SSDT 2023 Police Trials
SSDT 2023 Police Trials Team
Riders:
Chris Howman (Met Police Staff) Advanced Bike / Car Instructor
Ben Howman (Met Police Constable) West Area Response Team
Steve Lane (TVP Police Constable) Road Policing Unit
History of the event:
The Scottish Six Days Trial is a test of reliability over long distances with riders competing up to 100 miles each day. This is a combination of rough moorland, rocky tracks and public roads, including 30 observed sections each day in all extremely changeable weather conditions which only the Scottish highlands seems to produce. This international event was first introduced back in 2010. The police have been competing in this great event for well over 30 years to my knowledge. I have represented the police team which consists of three riders all riding for the same services for 18yrs. The team stopped riding 10 years ago due to those officers retiring. I have been trying to establish a police team over these last 10 years. As soon as my son was old enough he followed a long family tradition and joined the Police. I knew all I needed was to find another police trials rider who wanted to enter the SSDT. It was fate that in August last year, Steve over heard me talking “Job” to my son at a local Trial. Steve confirmed he was also in the police (TVP). He said he was given my name by a local rider as he wanted to complete his life ambition of competing in the SSDT. Well that’s when I knew we had our Police Trials Team. This was to be Ben and Steve’s first SSDT and my 19th year.
Preparation:
First priority was for Ben to get his A2 Motorcycle license. This was made even more challenging as he only had a four day window to get it done due to his Initial Police training schedule. He must be good under pressure as he did pass on his first attempt with no faults. From previous experiences I knew the key to our Teams success was down to the preparation. This ranges from getting in the best physical shape to cope with the demands of riding a Trials bike, pretty much non-stop for over 8hrs a day through some of the most demanding terrain that the Scottish Highlands have to offer. This was achieved by lots of physical exercises, Rowing, Running and circuit training. The closer we got to the start line the more and more time was spent on bike fitness. I tried to explain to Ben and Steve that the fitter you could get yourself the better chance of finishing this truly challenging competition.
The next goal was to get the bikes properly prepared. Both Ben and I would be riding the ultra-strong and reliable Honda Montesa 4rt. I think this is the best weapon of choice due to the super smooth 4 stroke power plant delivery and what has to be one of the best suspension units in the Trials world (Showa). I have previously ridden Montesa on my last 10 entries. I must mention that they are also able to get up to speeds in excess of 70mph if required. Trust me riding these types of bikes at around 50 to 60mph around some stunning Scottish tight twisty roads gets exciting when the tyres bend as much as they do when you have 4psi in the rear and 9 front. Apparently the rear tyre starts to fold over like a banana when you ride it at a decent pace. Always amusing when you catch up other members of public who are quietly going about their business and they just happen to momentarily be in your way. Snooze you lose is one of many phrases I often use.
The bikes were then fully stripped down and fully serviced back to show room condition. The list of what actual work you need to do to get it up to the required standard is a long one. The bear minimum required is as follows:
1. New chain and sprockets. 2nd chain for last couple of days.
2. New tyres, 1x Front , 2 x rear
3. Suspension / linkage bearings replaced
4. Throttle cable
5. Front / Rear brake pads
6. Front / Rear wheel bearings + wheels re laced if needed.
· Full service of oils , filters , spark plug etc.[HCA-L&D1]
7. Fork seals
The list does go on and on but you get the picture. Those of us that ride these types of bikes do say that the abuse these machines get put through in the 6 days, equates to 5 years of normal club trials.
Eventually both bikes were fully prepped and up to what I would describe as SEG Standard. I remember Ben saying how his bike had never looked so good. I replied “Give it a couple of days in Scotland and you would have never seen it so bad.
Anyway after months of training and preparation everything was loaded into my van and on the 29th April 2023 we set off at around 4am. Around 8.5 hrs later after driving 500 miles we arrived at the glorious Fort William. Even after all these years I still get super excited as we get north of Loch Lomond and into the proper Highlands. As always you get a little gauge of how wet the moors could be when passing some of the waterfalls. “Hardly anything coming down that one Ben, it could be easy going this first year for you”. What on earth was I saying to him it’s never EASY, and definitely not this year?
