Trail Rider Magazine

26 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com The Trials Section By Stuart Preston Maybe it's the icy New England weather this week, or perhaps I'm just starting to feel my age a bit more, but whatever the reason, I'm feeling that even after more than 50 years of fun, my appreciation for the dirt bike hobby continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Indeed, we're very lucky to enjoy a passion for our dirt bikes for so many reasons. Consider the following examples as proof that there's no such thing as Seasonal Dirt Bike Disorder! While there's no doubt that here in the Northeast region the best riding times are throughout the three seasons of spring, summer and fall, this doesn't mean that winter spells the end of our dirt biking ac- tivities. With the options of ice riding and racing, along with snowy trail rides on studded tires, or the occasional winter enduro for those willing to endure the elements, there are lots of chances to get your throttle turning fix in. As for my favorite dirt bike sport of Trials, the tougher conditions and lack of available traction have proven to be great skill builders for all the basics of body position, control in- puts, reflexes and reaction times. All the riding aside, there are still so many other aspects of our hobby to keep us involved, motivated and active as we pursue our dirt biking goals. For many of us, the off-season for riding has become a meaningful time of preparations for the upcoming seasons of competition. Organizers release event schedules and we make plans for those we hope to attend. It may be as simple as planning participation in a couple of local events, or as much as a regional, or even a national series. With so much to be orga- nized for a successful season, we should delegate time to many aspects of preparation— so much so, in fact, that many find planning becomes a lifestyle. Let's start with the bike itself. Will we freshen our existing ride? Or do we have plans to purchase a new machine for the battles ahead. It's likely that your older bike will need some TLC after the previ- ous year, including consumables such as tires, chain, sprockets, grip, etc. Or even a new bike will likely require a few personal preferences, such as suspension setup, control positions and types, or motor or gearing adjustments to suit your locality and conditions. Either way, there's lots of opportunity for qual- ity wrench time in pre-season. Focusing on ourselves, a good training program is one of the best uses for the off season, helping prepare us for improved results in the year ahead. Of course, the usual facets of a balanced and healthy diet, combined with regular exercise for cardio and strength are quite beneficial! I find a combination of shorter and longer hikes in my backyard on Mount Agamenticus are great for clearing out the cob- webs and building cardio health at the same time. When combined with some mobility stretching such as found in yoga, and sensible weight training to build strength, these have proven to be very effective over the years. Pre-season training is also a great chance to heal any nagging injuries that occur all too often in our sport. Start with a fitness program in time for Anaheim 1, and stick with it until the Daytona Supercross comes along, and I can assure you the results will be worthwhile! Don't forget to have your riding gear prepared as well. Need a new helmet? Boots? Or perhaps some newer body protection. Knee braces might be a consideration and what about the race hauler? Maybe some new tires for the trailer, or an upgrade to your chosen transportation?

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