The third in our occasional series of new things to try on your bicycle is Trail Quest.
The observant among you may have spotted a mysterious new event on our original club calendar for 2020 – a Trail Quest pencilled in for 18th Aug. in Comber. So what was the plan?
A Trail Quest is basically orienteering on a bicycle. Each competitor is given a map and a series of grid references they have to find. The idea is to get round as many as possible in a given time. Ones that are close to the start, or easy to find, are given low points, while those that are further away get higher points.
The skill is to pick a route that scores the most points, while still getting back to the start within the time limit. There are big penalties for being late. Accurate map reading and navigation are at least as important as speed.
British Championship events are typically 5 hours, but we were planning to start with a less ambitious 90 minute event starting and finishing at the Texaco Station south of Comber and taking in the quiet roads and lanes between Comber and Whiterock.
Although the original event had to be cancelled, it seemed a shame not to use the proposed route map. So – we’ve now decided to share the map (with the locations pre-plotted) above and the questions to be answered at each location are in the table below. You can also down load a copy suitable for printing here.
| No | Grid ref | Clue | Points | Answer |
| 1 | 485674 | What is the penalty for leaving the gate open at no. 12? | 20 | |
| 2 | 490675 | How many castlettes on the lookout at the path end? | 30 | |
| 3 | 476676 | What should you be cautious for at 20 The Beeches? | 10 | |
| 4 | 496660 | What is the name of house number 50? | 20 | |
| 5 | 506654 | What colour is the letter box at number 18? | 30 | |
| 6 | 497658 | When was Ballydrain Harrier & Athletic established? | 10 | |
| 7 | 502645 | According to the big grave stone on the left, how old was Joseph Snowden when he died in 1799? | 30 | |
| 8 | 507631 | What is the telephone number of the phone box? | 20 | |
| 9 | 524627 | How much did DCC pay for the LV Petrel in 1968? | 20 | |
| 10 | 507616 | What number is the Private Lane? | 40 | |
| 11 | 524639 | Who were the causeway walls built in memory of? | 40 | |
| 12 | 487653 | What Townland is this end of Castle Espie Road in? | 20 | |
| 13 | 507608 | What year was Rev. John Livingston born? | 30 | |
| 14 | 468683 | How many cows in the garden of 13 Cuan Farm? | 10 |
Why not give it a go, and see how you get on? It’s ideal for individuals or family groups. Don’t forget – you lose 5 points for every minute you’re late. And why not share your experiences on Facebook? Good luck! We’ll publish the answers in a couple of weeks.