cleanorbust

There's a good trials-only shop near Scarborough: FeetUp Trialsport at Cornerways, Ratten Row, Seamer, near Scarbough, YO12 4QB. The owner, Alan Bird, knows his bikes and doesn't mind giving free advice!

I've ridden a 200 sherco for 3-4 years and find it to be well up to the job. It's particularly good when you're tired towards the end of a trial as it won't fly out of your hands if your throttle control is waning, or if you're feeling aggressive you can fire it at rock steps without ensuing disaster as with bigger bikes. Also it seems pretty good at finding grip, and has the "light" feel of a 125 as opposed to a 250. One thing the 200s seem to be noted for is more of a rattle from the engine (sounds like piston slap) than the other Shercos, so probably nothing to worry about if yours sounds this way. Basically the 200 is just a good trials bike: don't think about the size of the engine, just get on with riding it and it'll do what you need it to.

Try the "Classified Ads" column on the homepage. Happy shopping.

It's especially pleasing to see that he jumped straight back in at the deep end, ie on the hard route, which he is obviously capable of mastering Some previous aces have been happy to stage a return by dominating easy route classes, which of course they have every right to do but which doesn't necessarily challenge their skills.

Maybe the rider was taking his cues from Premier League footballers, who crowd the referee and blast him with obscenities when a decision goes against them. Maybe it's the way of the world nowadays, but it doesn't mean it's right. Besides, I've never seen an abused observer change his or her mind, so it's a futile exercise anyway.

I had a Beamish rl250 (red and silver model) for a year or so in the 70s. Good points: maintenance-free motor (a boon at the time), plush suspension Not so good points: petrol tank prone to leaks at rear; very thin side cases on motor combined with lack of bash plate leading to damaged cases; frame prone to buckling at plates below steering head; perhaps not as easy to find grip as its competitors Overall I do have fond memories of the bike. Quite a few people bought them but didn't seem to hang on to them for long. Would probably make a reasonable twin-shock ride if you can find a decent one.

Back in my days of club secretary-ship, we found there was a common baseline of entry fees, as there is now, which clubs could adhere to and cover costs (our intention was not to make a profit). Riders got used to there being a level of entry fees which was more or less the same for whatever grade of trial they were entering. I think it's understandable if riders baulk at a sudden hike in fees by a particular club if the reason is not made clear.

This might seem an obvious question, but I'll ask it anyway: It's an interesting point that performance diminishes with age. In Dougie Lampkin's case there's no reason to doubt his physical fitness, reaction times, confidence, motivation and determination are still at extremely high levels, so why, exactly, should performance tail off with the passage of time? Of course this happens to (almost) everyone, but what is it that slips such that people who dominate a sport eventually slide down the rankings? I accept that in trials physical fitness does reduce with age, or at least you have to work harder to keep it, but if that was the only factor people in relatively non-physical sports like snooker could stay on top indefinitely. But they don't. Why not?

Not sure on that point, probably would apply if there were reasonable grounds for doing so to prevent further infringement.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle on common land without lawful authority (usually from the landowner). Pretty clear cut I'm afraid, and chances are if anyone contravened this law the result would be loads of bad publicity for motorcycling in the local neighbourhood, which wouldn't be helpful for local trials organisers etc.

Would that be a standrad 125 Scorpa, or modified? Just wondered as most people reckon the stabndard 125 id much improved with various mods.

No problem round our way (N Yorkshire). It's been on the shelves for 3/4 weeks.

Think the first Yam trials bike on sale in UK was the TY250 in 1974.

They're "Breath-Right" strips which stick to the outside of the nose and keep the nostrils in a "pulled open" position. That supposedly lets more air in, so oxygen supply to the lungs, and ultimately the muscles, is increased. I believe clinical tests show they have zero effect, and there's easier ways of making yourself look like a wally.

Shame for Shirt? Possibly, but I bet there's just as many new Gassers turning out in the new year as if Alexz was still riding one.

S'funny, I've only been involved for 39 years but the sport's politics is exactly how some people get their fun

Freedom of expression is a wonderful thing, crude name-calling not so clever. TC has always had a reasonable standard of debating, I'm hoping that remains the case.

Been through similar periods myself over the years (I started in 1973). Having a break for a few weeks does help, as does riding in some new locations if you can. Even Low North Park can get a bit same-old if you ride there 20 or 30 times year and see the same faces each time. Riding trials with mates helps greatly, but not everyone has a riding partner. Also if you've friends outside trials who are keen on other sports it can be good to chat to them; some of their enthusiasm can rub off on you so you feel energised to have a good crack at your own sport. Sounds like you may have arrived at the stage where your riding has reached a stale point from a skills point of view, i.e. repeating the same mistakes on each outing so confidence decreases. Could try a practice trip where you just concentrate on two or three sections, analysing what you're doing wrong (a mate can help with this), applying some fixes and having a target of cleaning each section three times on the trot before you go home. Just imagining yourself doing it right goes a long way towards making it happen. Even if you don't reach this target I bet your performance improves through the day and you'll feel better about things. A new bike or riding gear has also been known to bring some riders out of the doldrums sometimes. If you love the sport, and I'm sure you do, it's actually quite difficult to walk away from it.

The tip about loosening the levers on the barts is a good one - saved me several lever brackets over the years. I've had to re-tighten the clamps to placate one or two over-zealous scrutineers in my time, but it doen't take long to slacken them off again before riding the trial.

Yep, definitely one for the nostalgia buffs

From memory: Alta Suzukis were produced in Wales in 1969/70 (the only motorcycle to be manufactured in Wales?). They used the 118cc Suzuki engine with "twin" gearbox (three ratios which could be put in high or low mode). They followed Peter Gaunt's own conversion of the 118cc Suzuki road bike for trials use in 1967. Altas were made by a relative of the Taylor family who were also responsible for Alta cars (pre-war?). Works riders for Alta included Martin Lampkin and John Hemingway (father of Ben and Dan). The works bikes graduated to 128cc using pistons from the Suzuki Super Six 250 road bike. The ultimate version was a monocoque alloy framed model. Rising costs of buying in the engines put the firm out of business in 1970, but they were great bikes by all accounts, providing more low-end grunt as required for British trials than the rival 125s of the time. I think there are some pictures on the Eurospares.com website, among loads of other interesting stuff there. Peter Gaunt went on from Suzuki power to produce the 88cc Gaunt Jawa, using the engine from the Jawa Cross 90 trail bike, in 1969 I believe. This was a little jewel of a bike, at the time the lightest and cheapest trials bike on the market, but Gaunt was one of the few who could get the best out of the buzzy engine, winning the Irish Experts on one beating the top-line opposition of the day. After the Jawa, Peter Gaunt went on to produce a 175 CZ and 350 Ducati trials bikes. Possibly also pictuies on Eurospares, or try googling for images.

I has no idea I was sitting on such an investment. Wouldn't be so bad if the book was decently produced: the pages fall apart if you look at them hard enough.

Anyone know where it can be bought in UK?

I understand the bikes at last Sunday's test day near Skipton were 2007 models. Still couldn't ride it for toffee though.

Correct, Big John! I knew I wouldn't be the only one with enough anorak tendencies to remember that.