pete_scorpa3

If I remember correctly the 2004 and 2005 rev3's had alloy kick starts, I broke one on my new bike back in 04. Earlier bikes had steel ones. The only thing that broke quicker than the kick start was the stator, and I had two of those go!

I always think that one rider on clean is the perfect score, however some people like more of a challenge than that. Of course, the other risk is that a few riders score zero and you don't get a result! I made this mistake a few years back in a trail bike trial, the forecast rain held off and the 30 sections were all to easy for the top guys. Fortunatley we always include a timed special test to split the ties, but can you imagine doing a 75 mile trial with 30 sections, finishing on one mark lost and due to having the slowest test time finishing in 16th place! Yes, the top 16 were on one mark or less. Now that's too easy. It would have been a different story had the rain come as forecast, but that does highlight the problem of setting easy trials. Pete

[/img] Peter Archer on his Beta Alp 200 Mick Chapman AJP 200

I wonder if non stop has made the WTC more viable for the organisers? Has it increased participation? Has it increased spectator or media interest? If it's helping to promote and possibly help save the series, then non stop is a success.

Came across this old clip with Princess Anne talking about rust problems on the Beta! Well it's not Princess Anne... or the Trials bike, but worth a look. Check out that accent!

Good stuff, I can't show you anything quite as impressive, but here's short film taken during the Sphinx a few years back. The first part was taken at Nettleton.

An couple of clips I took of a local rider on a new shape Beta Alp during LDT's.

Welcome to Trials and Trials Central. May bump into you at some point as we're a Midland Centre Club. Pete

Broken ribs a few times over the years, puctured lungs on a couple of occasions too. (Feb this year at Mallory Park Essess being the most recent.) Coughing is always uncomfortable, sneezing is a no no and the first time you laugh it's a bit of a .... laugh!

Looking at the picture, it appears to be a good bike. But one picture is not really enough to give an idea. You will need to have a look and be prepared to walk away if there is any doubt, I think we have all bought bikes inthe past that perhaps we shouldn't have, remember it is very easy to spend more on a bike than it was worth in the first place. Rev3's did suffer from Stator problems, if anything the 2004/5's were even worse, I had a new 04 that had two stators on warranty! But any 12 year old competition machine can have issues. These rode very well and can still win at club level with the right rider on board. Take a look but - Buy by condition.

Going through the full 'to the letter' MSA application for our LDT. The route is obviously a lot longer than the previous events that I've applied for, but most of the communications with the authorities is exactly the same as with other events, so it's a simple job to just change the dates on the letters. This time, the Police have replied straight away and insisted on no further actions (unlike before when I recieved a list of things to cover.) I think they have got the idea that we are doing things correctly. Either that, or they are fed up of dealing with me and have just given in? It must be a dilema for the Police, afterall their input costs time and money but they get no payment... unlike the MSA who send out a couple of letters and then cash a cheque for over £300! I don't want to be the first organiser to be reprimanded/criticised/fined/prosecuted, so I have tried to do everything right. But not all clubs have applied for MSA authorisation, have an of them been pulled-up? I suspect not, in which case it makes me feel like I am wasting my time. Also, every rider in the trial will pay £3 to the MSA, have we effectively wasted their cash? Pete

Are you in the UK?

Yes, same here. Although a newer set doesn't last quite as well as the originals. Still about an hour. One set easily does a conducted trial, providing the kids don't ride around too much between sections. Pete

May help? http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/34845-oset-batteries-lithium-lipo-conversion-directions/

This is only my personal opinion, but I actually like watching WTC a lot more now it's non-stop. You seem to see a lot more variations of line, rather than everyone bouncing and hopping into exactly the same wheel rutt. And before I get shot down for saying that, I do prefer to ride stop allowed myself.

