scoobydo

FORGET THE REST - GO WITH MSN No messing about & they treat you like they actually want your business. The other lot you mention given my recent experience with them - well I would not give them the time of day never mind my money (long story) PLUS MSN's cover is FULLY LEGAL for competion use whereas the other lot's cover is not. Cheers GAW

When I rode way back in 1992 on a 311 mont (with large capacity tank compared to todays bikes) I ran out in the middle of nowhere. Had I not had a 'bottle' (PJ1 2T oil bottle actually) I might still have been there ! The bottle of juice just got me to the next fuel stop ! One thing no one has mentioned is the fact that if you come off and the bike tips out some of its fuel you are potentially gonna run dry. You cant always get your bike the right way up quick enough (especially after 3-4 days and you are Knackered ! Given the the FACT that most riders carry a 'bottle' and the fact that modern trials bikes have small fuel tanks - I would say its high time for the SSDT rule committee to accept a standard & safe 'bottle' for riders to carry around - so they are not ridung against the rules. C'mon SSDT time for a minor tweak to the rules here and at the same time ensure safety. Me were I to ride again a bottle & Hebo tank would be a must ! (As you never know if you will need it or not) Cheers GAW

Not having a pop at this reply but...... simply using it to draw attention to some points. Overloading a motor vehicle is an RTA offence. - ie Too much load on rear axle. Making a motor vehicle un-road worthy is an RTA offence. - ie too much rear cantilever load outback upsetting the steering/ braking etc upfront think greasy slippy roads ?? (remember its you who is also involved in a crunch too) Making additions to the car to increase its width beyond I understand 250mm each side (stand corrected) I believe is not allowed ie RTA offence. Cant compare to a caravan as they are built to RTA rules and also in the dark they have front width position lamps fitted. Whereas a bike stuck out each side is unlit to on coming traffic. To tow AND have a bike on a rack as well on a typical family car - that is simply madness and is gross overloading and they are certainly asking to be in the deep stuff with the law / insurance / their's and other road users saftey. Question. Most british standard (not swan neck) tow bars are made from 40 x 40 x 3 section with the ball fixing plate welded to the end. Its not the weld thats likley to fail - but the actual box material itself under such load, think of the bounce, vibrate, shear, twisting and potential tearing forces imposed overtime all going back to that one central towbar neck / stem. So without going into all the complex engineering design calculations on this one to further argue this point, put simply..... On that basis alone would you take the risk ? A trailer however is a totally different kind of loading, and used correctly is FAR safer and is (if RTA compliant) fully acceptable to the law. Makes you think eh ? Cheers.

Disagree, its worth what someone is prepared to pay. Buy a typical nail and try and restore to that condition for

Some points to consider. 1. The tow ball nose weight allowance for your vehicle (ie the kgs down force) at this point creates 'lift' at the front = upset handling / cornering / braking / grip , which if exceeded could result in an accident to which you would be liable (insurance would run a mile from you !) 2. The twist effect that the combined weight of rack and bike will impart on the towbar and where it is fixed to the vehicle. 3. The overhang each side of the vehicle - THIS is the thing that PC Traffic Plod will spot first - if its excessive (which with that vehicle I suspect it will be )then expect to be treated to the blue light disco. Personally I'd go for a compact trailer with adequate axle width. = Safe & legal - peace of mind. Cheers GAW

Hi - Just to add my 10 pennerth ! As a average clubman rider I rode the SSDT in 1992 - It was the experience of a lifetime! Do it again? NO Glad I did it? YES. The SSDT was physically demanding that year due to extreme weather everyday. Plus I broke a bone in my left hand in a fall on the Wednesday AM which nearly finished my ride.From that point on hard (for me) became extremely hard. Some excellent comments already made - I'd suggest you went up to watch first and try and see whats involved and in between the sections as well - that is the part that I found the killer (poor weather made it very hard) Got my finish so chuffed to bits and still am 19 years on If you are fit, and have a inkling to ride the SSDT then go for it ! The memories will stay with you forever ! But get saving up as its not exactly cheap to do. Best of luck ! GAW.

