Let’s look at the concept behind the International Six Days Trial. In the pre-First World War era there were a good number of long distance trials in the UK and elsewhere too. Many of these events were run over five, six and even seven days and had often seen special machines created with the sole aim of winning which, while important, did little to promote the products of the industry making these motorised bicycles. A proposal came from the ACU – Auto Cycle Union – for an event which would showcase the motorcycle and prove it was a viable method of transport rather than a novelty. It was suggested a team event with riders mounted on production machines would hold more value in the real world than would seeing a super trick machine, handled by a canny rider able to bring it to the finish.
So, when launched in 1913, the ISDT was neither the longest nor the toughest event the world had seen in the infancy of motorised transport. Instead it was laid out to reflect the sorts of conditions a prospective purchaser of a motorcycle would likely encounter on a day-to-day basis. Remember in those far-off days
