pete_scorpa3

I'm with Carol Nash and there's no exclusion on mine for the road bits during an event. 0800 298 5511 I was with MCE who gave me the cheapest quote but they excluded the road bits during an event. 0871 222 7920 If you only ride in one or two road trials per year, it's probably best to go with the cheapest insurer and use the ACU's road insurance on the day which only costs

In a competition (as a clubman) you would probably loose less marks on the 250, but for what you want the bike for, the 280 will do really well in my opinion.

The look Orange!

Now that's really good advice which I would never have thought of, spares are not a problem where we are but it could be a major pain in some parts of the world.

I have to say I really liked the 290 Beta when I tried it. I felt right at home immediately, but I'm not sure about using it as a trail bike.

HAM2 I can't seem to get that link to work.

Have you considered the new Beta Alp 200? Brilliant little trail bike and light enough to use on the really technical bits.

I think that you will find that you should wear a helmet with a silver ACU sticker to ride in ACU events, however this rule never seems to be enforced so don't worry about that. Riders often turn up with mountain bike style lids and no one seems to even notice. I personally would never wear a camel pack for trials unless it was a very long way around and a hot day, most events are multi laps and you can grab a drink each time ou go round if you need one. The boots are the biggest draw back, you will find that you loose far too much dexterity (if you can have dexterity with your feet?) a pair of trials boots should be fairly near the top of your list. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Pete

And what qualities do you have that wuold make you suitable for this role?

As above, it is perfectly acceptable to get your tax up to one week before the MOT runs out.

I did buy and then sell a Rev3 fllywheel puller back in 2004. I needed the damned thing twice on the same bike within six trials , I was so hacked off with those stators (and a broken bone in my left foot from trying to start the dead thing ) that I sold the bike and swore that I would never own another Beta again and to back it up I sold the puller too. A bit childish I know, and I probably will buy another Beta and one day I probably will need that puller again, but it's the only tool that I've ever sold.

In this particular case it is as if the rider got away with loosing five marks, afterall the course setter pretty obviously meant the section to include the hill. The rider managed to poke his wheel out and thus avoided the five marks he would have lost IF the cards had been a little further from the top of the climb.

Should have fitted a set of mx knobblies!

What's the most expensive tool you've ever had to buy?

If I ever need a tool then I make a point of buying that tool as soon as I can, even if it is for the most obscure job. The trouble with this ethos is that I have many tool which I have only ever used once. But is is good when you suddenly realise that you have the tool in stock from the last time.... 15 years ago! :-) The handiest piece of kit I have to be honest is a bench vice. Not rocket science, not high spec certainly not expensive but I would certainly be lost without it.

I've decided on the mx tyre but as yet I've not had to try it out as I've managed to get to work in the car.

I really can't remember his score, he was on the B route and found it too hard. I do know that I was in single figures that day and I'm no star. He just thought the B route was too hard and the C route was too easy. What can you do?

You will always get someone. For example, a rider came up to me after one of our club trials. He'd ridden four laps of 12 sections, each with three routes marked with coloured pairs of arrows for each route. "It was ok but what you need" he said " is another route, the B route is too hard and the C route is too easy!"

I like it!

The most important thing is that the same clock is used at the start and after the last section and that each rider can clearly see the clock when they get to the last section. It's frustrating to walk a section, then queue up, then ride it to find that the timekeeper is using his wrist watch and you're a minute over!

The ends cards in a sensible place is the important bit, the rest is a minor detail 99.9% of the time.

Thanks for posting that clip, if the road looks that bad going up from Governors Dip just imagine what it was like over the mountain! By the way, did the cameraman virtually come out of Steve Colleys house at the start?

The fist round of the Midland Centre Group trials championship has had to be cancelled. The Leamington Victory Club has been left no option but to cancell the event due to be held this Sunday at Earlswood near Solihull due to the heavy snow. It is likely that the trial will be rescheduled for later in the year. Pete