pete

ah, but were they unhappy to begin with?

I think its a method of allowing riders to try the next route up. The way I've seen it done before: You ride (say) the yellow route normally, but you're thinking of moving up to (say) the reds. 50/50 will be a section where yellow who have signed on for the 50/50 route will ride the reds in that section. The idea is to give you a taste of the next route up without you being committed fo the whole trial. Having said that, I may be completely wrong!

How about this one? 'Ba Ba ETHNIC sheep, have you any wool?' Some version use Red sheep, but is that not offensive to Rednecks? Of course Christmas is now called 'Festive Season' just in case it offends. Spoken to a lot of folk of Middle East religions who say they couldn't give a damn! "t'ole worlds' gone mad 'cept thee and me and I ent too sure abou thee"

I think that Doug back on a 2 stroke will be his re-birth. He can't seem to get to grips with the 4rt! I reckon that he'll be back on winning form a few months after the switch - if there is a switch! Do think it will be good for the competition in general to have Doug on a 2stroke and winning again. I think that the top 10 are closer now than they have been for years. I remember (but correct me if I'm wrong!) that during Doug's reign at Mont there weren't many times when he wasn't on top and the next riders down were widely spaced on marks as well. What would be interesting would be to get him on his last 2stroke Mont - if that was updated with a few more years development, would he be able to win on it? Awaiting confirmation of the rumour with baited breath! Pete.

AAAARGH!!! Someone who knows nothing about Trials at all! As well as the obvious mistakes, am I the only one who gets wound up about the bikes being described as 'trial bikes'?

Its just the 'normal' model, so just cast yokes ands hubs etc. Cable clutch as well but we've got it so its lighter and smoother than any hydraulic clutch I've tried! Won't be changing either - bleeding hydraulics is about the worst job! Most of the work was tidying things up really. The kind of things that would be done at the factory on other bikes, like using good quality bolts, right length bolts etc. It also looked like it hadn't been properly washed since it bought so there were a few rusty bolts etc. The swing arm bearings were dry as a bone and the rollers had seized! Also did a few custom mods - mudflap thats held between the swingarm and the airbox. Keeps so much muck away from the shock and the back of the engine. Dad made up a cover to go over the brake master cylinder 'coz that was full of all sorts of rubbish! Re-sited the choke so thats now in the frame on the r/h side. Shortened the exhaust by about 2" and took all but one baffle out. Sounds fantastic now! Also made it a little happier to rev without loosing any of the low-down torque. I think the biggest job was keeping the carb-airbox hose from pulling off the airbox. Dad made up a retaining ring that was pop-riveted round to keep it on! From what I've heard that was the most common thing that went wrong. Since the re-build we've had no real problems. Back brake isn't the best though. Had to bleed and adjust twice in 6 months! Hate bleeding brakes but apart from that its beenngreat! (Apart from muggins here not being used to an on/off kill switch instead of a hold down button! It don't start too easy when its switched off!)

Cool! Will look out for you. See you Sunday! All the best!

Yup, I was at Hungry Hill! On the yellows - that was a tough course last time! Learnt a lot from it though. Which route do you take? Not been to Bagshot for quite a while so really looking forward to this one. A great ride between the sections as you say, its about the longest lap of the year! Red Gasser with black rims . . .doesn't ring a bell I have to say. Can never tell the difference between the latest Sherco's either! Any distinguishing features?

Great! More young 'uns no problem - its all off road so no restrictions on that score. I'm a regular with north Hants so find out about the next one at the previous one (if that makes any sense ) Its usually in T&MX but I guess they might have forgotten. Have you ridden any North Hants stuff before? If so will probably have seen you before. What GasGas do you ride? Anyways, hope to see you Sunday! All the best, Pete.

Just thought I'd see if anyone was planning on heading to Bagshot Heath this Sunday! NHMC normal club round. At least 3 routes ranging from 1st time novice-able to down right suicidal-able! Lovely place to ride with good old fashioned hills as well as enough logs/rocks etc to keep the bunny hoppers happy! Will be riding a Scorpa sy125f - noticeable by having a blue rear fender. Hope to see someone from here, there! All the best! Pete.

go to the youtube page that its on. at the top of the page, where you type in the web address (e.g www.trialscentral.com ) highlight all the text there. right click and select 'copy'. open up a reply on here, right click again and click 'paste'. or alternatively, click on the button to the right of the smily face at the top of the 'replying to topic' box. if you hover your mouse over it it will say 'Insert Link'. Delete the 'http://' in the box, right click and select 'paste.

easiest way would be to upload it onto youtube, then post the html link on here.

Liamj - in case you're still interested the next NHMC is this Sunday. Bagshot Heath, 10:00 AM start. Details will be in T&MX.

Ooh I dunno - might have to turn the speed dial down before I could keep up!

Find his profile on here, might take a while but there is a member list I think. When you've found it send the reply as a Private Message. Will go straight to him!