Now that would possibly be an improvement on 'standard' hehehe So what could you do with the shop apprentice then ? (Dibsta lol)

About 3pm if a noon start - now I am off to bed to sober up after our Presentation night !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gues there will be some sore heads at Cliffe lane on Sunday

Ok if its a Harry Hill FFFFFight!!!!!!!!! Then Spen can put up BIG LEIGH for our corner - Who have the horses got then ? hehehehe

It will not be hard ie dangerous on the easy course - more tricky and will take marks off everyone. The results are combined hard and easy courses to find the overall winner. Cliffe lane is a wooded and stream area with a good selection of Banks roots and some occasional rocks. If she does enduro she will be fine I am sure. The hard course though will be tight and marked out for the hoppers ! Plus they get to do all the big time stuff there is there. Come along and have a good ride

Ok Spen valley is at the more compact course of the 2. So not as far to walk around. If you aim to get there for the start time then the riding kicks off pretty much on time so no hanging around for the young un. Spen is a combined results trial the easy route would be harder than that in an beginner trial but will be a better watch than easier beginner sections. The hard course will be stiff and will make for better viewing than novice course. Horsforth are up at Deer park which is possibly not as easy to walk a young un around - either way enjoy which ever you choose to watch! Bring your wellies if going to Cliffe Lane ! And better to park up the top of the acesss lane and walk down as it can get busy at the bottom in the riders car park area !

I have tried Raptors and whilst they are good, IMO they are NOT the best. I have ridden bikes with both new and used raptors on, and in 100% of the cases they are an improvement over what they have replaced. £140? worth of improvement ? NO. I then rode a bike fitted with the new billet machined Talon / Sammy miller footpegs in muddy crappy conditions - and I have to say that the feel is better, the grip is better and (IMO) the look is better than a raptor - £75 makes them nearly half the price too. There is also a choice of colour too.(sexy red on my beta) The stainless grub screws really grip into your boot sole and the mud is easily cleared out through the large gaps beneath. I accept that hand made titanium products are always going to be expensive and may even be bought as a 'badge' for certain riders bikes. Go for the Talon / Sammy Miller ones and you will not be dissapointed - I am a very demanding person when it comes to function, quality, design and price - these footpegs tick all the correct boxes for me. Cheers Scooby

Yes I second that - Andy at Pennine is deffo the place to go to bikes kit spares and sound advice. The Gasser 250 txt will be a good starter bike and is more than good enough to keep as you progress ! Dont dismiss coming over to Yorkshire to ride we are friendly bunch here now and have forgiven you lot about the small civil disturbance a few hundred years ago lol ! You can join / ride anywhere once you have ACU licence which is compulsory for all riders. Spen Valley have some good and steady Novice / beginners events and pretty close to you too some of em. In fact Spen Valley has its own resident Lancashire Lad 'Big Leigh' who comes across and rides all the clubs events so there is certainly room for another one of you ! Only a quid to join the club too so not a 'bomb out' if you only ride 2-3 events over the year ! Gives you more scope to ride when your job allows ! You can ride as little or often as there are events layed on at any club. It only shows if you are riding for a series award - if you mis an event you cant score points - thats all. Remember Live to ride - not - Live to work Cheers Giles

Just seen the internal set up of a High end cycle parts manufacturer in the North of England. The investment there is phenomimnal ! Serious Serious machine tools in a superb new factory. You could be in an aerospace factory - its that good. I have travelled the world in my job visiting such facilities and this place is good- very good. My point ? The cost of pedal cycles - good enough to compete on & not your Halford specials - is high because of the investment by the manufacturer to have modern efficient kit to make the very best parts on. (A modern high end self loading palletised machining center - read milling machine - can cost north of £1/2 million!!) The brave manufacturer then has to market their goods, run the factory, pay the wages, rates, insurance plus service any borrowings etc etc etc etc and hope they show a profit at the end of it! - very brave indeed ! The Trials iron factory's are in exactly the same position, and I bet for one they dont make a bomb on each machine they make too ! So if you look at it that way both Trials Bikes & Pedal Cycles are excellent value ! Gives me 'HOPE' that we see this kind of investment here in the UK

