mikeid

Just pull the backing off, the stickers should stay on the fender with no problem. If one should start to peel off the fender, just work it back down onto the fender. Mike

If you are in Ketchum Idaho, you can fly direct from Boise to Minneapolis-St. Paul, then drive about 3 hours to Duluth. It's a very nice drive. Motel locations are very convenient to the event. One very nice way to do it is to fly in Thursday, catch Thursday afternoon practice, then watch practice Friday and walk the sections. Watch the event Saturday and Sunday, then fly home on Monday. Mike

I agree! That was awesome to see same day info on our nationals! Now where is that emoticon that claps? Thanks Craig for the info. I really enjoyed reading it and seeing the pictures. Mike

Anybody get any photos of the class? Those are fun to see. Mike

Holy cow! Glad you and all aboard are safe. That's scary stuff. Mike

You need to talk to it soothingly...make it want to go back together. I've found in the tight fit situations to look for ways to give the effort a mechanical advantage...look at the angles or ways to get things closer together. On your 2.9, I believe it gets a little easier to put on if you loosen the airboot so that it'll slip over the intake body. Now, the angle is not the best and there's next to no room to the right of the carb, so if you loosen the carb up front, you can push down on the carb to allow the airboot a better shot at getting over the intake. Make sure that you aren't trying to push against the rear brake reservoir, vent tubes, or the gas line to the right of the carb. That's as much as I can remember now or the version of reality as I remember it. Hope that helps. Mike

Here's a few more ideas: 1. What does your spark plug look like after it quits? Is it wet or dry? 2. Check for flashing (little bits of plastic) hanging off inside of the airbox forward of the air filter at the seam between the airbox main body and airboot, they can find their way to the float bowl and cause some issues. Same goes for dirt that might have inadvertantly found its way there. 3. Verify again that the floats actuate properly. Is there some sort of obstruction that prevents their clean working when the carb is pitched forward? Probably not an issue with a brand new bike and carb, but worth checking anyway. 4. Leaner pilot could be helpful if it is rich, but since it seems to be affected while going downhill, it could be a mechanical issue of some sort. 5. Look at routing the right breather tube so that it doesn't get squeezed by the exhaust. While you are doing this, you may consider re-routing the taillight wires back over to the left of the frame main center spar away from the exhaust. Verify that the routing of the rear brake reservoir hose is clean, too. Hope this helps! Mike

Hi PF: I know George and that he's ordered parts for it through my shop. It seems to me that he has been very conscientious about maintaining his Techno. Mike

It sounds like Raga, Lampkin, and Cabestany are in the final... http://www.worldtrials.info but I'd rather read/chat about it on TrialsCentral... Mike

I think there is a natural tendency for about any group to make things more advanced/difficult/complicated over time. Part of this comes from the core group of people involved in the activity...they become more skilled and as the most vocal segment of the group, ask for more of what they like, which builds a gulf between themselves and the newest or prospective entrants into the activity. Companies have actually gone out of business because of the behavior (e.g. your core customer isn't always right). The people who aren't able to make the initial jump to the baseline often won't speak up, but will simply disappear. In our area we did the same thing on a smaller scale a few years back. There were about a half-dozen riders who were getting more proficient, so the sections were geared towards them. We had other sections for the new folks, but they often would ride the "advanced" sections because their buddies were, too. We were fortunate in many respects that no one ever got seriously hurt. Last year and this year, the emphasis is on keeping the sections fun and safe so as more people in our area learn about trials, they can get involved at our meets without feeling like they have to do the splatters, zaps, etc. their first time out. I think this makes sense, but gets lost over time. I think I've read at least a few posts in the past to this same effect. Mike

Yes, thanks much for putting this all together and taking some time in the heat-of-battle to give a section over view so those of us on the Yahoo group had an idea of what they looked like. Awesome! Thanks again, it was excellent! Mike

I hope mine shows up today!!! Mike

I noticed in '03 that Jarvis was running long levers on his Sherco in some pictures posted to TC. Would have liked to have queried him about his preferences on the longer ones versus the shorties that were/are stock. I do think it's easier to dink a longer lever up, but you can minimize that by moving it inwards as a previous poster mentioned. However, don't you sorta end up with a shorty lever by doing so? Mike

A number of the postings on TrialsXchange are pretty much out of date...some of them have been on there a long, long time. Enjoy your new ride!

