02-apr

To be honest I can't see the point in paying a large amount of money for the latest in cutting edge trials technology then strapping a kilo (of liquid which moves about) to the steering, of all places. I'm sure the MoT man would have a good laugh before failing a bike so presented. I'm not going to query the Club, they know best the factors they have to take in to account, but if a Sigg petrol bottle is deemed safe for hikers to carry fuel round the countryside on their backs and brew up at intervals on the hill then it should be safe enough to have in a bag on a trials rider's back with no stoves involved? Perhaps manufacturers could resurrect the "Scottish" tank, I thought Gas Gas did a while ago. I think I'd rather have a slightly taller tank than liquid slopping about the steering head.

Too true, the biggest missed opportunity in trials bike production - unfortunately equalled by Italjet a bit later. You will recall I kept mine all of two months I think.

Early ones apparently were sleeved down 250s (I was told I could get an oversize piston) but 03 or so onwards are plated alloy.

And almost popular.

Same as last time - the Hydro at end of the month. Might you be twinshocking there?

Much as I expected - I'm not really an IT fan if something traditionally simple will do the job.

It must be all that polishing Ross.

I can't help but think that nowadays cheap technology must exist for an observer to send a score direct back to HQ, possibly by mobile phone application. There must be something adaptable on the market. I take your point about punches going amiss but are they really that dear compared to the hassle of losing a couple of sections due to unreadable cards? Anyway, you can always ensure you get them back when your observers sign back in.

Forty years ago I had a similar problem after one very wet event. The cure was simple - we made up punch cards where the number down the side was the rider number and the others the score. Section/lap number was marked on the top in waterproof felt pen. The observer had as many cards as he needed and I thought it was a better idea than giving the riders a punchcard which always seemed to cause a lot of hold ups as they struggled to reach the observer after fiving (not to mention the occasional dispute over the veracity of what was punched on the card that was handed in). It also meant an observer was not run ragged going up and down to punch cards as often happens.

In days of yore a group from the Borders used to travel together in a diesel Merc with: five bikes on the trailer, one across the back on a homemade rack of substantial channel and the TY 80 in the boot. All the riders and at least one observer managed to fit in the car. Corsa Schmorsa.

There's been a few questions along this sort of line recently. Don't Beta issue anything with their bikes nowadays? Even Bultaco managed a small bit of card with the basic adjustments explained.

In as much as they appeared to be modified road bikes (big tanks, big hubs, real seats on real rear loops and not really too handy looking) I thought the Montesas were well within the spirit of the event, more so than lots of nominally British bikes. Let's not forget that continentals, like us, were riding trials long before 1965 and creating bikes in exactly the same way we were (ie by tweeking road bikes) possibly more so as they may well not have had such a large comp industry as we did from the Fifties on, as well as using pukka European produced trials bikes.

About 30mph probably. I'm not taking the P but that seems the easiest way to sum up the various differences in tuning, gearing, expansion chamber, carb size etc that would render the DT hopeless for trials use.

Basically, but designed primarily for scrambling. In trials form it had a rear sprocket about 3 thou less in diameter than a 4.00 by 18, or so it seemed.

Strange that the link does not mention Sprite's own motor, the 405.

I agree with not overpacking but the amount of grease in some bearings is pathetic and is bound not to be of a waterproof variety. Remember the coating that is all you get in most will soon be washed away, seals or no, so get a reasonable amount of good waterproof grease in. Picks available currently at Aldi for about 3 quid to ease the job.

If you have good "running" fitness then that is a good start - you can build on this by doing weights etc - I can send you the schedule we used to use, under supervision of a coach, which was specifically designed for the Scottish ISDT squad, which ages it a bit and theories may have changed so it's worth consulting an expert. Spikeyone got this a couple of years ago and may care to comment on its effectiveness. The biggest riding problems are not being used to the rocky sections and the very lengthy between section going. Your mud technique should adapt to the bogs. I would encourage you to have a go and, before somebody quotes comments I have made recently about some entrants to the Pre'65, I would say that you obviously have the skill and experience to assess whether you are up to the physical demands of something once you understand what is involved. I've ridden twice and can say that my biggest regret in trials riding is probably not having done so more often, so go for it. OK it's not cheap but it is not that much dearer in actual pounds than it was 30 years ago, if I remember right, so is really less expensive now. Looked at realistically competitors get an absolute bargain with the main men (I have no direct link with the Club) spending their own time and money to sort out routes and sections in the months leading up to the event. How much is a return trip to the Fort without factoring in bike fuel etc?

From the description of the "magneto" it sounds like most Nortons I've had experience of.

I used to use old gearbox oil (remember when we used to change the oil in car gearboxes)or old engine oil. It certainly worked a treat on my enduro bike, albeit an o-ring chain. I scoffed at the idea of using WD 40 but gave it a go and found that the chain and sprockets did not, in fact, wear out any quicker (but don't do road trials). But that was using a high quality chain costing a bit more than the

Year before the old man had his stroke we went looking for THE Devils Staircase but couldn't get to it. I do remember walking up it many moons ago, mid 70s I suspect. You should have been on the "Moidart Run" last year, THE Staircase was a stopping off point with participants hiking up to pay respects. It's a good deal further from the road than I had remembered.

Don't give up. It doesn't necessarily follow that your immediate competitors will do all rounds. Other people are forced to go on holiday too

Correct - it's known as the Devil's Staircase in the mountain bike world (and may even be signposted as such on the posts I have seen above Kinlochleven).

That's the one.

It used to be on the route of the trial but is not for "public" use be it trials bike or KTM. Mountain bike only I'm afraid.