If you want an opportunity to practice your navigational skills and off-tarmac riding then you could do worse than enter an MCC Trial. What’s the MCC? Have a look at MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport to find out – probably the UK’s oldest motorcycle club.

The club runs 3 overnight long distance classic trials each year. These are the Exeter in January, the Land’s End at Easter and the Edinburgh in October.

The trials aren’t much like the kind of rock hopping acrobatics for which a proper trials bike is needed. Instead they consist of a course of around 200 to 300 miles, on public roads, with about fifteen short excursions off the tarmac to observed sections that usually consist of a longish hill climb that must be traversed without the rider footing or ceasing forward motion. To give an idea of the severity of the hills, sidecars also compete as do two-wheel drive cars (although the bikes go round before the cars).

The events run overnight and usually finish around midday the day after the evening start. There are compulsory rest halts and meal breaks. Navigation is by roadbook.

Suitable bikes? Well, just about anything that's robust and has a degree of off-road capability. Hardcore enthusiasts generally ride small trail bikes but it’s not unusual to see an Enfield road bike or a BMW GS twin. One winner used an Africa Twin. For the less skilled rider there is an easier route to follow.

Costs? I estimate about £200 per event including entry fees, fuel, meals, accommodation for the night afterwards and consumables such as tyres.

If you’re interested send me a private message to me or visit MCC | The Motor Cycling Club - 100 Years of Motorsport

Thanks

Ian Thompson

Motorcycle PR
The Motor Cycling Club.