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I am looking to buy a new van and could do with some help from those with van experience. My yard stick for a van is whether it will take a trials bike... although the lack of trials in France dictate this is really not a viable argument... However on that basis what is best overall small van , a Fiat cargo or a Ford Connect. Cheers

Yes thats the one I have pencilled in.. If you want to break up the journey Woody stop off and have a day practising in the Dordogne, its well over half way in fact about five hours to Ripol, a short hop....

Hi I fully understand the implications of it and why its been done, I am in no way being critical. Hi Paul and Woody sadly not this year, and I see you have seen through my cunning plan..... to circumnavigate the problem... We try and get down to one this year .. now wheres my ACU handbook .....

Further to my response, is it normal ACU national licences or do you need International ones to be able to ride..

Hi Thanks for the explanation, Yes you are correct in France there are two types Ufolep and FFM. Unfortunately most if not all classic trials, the most popular series anyway are all run under Ufolep licences. Also due to the high cost of an FFM licence many riders are defecting to UFOLEP with clubs running modern trials under the same federation in an attempt to attract riders. However no good if we wish to come to Spain. Thanks again

This is a question to any Spanish forum members.. last weekend a English friend of mine, resident in France went to ride a Classic Spanish trial. On arrival and presentation of his French licence was told this was no longer acceptable and the only option was to purchase a day licence at quite a cost. My question, has there been a recent change whereby Non Spanish licences are now not acceptable, when riding in Spain. I try to get down to three or four a year and would like to know before making further arrangements. It would be a real shame if this was the case, but I fully understand if its and insurance issue. Its a question that need answers as there are I am sure many Brits heading south for the trial in Robrigordo next month Thanks vm

I am with Twinshock 250, why would you want convert a very nice looking well capable bike into a twinshock.. The bike does look amazing and is a credit to you however... where will you ride.. are you looking to scalp the aircooled monos or take advantage of original twinshocks. I dont wish to sound argumentative.. and each to their own.. however nice it is where does it fit in...

Looks pretty damn good as it is .....

I didn t mean to say how good it was twice.. but then... Also to clarify, my Majesty wasn t a works bike although with the amount of time,effort ( various persons) and not so small sum of Euros, lavished on it to try and make it as good as a Fantic.... it bloody well could have been.....

A modded up 240 with a 300 engine, there cannot be a better twinshock....

A modded up 240 with a 300 engine, there cannot be a better twinshock....

Shame you did nt start it to coinside with the annual Pre 65 debate, that would have had the clicker clicking.......

Does anybody have any idea how many of these 200 professionals were produced, and by whom. Thanks

I don t think the comment was aimed at the young per say... More that do you want guys jumping off their modern Beta's for a one off ride on dads Pre 65, pot hunting.. Age should n t come into it, if you are there for the right reasons. I can only speak as I find and here in France as well as Spain a many of the prestige classic trials attract a day out for the young Toni Bou look a like.. and the sections are becoming more extreme to cater for this ability level. Here entries are no problem so they are not taking a ride away from anybody, but I think that is what the comment was possibly aimed at.

Yep, the "Boy "Nictou will be there or there abouts on his Ariel. So untrick, yet he throws it about like a modern bike, and used to ride world rounds not many moons ago......

Had a quick look.. seems rather a lot of rules and regs to adhere to. Remember in France all trials bikes should have working lights and its a traffic offence if you fail to stop at a STOP SIGN, even if there is nothing coming and you can see its clear just to pull out. Good advice if your on holiday too. Nice area though so should be a good trial and a nice ride round.

I took it from a previous post where you stated " You are not alone " referring to being a reserve. I assumed incorrectly that you too were a reserve, perhaps its good news after all...

Well nothing has been said this time around that wasn t discussed last year and the year before that. People I speak to and who support Pre 65 trials all year round, up and down the country tell me that all they wish for is a fair crack at getting a ride. Mais ce la vie...Everybody knows how it works.... Big John on the bench for the time being ...There was me thinking you were a shoe in.... The annual sacrifice to the ballot gods not working this year... Still there is hope, long time till May... Good luck to you, and everybody else lucky enough to be in, or on the reserve list.. Bon Soir

Any gossip or snippets yet....

Bonjour, Two of us living in France would like to return and ride one of the ACU classic twinshock/pre 65 rounds next year, what vis a vis licences would we need/be avaliable to enable us to do this. Do we also need to join a club or a day membership etc etc..... We are both club members of an afiliated club here and also hold trials licences. When we ride in Spain they have a recipricol type arrangement, allowing us just to pay an entry fee...Is there any chance that may be the case here. Cheers in advance.

Anybody contemplating a trip to a Spanish or French twinshock/Pre 65 trial next year should really consider doing this two day trial based near Ripoll. Just over the French border an excellent weekend, riding brilliant natural sections, its a long way ( Is Woody home yet ... )but well worth it .. Wack it in your diary or look on Todo classic nearer the date.

It could be possibley true Turbo, however can you imagine the comments if someone turns up with a Majesty with a Mono ty engine grafted into the frame...Is there any difference... I might add also, that I feel without doubt, the top riders would do just as well on bikes that did nt court controversy, so why do it in the first place, where is the satisfaction....

The unrest in France is pretty widespread, but worse in the big cities. Fuel where I live in the Dordogne is pretty unaffected, but delieveries are being disrupted so on the motorways it may.. and I say may, as I m not really sure, be tricky getting diesel. You may have to come off and search for it... I would certainly throw a rug over a couple of cans and bring a reserve with you. The lorries have been doing go slows and the odd blockade on the roads too, however being a cynic I cant see they will be about Friday or the weekend as well, as its the weekend ......., There is a forum for Brits in France called "Totalfrance.com" have a look on there over the next couple of days its quite up on information when there is a bit of flap on.....will give you a better idea. As to the bikes in Spain, to be honest they are extremely well prepared and in my opinion don t come under the cheat heading at all. They are modded for sure but all look like they came out of their perspective factories only they shine a lot more... There are a few special pre 65 bikes but its a small class compared to the uk, and apart from one tiger cub I saw with a Fantic front end looked pretty standard fare. Its a long drive Woody, watch the speed as they have cottened on to the money it brings in and the speed traps are everywhere, see you Friday night hopefully safe journey.

Yep, looking forward to it... will just try and make sure I can get enough diesel, to make it across the border, oh and avoid any hostile truckers blocking the peage... We have a smidge of unrest here in France. See you sometime Friday evening .