Bike trials
Riding for excitement

By Cherry Chen

Mike Tsang, a lover of bike trials, practices bike trials with friends in parks every Sunday. In the beginning, he rode mountain bikes. But after learning the sport better, he became addicted to it.

In 2000, Mr. Tsang set up a website — http://www.biketrialclub.com, for bike trials lovers and for promoting the sport. Now, there are over 70 registered users of the website.

Bike trials originated in the U.S., but it is more popular in European countries like Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain and Spain.

It developed from motorcycle trials. Therefore, the rules of the two trials are similar. They both demand riders to ride over obstacles such as tires, rocks and trees, which are called “sections”, without touching a foot to the ground.

However, the sport of bike trials is unpopular in Hong Kong. Many people have no knowledge of it.

Blake Lai, a friend of Mr. Tsang, is the owner of a bike shop. He is one of the only two local judges of bike trials recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the International Cycling Union.

“In fact, the sport of bike trials is a sport similar to golf,” said Mr. Lai.

The rider who has the fewest penalty points is the winner.

In international trials competitions, there are usually six “sections”. Depending on the rider’s class, he has either two or three minutes to complete one “section”.

“Any physical contact with the ground is called a ‘dab’, and one penalty point will be given. Usually, the rider loses a section after getting five points.

“If the rider does not receive any penalty points, it is called ‘clean’, meaning that he has performed very well,” Mr. Lai said.

There are two main categories of trials bikes. They are different in front wheel size — 20-inch and 26-inch. They are called modified trials bikes.

“The price of a trials bike varies a lot. It depends on the materials used for the frame and the place of manufacture,” Mr. Lai said.

According to Mr. Lai, there are only 100 people practicing this sport in Hong Kong. Few of them participate in competitions.

Cheung Kwai Ting, 31, is an exception. He has been a bike trials rider for over 10 years and was one of the earliest local practitioners.

In the past 10 years, Mr. Cheung won local competitions twice. In the latest one, he got a second runner-up prize.

Mr. Cheung said, “When I was young, I practiced several times a week. I wanted victory.

“But since I am getting old, now I regard it only as my favorite sport. I practice once a week.”

He hopes to do something for the sport.

First, he wants to tell all the things he knows about the sport to the young bike trials riders.

Mr. Cheung said, “The young bike trials riders can learn very fast. Once they start, they can get the basic skills within several months. They have great talents.”

He hopes that they can represent Hong Kong in international competitions in the future.

Regarding the second hope, he may not be able to fulfill it immediately. He said if he could afford it, he wants to provide an area for bike trials riders to practice.

As for Mr. Tsang, he wants to make the sport more popular. He thinks that it is a healthy sport for everyone, especially youngsters.

“If youngsters put their efforts in practicing bike trials, they would not get some bad habits easily,” Mr. Lai added.

Brian Siu, a 17-year-old student studying at the Vocational Training Council, is a good example. He has practiced bike trials for a year and a half.

He started playing the sport when he saw some people doing it in a park. By chance, he met Mr. Tsang and started learning the skills.

“This sport gives me great excitement and satisfaction. The satisfaction mainly comes from the starting point where you cannot ride over an obstacle, but in the end you can do it.

“Also, it helps me release pressure and earns friends,” said Mr. Siu.

Mr. Siu said his skills are not good enough to join a competition, but he still wants to test which level he can reach.

When asked if he has an ambition to represent Hong Kong in international competitions, he smiled and hesitated.

“Perhaps I will. But so far I just regard it as my hobby,” said he.

Mr. Tsang welcomes youngsters like Mr. Siu to join them. He is willing to take the responsibility of being an organizer. He hopes that he can help bike trials to establish a healthy image. He is going to have more demonstrations of bike trials in schools.

“The sport of bike trials is not for street boys, but for everyone,” said Mr. Tsang.

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