neils on wheels

I'm wondering where Doug's press release from Barcelona is? Dabill's report is up on the site but nothing from Doug. They both use Jake's G2F services don't they?

I believe that Scorpa will not have a WTC team in 2008. My understanding is that they intend to invest in product development rather than running a WTC team.

Thanks Pete, seeing the results hasn't cheered me up much mind you! I think I must have come last in The Chipping Campden mini-league! Neil

Pete, Do you know if the results have been posted anywhere yet? I know they are not on the Midland Centre site. I'm interested in my rather more modest (and high scoring) ride in the off road trial. Neil

My view on Doug? He's certainly my favourite as he's the guy I supported in plenty of world rounds from the mid 90's onwards. At the time that he was invincible he dominated in the way Bou currently is, but I believe he did it not only with riding talent but utter dedication and focus. Is he better than the other 7 times world champion, Tarres? Who knows, but its a good pub debate. Is he better than the winner of god knows how many titles, Sammy Miller? Again, who knows. I think where Doug differs slightly to some of the other greats is that he took current riding technique and perfected it to devastating effect. I'd suggest that some others such as Vesty, Tarres, probably Sammy Miller and currently Toni Bou have moved the goalposts in a different way by introducing new riding techniques. Vesty had that bandy-legged stance that allowed the bike to move freely, Tarres pioneered the technique of breaking a section down into a number of seperate challenges and Bou is pure cyclo-trials. My take on why Bou is so effective on the 4 stroke, particularly indoors, is that he rides it like a push bike. Look how the bike trial riders approach a section. Its all the weight & hopping on the back wheel using the transfer of body weight to get the bike moving. Bou rides the 4RT like this, so the light weight & low-down tourque give him the grunt & momentum to pull off moves usually only seen on an 11Kg push bike. So back to Doug. I confidently predict he'll win more world rounds than anyone on these forums in 2008

From the press release it looks like Doug has a one year deal, on that basis it will be whatever produces the best results, which will probably be a 2T. I could see Beta wanting a longer relationship after that to help develop the 4T. I wonder if Cousin John has any influence to get Doug riding more British trials next year. Surely Beta would love another British Championship. Haven't the ACU agreed to run to FIM regs next year, which has always been Doug's gripe with the BTC?

I came across this site recently & have just downloaded the December issue. The title may not entice a trials rider, but the test of Raga's 2008 bike & the 4T comparison test should. Check it out http://www.motocrossdigital.com/ The download is free

The FIM site has been displaying the "news" that Doug will ride Beta next year for a while. I guess they read it on Todo Trial like the rest of us!

It looks like the rear tyre is a front Dunlop trials tyre, whilst the front is a Michelin DH mountain bike tyre

I thought the factory did a 'racing' kit. I'd check with your importer.

I'm with Billy on this one. I've had physio on back injuries in the past. The key is to protect your back by having good core strength. Assuming you already have good mobility and can do back stretches, then plank exercises and proper use of a swiss ball for training are good tips.

If you look at the cost of the 125 kit, plus the cost of a new bike you must be getting close to

The trial is officially known as the Terry Cup, which is traditionally run the first weekend of December by Redditch MCC. It is in the Midland Centre calendar for 2nd December.

It's great to see British riders being supported, shame we are not doing it from wholly domestic teams, I have 3 comments / thoughts: 1. Great news for Alexz - well done 2. Real shame for Shirty 3. How is it that the Italian's can run private teams at world trials championship level as they do with TTT and TRW?

Nice helmet mind you!

Eh up! The seller is called 'rubbalad'... It is a private ebay listing so no Ids are disclosed... He's wearing road boots... Well, well, we always knew trials was a 'special interest' sport didn't we!

I use silicone bath sealant to run around the airbox / mudguard joint and across to the exhaust. It's easy enough to apply at the end of fettling after a trial and not much faff to remove after you've washed the bike from the next trial. I would send a photo but my bike is in storage pending a house move next weekend.

Bou is a very well deserving champion and was as good as certain to win anyway. But it must be equally frustrating for him. Surely, you would want to be crowned champion after actually riding a trial wouldn't you? p.s. My mate at work reckons 'Bou' might be an old Belgian name!

I've used Muc-Off for years as I get most of my stuff that works for my mountain bikes & trials bikes. I've recently started to use Fenwicks as it can be diluted. I get it from mountain bike shops & its a lot cheaper than Muc-Off. http://www.fenwicks.info/bike.htm

Oh it's just Sooooo predictable. Maybe Beta can double their sales in 2008, by NOT painting or anodising their frame black?

Don't forget the first Sherco. It looked an awful lot like a Gas Gas at the time didn't it?

Who says it has a large Chinese content? In any case, didn't the Japanese car & bike manufacturers start out with cheap copies of Western products? I think most would agree they now produce the highest quality & most reliable products.

I was interested to read in the Hawkstone programme the British riders responses to the question, "Can Toni Bou emulate Doug & Jordi Tarres, record of 7 world titles?" The response was a pretty unanimous yes. You have to say the world top 10 is a pretty stagnant place with only Bou making a significant move up and Dibs also making some progress. Everyone else is pretty much shuffling down in order to make space for these two. It's hard to see anyone currently riding in the full WTC being able to beat a fit Toni Bou over a whole season, and sadly I belive that includes James Dabill (please prove me wrong Dibs ). Dani Oliveras dominated the youth & junior chanpionships but has yet to make a mark at world level, perhaps he will establish himself better in a second season onboard the 4T Sherco? We then have to look to the Junior & Youth ranks for the next guy to beat Bou. Here the British responses were even more interesting, I reckon if Bou did win 7 titles that would leave Michael Brown about 27 years old and Wiggy about 24. If these guys are going to challenge for a world title they really need to do it in or near to this time frame. What do you all reckon, how long will Bou reign & who will be the next world trials champion?

Dave, I'm not sure if anyone really is making any money. Maybe the Top 5 riders earn a decent living for 5-10 years, I'm not even sure if that is true. But at a company level who makes money? the Honda effort looks like it costs a hell of a lot more than it earns and all the other teams seem to have reduced the size of their factory squads.

BVM in Stroud I would recommend. http://www.bvm-moto.co.uk/ Nearest is probably Behind Bars in Kenilworth, though to be honest I have no direct experience of them. http://www.behind-bars.co.uk/ShopScreen14.swf