johnnyboxer

31 views already...............but no replies, surely some mistake

At Sunday's Trial, I was talking to another competitor about Observing and he said he Observes at the SSDT and has a great week out This struck a cord with me, as I've been thinking about it for a while at big Trials (which i'm not good enough to ride anymore) I'd like to Observe at big Trials like the Reeth 3 day, maybe the Scott and ultimately the SSDT, plus a few Nationals or BTC in the fullness of time I realise you have to start small, but how do you get into it? Is there any training, at Club level or ACU? How do you know when you're ready to do a big Trial? Obviously I don't want to get it wrong and this is the bit that scares me silly, because riders put a lot in, especially in a Championship event and I'd be horrified to make an error of judgement to lose someone the Trial and consistency is key, along with clear interpretation of the rules Any ideas or help would be gratefully received?

It was never difficult to run no-stop 20-30 years ago, so why should it be different now? The reason is because the youngsters have never ridden it and have been encouraged to hop & bop, by their peers Thus sections have become tighter and more difficult and bike design has improved, so stop is the only way that you can get through a section To allow no stop to work, everyone has to change their mindset (section builders/observers/CofC's/riders etc) and IMHO Dan Thorpe was the only rider to ride that section correctly under the no stop rules

He went backwards at the top, when the bike got stuck.............

Aye that was the only clean I've seen so far out of all the vids Surely if you're hopping, the wheels aren't turning and the rider is nudging the bike 'technically' forward with his body and not the bike's power to turn the wheels.............so only Dan Thorpe did it correctly under 'No Stop Yes or No??

I did .............once or twice yesterday

+1 Do the ACU or Clubs run training days for Observers? If they don't then, maybe they should start

Looks like it's hit a brick wall though, maybe time for a change of emphasis

I don't know, things were different back then - there was less money in the sport back then, I guess and the WTC was in it's infancy - so people would have a crack at it, down to the Club expert rider who'd turn up on a Bult 325 on the back of a Ford Capri, as long as he had a relevant licence to compete A good example of that sort of camaraderie/competition 30 years ago, IS today's Scott and SSDT trials that still capture that essence of the sport of Trials SSDT & Scott - Money isn't in it, there are no TV rights - a good club rider can get a new bike out of a crate, run it in and start alongside a factory works rider on a trick bike.............they can ride the same section, one route and the club rider can at the end's cards record the same score as the factory rider perhaps That's the sport, that's the craic and that's why it's so popular and over-subscribed year on year Joe Public can compete alongside their sporting heroes, if they so choose One route, one man, one bike and winner takes all Compare that to some contrived, super human sections in WTC, that only 15 of the world's top riders can manage, because they ride everyday to attain that skill level on supertrick bikes That formula is becoming boring, even an avid trials rider is starting to find watching it, so boring Perhaps we will go full circle, who knows 30 year's ago a British round of the WTC was like a Scott or SSDT, it was one man, one bike and one route - but although the sections were harder, even a club Expert could put in a decent ride on his home turf and live the dream of riding amongst the best in the world....... that day Sadly that is no longer true today in WTC and Trials is for that....... a lot poorer

As a teenager I went to the World round run by West of England club on Dartmoor in about 77 or 78 It was tough, but I was amazed at the skills and encouraged me to practice more as a schoolboy rider The entry was huge 100 + riders including the local Expert club riders who I saw week in, week out at Club trials Tha is what a World round is all about, not 15 top riders The sooner we get back to a full entry, the better it can be

True you are correct No need now, I have the Mitani..............which is what Montesa should have done on the 315's and 4RT's in the first place

Managed to find one at long last............it really is a huge improvement over Honda's rubbish effort

Lovely..............but you know you're going to have to buy a new exhaust, don't you

Honda's (Montesa) are probably the best built and swish, but they're not the most competitive or easiest to ride When it goes right, they make you feel good.................but they take a bit of mastering Beta's are popular now

Have prices gone up? I hadn't noticed, I thought they came down?

And we have been told 'No-Stop' wasn't gonna work

Wasted the fuel cost getting there though Nobody can control the weather and a good thaw set in by 11-11.30, in most parts More of a challenge

Stupid rule that then...............they're all in Yorkshire

You missed some Yorkshire clubs out? Eboracum Pickering Scarborough Hull Thirsk Northallerton Barnsley There's a lot more clubs than you've listed, so what about them - No Stop I hope

Enjoy

That's why I went for a 2007 Repsol, easier to keep on top of and it's a keeper Me too, been trailriding for years and have 2 dualsports (250 and 650), keep dabbling in Trials

Nope it don't but they are the only ones that are made unfortunately That's why I avoided the Black frame models, they look shabby very quickly What else are you planning?

Guards are guards, meant to protect what's underneath.....................not to look pretty, if you're worried just put some stickers over the top OR use SXS frame stickers

Never found any The Carbon look wears off and then they just look like plain black plastic Plus it isn't much of a carbon look anyway I'm not bothered about how they look, as long as they protect the frame, who cares All the other covers are real Carbon A tip.............use plenty of extra zip ties to secure them

Mainly GasGas and Beta in North Yorkshire, with a few Sherco's Just a smattering of Scorpa's and 4RT's