Locally Grown Northfield

Blogging and podcasting the people, issues, and events of Northfield, MN

I’m baaaaaaaack

By Griff Wigley, on April 1, 2008, 9:54 pm

Where have I been? I’ve been in Tennessee for the past week, taking photos and video and blogging at the Trials Training Center, a client. And when I wasn’t working, I was playing and learning. Motorcycle trials is essentially obstacle course competition on a dirt bike. You ride over stuff trying not to put your feet down. (If you’re interested, see our Minnesota-based trials club site/blog called the Upper Midwest Trials Association.)

Left and center: me.
Right: a 15 year-old kid from Florida, playing on a rock. He held the bike in that position for several seconds, hopping up and down on the back wheel. I’m going to learn to do that when I’m older.

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8 comments to I’m baaaaaaaack

1

Jerry Bilek says:

April 2, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Great photos Griff. I want to see you in action though. Got any video?

I didn’t know there was a motorized version of trials…very cool. I’ve only ever seen the bike version and Hans “no-way” Rey
http://www.hansrey.com/

My bike envy just went way up.

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2

Griff Wigley says:

April 2, 2008 at 12:43 pm

Yeah, Hans Rey and Ot Pi…. two of the best-known bicycle trials riders with the cool short names.

Alas, no video of me, Jerry. But here’s a clip of my instructor, Andrew, that I took. I’m sure I’ll be at his level Real Soon Now.

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3

Kurt Larson says:

April 2, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Griff,
Give us the details of your bike,,,,,

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4

Jerry Bilek says:

April 2, 2008 at 1:10 pm

He’s good, very good. I might have to start collecting logs and set up a course in my back yard.

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5

Bright Spencer says:

April 2, 2008 at 1:32 pm

I am duly impressed by that video. It shows how you really have to let the bike become an extension of your own body.
I dropped my bike twice one year, and got it caught on fire last time I rode it.
And that was just plane ol riding. hehehe. Goes to show whimps shouldn’t try that stuff at home. But it was soo ooooo oooo much fun and a sense of freedom, once you know the road well.

Thanks for the memories, GW. Ohno, Gee Dub! ahahahahaaaaa! get it?

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6

Griff Wigley says:

April 3, 2008 at 11:31 am

Kurt, my bike is a 2003 Montesa Cota 315 R. The Spanish Montesa factory in Barcelona is now owned by Honda. More at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montesa_Honda

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7

Jerry Bilek says:

April 24, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Griff,

this guy’s as good as Hans Rey:

http://urbanvelo.org/bike-trials-in-scotland/

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8

Griff Wigley says:

April 26, 2009 at 6:36 am

OMG, that’s amazing, Jerry. I gotta learn some of those tricks when I get older.

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