pete

I did something similar a few years ago, but left ring finger! (and wasn't on me bike either!) Had a spiral fracture, needed pinning. After the op, whole hand will hurt like 'ell for a day or two. Soon you'll be used to it, the bandages will start to smell (lovely!!) and you'll be thouroughly p****d off! Bandages should be changed 2-4 weeks, pins out 6-8 weeks. I would leave it another month after that 'till you've got full movement back, another few weeks for the strength to build up again! As soon as you feel comfortable, keep flexing the finger and wiggling it as much as you can to try and keep blood flowing, strength up etc! I would leave it at least a month after pins out before you ride again, just to let all the bones harden as much as possible - think it takes about 6 months for a bone to harden properly (correct me if i'm wrong!!) Best of luck, and enjoy the half hour of anasthetic!! Pete.

fantastic video!!! never seen anything like it! Really suprised that Lejeune had that much trouble though! Was waaaay too young to remember 1st time round, but know a few non - bike guys who do! It's amazing how far it reached to the average public!! And I agree, BRING IT BACK!!!

Sorry to drag this old dog up again, but had to add my two penn'orth! I'm a youngster, I use 'txt tlk' on a mobile or when emailing a freind who is that way inclined (i.e. a bit of a chav!) However, I do not like using it, and as soon as the oppertunity arises to resume 'normal' communication, I take it!!! Back on topic: I've been on here a while now, can't remember how long though! Have mainly kept in the woodwork simply because as a youngster I was a little in awe of the 'God like' beings who are/were the regular posters! I think that a newbie forum would be wuite a good thing to have, maybe with a few of the regulars detailed to keep them under control! Have seen it work in other forums, and has done a good job of initiating the new sheep to the flock! With regards to helping out at trials: Until very recently I had no means of transport, and there was no way I could have persuaded a parent to take me on a 40 mile trip and pick me up again later in the day! Hopefully I will be able to help out in the summer months, and a going to make a start next weekend! We do have a shortage of observers in the club at the moment, so I will be riding half the day as a 'priority rider' with a special vest, probably doubling up on the sections. I don't like pushing in queues (can't remember the spelling ) but I get the best of both worlds - a good ride and helping out the club! Sorry for the long post, hadn't realised I had so much to say!! If you got to the end, congratulations! Pete.

have been playing these for months!!! Very sadly, I can do all 3 of 'em without one 5 . . . I need to get out more!!!

Being a young'un i've only had a 50cc and a 125cc, but not because of the regs. Simple fact when I was starting out I had neither the ability nor strength to control a bigger bike! Now I have more strength (but no more ability) I still stick with 125. I've only twice found the power lacking, once at Sethern, Dunsfold - leaf mulch over clay, and once at Brockham - wet chalk and clay! This maybe because we don't have the big old climbs and thick gooey mud, but its not really been a problem for a lightwight like me! Rode round with a new guy last sunday, he was really struggling with a 250 gasgas. at the end of the day the bike looped and rolled down the hill and wrecked all the plastics and bent the forks. I'm sure that if he had a 200 he would have got on much better and wouldn't have had the problem at the end of the day! I reckon that 200's are under-rated, and many people would be better off with one rather than a bigger bike - but its probably the 'born again biker' syndrome of bigger is better!

I love 13! Has always brought me luck, but have not yet ridden that number :-( Good things tend to happen on the 13th of a month, and friday 13th especially! My sister has a black cat, and I usually walk under ladders - no ill effects have been felt!

Too true!! The bike always gets washed asap after getting home. Chain come off so no grit is washed into it, bung in the exhaust and off we go! Hose and a soft brush to get the muck off, a rinse with hot water then a clean rag to dry it off. I do like the bike looking clean before a trial - so many are left dirty and mucky that its nice to stand out from the crowd! And, everything is made easier. Maintainance without worrying about muck and grit everywhere, weeping seals are easy to spot, and you don't get mucky when loading up before a trial! Have bought some Muc off, now need to have a good 'ol mud plug to try it out!

Saw one being ridden at the Phil Mellors last year. Sounded like a pre 65 Greeves, but the chap seemed to get round ok on it! Definatley one of the best looking bikes - the only bike to make light green look good. . .

rode there not too long ago. Always a bit of a laugh, and never any grip! A bit like the venue of the Three Musketeers near Knowl Hill - no matter what the weather, its always wet!

I've always left the bike off untill the guy in front is just about to move off! Its less unpleasent for the guy behid, and saves just a little bit of fuel! I do think that some people are very inconsiderate when in queues - a loud and pronounced coughing fit usually grabs their attention! There is always one though . . .

The evening trials are usually a good place to try some new things, maybe different settings on your bike, and maybe even try riding up a route. My club has the 1st one tomorrow! Should be good fun - a midweek break!

From as far back as I can remeber, I wanted a motobike! My Dad built me a special from a wrecked yamaha 50cc scooter and a load of tubes! At the same time, we went along to watch one of my Dad's old mates ride in a local event, and got kind of interested. Tried my little bike in a schoolboy event, but being a road - based auto I gave up straight away! Anyways, a few months went by and I got tired of the little bike. Went to an off-road show and saw Dougie and Steve Colley do a demo. I was hooked, got both of their autographs (on a honda jumper) and gotthe little bike out again! My Dad bought me a Honda TLM50 on an impulse and entered the next event we could find! I cleaned the 1st section I ever attempted, and have not looked back! "Why do you continue to ride?" Total and utter love! I love the riding - slowly getting better! (at last!)the guys at the club are all like-minded, and even though I must be 40 years the junior of some of them, we all get on well!The rude jokes, the love of old bikes etc etc, I could go on for hours!