Great! Sounds brilliant to me! I know I need more practise at man made stuff - natural hills are alright but there arne't many places down here with man-made stuff around. I've always wanted to find a small step, or rock or log or something which has a flat top to it. If I can get up it then I don't have to worry about getting down straight after! Will watch and listen out with great interest on progress! Pete.

hehe I wish! Unfortunatly when we got the wee beastie it was a bit knocked around so we gave it a strip down to the chassis and did quite a lot of work! Took a long time as well but now its up and running its going fine. I think the saving will be going on getting bits for the two ongoing restorations! If Dad can get hold of a spare barrel he's going to bore and stroke the little 'un. Rough calculations reckon that the 125 can be taken out to about 170 without too much work . . .

That sounds like a great idea! One question though - do you have a rough idea of where in Central South England it would be? If it was within about 2 hours of Berkshire (Reading) then would certainly consider making a visit on a trial-less weekend. As for costs, I should think the average trial being about

The baby Scorpa is nice and light and the motor is fantastic, but its still a physically large bike. The same for most 125's I think. I've tried an '04 Sherco 125 and found it to be a bit too lively really. Suits some riders but I prefer the low-revs grunt of the Scorpa. I do remember when I first started riding a full size bike (Honda TLM 50) I could never turn very tightly. Short arms and short body meant I didn'thave the reach to turn the bars more than half lock! I think you can get bars which are a bit shorter and which might help the shorter rider!

Another lover of the little 'un here! Only time I've not made it up a hill was me being in 1st instead of 2nd! Nothing else like 'em for gripping in mud. Love it to bits I do!

I agree. Some of we youngsters just don't care and it sickens me. Other kids at school would complain about the extra Parade and Chapel service while I always enjoyed it - its the least I can do. I'm sure that if it weren't for the sacrifice of those in WW2 I wouldn't be here - I've been told that many generations ago there were Jews in our family tree close enough to my Grandparents to condemn them if we had been invaded. Of course we mustn't forget those who have died more recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan. People tend to forget that it is war out there and that there are still people dieing for us.

I'm always busy on Remembrance Day, and Remembrance Sunday. Local parades with the village Brass Band. But even if theres a year when I'm not busy I won't be doing anything like travelling or riding. And if I can I'll always try to have a trumpet with me. Sounds daft but the Last Post is moving even if you're on your own. Maybe a trial on Remembrance day wouldn't be a bad idea, provided it doesn't start until at least half 11. Make sure that everyone is there at half 10 and have our own act of Remembrance. The head of the club to read out the poem that Cota Kid posted. Sure, afterwards we'll all go and have a good time on our bikes. But in a way that would be ok I feel. How many accounts of Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen say that when a friend died they had a big binge afterwards, especially the Airmen. In a way I kind of feel that provided we show the respect and the silence is meant, then having a good time and being thankful for it afterwards is just an appropriate a way of saying Thank You to all those who didn't come home. It might just be me who thinks that though!

Dad and I have always used Renthal chains on my bikes and we've never had a problem! They do get thoroughly cleaned after each trial though. Taken off before washing the bike. Dad takes it into work and borrows the ultrasonic cleaner, so that gets it totally clean and free of muck. Friday or Saturday night before a trial it gets boiled up on the stove in the bucket of goo (link life of something like that I think) Sprockets get cleaned and de-greased and chain goes on last thing before getting the bike out. Doing this we ran the same chain and sprockets for about 3 years with hardly any stretch, very little sprocket wear and absolubtly no problems at all! Would be running same chain on the Scorpa except its got sprockets for the smaller linked chains so we've got one of those and doing the same treatment. Its a lot of work but we've never had a problem (touch wood!)

When searching in the garage for a screwdriver or spanner, or other such item, it is usually to be found in the 1st place you looked, when you look there for the 3rd time. If, on the day before a Trial, the bike is ready, the car is loaded, you have fuel, food and clothes all ready to go, things are going too well. The last look at the bike before locking the garage at nightfall will reveal: Collapsed rear shock absorbers A large pool of liquid on the floor A puncture A frayed/snapped control cable, or other such details. The rest of the evening will be spent fixing and wondering how the fooook any one of those things happened in the 10 mins when you went indoors for a cuppa . . . . .

Hello and welcome! Best bike for a 5+7 year old would be a Yamaha TY 80. Those little twin shocks have been the building blocks of so many riders! There are modern mono-shock 50's and 80's but having seen a few in action it looks like they were built for young 'uns who have been on a bike before. The TY80 has the advantage of a seat which is always a good prop for helping a young 'un feel more secure There are the electric Oset bikes but I can't really comment as I'm yet to see one in the flesh! They do look good fun though. As for you riding, your best bet would be a 250 from one of the 'big 5'. Whether you go 4 or 2 stroke is personal preference, they are near equal in overall performance with 4's having a little more grip when its wet and gooey and slippy, with the 2's having a bit more punch and top end drive for the big steps. (At least, that's the impression I've got!) Hope you stick around and enjoy! All the best! Pete.