Ways To Get More People Into Trials Riding?

[sherconoob]

Mods, hope this new post is okay. I compiled info from a previous thread here but added a pile of new stuff I got from other clubs internationally. Thanks to all for the great tips.

Anyone got tips for getting more people into trials? I know it's big in the UK and Europe but elsewhere it seems to be the best kept secret of motorcycling. Of course none of this applies if a club wants to keep to a certain size, but is more for growing a club or at least maintaining club membership levels over time. I've been chatting with a few overseas clubs, checking some good threads and got the following ideas so far:

INTRO TO TRIALS DAYS:

Have a dedicated day to get interested people on some loan bikes and give them some basic instruction. Can also be just for an hour or two before a club event, as then they can spectate as well and see how it all works. Some clubs get local dealers to provide loan bikes and get a chance to sell some bikes too. I know a lot of clubs participate in the Come and Try Trials Day in Feb every year across the country, a great start! Some larger clubs even have a club bike so that newcomers can borrow it for their first club event (but must pay for any breakages).

TRIALS DEMOS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS

Get some upper grade riders to do their thing over some portable obstacles at community fairs and shows. Bigger events will actually pay for this sort of show too, which can go into the club's coffers.

PROMOTIONAL LEAFLETS & PAMPHLETS

At any event, have these on hand to give to visitors and spectators, or mail out to anyone who enquires through a club website. An online version can be set up on a club website too in the form of an "Introduction to trials" page.

CHAT WITH SPECTATORS WHO SHOW UP AT CLUB EVENTS

Chances are spectators who show up are interested in trials. When possible, stop to say hi and ask them how they found out about your event. Every club member is the face of your club and they'll be that more motivated to join when they see your club is supportive and friendly to newcomers.

WORD-OF-MOUTH

Most riders only get into a new facet of riding when they have mates who are into it. So if you know guys on road, adventure or dirt bikes encourage them to have a think about trials. Almost every dirt rider I speak to says at some point they have thought about getting a trials bike but often it was because they didn't know how to get into it, or didn't know anybody else who was into it. Some people say trials seems like a secret club or it's all a bit mysterious - the best way to counter that is talk about it and how easy it is to get into it.

USING ONLINE MEDIA: If anyone in your club is handy with a video camera and basic editing, film some of your events, post them online and use a Facebook page or your website to make them publicly accessible. It gives newcomers an insight into your club and it's members.

KEEP CLUB EVENTS FRIENDLY TO NEWCOMERS

I've never heard of this being an issue in Australian clubs, but some overseas clubs found they lost members, or didn't gain new ones, because the more skilled riders made even basic sections too difficult. It seems a healthy club is one that always keeps the newcomers and less skilled members in mind, or simply those who prefer to have more fun than challenge when they ride.

GET MORE EVENTS HAPPENING

One criticism of trials can be the lack of events - a new rider may just see there's one club event a month and think why bother? Some clubs make their events open to each other so there are events several times a month. As as club grows, it should be easier to start putting on training events and social ride days too.

A PROMOTIONS DUDE: One guy said the most successful strategy they ever used was a club member at each event was the promotions guy... he or she would just go up to any newcomers who looked interested, and ask if they'd like to come back at a set time and have a ride on a trials bike. He started a club from scratch in a tiny country town which grew to 40 members quickly (along with most of the strategies mentioned on this page too).

MAKE CLUB EVENTS SPECTATOR-FRIENDLY

If you plan on encouraging spectators, keep them in mind with signs to your property from the main road. Think of spectators when laying out your sections - how far it is to walk between sections, and how well sign-posted are they? Will they know which are upper grade and which are lower grade? Provide instructions on how to get to the event on your website. The previously mentioned pamphlets could come in handy if they explain how the scoring system works too. Being spectator-friendly becomes quite important if your club ever hosts a championship!

BIKE SHOPS

Put up posters in the bike shops in your area... especially if they are a trials bike shop, but all the others too.

GET ARTICLES INTO THE MEDIA & COMMUNITY PROMOTION

If anyone in the club is good with words, put articles in the local rag about trials riding and your club. Explain how it is a great sport for parents to get their kids into. Send in articles after the event with the scores and outcome. Include a photo of smiling club members.

Put up posters in your local community each a club event rolls around that would be good for spectators.

FOCUS ON THE KIDS

The youngsters are the champions of tomorrow. Consider a sub-group within the club that focuses on the kids. Have a cool name like "Rockhoppers" that Taffy used in a club he set up. A USA club I chatted with said they have two sherrifss and two school teachers who ride, so they have set up a law camp for youth that has 500 kids attend. They reckon it's a fun way to get paid to ride... that's thinking outside the box!

Good tips from the AJS crew... they have quite a few juniors so have three classes - Junior A follows the clubman line, Junior B have free run of the section and should be suitable for the automatic small wheel bikes and they also offer Mini Trial which is not competitive. A family pricing structure reduces the cost burden of having multiple children riding from one family.

ONLINE PROMOTION

Have a look at your website and see it through the eyes of a newcomer? Can they easily find info about trials? How to join your club? How and where to buy a bike? Can they come to your next event, and how do they get there?

If you are part of forums dealing with other aspects of motorbike riding, every now and then mention trials and see if you get any bites. Search for any trials-related threads in these forums and put in your two cents worth. Find interesting videos of the world's best riders like Toni Bou and post them in video sections just to raise the profile of trials riding.

I discussed using vids with Trials Australia and it resulted in the video below. Feel free to pass it on to any non-trials mates who you think might be interested in riding without a seat.

[jacksongee]

A fantastic post. I think one more thing which would be of use for newbies would be an online map of places to ride, I just bit the bullet and bought a bike but even living in Cumbria I am finding it hard to locate places

[Andy]

A fantastic post. I think one more thing which would be of use for newbies would be an online map of places to ride, I just bit the bullet and bought a bike but even living in Cumbria I am finding it hard to locate places

By publishing said map all you would do is tell every chav with an offroad bike where to go. That's why the TC Places To Ride forum is locked down to registered members only. You'll never stop it, but it does limit how far that information is spread.

[sherconoob]

that's an unfortunate possibility. our club shows the locations of our main properties on the website but also mentions that said properties are gated/locked, and owned by people who are extremely welcoming to trials riders and spectators coming to an advertised event,....

but warns any othr visitors of mine fields, automated machine gun nests, and to anyone who navigates those bits a personal welcome message from the end of a shot gun... well not quite, but you get the gist.