The Auto Cycle Union (ACU) has instigated a new championship for air-cooled two-stroke trials machines. This will not be a high-profile programme as its appeal will be to those club trials enthusiasts whom still ride and maintain older bikes such as the Yamaha TYs, Bultaco, Ossa, and some of the British models powered - if that's the right term - by Villiers engines.

This first round is being organised by the Lancaster MCC at one of its regular venues on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the north-west - and the description is not wasted on this landscape.

There are other bikes in the entry of 102 riders: modern two-strokes like Beta and Sherco; Honda four-strokes; a smattering of Triumph Trials Cubs; the 200cc single-cylinder four-strokes from years gone by but now carefully restored and regularly given a competitive outing.  

It was an early start to get there in time to see the competitors tackle the first sections, and it's the longest ride so far on my new acquisition, an Aprilia 850cc Mana. This is the one with an 'automatic' gearbox system which allows the rider to select a number of clutchless drive options: touring, sport, or rain. Or you can use the manual gear-change, but there's still no clutch.

This model, along with the Shiver, has not been that popular in the UK, but it sold in numbers in the US and gained excellent reviews. I bought mine (2009, 15,600 miles) on the strength of these reviews, and my brother had one for a while too. We've been "doing motorcycles" together for many years and he was really enthusiastic about his...it was lifted from outside his house despite the usual security.

In case you're wondering about the unusual name for this model: Mana is understandably an Italian-derived word, of which one interpretation is 'the substance of which souls are made'...this will do for me. On the road, this is an ideal package for the type of riding I enjoy, which is generally labelled sports/touring. With the 850cc vee-twin engine it's lively enough when 'touring mode' is selected but it will also amble along winding narrow stretches. Select 'sport mode' and the gear ratio changes will give the rider a much more dynamic experience. I think we're going to enjoy our miles and kilometers together. Now back to the main plot.

If you've never watched a trials event before, it's worth making the effort. Even at club level, it's enjoyable. But at national expert and international level the skill, bravery, and machine control is astonishing. The idea is for competitors to tackle 'sections': difficult and sometimes impossible looking terrain that you have to ride through without putting your feet down or stopping.

Observers in the sections mark each competitor's ride-through, and the winner will be the one with least marks once all the sections have been completed. At a club level, and at this event, it's all about pure sport and enjoyment. Riders congregate at the sections, examine the best line and obstacles, watch others ride through, chat to observers, and help each other when a bike gets stuck or they cannot complete the section.

Trials is balance, throttle control, slow manoeuvring, gear selection, and sometimes a dose of bravery if faced with a steep rocky climb or a muddy bank that has to be attacked if you're not to come to grief half-way up. The type of skills that are useful on the road too, especially if most riding is on urban roads in close company to other traffic and the congestion that our bikes allow us to filter and swerve through.  

The riders chat amiably as they sit on their bikes waiting to ride off at intervals to the first group of sections. It indicates the informality and camaraderie of the sport at this level. It's a sporting day out, a meet with mates, time on the bike in the wide open spaces atop the moors under the low thrum of the wind turbines which dot the hillsides.

I have to use two legs to get to the sections that are laid out in a series of steep wooded gullies, and run through rock-strewn streams. The early ones are shaded by oak groves; at least, they would be if the trees had any foliage. Still too early in the year this far north, even the buds are still in closed mode; but at least the temperature is clutching at double figures once sheltered from the inevitable moorland wind.

I spend a couple of enjoyable hours taking pictures and watching the riders perform. And scrambling up and down the steep sided mini valleys with a couple of other photographers. A dad, who is not competing but is obviously a very useful rider, is following his young son around the course. He looks stylish, and manages to ride through one of the trickier sections – a rocky stream with a tight exit turn up a slippery vertical bank – without incurring any penalty points. I can just about scramble out on two legs. Then it feels time to retrace my route, a long trudge back to the parking area and catering trailer.

On the route home, I followed the narrow roads traversing the Trough of Bowland. Sunshine and blue sky meant that other motorcyclists, cyclists, walkers, and cars crowded the area and clustered around the popular stopping places at Dunsop Bridge and Slaidburn. It's too crowded as one would expect on a holiday weekend when there's just a small weather window to enjoy the outdoors. But it was a reminder to make a return ride; on a weekday.

If you've never been to watch trials riders do their stuff, put an event on your biking calendar this year. These websites have information from across the country: www.trialscentral.com, www.tmxnews.co.uk.

01/04/16          Learned to ride on a trials bike, and even did a few competitions in my youth, still enjoy watching trials, but do prefer outdoor.

01/04/16          Have loved it for over fifty years, and still at it.

01/04/16         Done a bit myself crap at it but I really enjoyed it

01/04/16          mega

02/04/16          All can say, is Ray Pitt. Mean anything..

03/04/16          a great way to spend sundays doing a trial,loved it for years.

03/04/16         Love it done some in teens