Returning to the forum

[Dr Peter]

Hello riders,
It's been a little while since I was on the forum but I never stopped riding or observing at trials (apart from a little thing called Covid) in all that time.

So I did start on a TY250c (which I still have), then I tried a second-hand Beta 125, but I found it too lively for my taste and sold it on and returned to riding the Yamaha. But I wasn't progressing my skills, which are still challenged by clubman lines.

Then a few things changed for me. I moved into a house with a little bit of space to practice in the backyard. I ride when the neighbors mowers and blowers are roaring away and I can practice much more frequently. Before this I only rode at events.

I then located a dirt-bike club near home which was happy to let a trials guy throw himself at the granite boulders and rock ledges they had in and around their MX tracks. This provided even more opportunities to practice.

I then bought my current bike, which I am enjoying a great deal. It is a Beta 80 Senior. Yep, a grown up on a mini bike. Are there any others like me I wonder? It has such poise and precision and I don't spend all my time trying to rein the power in. It's fun and I'm riding the TY better too.

The final change was to have cataract surgery in both eyes and suddenly sections are clear as day. and it's worth looking ahead beyond the front wheel to see what was coming next. It was a game changer.

My results have been improving although I do find wet slippery steep conditions a lot of a challenge. It's something to work on.

Regards to all,

Peter

[David Lahey]

Fabulous story. Thank you