I'll second that! I really look forward to each month's issue and I try to get a few each month to give to folks who swinging by my shop who are interested in trials. Shan's commitment to the quality of the publication and his enthusiasm for trials are plainly evident in his paper. It's sweet. Mike

It flat out poured here today.

Most sections are in the trees. The rocks are dry, but the ground is actually wet. Beneath the top layer of leaves is a slick mud in many spots. However, as soon as it gets roosted off, it's a base of rock. While the forecast is for thunderstorms, the sky is clear tonight. Mike

Yes, I believe the TFM Duluth WTC Travel Package is what my travel agent booked for me. I've been told to inform the stewardesses on my flight of the special rights and priveleges of this travel package.

Hi Ringo: You may want to check Big Twin in Boise. http://www.bigtwincycles.com They've got a pretty good selection of Aprilias. If I didn't already have the plane ticket, I'd be happy to deliver it to you in Duluth next week... Mike

Okay, full size, 5 Megapixel. The results of a hard-fought competition over a very long evening. Practice started up around 2-3pm, IIRC, and this was probably close to 11pm...

Here's a couple I took covering the U.S. Indoor National back in December for Trials Competition and Cycle News. One of the most frustrating photo sessions in my entire life. 200+ photos and almost every single one god-awful. I had a brand spanking new 5MP digital camera which I brought, rather than my old, trusty 2MP. First time taking pictures indoors with it, figured by the end of practice I'd have it whupped, but regardless of what I did, I couldn't get the action shots to work. Here's a pretty good one of Ryon from the event. Please respect the copyright.

These are pretty mundane, but perhaps some things to think about in addition to basically going out and having fun and the riding technique end of learning: I think one thing which I wonder is often overlooked as a tip is to remember to breathe. I notice that sometimes I am holding my breathe as I ride until I complete one-or-more obstacles. It helps keep you loose and flexible. Also, I think stretching before you ride is a good thing, too. A parallel thought like Alan's, but especially important to having fun is not putting pressure on the youngster to perform like Dougie. Essentially, avoid the minicycle-dad mentality which sucks the fun out of things. Mike

I've had Ryon Bell put on a couple two-day schools for our club and they've been excellent. Ryon has a smooth, controlled riding style and is one that I've always thought is a solid riding style for club riders to emulate. As an instructor, he effectively articulates differences in technique to surmount obstacles. He's put on a number of schools over the years, so he has the training curriculum down. Having two days really helps separate out the content so you have a break between days to review what you learned the first day, without the pressure to have to try to soak up everything in one session. One bonus of the school is when we point him at huge obstacles and he goes right up them. Unreal. I'm going to video the next school. Martin's Montesa World Trial Team school he put together for the '01 WTC round at Goldendale--that was an amazing experience. Nothing like having the Lampkins, Bilbao, Cobos, Alcaraz et. al. point at you to go up stuff. Best story I heard from it was Dan Larson when Dougie was minding him through the "A" sections, Dan said at first would freak out when Dougie would call his name and tell him to put is front wheel here and his rear wheel there. A once in a lifetime experience. Thanks again Martin for hooking that one up. Mike

That was great coverage! Nice interviews of Chris and Tommi. Greg White did an excellent job of tying the training he received to his riding elsewhere and the fun he was having being out there on the trials bike. Lots of footage of him running about on the bike running through the basic turning maneuvers and a basic section set on a slope in the trees. At the end he said was buying a trials bike--did he? Good plugs in there for the TTC, too. Good--but brief--video of Chris, Tommi, David, and Ray riding over some slick rocks, up a steep hill with some zaps. Chris did a pretty awesome splatter...the kicker was a long, long way from the rock he was jumping up onto--that was evident even on the TV. Ray's instruction was very succinct and his camera presence was excellent, too. Yes, apparently Tommi is a two-time World Trails Champion, but that was probably missed by most folks. Thumbs-up to Speed, the TTC, and whoever else made it all happen. Pretty cool. Mike

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHH! Whoops, did I say that out loud?