atomant

Dabster, will you make a positive contribution for once! If you cant say nothing positive, then say nowt!

Sounds elitist to me. They all had a chance to be in a room in rugby. Last time I mention it, promise. So where were you when the meeting was on then? People have mega busy lives and anything to make it less busy is the way to go surely? And in relation to being elitist ...

This is so true. I come across quite a few people at trials and I haven't heard anyone say something like " Well the ACU is doing a great Job" - All I hear is negative comments and these are reflected in my posts. It strikes me that the ACU is just completely out of touch .... and lets hope we can get this forum going to try and put that right. I'm presuming that by saying the ACU are out of touch, you're saying that the people representing the ACU are out of touch? Basically Yes, but the point of the forum would be to put that right. Did you see Carolines post earlier? Just imagine talking in one virtual room with the main people in the ACU, the UK's importers, some club representatives and some riders about the future of trials. Sounds good to me

Isn't this available? I'm sure it could be if you were involved with the ACU. Sounds like the ACU needs you! Now you are taking the pi$$

Do you know this for a fact Gaz ? Also, its up to the ACU how much they charge us. If we agree we want more for our money then we will have to pay.! Also, I propose that the first thing to do is to let us see a full breakdown of how the Trials income money is spent and then lets discuss ways of using it differently to better the sport.

I can just see the faces of the ACU when they read this post ! here we go again they are thinking But it is a valid question and one that should be discussed in the new forum if it comes about.

This is so true. I come across quite a few people at trials and I haven't heard anyone say something like " Well the ACU is doing a great Job" - All I hear is negative comments and these are reflected in my posts. It strikes me that the ACU is just completely out of touch .... and lets hope we can get this forum going to try and put that right.

Actually, now you come to mention it, I haven't ever seen any mention of TC in TMX except maybe some photos from TrialsPhotos.com If you think about it, this site is major competition and getting moreso every week that goes past. You can read info on here straight after the event and then read it a week later in TMX With Andy being at all the major events this year and feeding info to the site in realtime this is the place to get your trials fix and getting it a week later via TMX is too late IMHO. Also, while I'm at it, I think the TMX publication is tired and needs a revamp. I am not interested at all in MX so hate wading through it to find snippets of trials stuff hidden all over the place amongst it all. This site provides quality Editorial/Photos AND Videos via Andy that TMX could never offer so really there is no competition. Give me TC every time (This was an adversitement for the TC Party ) Getting back onto the thread.. I am waiting with baited breath to see how this will go.. will the ACU be bold and go for it or will it just be fade away never to be mentioned again.? Time will tell ! IMHO

I'm not knocking him either! I always read his column when its to do with trials and very often agree with what he says but this time I think he is has got it completely wrong and said as much. Time and the powers to be in the ACU will be the deciding factors in whether we get the chance to prove him wrong or not.

Yes and his description of a fanatic ! "People who believe that what they do and think is the only possible way of looking at and dealing with a problem" . I think the problem lies with the people who have been doing the job sooo long that they are set in their ways and resist change of any description. I dont advocate change for change's sake but if theres a new idea then give it a chance before saying its "100% unworkable"

I just read JD's page 3 post in this weeks TM-X where he believes that running an online forum to discuss and debate these issues is a "Great idea for debate but 100% unworkable in practice" . I think he is completely wrong. Is he a member of this site I wonder or does he just get all his content for his column from here? If you are then make yourself known so we can run a debate and see if it will work? I think it will, in fact I know it will. How do I know that? Well if you want to make a success of something you find a way to make it work and that is exactly what we will do if this forum idea is given a chance.

Just found this awesome guy on YouTube . This is pretty cool stuff Oh don't it make you wish you were a nipper again ! Trials Dude

I echo your opinion . Its a great place and all credit to Dan & Catherine for their evident hard work and a big mention to Mother Nature for providing that awesome terrain.

No Problem! We aim to please

Step forward Barry

Resizing for the web reduces the information in the image to decrease the file size and therefore reduces the quality of the image. This is exactly what it is designed to do. If you wish to retain the quality in say a JPEG format, raise the quality to 100% and just reduce the overal size in pixels of the image.

Is that right? Nice one Jack

It was, until recently solely a 10D I used. I've upgraded, but still have the 10D as a second camera. You never complained about my photos! It is purely the process of resizing them that causes this. Andy's sorta ok on the camera but hes still a complete n00b on Photoshop

Congratulations to Sam and his family must be very proud Nice lad and hope he goes on to do well in the future

No Problem

I kind of think that is a cop out, if anything is important enough people will make time. As the ACU forum was cancelled, no one obviously thought it was important enough to make the time! If it is to work, then people need to get talking and an online forum does that at its very least. These days, trials needs to fit around busy lives and the people in trials I talk to seem to be getting busier and busier Online is the way to go IMHO

I had it off the ground at Nantmawr - Will try a bit harder next time

This is something we can provide on this site John, I believe this is a solid opportunity to make a big leap forward for the ACU. I would certainly provide any help thats required to make this happen Over to you

The problem with a formal meeting like proposed is that you need to prepare fully and take all relevant info with you to be a viable contributor. On here you can read a post, go away and think/research about your reply in your own time before you post it and its likely to be more constructive and relevant. There would be a considerable benefit if it was hosted on this site as we all come on here anyway and have accounts already set up. A seperate forum takes just a few moments to set up as well and it could be up and running in no time. I haven't spoke to Andy about it but I am sure he would not object and would welcome the sites participation.

I have been known to speak out against the ACU a few times but its never against the people, just the organisation. Since I got back into trials and like some other people I know, I've spent a fair share of my spare time ( and considerable sums of money) doing work for the benefit of others in trials but I do it by choice because I enjoy doing it so no complaints however, If I have a gripe then I shouldn't be made to feel bad about expressing a view as long as its not a personal attack. I don’t hide behind a name, I stand up and say what I feel and if somebody doesn’t like it then its plain tough. Express your view and then let’s get a debate going. I tend to post emotive topics just to do that. To pull people into debates and have serious discussions on subjects I'm passionate about, like the future of Youth Trials for instance. This leads nicely into the post Heath made above. I feel very strongly that the ACU does not communicate well with its members - The ACU has its website and the publication we get but what is lacking is direct engagement. Heaths suggestion would solve that I believe. If the ACU management and a team of selective TC site members who run clubs (there’s a few of us on here) and some responsible trials riders who just participate in the sport were a member of a discreet forum either hosted on this website, the ACU’s website or another ( I would build one for free if it required it). We could get involved in active debate and discussion and have the possibility of contributing to the future of trials at our convenience all year round. I do have experience with this system as I was involved in a similar development forum with EA Games in the development of its WW2 Medal of Honor franchise. It worked very well and was extremely constructive. Up till now someone has had a rant, John comes on and replys defending the ACU and then the cycle continues. This proposal would get us out of this cycle and start to make some progress I believe. What do you say to this John? IMHO