timp

Use a left handed drill bit

Atomant, Glad to hear your prepared to give it a go. Laying out is pretty simple. Just give enough room so sections can be ridden without it being necessary to hop. This doesn't mean riders arn't allowed to trick ride, it just they have to do it whilst moving which most expert route riders soon get the hang of and make full use of to there advantage. Observing is always a grey area under any rules, some observers give a five instantly the bike stops moving but most I find do allow a bit of hesitation by the rider but at the extreme some may allow a stop of a second or two. Why not try just running a trial under the stop allowed rule as it is supposed to be run. The rider only gets a 1 for stopping, not a 5. It may not be perfect but it works ok. Another option for you is to travel up to any trial in Derbyshire, Yorkshire or above and see how things run first. You wont regret it. Mark T

Sorry Bikespace, I didn't make that bit clear. What I meant was two different rules. You either run a trial under no-stop or the new world rules, not both. The riders would then make the decision as to which rule is best. Bet I know which most nationals would run under. Mark T

I can't really remember when I last went to a trial where riders were not penalised for stopping. Fair enough slight hesitation isn't penalised consistantly but never are you allowed to stand still for more than say a second. I must lead a sheltered life in the trials world if as some say on here a stop feet up is never penalised. This is totally new to me and I do go to a few trials. I think a trip up north would open a few eyes to what is possible with no stop rules. It works. No problem. The best riders still win. I was at the Cobb & Jagger trial on sunday and saw a lot of the top young riders and they were at the top of the results beating a lot of good adults yet it was a non-stop trial. Seems they can do it. I guess a lot of people who are calling for a return to stopping without penalty are pretty new to the sport and didn't experience the 1990s. It was not good. It's not just old folk on the clubman route who want no stop. I would say most of riders in their 20s I know of would rather stay with the rules we have now or go non-stop. I think that trials would be possibly better if a split came about with the new world rules running alongside full no-stop. Let riders ride the trials that suit them. Theres no reason why there couldn't be a British championship for both rules. Mark T

Coxy is right about the grease. Its the easy way to cure the problem. Don't even think about fitting a tube unless you like extra hassle when changing tyres and you want less grip! They put tubes in pre 65 bikes, not modern ones.

Thanks for that Overthehill. Nice just to get an insight into the part of the trial we never see. The routemarking is the best I have seen in any trial. Excellent job. Mark T

Sorry to bring it up again but have you checked there is play in the rod. No play gives the symptoms you describe. Also check that there isn't any play in the pivot for the brake lever. It needs to push squarely towards the master cylinder. Mark T

Was that supposed to be a joke

overthehill Its always amazed me how you flag the ssdt.can you answer a few questions for me please. 1How many of you cross a moor at once when you put the flags out. 2How do you carry the flags. 3Is it done on the day before or when. 4Is there a predetermined exact route or do you make it up as you go(ie; do you head for certain landmarks that you use every time or vary it if you feel like it) 5How do you know everyone is off the moor when closing the course. 6How would a bike be got off a very remote area that had broken down and was unrideable eg; a collapsed wheel. 7Has anyone ever got totally lost and had to spend the night on the moor. And I don't mean Kinell Thanks Mark T

Make sure you have some play on the plunger rod that comes out of your master cylinder.

Ishys dead right. Go fast on the moors and you will end up in trouble. Trying to keep up with someone faster than you can be very tiring. Ride at your own pace and go round the bad bits and you will get to the end. Being bike fit in my opinion is the main thing. Never gone for the 50 press ups a day thing! but I ride in a trial every week which is more important. Mark T

Use an impact driver to loosen and tighten flywheel nut. You then can hold it from turning with just your hand. Also put loctite on the thread when refitting.

I'm in. Must get some waterproof gloves and socks. Mark T

Thanks for the wonderful news. Time to book accomodation. See you up there. Mark T

Please Highland lassie, have a quick dinner!!! 8pm is 2 hrs away and thats a long time to some of us ssdt junkies.

