that's what a club is, people joining together, getting to know each other, and working together. It used to be an achievement to be a part of the TykeTrial clique! I remember reading in MBUK once a piece where Eddie Tongue was interviewed (this was back in the days of the TrialsKings videos and the very beginning of the trials forums):- Q: What's the best thing about trials right now A: The internet Q: What's the worst thing about trials right now A: The internet In my opinion, he has been proved right. Whilst the internet has given access to information, videos etc - social media has killed the personal interaction of getting together at an event and so destroyed almost all of the competition and social side of trials in the UK. Once upon a time riders got together on a monthly basis at club events and had a great time and a good laugh and looked forward to the next one. Nowadays you see each other once a year at Tartydays or Radical Bikes. You go to those events expecting to enjoy it and so you do. However, you've read so much bad publicity about 'politics' at competitions that you've got the mindset that it's not for you so you don't go. I challenge everyone to come along to a competition with the mindset that you're going to meet new people, learn new things from them, help out the younger riders, ride different things at a different place and that you're going to enjoy the challenge. That is the only way for competitive trials and for the clubs to survive. As with everything organised, use it or lose it; be it the local library or the local trials club! The next trial that I am organising is the final round of the British Trials Cup at Hook Woods, Surrey on Sunday 11th September. Camping is available on Saturday night (£5 per vehicle/tent). Sunday is the competition, and Graham always puts on some type of "fun" thing afterwards; a hill climb or speed section etc. Entry form is available on www.biketrialuk.co.uk now, you can enter and pay online it only takes two minutes. Come along and sign on then enjoy it! Sorry for rambling so much! If 100 people responded to this saying that they would attend a fun trial at Brimham and at least 10 people promised to help set it up, then I would very happily organise it for you!

Glad you enjoyed it. The results went onto the website last night www.biketrialuk.co.uk, will do the championship tomorrow, and photos when people email them to me! Looking forward to planning next year!

Who's going to be taking this lot home on Sunday????

Chris finally sold his Monty 231 X-Lite (26") last week. The guy who bought it has had that, and two mountain bikes stolen from his garage in Haworth, near Keighley, West Yorkshire. Pics attached - if anyone sees or hears about this please let me know! The frame was almost new (only ridden a couple of times) and has been signed by both Ot Pi and Cesar Canas so should be easily recognisable.

Yeh, I understand his 3-4 year old is well into it!

He's our Chairman and comes along to observe. His son, Rick, used to ride but gave it up for a family!

Fuel is just so silly expensive now! What about car-sharing? Surely there's someone near you who'd share? Would be great to see you! In the meantime, if anyone needs a lift and lives anywhere between Buxton and any of the National events this year (except Scotland), George Eyre is coming with an empty car and has volunteered a free lift to 3 people and 2 bikes! If you're interested, give him a call on 01298 73845