scorpa3

Yes, and lets all be honest; for every five that you get that you think you shouldn't have had, there's one that you didn't get that you should have. I'm regularly involved in running events and by far the worst job is trying to get observers. I just hate asking people to do it. It's so nice when someone turns up and offers to observe without being asked. The last thing we want is for them to get any kind of abuse for their trouble. To everyone who observes - thank you.

Jeff, the kick off will be at 10am. As Neils says, the centre championship riders go off for a ride on the road whilst the novice's stay in Saintbury Quarry.. Do you have a short list of bikes that you like the look of? Pete Let me know when you are going up to Top Farm and I'll come a long for a practice. The more the merrier!

HI John, Are you riding in the Vale of Evesham trial next week at Broadway? Whilst the Centre Championship is on the road, the Abbey Heating novice trial will be all off road, not to mention somewhat easier Pete

Ooops, I sometimes use that. I'd never considered some people would find it off putting.

Removing the listing is only another way of having a reserve price... just not having to pay for it. You come across it a lot on ebay. You also come across a lot of shill bidding, which ebay strictly don't allow...... but still happens. ANd don't even begin on the new feedback system where sellers CAN'T give a negative, even to non performing sellers!

My brokers are MCE click HERE

Don't take the wrong 'root!'

I tried the 290 evo with the soft power setting at the BVM test day. Riding it back to back with all the other manufacturers 2009 (two stroke) offerings, it felt easily the best. Although it's obviously got monster power in the top end, low down it was a real novice bike (which suited my limited ability!) If I was in the market for a new bike. It would be the Evo 290

If you've got a tubed tyre, it won't stay secure on a tubless rim. The only thing you can try is drilling a hole and fitting a security clamp. Obviously, if you do this (which still may not stop the tyre from spinning) you will always need to run a tube in the future.

I am biased on this one, so I shall be careful what I say. Alan tells me that most of the people who were at Malvern last year will be at Telford. I have to say, I just can't believe that the two shows have been arranged in this way. Better leave it at that.

Not to mention the worries of getting the jetting right for early morning practice

Jon Bliss from Cheltenham has done something similar using the Jai Ling trail bike.

Over the last five years I've had a japanese enduro bike and a (from new Scorpa) trials bike, I guess that I've changed roughly the same number of parts on both. Wheel bearings, air filters, pads, chains & sprockets, spokes, body work etc etc... there's genuinely nothing in it. (excluding tyres that is!) (Prior to that I had a new Beta Rev3 and the only issue with that was the stator and before that a Gas Gas 250 which really did need more maintenance.) Now if you think a trials bike needs a lot of work, try road racing for a season or two. You really do find out the meaning of when any mechanical failure could cost you your life! We've got it easy in trials, a rear tyre lasts a year and a front lasts for years. The cheapest form of motorsport by miles

Andrew, I'm suprised that you find the Beta so 'needy.' Not withstanding stator issues, Beta's generally have one of the best reputations for build quality and reliability. What kind of problems are you getting? Pete

A practice day or social event will have the same insurance cover if it is run through the ACU. Just check that a permit has been issued.

Not exactly the best engine to use in a trials bike. The motor probably weighs about the same as the rest of the machine! Looks like a really nice job though.

If you have an old car bottle jack, you can wedge a piece of timber between a door jam and the tyre then jack it off the rim. However be warned, if you only have a foot pump, you are unlikely to get the new tyre back on the rim without a compressor.

The definition of regret..... staying out for just one more qualifying lap on worn tyres and crashing into the straw bales at 120mph!

It's not too far to Earl Shilton. Well worth joining the club just for the practice area at the Yennards.

I've always turned mine with no problems. I've even used them (facing either way) on my DRZ400 for trail bike trials with no trouble.

The price went down when the third bidder retracted their bid of

For what it's worth. I approached a solicitor (here in the UK) over a similar idea concerning riders using some of my land for practice. They made it very clear that although the use of a disclaimer won't do any harm; if someone was injured then at best it would only mitigate the claim and not prevent it. Remember, if a member of the public happens to stray into the area and get injured, the organiser will still be partly responsible. Their 'strong' advice was to take out good insurance.

Results HERE

The Stratford-Upon-Avon Club staged the Ralph Varden Centre Championship trial at Hancocks Wood near Boradway on Sunday 12th December. Heavy rain the day before made some of the steeper sections very tricky, but with three route available most riders had a good, if rather muddy day out. Results to follow soon. Here's a few short video clips. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten

Plus it isn't all take. Every affiliated ('licenced') rider needs to be sent the current ACU hand book (or the CD version) which includes the National Sporting Code. This book is amended each year, so even if you only ride in one event, the ACU still has the expense of sending us the book. As for club membership, our club membership is