Trails Comp on Public land

DIESEL DAN · Post by **DIESEL DAN** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:41 am

At the moment, one of my little projects is trying to get trials riding back onto public land. The current situation is that you must have a fully rego'd bike or rec rego'd bike with a bike licence to be able to ride in a public area. The permit process is very intense and taken to the enth degree.
My questions are
Would you be prepared as a rider to pay a premium for the privilage?
Would you be prepared to have your bike recreational Registered?

Legislation would have to be changed to allow juniors and un registered bikes.

Is there any other areas apart from Elaine and Creswick that was used in the past for trials?

Thanks.

splint · Post by **splint** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:19 pm

Hey Dan, I was just recently discussing the very same topic with a trials rider. As far as I'm aware competitors running in the Vic, National Enduro series do NOT have to have a complianced bike, they get around this bike obtaining a permit from the M.A. (I think) which covers them. I am aware of this as it was extended to the Rally Class at the Erica Enduro last year.

I've been wondering why all the trials events have been running on private property when if any bikes should have more access to public land it should be trials bikes as they are so much more 'Eco-Friendly' than other dissaplines. The only reason I can come up with at the moment is maybe because of the junior riders but I'd like to hear if that is the case or is there other reasons that I'm un-aware of?

DIESEL DAN · Post by **DIESEL DAN** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:08 pm

Thanks for the reply Splint. I think you'll find that a rec rego'd bike needs a vicroads permit for state enduro rounds. Enduro bikes are way more Eco friendly because they stick to tracks, we just pick a section and ride on it. Apparently thats a no no :twisted:

.
Go to Nsw enduro where the special tests are carved into the state park with a bobcat!

DIESEL DAN · Post by **DIESEL DAN** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:11 pm

Oh must add that in 10 hours more than 37 people have viewed this and the only one to comment is someone who doesn't even own a trials bike!

splint · Post by **splint** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:22 pm

I would argue the point about enduro bikes being more friendly than a trials bike as trials bikes are quieter, dont have knobby tyres that rip up the ground and do less damage and hence less time to recover from the event. I know that the trials bikes wouldn't use designated tracks (unless for transport) but from what I know trials riders prefer riding on very hard-packed surfaces eg. Rock.
One perfect venue comes to mind straight away for a Trial on public land and that would be a ski resort in the summer time.

ps. I dont have a trials bike but I've been riding GasGas for a lot longer than you

............I think they must all be heading up to Glen Maggie. :mrgreen:

splint · Post by **splint** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:24 pm

Dan you could get that same vic roads permit for a motor-crosser according to my source.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:45 pm

go back to a trials after 2 weeks and it would be difficult to find some tyre tracks. Go to and enduro after the same time and all you see are the trenches from the roosting! Yes, Trials is alot more Eco friendly.
If I could ride through the national parks etc, I would gladly pay a fair price to do so.

DIESEL DAN · Post by **DIESEL DAN** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:14 am

splint wrote:I think they must all be heading up to Glen Maggie.

I leave this morning!

DIESEL DAN · Post by **DIESEL DAN** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:21 am

According to some paperwork i have come across, trials is considered not acceptable use of public land because we ride off designated tracks, are unroadworthy and have no registration. They were the three reasons permits were not issued in 2001 for anymore trials at Elaine.

Of course i don't agree with this decision, but according to DSE, trials are bad for the environment.

The question i'm asking is how do we turn this negativity around, keeping in mind trials has massive potential to grow once trail riding becomes heavily restricted.

splint · Post by **splint** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:44 pm

My tip would be to get in touch with Enviro Rider on dirtbikeworld.net as he is the Trail Liason officer for the DSE, he would be a great person to get on-board with a project like this. Invite him to a Trial and invite him back two weeks later to see for himself exactly the pressure that this sport does not put on the enviroment.
Officially there is no single track tests to be run on a typical enduro but those people who are involved in the sport we all know that this is not the case. Enduro Clubs have built up relationships where these events have been run over the years as it can also benefit the local community too, this can be done by making donations to the local CFA or getting the local Lions club to do the catering and even getting in touch with the DSE for advice on how best to protect the riding areas.
Baby steps, as there seems to be problems getting an actual section on public land maybe there could be some sort of hybrid event. I personally would love to see here an event similar to the Scottish Six Day which has more in common with an enduro than a trials event, if there was several accomadating land holders in a certain vecinity of each other multiple sections could marked out in these properties and the local trails and tracks could be used to link them all up creating quite an event for the riders, it would also be a good example to show the DSE and other governing bodies just how light-footed trials events are.