pete_scorpa3

And one quite famous case for altering a punch card. I was fived in a trial earlier in the year for riding the harder route just to see if I could do it. I got through with a dab but still got the five. I know the observer really well and we had a laugh about it, but he quite rightly pointed out that I wasn't on the hard route, so by doing that I left the easy route which is a five! Can't really argue with that can you? The only other point worth mentioning, in an ACU event for a rider to make a protest, there is a set format to be followed which includes a (possibly refundable) cash payment. I wonder if that procedure was completed correctly in this case?

Hi K and Luce, A Group trial is not a good example of the severity of an easy route suitable for someone new to the sport. Most clubs run three routes at their club trials and to start competing you would be advised to enter on that. It is true that you might find the C route too easy but equally you would almost definately find the B route too hard for a few events. The Easy route at a group trial is like a club B route.... or perhaps a little harder. Pete

If you look at their selling history, their other listings are laid out far better with very few spelling mistakes. Perhaps they had a bad day?

With the greatest of respect, the issue of photographs on Trials Registration cards, although a genuine point in it's own right, has little or no bearing on the number of riders entered in the Midland Centre Group Trials Championship. JAM, how does the entry list look for this weekend? I have my own views on the demise of the Group trial championship. The Stratford-Upon-Avon Club won the series in 2007 after a great deal of work behind the scenes to get the riders entered in the series. The following year, the club was determined to hold onto it's title and win it a second time, however at the 2nd round we only had three riders turn up for the hard route and one of them had a DNF hence scoring no points. With the need for teams of three Hard Route and three Easy Route riders at every round, the only way to win the series is to get at least three on each route to finish at every round. Having three riders (on each route) finishing is more important than their finishing positions. The penalty for only having two riders finish is too severe. Sadly, finding six riders (3+3) for every round proved impossible and the motivation to ride as a club team dissapeared. Introducing the Easy route certainly revived the series back in 2004. Suddenly riders who liked a big traditional road trial, (or at least 2 big laps of 20) who had previously not been good enough to ride in Group Trials could enter. But as time has gone on, more and more riders have dropped down onto the Easy route leaving the 'elite' few to ride the hard route. This has meant that the hard route has got harder to cater for the best and the easy route has got harder to cater for better (over 40 experts) riders dropping down. I've so often heard "We have to make it hard to get a result!" and in the Solo Centre Championship I agree, but in group trials it doesn't matter if you get two or three riders on zero, it's the team of SIX with the least points that wins and it's highly unlikely that two teams of six will all finish on zero! In 2004 I rode the Easy route at one round on my Pampera trail bike finishing on 8 marks lost, in 2008 I used my Scorpa and lost 53 in the same event in similar conditions. This has had the effect of turning away the lesser lights; the very people we need to make the series viable. In addition to this, we in the Midland Centre are used to entering on the day. Yes we've had it easy, but none the less that is what happens. To try to get riders to enter a week in advance as is needed for team event is also really hard. It is frustrating to try and get a team together to be one or two riders short, only for half a dozen to turn up on the day to ride for no points. It spoils the whole point of a team event and it also makes it much harder for the organising club. (Riders who turn up onthe day can choose to stay in bed if the weather is bad and more importantly don't need to supply their quota of observers) Add into this the cost of riding on the road at some rounds which prohibits all of the youth riders and many of the adults, then the series is looking grim. From the clubs point of view, we dropped our round this year due to man power constraints. A little club trial attracts just as many riders as the group trial and with 1/4 of the work. So what is the solution? I'm not sure if the series can be saved, but here are a few points to consider and discuss. The number of riders in a team is too many. Pathetic! you might say, but it's a sad fact we can't find six (3+3) riders to enter every round. The penalty for having a rider dnf or dns is too high. Entering on the day should be prohibited completely for the series. No entry means no ride. Riders would either enter or the trial should be cancelled. The sections (again in my opinion, but the most important point) need to be eased. If Over 40 Experts, be they a Clive, or a Mick, or a John, or an Ali, or a Phil wish to ride the B route then good on them, absolutely no problem with that at all. But they should all expect to finish on VERY low scores! It only takes one 'killer' event to put the lesser lights off entering ever again. Finally, it's worth looking at the result from other events in the area to see where riders have gone. How many Midland Centre riders will be at Earl Shilton? I suspect you will also see some riding in the Western Centre. It might be worth asking them why they went there instead of representing their club in the Group trial on the same day. I hope your event goes well and those of us who haven't entered miss a really good trial. Pete

Yes, I had a new 04 Rev3 and the second stator went in just six trials. I'd previously had a number of new Technos and never had a problem with them, I've been wary of Beta's ever since.

Yukkk!!!

Think I'm overstating the dangers of using petrol to clean your bike? Especially when the fumes have not been passed through a good working catalytic converter..... like from a trials bike! Here's a clip from an article on Unleaded fuel by Richard Giles which you might like to browse through. It is only one mans conclusion, but if it's anywhere near the mark, unleaded fuel is really quite dodgy stuff. "The non-lead ingredients added to petrol to stop pinging and maintain octane ratings are known as aromatics. They are from a category of organic substance known as VOCs

Here's one to try. Mr Sheen funiture polish, spray on liberally and leave to soak in for an hour of so. Be VERY careful using petrol, apart from it being flammable, (especially in spray form), it is really bad to breath in or have in contact with your skin.