Had a TLM 50 a few years ago. Great bike, took all the punishment a total novice could take, didn't give any hassle! Gripped like a 4stroke and was basically a great thing to ride! Parts are quite rare I think, and I think most have to be the closest fit modified. Never seen another 50, and never seen anything bigger either! That's all I can think of, but if I remember anything else, will let you know! All the best, Pete.

I ride with Thames regularly, aven thoguh it is a long from Reading! Very good events, 3 or 4 routes depending on thwe size of the ground. Most of the events are around Guildford, with some near Aldershot on the MOD land around there. Usually mark yourself. The results service is 1st rate with them either emailed a few days later, or available at the next event! There is a website with some of the details, but can't remeber it off hand! Another good club I ride with is NHMC under the AMCA. Most of the events are on MOD land around Aldershot. The sections and the courses are wonderful, but the results etc can be a bit iffy! No website, but can probably get some nore info if you are interested! good luck, Pete.

Excellent, thank you very much! Have only had a quick look since it was snowing when Dad picked me up from school, but he did say he had ridden it up and down the road. Started it up for me, and very impressed with the way it went - a slight tap on the kickstart was all it needed! Can't wait to see how it rides, and with everything polished it should look a treat! Have loved the twinshock Honda's since I rode my 1st bike, an old TLM50. The red/blue with white edges combined with the shape of the tank and the seat etc, makes them in my mind some of the best looking bikes ever. Coupled with their wonderful rideability they are very near perfect, except parts are so hard to find! I believe the Seeley is based on an XL180 and bits are a bit easier to source? Thanks again, and very much looking forward to the first 'outing'. Pete.

I have to say, it doen't look too bad in the flesh. And yes, I am the lucky guy who gets to ride the Seeley from ebay! Scrumpyjack, I think you came down yesterday to my Dad's place in Woodcote? Really looking forward to riding it, should suit my style more than a 2-stroke. I do have some questions though. What colour are the frames originally? What sort of bracket did they have holding the front mudguard on originally? Is the RSC logo on the exhausts I see on other pics a cover that goews over the end, or is it the exhaust itself? An finally, what are the original stickers for the tank/the sidepanel bits (I know its all one, but how else to describe it!) and are they still available? Any answers would be wonderful, as would any history of the bikes in general! I do feel very lucky to be able to ride a machine like that, and probably the closest I will ever get to a works Honda! Thanks in advance (I hope!) for any answers/info! Pete.

I'm 17, and my earliest memory of the11th is at about 4yrs old with my Gran in the back garden. Evey year at school we have a big thing on. Chapel in the morning with lots of Veterans present, the band plays Nimrod and accompanies all the hymns, and I play the Last Post, then we have a school parade after the service. In the afternoon the marching band goes down to the village and leads a parade throguh the village, we play in the service in the village church (Last Post again for me!), and we lead the parade back through the village. This year was my last year, so next year I will be at a loss to know what to do. Probably go into town and play the Last Post in the town centre and see what happens at 11oclock! I think it would be a good idea to put on a small charity event on the Sunday, with an organised silence at the start, and with a general emphasis on remembering the way (I think) the lost would like the best, by having a good time but a good time with a cause. It means that anyone who goes would know what is happening and why, and even if they do not like it, they do not have an excuse for forgetting. On a lighter note, if anyone wants a Last Post next year, I will probably be available! Pete.

Iv'e always liked 13 and never had anything bad happen. I will ask for a 13 shirt to be made for the hockey season.(if they can be a***d though) I avoid ladders, but that is it. Am proud half-owner of a black cat who is very fat, but a good hot water bottle (if she doesn't scratch you to death first!) I would love to have 13 at a trial, would be great! Pete.

I am sooooo Jeleaous! I have never wanted anything more than one of those in my life before! (if I start saving now, I might afford in the next decade or so!)

As stated above, more info needed! Mine rattled for a long time, and it was a woen clutch basket. It stopped when the clutch was pulled in. It also made a noise like a machine gun when the main bearings gave up and split, and a lot of other things make a bike rattle as well! Pete.

I had a pic of Dougie and managed to get it signed by Steve Colley as well as the man! This was after the 1st championship with Monts I think. I also got my Honda jumper signed by both as well! Havn't worn it since! I was small, but I remeber Steve was talking to everyone in the huge queue, whereas Dougie was going like it was a production line. Still not sure waht to think of the two them. . . . . Pete. PS make sure the spot on the wall is in full view, for at least a month you won't be able to keep your eyes off it!

Hear Hear! I learnt on a little Honda TLM 50, and it was great. Easy to sit on, but not too comfortable. It was much easier to stand on than to sit, but sitting was there if it was needed. It just pushed me onto standing instead of sitting, by letting me find that really I did have more control when standing. (Can't really explain it!) It let me find my way in my own time, and i'm sure that I would be a much worse (if that is possible!!) rider now if I didn't have that transition period the Honda gave me. I think that all manufacturers should offer it as an option, especially for the very small and the top end of the range, to cater for those starting, and those doing road trials. The middle ranges (125, 200) tend to be more used in local events, and so sitting is not needed. Also they tend to be older riders who don't need the confidence boost a seat gives you! (If you have waded through this, congratulations!) Pete

Welcome back! I think I was around when you were here last, but under a different name. I seem to remember you. . . Pete.

Good morning, and welcome. Its a blast on here! Enjoy! Pete.

My '00125 did this, turned out to be a worn clutch basket. Replaced the basket and plates at the same time, completely cured! Just gets worn after a bit and rattles. won't do any damage, just sounds awfull! Pete.