araf

Well done. Post up the e-bay link then, so that we can be nosey.

Can't we all. I find I only excel at being mediocre at everything I do. As you're in Oswestry, and I'm nearly in France, I'll offer you a go on mine.

250+ are for heroes. Of the few 200's for sale, how many have 'mature rider' in the advert? It's there for a reason, which only comes with age and experience. A 200 has that little bit more than a 125, but will still pull, rather than spin like a 250 if you're ham-fisted. With the current crop of youth having so long on a 125, I'll be surprised if many of them don't opt for a 200 over a 250 once they're 18. Very happy with my gasser 200, which in my inept hands, gives me a second chance, rather than launching me at the scenery.

The boy done good. I belive that Ben won the trial today, and in so doing, has wrapped up the Youth 'B' title. Well done Ben.

If it's a UK market bike, then the importer should go out f their way to help. If not, or if the importer seems to be very slow in dealing with your request, then..... George Nuttall Services, 79, Fir Street, Cadishead, Manchester, M44 5AR Tel 0161 775 9567

I think you may find that this has more to do with Government legislation than the ACU. If a child is payed prize money, then they are technically riding for reward. Any activity for reward is covered in employment legislation. Under 13, is not allowed, unless TV, theatre, modeling, or similar, and a performance licence is then required........ I won't bother you with further details, but suffice to say, prize money to juniors is NOT an option for the ACU. Just think of the paperwork. For the record, rewarding the parents would be classed as child exploitation , so that's out as well.

Atom. Don't know where I fit in, as I never did trials before this year, having come from Enduro, H&H and Rallies and trail riding. Post NERC, there are a few that I know that are just starting in the sport at my age, just for something to do now and again. There's a lot less travelling, and the bikes don't seem to need so much attention. There's very few egos that need massaging, from what I see. More a case of a new challenge.

From what I gather, Si Melber put a lot into getting TBM's sister publication off the ground, with additional staff etc. When you're a small independent, you can't afford to keep throwing money at a new venture in that fashion, only for a larger publisher to thwart your efforts. With Trials World devaluing the advertising revenue, I'm sure that it would now be a loss to produce.

Now you're talking. Plenty to chew over there. Not my party, but I'd fix the week-ends across the country, otherwise you'd have people doing a club championship trial instead, and any that supported the fund raiser could lose out, which wouldn't be fair. My initial thought is that the running of the events should be voluntary. You've already mentioned about upsetting people, and volunteers don't want to be taken for granted. Money. If there's one topic that will get people falling out, then that is it. Firstly, the land owner and expenses should be deducted. The organising club should receive some of the funds, as otherwise there's no incentive for putting a trial on. The centre should also have a group of riders in need of assistance, so should also get a share, and finally the ACU for additional distribution at the highest echelon. Maybe 25%, 50%, 25% ? Money could then be distributed on a grant system. Anyone wishing for funds should approach their club. The club awards, and passes to centre, who also award on merit, then pass to ACU. Monies donated to the ACU would have to be kept separate from funds for other disciplines. If the ACU cannot guarantee that 100% of the fund goes back to Trials riders, then a committee should be made up from representatives from each combine. Meetings could be via e-mail/telephone, to keep costs, and time to a minimum. Even one week-end is better than none, but if three week-ends are set aside, then maybe two trials and a training day? I like the idea of the top riders getting involved, so they have to put something back (as many already do). I await a good flaming for being too naive.

I think the enforcement part, was that three week-ends a year were clear of any other trials competition, to ensure that the fund raising events had the best chance of being well suppported. The last thing you'd want is to go to the trouble of putting the event together, for just a handful to enter. By negative feeling, I assume that you mean resentment that the ACU's meddling at club level? Three trials per centre in a year would be a lot less than one each to worry about.

If they were in the calendar, I'd enter. Have you also considered getting the land owners to also allow the trials without rent? Enduro clubs manage to put on events of this nature to help send riders to the ISDE, so I can't see why trials clubs can't. Some also run training schools to raise funds, which I'd also be interested in.

