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[Schmorgas]

Different Strokes …


Yin & Yang: balancing your Chi.. : centering your Chakras. . . !!

Call it what you will, but we all know what we like.

2 stroke or 4 stroke? Mac or PC?

Regular readers of these ramblings may know my first stab at trials a couple of years ago began on a 1982 250 Honda TLM. My coach and mentor Barry Fairbrother, recently seen at the last Bradford club WBS round sporting his new Sherco blue plumage, advised against it. But what did he know? He’d only been riding for twenty years plus!

I knew best - none of this modern po-go stick trials bike for me. I wanted something with a vague hint of a seat that actually looked like a bike. I also wanted a four stroke but Barry was quite insistent that it would not be the way to go when starting out so on this matter at least, I listened.

Alas, as nice as the Honda was and as it turned out quite rare,compared to the Sherco of Barry’s, it was a barge! Having resisted the offer to ride the Sherco several times, suspecting that it would instill some dissatisfaction in my own machine, I was eventually tricked more or less into riding it. 200 yards was all it took! The contrast was amazing. From a long barge of a thing I was straight into my comfort zone. Just like riding a push bike in terms of feel.

A couple of weeks later we were on our way up to sunny Scotland to collect an ’02 Mont’ 315R. Still 2 stroke. Nice bike, a lot more lively than my Honda, and a lot more controllable for me compared to the barge. Still being talked out of a four stroke, but what did I know. I was three months into a trials career and already on my second bike - a chap can never have too many!!

The Montesa! - standing along side my TLM, Fraser TL125 and Bultaco. So off I went, riding it at every opportunity to get some hours in. Trying to build some confidence and basic skills. But always with the “grip of death”. It was around this time that my coach and mentor turned up at RH with a helmet cam. This of course, was not good. There followed a now legendary (some would say) running before walking dismount/ejection of comical ineptitude. All on camera! (youtube “Peter Coates Trials King”) Every time I rode that Mont’ it ran differently. So having fallen off and out of love with the Mont’, you guessed it - four stroke time!!

So I parted with the TLM, the Mont’ and the Bultaco and back in Barry’s van we were Leyburn bound. “It’ll all end in tears!” Was the advice from Barry. No pressure then.

I’d never ridden a four stroke trials bike. Road bikes and a trail bike on a Greek island yes, but not a trials iron. But I had tried a Beta Rev 3 250 two stroke and liked the feel of it compared to my Montesa. Softer power delivery appealed to the beginner in me, and four stroke grip. Eureka! ’08 250 Rev 4T. Quick ride up and down a track – bought!

I have to say, I was massively relieved that it lived up to my expectations. I’d have looked pretty stupid if I hadn’t liked it. So now almost two years on, I’m on my 2011 Evo 250 4T.

The biggest problem I have is keeping Barry off it when we ride!

My chakra’s are well and truly centred, and my Yin & Yang are in harmony. And in case you were wondering I’m writing this on my Mac! Different strokes for different folks. Preferably four!



Keep ya feet up!

Peter

[ishy]

Good post and very true, at the end of the day it does come down to what floats your boat, women go in a store and try on 50 pair of jeans "do they make my ass look smaller love" wise man "your ass always looks small" and still not buy any, men just grab a pair and if they don't fit when they get home go buy another pair.