pete_scorpa3

Oset supplied the pink graphics for both the 12.5 in 2008 and the 16 this year.

Alternatively, go to Photobucket (or another picture sharing site) and upload your pictures to there, you can then post a link and the picture will appear. The interesting thing is that you can see a weekly analysis or the views each picture has had. It also makes it easier to email pictures to family and friends, you just send the link and they open the link to view the pics online. :thumbup: Pete

I think long sections are great providing the severity is right. There are two things to watch out for when setting a long section, firstly it is demoralising for riders to fail right at the end of a long section, try to put the hard bit in the middle. The other thing to avoid, is having one or two long sections in a multi lap trial as this is where the riders will all end up queuing. Try to make the sections all of similar length in time.

Find the adult rider and calmly ask him what had happened, there are always two versions of the same story. I would also recommend that you locate the youth riders parent or guardian as sson as possible and inform them of the conversation with their child. What ever the outcome, it is worth making a factual written note of what was said. Can you give any more details of what happened and what the outcome was? Without mentioning names or places.

Very well put indeed. Yes, it's amazing how riders find those 'cheat/not a cheat' lines that you hadn't spotted when they can spend all day bouncing onto them.

As an organisers, I did find that version of the rules the worst to explain to a new observer, especially at 5 minutes past start time. "A dab is a one, a stop is also a one, two dabs when moving is a two but two dabs when stopped is a three" etc etc. I personally was most relieved when they dropped that system. Plus I rode in dozens, probably hundreds of trials at that time and was only ever given a 1 for stopping on one occasion. In almost every case, it became 'anything goes' which is what the current TSR22a is now effectively anyway.

Sounds like you got away lightly. I wonder if so many resources would have been deployed had you rung up to say a gang of scruffy types has nicked your bike and were loading it into the back of a Transit van?

I understand what you are saying, and yes we've all been given a five when we thought it should have been something else, but equally we have all been given a clean when we weren't expecting to have one, it's all part of the sport. I personally prefer riding stop allowed, although I can't hop and bounce very much (and certainly not good enough to make it worth doing) however, I do feel that we should have one set of rules for all. Non stop, as Dan points out, makes trials flow better, means that sections can be more straight forward and for me as a Clerk of the Course, eliminates many of the 'cheat/not a cheat' lines that riders always seem to find by bouncing to and fro. If a stop is a five, then that's the rule and I don't see a problem. Modern society doesn't allow loosers, everyone has to be a runner up. Trials has fallen into this category; so often a rider who gets to the ends cards with just three careful dabs get the same score as someone how scrabbles and crawls and stops for a breather. Now that's hardly rewarding the better rider who had three careful dabs. This is only my take on the situation and to be honest I'm just happy to still be able to enter a trial, regardless of the rules and long may it continue. Pete

Dan's letter reflects the thoughts of a lot of riders, sadly as long as the FIM WTC is 'stop allowed' the ACU will continue to offer this option to event organisers, creating this issue. Possibly the best thing that could happen is the FIM going 'non stop' then we could all follow and end up with one rule for all. Don't expect that anytime soon.

I did the same thing on mine the very first time a cleaned the carb. To gain access, it helps to remove the top shock bolt and pivot the shock back towards the rear wheel, this allows the swing arm to drop and pinch the hose. I replaced the pipe and always make sure the rear wheel is supported when I clean the carb.

John, For once I don't agree with you on this one. Three riders out of the entry being stopped by the Police does I feel give them a genuine reason for exceeding their time limit. What would have happened if the Police delayed every rider in the trial by 23 minutes? I feel that it is wrong to penalise the three who were stopped, especially as the Police themselves confirmed that fact. The riders could hardly have continued until allowed by the Police. Pete

Being stopped by the Police, which the Police themselves confirmed as an acceptable excuse in my opinion. Punctures and other machine failures, or simply getting lost is part of the event. Police intervention is not. Credit them the 23 minutes.

I looked at fitting some new Renthal grips that I have in stock for my Scorpa, but they are far to big, are you using smaller diameter ones?

I bought a set of pink graphics for my daughters Oset for

Although the mystery of who had the trophy continues, the Cranmore Trophy came back into my posession yesterday morning. It's currently at the silversmiths being cleaned up ready for the 100th Colmore next year. Thanks to everyone who had a look for it. Pete

It's a suprise to me, I never thought we'd see it. All the people who have been banging on about it for the last few months...... you told us so!

It is true that easy trials get good entries. 'Back in the day' we all rode one route and were happy to get round under 100 marks lost, that simply isn't the case now. The Midland Centre is finding this out to it's cost. It's no good putting on a B route, if only the Over 40 Experts ride on it.

Yes. Non stop certainly is a start in the right direction (as far as this topic is concerned, lets not get into that specific debate in this thread) but as mentioned in earlier posts, a classic trial is different for many more reasons than just being non stop. The rules are different, but so are the bikes, the sections and numerous other things. It's these differences that 'we' might do well to embrace in modern trials for the good of the sport, not for 2011 but for the future. The six world championship riders can hop and bop and rev themselves up vertical mountain faces for the next few years, but without customers buying bikes to ride in local events on a Sunday morning, eventually there will be no trials. We must explore ways of opening up trials to more people, especially younger ones. Pete

I think we are getting bogged down with the word classic a little bit here. No disrespect to anyone ready this, or to anyone in our club, but how many of 'us' are still going to be doing this (riding, setting out, observing etc) in 10 years time?...... or 20 years time? If we want trials to continue, we do need youngsters to come into the sport. The youngest 'workers' in our club are all over 40 now. Some are over 70. If changing the rules for modern events, or changing the machines, or putting on three routes helps to encourage new blood to take up trials, would it not be a good thing? Real classic, (and I mean classic in the pre-65 sense) events will continue for some time and don't need messing with, I'm Clerk of the Course for a Miller Round and thoroughly enjoy our event, despite not being a classic machine owner myself. I ride round with the entry and do the sections on my Trail bike. The sections are easier, the machines are less able and the rules are different (read 'like they used to be') I believe that using this formula (call it 'classic' if you like) for modern events really might work. That's not saying we should allow/encourage modern bikes to enter pre-65 classic trials, but simply use a similar format for modern events. Pete

I use 'endless' ratchet straps from the front wheel spindle and from the frame behind the footrests at approx 45deg. I don't use ratchet straps with hooks as these can bounce off. The front suspension isn't compressed as all and the rear suspension only a little. Here's a shot of a road biek secured in this way. Pete

I agree that events like you mention are popular and give everyone a good day out, but we were trying to think of ways that all modern trials could be made the same.

Why not simply replace the spokes?

Trials is simply to specialist to appeal to the average person in the street. I think a minimum weight for all machines would be a good place to start, together with a minimum fuel capacity as you say plus a seat. That way riders at least stand a chance of riding their bikes on the road if they wish. Having machines that could be used in the 'real' world would help far more people relate to trials.

It may be a very simple cure indeed On the handle bars, pull the rubber off the throttle cable and check that the cable is still in the throttle body. Do the same at the carb end of the cable. If the cable has jumped out, even a short amount, it will cause the symtoms you mention. If this is ok, you will need to remove the carb and see if the slide is sticking.

Yep.