Mountain Bike Trials

They say that fear is made more powerful by the imagination. Well as I lay down in the Sports Hall today (note all students the level of obedience and co-operation modelled for you), I had no idea what to expect.

The live cycling demo using high jumps, twists, climbs and descents had brought the audience to loud applause and cheers. And rightly so. Our guest riders were enormously skilled, displaying a rare talent that they nurture with at least 30 hours training a week. Don’t forget that, Year 11 when you’re planning your revision for the mock exams.

To the spooky music of Dr. Who they literally flew around the Sports Hall on their bikes, hardly ever appearing to pedal them. The highest level rig was a dazzling 2.5 metres and the skill in controlling the bike as well as the physical strength and precision of movement were amazing. Astonished, we watched, willing them to succeed, anxious about what could happen if the tyre slipped and they fell. They never put a wheel wrong.

Then it was my turn. ‘A quick jump over you,’ Steve Dinnie had said lightly a few weeks ago. In fact, I’d seen it on some video footage shown in assembly. No problem. It hadn’t been mentioned since and I thought the idea had been forgotten. They tricked me.

Now Andrei Burton, a 21 year old, is Britain’s top mountain bike trial champion, world Elite no 6 and number 2 ranked rider in Europe. He’s a total professional and an inspiration. His work on the bike shows the huge amount of power needed to pull it over obstacles, and the balance and control to secure and hold seemingly impossible positions.

But I wasn’t expecting Andrei and bike to jump from a great height and to land with his wheels on either side of me. He then did several spins and twists over me, with pinpoint precision. He was even able to offer words of reassurance and talk to me as he moved, apologising for catching the tip of a shoe. I was so impressed and absorbed by his confidence, I had no time to think about what could go wrong. And anyway, he was insured, wasn’t he?

So I now know that the only way to truly appreciate the level of skill is to watch it from below. I understand there may be a return visit for the half of the school that were not able to be there. I must invite others to enjoy the experience of a life time- like knives thrown at a spinning target, only more dangerous. So the big question…who will volunteer next time? Nice one for the Director of Sport? No need to worry- fear is all in the imagination and, of course, the cyclist is insured.