After 500 miles with only a couple of short rest stops it was great to be met by all our support crew for the week. These are all retired officers who have all done the Six Days numerous times before so there knowledge of how it all works is invaluable. A big part of this huge event as with other events of this scale is all down to experience. Well my last bike could have got itself round it had done it that many times. After only a short time Steve arrived in his car and trailer and the team was complete. After admiring all the shiny bikes it was traditional to give them a quick spin up the road to check everything one final time. All bikes were pretty much good to go. We even had time to take Steve to a couple of the sections which would be in the Trial later on in the week. 30 sections a day and they could be in groups of up to 5 at a time. These groups of sections all have names, most of which I can’t pronounce. The groups we took Steve to were Witches Burn a single section and Trotters Burn which has three. It was interesting to watch Steve’s face once he saw the waterfall he was going to have to ride up. I told him it’s no bother just hit it hard in 2nd and before you know it you’ll be up. Ben had a little more awareness of things as I had taken him up the previous year to show him how it all works. Sections like WITCHES always looks big.
That evening some of logistics were discussed over our traditional homemade curry, thanks Mick. To settle any nerves this was all washed down with the odd pint or two. In fact I would be lying if that wasn’t the routine for most days. At times the curry would evolve into a chili but don’t worry we never ran out of beer.
Sunday 30th May
This was to be our Admin day / Parade. We started the day with the signing on procedure which is held at the Nevis Centre. This is where we have all our documents checked. (Driving License, Bike Insurance etc.) If all correct we then get our official riding numbers issued.
There is always a real buzz to the place as all 288 riders come and discuss the week ahead. It was great to catch up with some friendly faces which I have got to know over the years. It was especially good to catch up with all the Army Team as we have had some brilliant battles over the years. They were all dressed in their S3 Sponsored clothing which to be fare does look smart. Talking of clothing we managed to get our old clothing sponsor back on board. Wulf Clothing had us fully kitted out with their new Trials range. After a proper test over the 6 days I can highly recommend there kit. The Wulf brand is normally used in Motocross but they have really come on over the last few years and for a more budget brand I can highly recommend for off-road use, especially the helmet which is one of the most comfortable I have had to date.
It was thanks to Ben for getting WULF back on side and a thanks to Steve for getting our jackets printed up with all of our sponsors.
It was just a case of fitting the numbers on to the front of the bikes and we were officially ready. In normal tradition we then have another little ride to check everything is as good as we can get things on the bikes then get them scrutineered in the parc ferme. This is basically the official secure parking area for all the bikes and where we start and finish each day. Prior to booking the bikes in all the riders officially book on with their individual manufacturers. For Ben and myself this was Micky Oates Motorcycles who is the main north Montesa dealer. Luckily for us they always bring a couple of their top mechanics. Each bike manufacture provide the same supporting role. At the end of each day you ride straight to your support area and get working on your bikes, depending on how much time you have left. They provide each rider with a small workshop area which has the following items. Bike stand, high pressure airline to blow as much of the moors which has collected on your bike to reveal any breakages. All the tools you need to carry out the standard daily servicing.
All three of us had our bike scrutineered with no issues. This involves the painting of your numbers onto the headstock and crankcase which gets checked daily out on the course by event officials. This year I believe it was also a FIRST with regards to the number boards included some kind of digital chip which got scanned at the start and finish of everyday. This I believe was a backup re timings if your official time card was lost.
After a few Team pictures we then had a couple of hours to kill whilst waiting for the Parade to start. We filled this time with a little shopping trip to get some decent waterproofs which for Scotland has to be a priority.
So on returning at 3pm all the riders would return to the Parc Ferme for the traditional Parade through the High Street. This gives the locals and all the supporting crews the opportunity to see ALL the riders who are competing.
This was one of those very proud parent moments. To ride with your son and represent the Police on his first SSDT has to be right up there.
I want to say they was no issues on the parade but I had a slight worry with my bike. As I went to tip it into the first roundabout it tried to send me straight on with some kind of steering problem. I immediately put this down to an over tight head stock bearing. Surely this couldn’t be the case as I had fully tested it only days before. Long story short I found that some of the wiring was getting caught on the extra fuel tank that we run for this event. The extra tank which holds a whole 0.6L gets fitted between the front forks. This is held on with cable ties which I had uninvitingly done up too tight. An easy fix for once.