Jools, I have a similar problem. No mechanical problems but I just can't ride the 06 250 anything like my previous 04 250. I also find it all over the place on rocky streams etc. I have detuned the engine, fitted a flywheel weight, downgeared a fair lot so it is set up like my old bike but still it seems difficult to control. I have wondered if it may be too light on the front end with the new forks. There must be a point where it is too light but not sure if this is it. As regards your mechanical problems speak to your dealer who I am sure will sort it out as it should be warranty work. GasGas UK will help you if you have a genuine problem. They are very good. Mark T

Ishy, if you get in what bike are you going to ride? Mark T

How long till some clubs start running club trials under the British Champ rules. Not long I think. This rule may work for British champs but for any other trial it will be like going back to the 90s. A total farce. This a backwards step in the UK. The last few years has gone very well with the 2 sets of rules we have now. I hardly hear any moans about observing nowadays. Most people I know are happy as things are. Its not perfect but it works. These are not just clubmen but some of the best riders in the country. I think if a proper effort was made to ask riders what rules they prefer we would be staying as we are now. Mark T ps. Lets hope the FIM change the rules soon so we can have 4 sets of rules at once

Whats everyones favourite trials or venues. Mine 1 Ssdt 2 Jack Wood 3 Dave Rowland 4 Bemrose 5 Hillsborough classic M Timp

Atomant, you say,"the 1 point penalty for stopping with your feet up is never used at our club to my knowledge, so it might as well not be there." It must make it difficult for you if you go and ride elsewhere and their observers actually stick to the rules. I assume your club doesn't run a national trial with that way of observing. Seriously if there is no penalty for stopping national trials would decline to a point where they can't run due to lack of riders. It happened some years ago and will happen again. Clubmen are the backbone of the sport and a lot do ride the expert route.They don't just ride the easier routes. Keep them happy and trials thrives as it is now. Alienate them with tight, hoppy sections and queues and you will have a true minority sport. Don't try and fix what isn't broken. Mark T

Its good that Stuart got this discussion off about this problem and giving us old ones something to really moan about!! Recently I was told by one of the UK importers that that the bike manufacturers want no-stop trials, also all or most of the UK importers would rather have no-stop.(sure someone will tell me if i'm wrong!) The importers are mainly ex top riders with a vast amount of experience between them. They know what is good for the sport. To allow riders to be stationary without penalty, with or without timing in the section, is a step back to the bad old days. Every rider who can stop, balance and hop will do it if its an advantage for them. So straight away we are back to the old delays at the sections where some not so superstar stops, hops, sumps out on a rock, picks his nose, talks to his minder, revs his bike to the limit to make sure everyone in the area is watching and jumps up the 5' step. Then 90% of the entry can't get through the section without paddling! At the moment he gets a 1 for stopping. it may not be perfect but it works and tends to keep the sections flowing in a fashion. Now if he wants a clean he keeps moving, does his trick stuff on the move which is far more impressive than having to stop to do it. Looking at the entries for trial nowadays it certainly suits beginners as it is. AS regards timers for the observers I find its bad enough finding 12 pencils that work without having to provide electronic stop watches as well Not really heard many problems with the two sets of rules running side by side at the moment so leave it be till the FIM go full no-stop.It won't be long!! Mark T

Saw the 2005 world review dvd. Like watching paint dry. Without timing in sections it would be a farce so how can it work in 90% of trials in this country. I don't think observers would like it. Most seem to like the rule we have now (stop is a 1) What do club trials do in spain etc. Have they had to time the sections? I hardly hear any moaning about rules nowadays so leave it as it is. But if I had to make a choice then its no stop for me. After all the FIM will probably go full no stop eventually when they have tried everything else. Mark T

The top three tyres are Michelin, Dunlop and IRC. All three have good and bad points but mainly good. Others makes are cheap but you get what you pay for. Similar comparison to Lada car or Honda car!