Bike Trials: Demo & Comp

Bike trial event attracts top crew

Daring, dramatic displays go hand in hand with bike trial events, and spectators will be treated to plenty of them at this year’s Kawerau WoodFest.

The popular NZCT bike trials, demonstration and competition is part of WoodFest for the sixth consecutive year. The activity requires riders to complete an obstacle course without setting foot on the ground.

During WoodFest weekend a top crew of riders will perform for the public on a specially designed course. On the Sunday of event weekend (September 30), rider and organiser D’Arcy Belfield will run a competition that will see some of NZ’s finest riders – including Kiwi number one Matt Foster, who started trial riding for practice when he couldn’t use his motorbike - compete. The riders’ main aim is to navigate a number of pre-marked sections; the winner is the rider with the fewest points at the end of the competition.

Trial riding originated in Spain and is an extreme test of bicycle handling skills, over all kinds of natural and man-made obstacles. It now has a strong following around the world and is growing in popularity in NZ.

Mountain bike trials, also known as observed trials, are said to have been invented by the father of Ot Pi, a world champion motorcycle trials rider. Pi's father wanted his son to learn motorcycle trials by practicing on an ordinary bicycle.

Trials’ riding is an extreme test of bicycle handling skills, over all kinds of obstacles, both natural and man-made. It now has a strong following worldwide and is growing in size in NZ. Skills taken from trials riding can be used practically on any bicycle for balance. Competition trial bikes are characterized by powerful brakes, wide handlebars, lightweight parts, single-speed low gearing, low tire pressures with a thick rear tire, distinctive frame geometry, and usually no seat.

Here is a taste of what you can expect this year at Woodfest (footage from the UCI World champs).

The competition

Over the weekend a top crew of riders will perform various demos for the public on a specially designed Woodfest course, while on Sunday rider and organiser Darcy Belfield will run a competition on site.  This will see some of NZ’s finest riders go to battle against each other and Matt Foster the nation's number one trial rider will be in the mix.  

The general principle in a bike trials competition is to ride a number of pre-marked sections, the winner being the rider with the fewest points at the end of the competition.

The maximum number of points that can be obtained in each section is five; the lowest (and best) score is zero or 'clean'. The most common way to gain a point is by putting a foot down within a section; for this reason points are sometimes known as 'dabs'. Certain rules enforce the number of points gained within a section, for example, putting both feet down and a hand will result in five points. Exceeding the time limit for the course will either result in five points (BIU rules) or an additional point for every 15 seconds over the limit (UCI rules).

Moto Trials

These are the motorised version of bike trials. Most moto trialists will start the sport on pedal power before making the jump up to the exhilarating fast power paced version.

Prize money for riders