Later that evening the three of us compared tools / spares which we would have to carry every day. Because this is a long distance reliability competition you needed to be prepared for every eventuality. Over the years I have probably either seen or had most things that could go wrong with these types of bikes. The best way to prepare for this kind of event is to plan for the worst case scenario. Here is a list of some of those items I carry with me every day.
1. Front inner tube in case of puncture and a form of plugging kit for the rear which is tubeless.
2. Spare air filter in case the bike gets downed on one of the river crossings.
3. Spare plug.
4. Chemical metal in case you damage either casing.
5. Space blanket in case you come across any injured riders.
6. Tow strap
7. Tools which have been adapted to save weight.ie 24mm spanner one end for rear spindle and tyre lever other end.
8. Spare levers, throttle cable, bolts etc.
The list does go on but you get the idea. I was planning on halving my tools this year as I was riding with Ben but it was plausible that if I got injured he would need to carry everything himself. So we pretty much doubled up just in case. Once you add the 1.5l of water in the hydration bladder it weighs a fair amount. I have to say the hydration bag I use is excellent as it is designed especially for these types of events. (USWE Outlander 2).
We then had a quick rundown of Day 1’s route this year. It was definitely a different start to what I would describe as the normal Mondays route. I was aware that the person who was overseeing this year’s event had made some big changes to the route selection.
It was going to be Steve’s early start time on Day 1 as he was no.8 He would be riding with a couple of my close friends who have done this event numerous times before so he was in good hands. I was no.277 and Ben 278 which meant it was our very late start for Day1.
The first rider would be leaving at 7.30am with each subsequent rider leaving in one minute intervals. Each day the starting order would change as it has a disadvantage in the sections if you are one of the first riders through. Basically the earlier you are the more slippery the sections are but the good thing is the moors will be easier to negotiate.
Ben and I would be starting right at the very back on Day 1 which meant the moors would be tough. I definitely got that part right ……they were!
Monday 1st Day 1
Well bright and early Steve was taken to the start area by one of the support crews on the back of a bike. This was to be our form of transport each time we made the trip to and from our accommodation. Well Ben looked quite relaxed but we were both eager for the time to pass quickly as we wouldn’t be starting til around 12.15 which being right at the very back was a first for me. The only worry was if we had a problem on Day 1 we could be finishing in the dark. Each day you are allowed to enter the Perc Ferme 15 minutes prior to you start time. This is your daily maintenance time. On your official start time you are handed your time card with the allocated running time for the day. I will keep this simple. Let’s say you have 8hrs running time + 15 minutes compulsory rest break. For me my start time was 12.12pm I would therefore need to be at the final time control by 20.27pm. The final time control is generally about 20 miles outside of Fort William. They will then give you a set time to get back to the Parc Ferme. This is to prevent riders who are late on time, racing back on the roads like lunatics. As if that ever happened in past events. If you run over your daily running time you are given penalty points. If you are over 1hr late you get excluded. I always try and keep a little time in hand for any unforeseen problems. This was to be invaluable this year. This event is like no other due to the huge amount of miles covered and the time stood up on the pegs as I say. Time is always tight so the secret to my success up here has been the same formula. Keep a decent pace going, don’t look at the sections for long and make sure you keep on top of the maintenance of your bike.
After the normal pictures on the start ramp it’s always a worry if your bike is going to start. Yes more marks lost if it doesn’t fire up within your start minute time. No problem we have Honda’s for that reason.
A minute after my time, Ben and I were at the start of what was going to be an epic weeks riding together.
This was to be quite a stressful first day. It was evident as we reached the first group of sections that Ben wasn’t happy with his throttle. The cable was brand new but something was stopping if from returning quickly. Strange as previous testing was fine. This was to be more of an annoyance than anything else for Ben. With regards to our riding it was a steady start to the week. We both had some decent rides but towards the end of the day I could tell Ben making a few mistakes in the sections which I put down to a little fatigue. The following is how you are scored on a section. The idea is to negotiate the section without putting your foot down in and stay within the allocated markers until you reach the end cards. If this is so it is classed as a clean = 0 marks.
