pete_scorpa3

Yes, in this weeks Ralph Varden trial from the 53 riders entered, 36 are over 40! http://www.stratford-upon-avonmcc.org.uk/page4.html

Looking at the Poll, a couple of things stand out. More Over 40 riders voted and the majority of people already ride under both sets of rules. This might just mean that there are more Over 40 riders reading this thread and that the majority of riders just get on with riding what ever rules they are presented with, even if they don't like one or the other. Any other conclusions?

From an organisers point of view, the stop for a one rule was terribly difficult to explain to a new observer, especially one who has been volunteered five minutes before the start of a trial. Just imagine this conversation: "Thanks for offering to observe, all you need to remember is this. A dab is a one, a stop is a one, a stopped dab is a two, two dabs is a two, two dabs whilst stopped is a three, a three is a three, two stops and a dab is a three, one stop and two dabs is a three, three stops even if their feet are up is also a three! If they take their hand off the bars whilst stopped and dabbing it's a five, a stall whilst stopped is a one but a stall whilst stopped with a foot down is a five... got it?" I for one was really pleased to see the back of that lot!

Check out the trials bike trying a real hill at 3:55 (right after the Star Ship Enterprise!) <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_sI05D8Mcy0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't think the licence is valid until a number is supplied. Not sure what the ACU will do if that rider enters an event though?

Well said Steve.

Personally I think the stop-for-a-one system did not work at all, it was a nightmare to explain to observers and hardly anyone ever got docked a two for stopping with a foot down. And remember, under stop-for-a-one, you could stop with your foot down for ten minutes and loose two! One for footing and one for stopping!

Currently we have both sets of rules, and the club/championship can choose which to use. Maybe that is a sensible compromise? Pete

Hey I can turn a bike around in an 8ft sq by bouncing but it doesn't make me a better rider..... ohh I forgot, I'm over 40

Both daughters started riding the 12.5 when they were three and both would run out of energy before the battery went flat. Screaming it round the field mx style it lasts for about an hour and a half, riding it in a trial it lasts for about three hours. The older one who's six now, has a 36v and is just getting to the stage when she needs a longer running time. If there's any steep hills she needs a little push on the last lap to get up the hills.

I'm sorry my question has caused you to reconsider a return to trials. It's only a question about tyres.

Steady on, I'm not as old as I look!!!

Just to make things clear, I am not advocating this idea, I am simply putting it out for discussion. You write about the "namby-pamby controlled society we live in" but remember the tyres we use are already strictly controlled in respect of size and tread pattern. The ACU could alter this specification if they wished. However, the tread is often the least important factor which is why a control tyre might be more appropriate to this idea. Just think of how many other motorsports now use control tyres.

And tyres is something that can be changed and policed relatively easily. Having less grip would mean riders lost more marks, so sections could be easier. This would open up land that currently is not challenging enough and help to prevent errosion that is effecting the land we already have. There is a strong and growing core of enthusiasts in the sport who think this may be the way forward.

Good point but look at it another way.... There are over 1000 Osets in the UK, if availability of bikes is an issue where are all these when we run a conducted trial?

I was with you until the last part about the ACU. We can all see that factors from outside trials is effecting the sport, but does this mean that the ACU should simply ignore the issues and leave things as they are? You don't say what you would do to improve things. Remember, the ACU is in place to represent us, it is unreasonable to expect every rule change to go to a membership vote, we have to accept that some decisions will be made that we don't all like. Only the persons at the meeting on Friday know what was said and what arguments were made, I'm sure the descision to go non stop was not made lightly. I suspect that a number of prominent people not directly related to the ACU were asked for their opinions. I think peoples age is not the issue. You talk about the "clowns" who run the clubs, some clubs including ours only has over 40's running it now, so if the new rules takes away our under 40's it won't make the slightest difference. I'd guess that the average age of people who help to run the Colmore Cup Trial(and there are a lot of helpers) is close to 60 not 40! In my opinion something had to be done and I applaud the ACU for going against the FIM on this. It may work or it may not, we will see next year. Pete

I was very impressed with the repair they carried out on my DRZ400 radiator that was damaged in a crash. Pressure tested and painted for a fraction of the cost of a new rad.

With only a handful of riders in the world able to get the best from a modern trials bike, the recent change of rules to non stop may not be enough to make a real difference to the sport. If bikes were heavier this would limit their capabilities, but this is a difficult change to make, check and enforce. If bikes were less powerful it would make a difference, but again, next to impossible to put in place. If suspension was less effective it would be a big handycap but this is impossible to introduce. How about tyres? This is not my idea and I'm not saying it would work, I'm simply throwing it out for discussion (and yes I know this will be an emotive subject, even the thought of it will enrage many.) But just for a moment try to think subjectively of the advantages/disadvantages of using less grippy tyres. Start off by considering the pros and cons of a 'control' tyre made from hard compound rubber with half the normal tread. Pete

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Spot on Dave!

Here here. WTC is amazing to watch but apart from the bikes has nothing in common with the sport we ride.

Same. We do however get 80 observer/punchers for the Colmore Cup, but this relies on a single lap and some doing an early section then a late one which makes for a long day out for those willing to help.

Check out the ACU web site for a SHOCK announcement. Well done to all those who saw that coming!

Almost the same Colmore section but three years apart. 2008 was stopping allowed, 2011 was non stop. You will see a few points in these videos that have been discussed in this thread. Pete

Is a section that can't be cleaned non stop a bad thing? I've often hear riders say (and probably even said it myself, to be honest) "that's not a non stop section!" What we mean is, it can't be cleaned without trick riding. Could you get through non stop with a good dab? The answer is often yes. In this years Union Jack Classic Trial (obvioulsy TSR22B non stop) we put in a section that could not be cleaned without hopping, it was a bit too tight to clean. No one hopped, so no one cleaned it. The top riders all took a dab, the lesser lights took more than one. Had the same section been in one of our club trials (run under stop allowed TSR22A) the only difference would have been that the top riders would have cleaned it by hopping the back over for a better line. I think it was a good section even though it couldn't be cleaned non stop. I'm not suggesting that every turn on every section should be like that, but taking a 'wise' dab is part of the skill of trials. Pete