Like the integral oven 'garden ornament.' Cheers for the warning, and sorry to hear you had a wasted journey, though I suggest that you rephrase your post to say "In my considered opinion" and "I don't think you should bid" as otherwise you are leaving yourself open to litigation.

He was told 3-5 working days (and 5 would take it to 25th) and it arrived on 28th. I'm not trying to justify what Dave did, or didn't do, but am just trying to get things into perspective. As to ringing barry to tell him what a lovely time you were having, that's nasty , but there's nothing like kicking a bloke when he's down.

Yes, I can see the problem with that. I've had mine for a couple of years, got a good service, and found it to be an excellent product. Maybe Dave Cooper has taken on too much work or something. As you say, we can all vote with our wallets but I just think that a couple of days isn't something to have a rant over.

But will also cause additional friction between the forks and stantions?

I think you're getting very worked up over a couple of days. I can only assume that you waited in at home for it to arrive, rather than having it delivered to your work.

When the seals go, you'll have fork oil in there.

Don't bother. According to the Times (page 9, Wed 5th April) the following are exempt from the ban. Filling/topping up swimmingpools Filling/topping up ponds Washing patios, paths, driveways, patio furniture, cycles and motorcycles. Water fights with neighbours. Banned are Watering plants & lawns Washing cars, trailers, caravans. I have my copy of the paper very safe.

Very good result for Challoner. I believe that Ben Morphett got a creditable 16th in his first event on foreign soil. I believe that Emma Morphett came 5th in one of the ladies classes, but I don't know which one.

Being fairly new to the sport and very inept, then a 'Gentlemans 5' is something that I consider when tackling a section. I'm there to enjoy myself, not wreck me and my bike. I have to go to work on a Monday. Last week-end I was at the Tenterden event (which, if any of the organisers are reading, was brilliant), and would have probably completed if a '5' would have been obtainable in the last section of each lap, but as the only way out was through a very slippery obstacle, I finished after only two laps. It doesn't matter to me if it's a 5 or a 10, as it won't make much different to my score, but there SHOULD always be an opt out at club level. When you're talking national championships, then maybe there's scope for change, but I think a unified scoring system is better, so I vote for it to stay.

In all disciplines, safety scruteneering seems to be done less and less, on the basis of 'Duty of Care.' If your bike is deemed safe, and then you have an accident due to the brakes failing, do you have a case against the scruteneer/club? Unfortunately, there are plenty that would choose to find out the answer in court, which would be expensive to all parties. By putting your machine type on your entry form, you are being 'scrutenised' for elegibility within the class.

Mine came with 11/42, and I changed to 9/44 (the 9 comes with a new bike). I was told that 46 would have been better, but there wasn't one in the shop at the time. Standard gearing was way too tall.

Next you'll be looking at heated grips for next winter.

I know one person who broke a wrist, and another that broke both wrists at the same time. Both were attributed to the bark-busters on their bars. Being that the idea of them is to stop your knuckles being bruised by stones or scraping trees, why use them in low speed events like trials? They are no longer allowed in some MX events, as the riders were using them to nerf other people off course, and many top enduro riders are starting to ditch them. The reasoning is that a broken leaver will cost you 5 minutes whilst you change to the spare that you carry, whereas a broken wrist will make you miss a couple of events. If I had to use them, I would investigate the open end versions.

For my sins, I have written up a report, so here you go. My Pampera had its first MOT on Saturday, and I removed the race numbers from the last time I had used it (Surrey Pol in October). Loaded the van on Saturday, and then went out to dinner with a crowd from the N. Kent TRF, and some others who had come down from the Midlands to do the event. Saturday night it rained. Sunday morning when I got up it was raining, and so I thought about unloading the van and going back to bed. Un-enthusiastically, I drove to Maidstone, scrutineered, signed on, and got a cup of coffee. At least the sun was now shining, but I still wasn