If you put your foot down once = 1 mark
Foot down twice = 2 marks
Three = 3 marks
More than 3 foot down = 3 marks
If you crash or don’t pass between the markers or stop its 5 marks
If you don’t make a proper attempt = 10 marks
Out of the 30 daily sections. I would say half of them are clubman standard. Ben and I have the ability to go clean, i.e. keep our feet up.
I have always put the Scottish into 3 types of sections for clubman riders like myself.
1. Those sections that if I have a good ride I could clean.
2. The sections where I am going to find tough but I should get through for a 3.
3. Then there is what I can only describe as world round sections. I.e. In my wildest dreams I am unlikely to be able to get through. There is normally about 5 of these every day. They are put in to ………A. Entertain the crowd and B. Take marks of the top riders.
The day was definitely to end on a little stress. I had kept a decent pace so we could have time set aside to fix Bens throttle issue at the end of the day. We got to the Final time control with approximately 30 minutes spare. We were allocated 40 mins to get back to Fort William. After setting off we had only done about 3 miles when all of a sudden my chain snapped. Fortunately it didn’t lock the rear wheel as we were on the road doing about 50mph. Once I came to a gradual stop we managed to safely get to the side of the road to see what had gone on. I knew that it would be a snapped split pin which very occasionally happens. This was a brand new chain so I put it down to one of the last sections of the day. I remember getting stuck between two huge rocks. It took a few minutes to free up. I must have damaged the link at that point. I thought it was going to be an easy fix as I always carry spare links. Unfortunately the chain had got well and truly locked around the front sprocket and swinging arm. Now this I know from previous years is a right pain. The only way it can be freed is to remove the swinging arm to release the tension. This requires a 19mm socket which we don’t normally carry. What I do carry is a tow strap. Well I won’t go into huge details about it but let’s just say Ben had his first lesson on towing which he passed with flying colours. We had already sent a message to the support crew who met us on the road section to take over the towing duty. Thanks Mick. Didn’t know my bike could go so fast. This all took some time but because we had some time in hand I am pleased to say I got back to the service area with no time penalties. Once I had the 19mm socket I had the bike fixed in 5 mins. Ben also fitted a new throttle tube which fixed his problem. I think we got back to our digs around 9pm. Without these problems it was still quite a tough day due to the amount of moorland mileage which was definitely more than previous years. It was only when we got back that we heard the sad news that Steve had come off on one of the sections and sliced his knee open. He managed to complete the day but had to have 9 stiches at the hospital on his return. Unfortunately this was to put him out of the event as his couldn’t risk causing further injury. It was a huge blow to the team so early on but Steve was to be one of about 40 riders who had to retire during the week. Steve although very disappointed showed what a good team player he is and went straight into a supporting role for Ben and I.
Scores: Ben 117
Me 86
Day 2
This was to be one of the toughest days I have ever had on a Trials bike. No 50 was first rider away today so that meant we would be away around 11.10am that would also mean our start time would get earlier and earlier as the week went on.
We both had nothing to do on our bikes in our allocated 15minutes prior to start time. This is quite rare so it was just a case of checking tyre pressures and re checking that everything was done up correctly.
I knew we had a few moor crossings to contend with which were new for this year. What I didn’t realise was the distance involved and how hard the crossings were going to be. We had in total about 19 miles worth of moor crossings which were divided into 3 separate moors.