Well it certainly looks like you have done ok with this one, we've often seen bikes advertised as being younger than they are in reality, it makes a change to see one advertised as being older than it really is. Might I suggest that you look at all the points mentioned above and see if any need sorting. If not, (or when sorted if required) you might need to revise your reserve.... UP! Pete

Is it a 2007 model? Other than that it all looks ok to me.

I went from Alpine Star No stops to Novogar's and have been really pleased. The fitting is fairly generous in comparison and I too went up one metric size and wear fairly think commando style socks with them. If anything, they've remained water resistant for longer than the Alpine Stars, they were cheaper and have lasted just as well.

Yes, I have a sneaky feeling that we're close to the end for this one. The estate will want/have to replace the mature trees and won't put up with motorbikes ripping around the new ones..... we've had a good run, I can remember riding there in 1979! Here's one from last year.

I've sent you a message.

The land owner has spoilt a nice little practice area but perhaps that was their intention. Afterall it is their land, so we can't complain

Phil, I don't understand the thinking myself but perhaps the owner has been getting grief from the neighbouring land owners who's land is being accessed from the Old Mine? You can imagine the Sunday afternoon phone call to the owner "Those bikers of yours are riding all over my land again!!!!" "They're not my ones!!!" "Well you take their money, so you sort it out!!!!!" We all get tarred with the same brush. And following numerous warnings (to legitimate users) the plug is pulled. I'm only guessing here, others may come on and give the correct reason. But the fact still remains...... Venue lost.

Welcome to TC and to trials. Places to practice are few and far between in this area, one small venue we use has recently had it's tree's felled, I was there on Sunday and it is almost impossible to ride around due to the off cuts on the ground. Luckily there are a number of clubs locally who offer events with three routes, the easiest C route is suitable for a complete begginer. Look out for events organised by the Evesham, Stourbridge, Dudley and Stratford clubs from the Midland Centre and the Cheltenham Home Guard Club in the Western Centre. Let us know how you get on. Pete

We rode in the very last trial to be held at the Old Mine at Kinlet today and what a sad occasion that was. I have no idea how many years the Midland Centre has been holding trials at Kinlet, but I first went there in 1982. For those who have ridden there, the venue needs no explanation but for anyone who never made the journey to Kinlet it is typical Midland 'going' whilst being unique at the same time. Wet muddy climbs and 'off-cambered' tree roots are the order of the day. Kinlet offers, or I should now say offered, unexpected levels of steep elevation. The steep wooded banks of the old mine workings rising out of the rocky river bed; a course setters delight. If you needed practice in muddy slots, Kinlet was the place to ride. Recently the Midland Centre has rented the Mine on a yearly basis, but it's location made it difficult for many clubs to use effectively, so more recently Pete and Linda Cartwright from the Dudley and District club took over and have run their superb club and centre championship events at the Mine. Indeed todays event was set out and organised entirely by Pete and Linda and what a great trial it was. Knowing that this was to be the last ever event held at the Old Mine, I decided to lend my trials bike to my buddy Neil who only rides his XR400 in LDT's and use my DRZ for the occasion, we were also joined by my daughter Jessica on her Oset, Jess had never been to the Old Mine and I thought she would enjoy her one and only chance to ride there and get really muddy! So why has the Old Mine been lost to us? One simple reason..... ILLEGAL PRACTICING! In all fairlness to trials riders it's not just 'us'. The venue has suffered badly at the hands of illegal off roading by both bikers and four wheelers. Teenagers with dodgy 'read nicked' MX bikes with no exhausts and no helmets are regularly seen, and the evidence that the 4x4 gang leave behind is plain to see. The latter have even moved the giant rocks placed accross the entereance by the land owner in an attempt to keep them out. The club and other members of the Midland Centre have tried their best to stop this illegal practicing, I've been told that on more than one occasion they confronted a gang of riders who had strayed onto a cultivated neighbouring field gaining after access to the Old Mine, after various heated discussions, the Police were called. This had no effect other than to make them leave in a hurry... to return later. So the the inevitable has happened, no use what-so-ever! Anyone found riding or driving at the Old Mine is there without permission. It's a real shame as the illegal use will continue unchanged I guess, you can only legislate against the law abiding. A sad day for the Midland Centre Indeed. Pete

I fitted a set to a trials tyre on my DRZ for an enduro that stipulated trials tyres. It felt ok but I estimate the pressure to be equivalent to 12psi. And my goodness they were hard to fit!

Have done..

Sorry, the 19th!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Stratford-Upon-Avon MC OK Supreme LDT due to be held on Sept 12th has been cancelled. Please pass on this news to anyone hoping to ride. Pete

Take a look at this video showing a caravan stuck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvlDhtieJ4Y

The Steve Saunders Cotswold Way video is a good one. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEVE-SAUNDERS-COTSW...otorcycle_Parts

Very good! I thought you were having a laugh.... then music started playing

Certain music intros seem to really stir the soul. Any nominations for the best intro of all time? I'll start things of with this from 1979.