Hi Jon - Welcome to the fun world of Trials. Bumpy is a great place to learn at so that's good - but you should not be afraid to join up with a couple of clubs that cater for Novice / beginners. My club Spen Valley is a good 'un with lots of friendly types and some good venues too. Just

If I was of the mind to I would calculate the cost of riding by looking at the different cost centers , and run the average cost out to a monthly figure. This way you can amortise long lasting items (like boots) the same way as a one event purchase (entry fee / petrol) A bit like this- 1. Bike purchase price minus its final resale value divided by the length of time owned (12 24 36 months or whatever) = the cost of ownership per month. then same again for ...... 2. Riding gear again spread over 24/36 months 3. Consumables and spares. 4. Event entry and travelling & Fuel. 5. A.N. Other sundry (trailer repairs etc) etc etc. This way you could see as accuratley as you can how much your own cost per month to ride is. The largest variable will be your bike cost over time. ie do you buy new or seek out a bargain ? But alas I cant be AR$£D working out what it costs me because if I did and the wife were to crack my passwords on my Laptop then I would be Bacon ! Fact is I can afford it at my level and I can justify the spend to myself without hurting our family lifestyle away from trials. Maybe I am lucky to be able to take this line - it hasnt always been the case I can tell you (have had to sell bikes to raise quick cash). Fact is we all sort of 'know' what we can truly afford - trials riders tend to be money savy in this respect. My advice is spend it now - you cant take it with you / tommorrow is too late so enjoy today. Cheers GAW

Just add to the last post - you could in fact (if the person marking out wanted to - and the terrain may dictate this for example) have 3 entirely different routes. They would all start at the same gate and eventually finish at the same gate but what is plotted between start and finish can be 'tuned' to suit the Hard course route - Clubman route & the Clubman easy route therefore catering for all riding levels without penalising / forcing anyone to ride what they find too easy or too hard. It works !

Had this happen to me on a Mont 311 I was bedding in for the SSDT back in 1992 ! Was worried about it happening up at the big one ! (it didnt by the way) What caused it was a corroded multi plug and timing almost at the limit, try backing this off its possible (? I do nt know enough about the Fantic to know if this is do able) Maybe check through all your contacts and electric's too eh? Good luck!

Yes Spen Valley riders have voted overwhelmingly to adopt this method too. Agree that it will take a few events to bed in. Probably for the guys setting out as much as the riders ! Have to say for me - (riding the Spen event) it was clear that the sections were plotted clearly for the skill levels for that particular route and therefore no 'over the top' parts were in unlike before with combined sections. Actually think that in time it will be easier for course markers to work this system once they are all a few events in. Better for all levels of rider skill Better for observers =Better events ! Happy days indeed Cheers GAW.

Yes it will across corners - They are a good little van with loads of spares available. Check when the cam belt was last changed and see if there is a service history for oil and filters at very least. Used to have a Peugeot version and was very pleased with it. Good on Juice too. :-) Cheers

Put James Dabill on it ??

Big thanks and full marks for the hardy team from Spen Valley who braved harsh weather up at Harden Moor and pegged out the first Championship Trial of 2011. The severity of the sections across the new formatt of 3 routes was as far as I could see SPOT ON. I would encourage anyone to come along and try the new Spen Valley formula. Pity about the weather though blew a howler with horizontal rain - so big thanks to all those brave and wet observers too. If this is repeated in future events then the future is looking good ! Cheers Giles.

I sense the next words to be uttered roughly translate to 'Ouch!' Brilliant shot Andy you even managed to get me and my mates sitting in the audience too - What a result! It was a Great night,Great show with Great riders - and IMO a big shout must go out for Jack Challoner (the lad from Halifax - of course!) He showed some fantastic courage and flashes of skills we will no doubt become accustomed to in the near future ! Well done JC.