The first crossing was when I aware Ben was struggling a little more than me. Now I would describe Ben as a much better technical rider than me but he had no experience of this type of terrain. The ground is so unpredictable. It is pretty much always wet underneath which makes the ground very soft. You have to follow little marker flags which are approx.200 yards apart. If you are at the front of the field the crossings aren’t as tough to ride as the ground is fresh. Once 100 riders have made some tracks it becomes harder and harder to find any firm surface. Some of these bogs can literally swallow your bike up. This is no exaggeration as I have helped pull riders out before that the only part of their bike that was showing was the top of the handlebars. When deciding what line to take across the moors I normally gauge it on the shade of moorland. Generally the darker the ground the wetter it’s likely to be. I thought it would easier if I led for Ben as I had some more experience. Unfortunately there is a little technique to riding Scottish moorland. The quicker you go the more likely you’ll skim across things. The downside is when you do find a deep part you are definitely going to stop instantly and that means you’re going over the bars and it happens in under a second. Ben basically wasn’t going quick enough which meant he lost traction which then means you have to physically get off and push. On this first crossing Ben started to crash a few times. Every time you crash you lose some of your energy. This then caused more crashes. I remember thinking we could lose time today if we have any more moor crossings like that. Well it turned out to be a proper physical work out all day. We ended up doing three moor crossings that day. We didn’t look at some of the sections as I thought we were losing too much time. When you ride a section blind you just have to follow what I describe as the dirty line. It’s quite often the case that when you’re tight on time you tend to carry more speed through the sections. This clearly helped because we both actually had a pretty good scoring day. I was super proud of Ben for digging in as somehow we managed to get in with 1 minute to spare. I would say well over half the entry lost time so he did really well. I can honestly say over the 19 miles of moor crossings Ben must have crashed over thirty times. Ben looked totally exhausted at the end of the day and he admitted that if we had another day like that he wasn’t sure he could finish. Fortunately this was to be our hardest physical day of the week. Even some of the top riders had said this was a really tough day.
Scores:
Ben 84
Me 48
Day 3
Luckily for us this day was to be a little less moor work. Still over 8hrs running time which was starting to take its toll on both of us physically. It always takes a few days for me to get into this Trial. Down South we just don’t get to ride rocks very often, whereas the riders from the North are right at home on this terrain. You would think I should be used to it now but it still takes a few days to get dialled in to the scale of these hazards. Overall it was a trouble free day and I could see Ben was starting to get used to riding the moors. This resulted in us both having a solid day in the sections. In fact Ben had some brilliant rides on some of the more technical sections. This day was even more special as it was my Birthday. Seeing as the Scottish is the same time every year I’ve had quite a few birthdays up here over the years.
Again we maintained a decent pace and with no mechanical issues we came in with 30 minutes to spare. This just takes a little pressure off as you then have time to do all the required servicing before you book the bike in. We even had time to put our spare rear wheels in. This meant that whilst the bikes were in overnight we could turn our tyres. In Trials it is all about having a decent edge on the knobbles of the tyre. This is what gives you grip.
Scores:
Ben 77
Me 56
Day 4
The start times were getting earlier and earlier for us. The day started as all the others. A couple of mugs of strong coffee and as much porridge as we could take on board. Then it was just a case of getting all our kit out the drying room and deciding what clothing we would wear. Well it was this day that I decided we would wear full on Police florescent jackets as it was what we classed as Road Race day. This was only given this name from decades ago as on one of the days the majority of the sections were accessible from the road. This meant that the spectators could pretty much follow the riders round for most of the day. Normally there are only a small selection of sections which are accessible as we are quite often miles away from even any tracks, let alone roads. As I well knew the only issue with Road Race day is the fact that the shorter moor work we do have is normally proper extreme stuff.
It must have looked slightly odd as we were given a lift in that morning on the back of a couple of road bikes with these hi viz jackets in full display. It always turns some heads whilst waiting to get called into the parc ferme. I always like to do at least one day in uniform as I truly believe it is great PR for the Police. In all the years of flying the flag as I call it, I have had nothing but positive reactions.
Well before I knew it I was called in for my 15mins of maintenance time. I was soon to find out I would literally need every second of that. As I walked over to get my bike I then noticed the bike was leant over more than normal on the side stand. On closer inspection I found that my front tyre was not just soft but completely flat. Knowing what little time I had I had to get on with the repair ASAP.
I quickly took the wheel out and handed it to Mick one of our support crews who then ran it over to Montesa to flash a new tube in it. At the same time I then started to replace the rear wheel with our competition ones which had the tyres turned from the previous night. Ben who was right next to me was doing his rear wheel at the same time. In my eagerness to get it done I mistakenly put the wrong wheel back in, to Bens great amusement. I then waited patiently to get my front wheel back. With only about 2 minutes to spare I then saw Mick running back with it. Quick re fit and a full 20 seconds before I was to start another day.