Anyone know how things are proceeding with MSA approval for road trials? Are we all doing it now, or are some/many not bothering? If so, have there been any 'come-backs'? Pete

Strange, it must be down to personal choice, .....or age maybe? But I find non stop trials more interesting to watch. Especially at WTC level. I soon start to loose interest in watching when every riders completes an identical pre-set piece, you know the thing - Ride down, stop, pivot turn, stop, hop left, hop right, hop left half a tyre, check down to see that the rear wheel is in the correct rut, look up, change down to first, change back to second, rev bike, change up to third, look down again etc etc. Before riding up the three foot verticle step exactly the same as the previous ten riders. I love trials, and there is a place for these types of skills, and I believe that is indoors or in arena trials. As I've said before, given the choice I would rather rider stop allowed, but my finishing position under either rules is just about the same. Pete

I agree that the WTC should be for the best riders in the world to demonstrate their skils and provide a fair way to challenge those riders, whilst giving a clear winner at the end of the series. If going non stop for a year or two still gives us a real World Champion whilst making the whole series, and possibly the whole sport, more economically viable (and therefore sustainable) then that must be worth a try. If going non stop proves to be unpopular, then it is simple to change the rules back in a year or two, safe in the knowledge that it was tried and didn't work. Personally I prefer riding stop allowed trials, and prefer to watch non stop, but riding in both, I can honestly say it makes no difference to my finishing position. I also welcome and enjoy reading other peoples views on the subject, although I regret some of the unnecessary refrences made in the opening post. In UK ACU events, we still hae the choice which system to use, last year I ran our club trials stop allowed, this year I will be running them non stop. At the end of the season all concerned will evaluate what has happened. We may regret going non stop, we may not, but at least we've tried. Remember, this is a sport, most do it for fun, it's nothing more sinister. Pete

The best way to learn is to enter some easy trials and chat too and watch the other riders during the event. You are fortunate in that there are a number of clubs in the Midlands that run events suitable for begginers. Most put on three routes, so there is something for everyone. Slightly further south, look out for the Evesham club and also our own Stratford club trials. All with three routes. Over towards Leicester, I would recommend the ESTC. They own their own land and put on four (or is it five?) routes, plus a seperate course for little ones on electric bikes. For ourselves, our next trial is on Saturday afternoon 15th June. You are more than welcome to come along early and get in some 'off section' practice, and stay on after the trial whilst we pack up. Hope this helps. Pete

I've been sitting back for a while concerning the subject of MSA approval to see what happens nationally. I went through the full application process for the Colmore Cup and was really pleased to have been given approval. The club was less pleased to pay out the cheque for the privilidge, and I'm sure the riders would rather have not had their entry fee increased to cover the cost either! So here we are a few months on, many clubs have applied for MSA approval, but equally many events have been run without it. What, if any, repercussions have we seen from the MSA? Has anyone been critisised? Has anyone been warned? Has anyone been fined? Has anything changed at all, other than the MSA cashing the cheques from those clubs who've been 'persuaded'* to comply? (*feel free to change this word and insert appropriate words such as - bullied, conned, forced, ripped off, scammed,threatened etc) I would be interested to hear what experiences other people have had. Pete

It depends on how many groups that the trial visits. If it's just one or two, there's no major problem. But inthe case of the Colmore, the permetations of section order and route are endless. We'd have riders all over the Cotswolds at all times of the day, in opposite directions. Imagine 110 trials riders buzzing like bee's around Chipping Campden. It would really annoy the locals and give the MSA something to really dig into. And lets not even think about the 40 observers and 40 punchers who would be out from 9.01 to ..... nightfall! This idea might work for some trials, but not for all. Pete

I agree. No insurance on the road is a very big no-no!

I've been pleased with my Trafic, I lloked at the factory combi with an extra row of seats, but the swb one wasn't big enough to get the trials bike in the back. So I bought a standard van, trimmed the rear, fitted side windows and removable seats. A single and a twin. I can remove the single and get one trials bike in, or remove all three and get everything in. Here's a shot of it loaded up at Mallory Park recently.

Providing you are wearing your gloves, you can stop a 2t trials bike by simply blockingthe exhaust end pipe. Works inseconds. I've never tried it on a 4t bike or an enduro/mx bike. Pete