The day started off quite well for me in the sections but for some reason Ben was defiantly not firing on all cylinders. We had a tough moor crossing which took us up to our compulsory lunch break of 15 minutes. The lunch stop was the same every day and has been for many years now. A local burger van will provide you with either a burger, hot dog or pasta bowl. With this you got a cold drink, banana and chocolate bar. All of these were very welcoming seeing as at that point we had normally be riding non-stop for around 5 hrs.
Don’t know what Ben had to eat that day but after Lunch he had some great rides. He had his best ride of the week that afternoon. The last section at a group called Corie Dubh is a real corker. It has a very steep waterfall at the end. The three previous riders all of whom were pretty good riders had full on crashes. I went next and managed to get out for a three. Ben had already asked if I could catch for him on this one. As I ran back down towards the top of the waterfall he was already on route. I didn’t think he was going to go for it as its one of the 5 a day sections. At the base of the climb he wound the engine up and dropped the clutch. Not only did he get up but he even got some air time out the top to the amusement of the observer. A well-deserved clean and his best of the week. Ben finished the rest of the day strong where I seemed to drop quite a few silly marks.
Again we managed to complete another day without losing any time. About 15 minutes in hand I believe.
Scores:
Ben 112
Me 83
Day 5
This was to be a completely new route today which included several new sections. We were back to lots of time spent on moors today. I must admit I was a little worried about Ben if it was to be another day like Tuesday. Well it takes time to master how to ride a Trials bike across the Scottish Moors. It was this day when Ben mastered this new skill. He was flying along. He even stayed with Jack Peace for about 10 minutes. Well Jack really is a top rider. I believe he finished 12th this year. I remember thinking Ben definitely has the making of being a decent Enduro rider in the future. Again no real bike problems today, apart from Ben losing a couple of split pins on his foot pegs. Another easy fix as I carry spares.
I can remember the sections being real hard so we both finished with high scores today. Luckily non on time.
Scores: Ben 121
Me 95
Day 6 Last Day
This was to be our early day. That means the sections are going to be super slippery. It was a nice touch for us both to be waved off by our support team and even our friends at Montesa. I had tried to prepare Ben for this final day. Although the running time of the day is only 7hrs I know from experience it is ALWAYS a tough finish. The day starts off with some huge sections which if you get them wrong will definitely spoil your party. We both pushed on and had a handful of decent rides. A couple of the moors were really tricky as the bogs were deep. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if you were at the back of the field today. Again Ben was carrying a decent pace across the moors with the odd stopper showing how useful his experience as a gymnast would be. I do believe as he was thrown over the bars it was a great handstand. To make it even harder on this last day you don’t even get a lunch break. We both struggled on in the sections and when you hear the words “Come on keep going”
You will get what I call a Scottish 3. We kept pushing on all day until the last group at Ben Nevis. You know the sections are going to be challenging by the amount of spectators. Well they didn’t disappoint because they were hard. We somehow got through the last couple of groups where you ride down the final mountain side. It was only as we hit the road section when it all registered with me that we were going to make it to the end. On the final road section I was thinking about how proud I was of my son for digging deep and getting to the end of this truly challenging event. The very final section is in the Town Centre where again all our friends / support crew were waiting for us. We both got through with a final working 3’s and we were done. It was just a case of riding the 5 minutes to the finisher’s podium. I had completed a lifelong dream to finish the Scottish with Ben. This had not been an easy year but considering the number of retirements and this being Ben’s first year I think he did excellent and it’s definitely a year we won’t forget. Hopefully this is the first of many more years if I can stay injury free.
Results: Ben 108
Me 92
Overall results: Ben in 226th place with 619 marks
Me 192nd with 460 marks
A massive thanks to our amazing support team who are probably the most experienced group you could wish for. I also want to thank the following sponsors for all the help they have provided the Police Trials Team.
Met Police Motor Club
Thames Valley Police Sports and Social Club
Bike safe
Talon
Micky Oats Motorcycles
Wulf Clothing
Last but not least if are reading this you feel you would quite like to get into the great world of Trials, please feel free to make contact with me and hopefully I may be able to give advice. I won’t be able to do this forever but I would love the Police Trials Team to be around for many years to come.
Regards Chris Howman (Hendon Driving Academy)
