michael_t

Hi All, Just wanted to thank everyone that came out and supported trials riding in 2014. Special thanks goes to NSORRA, WTC, RPM Cycle, Beta Atlantic, NSDSC, The Outdoor Show, Jonathan English and all the riders that made the year a ton of fun. We had a great turnout for the outdoor show this year and I think the head to head competitions were a hit with both the riders and the thousands of spectators. Every year we have put on a different type of show and have a bunch of fun during these 3 day indoor events. Now we just need to dream up something for 2015. The training day with Jonathan English was sold out early and for good reason. Just watching a pro level rider up close is a treat but having him jump on your bike and demonstrate the fact that the bike isn't the issue really helps motivate you . Truly Jonathan is a super nice guy and is a real confidence booster no matter what your riding ability is. Eric put on his first event this year and I was disappointed I wasn't able to attend but from all reports it was a great day with some tough challenges for everyone. The Drive to Ride at Miller Meadow had a great turnout and the new rock and tire sections were a big hit (in more ways than one). NSORRA has been a huge boost to Trials riding in NS and it is great to be part of this annual membership drive. Kevin held his second annual event this year with a totally new venue, in a rock quarry. It is surprising but to date we have had limited rock experience so the new venue had some fantastic challenges in store. It was also really cool that there was fairly large spectator turn out... nothing like a little extra pressure All in all it was a great year and we saw 5 or 6 new riders join our ranks. I currently have 42 people on my email list to get the trials updates with respect to upcoming events and any local trials news. If you are interested in being added please let me know. I am in the process of putting together the 2015 schedule and looking forward to another great year of Trials riding in the Maritimes. Cheers, Michael

Not sure what you mean by "defending it" the rules have been in place for many years they are documented there are even videos to help you understand them. I am assuming a committee worked on the rules and they where voted into effect. I don't see why they need to be "defended" especially years after the decision has been made... but maybe I am just getting caught up in semantics. When I started in trials there where no trials events being put on in the local area (within 1,000 km or so), being new to the sport I looked around for a rule book and found the Canadian WTC rule book I contacted the WTC to find out about insurance for events and what was involved in putting on events then I started putting on events using the rule book. My feeling is that as long as everyone knows what rules your event is following and they are fairly enforced (we ride on an honour system) then you could really use whatever rules you like. The 5 second rule is a great example as far as I know the WTC just made it up (I voted on it representing my area) but all the riders here have been happy to adhere to it and I was never asked to defend it (I really just think people are happy to now have 3 or 4 events a year to participate in for free). Now other riders are starting to put on events in the area but we use the same WTC rules for all the events. If I did have to defend the stop and dab, I would say it makes for good fun (fewer 5s), it is super easy to understand, it is simple to enforce, and it is well documented in the rule book. What more would you like in a rule? The only confusion I have found is with people that come back to the sport after many years of not having events and are used to the older no stop rules.

I practice hitting the kick start on the way to a dab... if she fires up I get a 1 instead of a 5... has actually come in handy a few times now .

Stall and dab, go out of bounds, break a tape, cross your path, roll backwards, both feet on same side or off the back of the bike, I have done all of the above there may be a few more . In the spirit of speeding things up I typically impose the 5 second rule (can't dab for more than 5 seconds) but we just ride for fun so it is really an on your honour sort of rule to encourage people to keep moving .

The ridge has over 25 million views in 2 months. Igloo is at 180 thousand and at least 20 of those are mine . I really don't think it will be as popular as the ridge but it may be as popular as Danny's tour of the playboy mansion Julian DuPont's latest on a rollercoaster was released about the same time and is over 2 Million views No telling what some people find interesting.

Sounds like it had a rough life before finding you... It has been commented on here a number of times a great deal of reliability issues come down to the way bikes are maintained. Just think how much your riding will improve once it is all fixed up (or replaced). I would seriously look at the EVO 200 if you have a chance, great little bike and more than enough power.

I love my gg200 but am going to borrow a Beta200 this summer and that might be all it takes to switch. I have always preferred lower powered bikes they may take a bit more skill but isn't that what the sport is about... they also tend to be easier to start .

Trials helmet might help... a lot lighter and cut in the back so you can look up easier. I'm 6'1" and have thought about risers but haven't got them... rotating your handlebars forward and back makes a really big difference so play with that a bit first.

didn't find the one I was looking for but this is short clip when he was taking a break. For anybody who thinks running water can't freeze think about the size of this waterfall in Nunavut

Yes I think you are correct... that makes perfect sense. I just read the blog about making the film I had to chuckle reading about them trying to figure out the best way to stud tires (tyres), they should have given Tim a call as he has been riding up North here in Canada for a few years now. I will look for one of his videos...

Anybody else find it strange the Dougie didn't take the opportunity to promote his new bike the Vertigo - "Ice Hell" I would have thought FI would be handy, instead of changing the jetting for the cold conditions.

had to watch that a few times to really pick up the differences kind of like one of those puzzles when you have 2 pictures that look the same and you have to find the differences... really good demonstration. Hopefully I can get out for a little practice tomorrow but it was -18 C today .

Yes!　OK! I'm against it is impossible to the more general public, pieces did and type. From the long-awaited long-awaited familiar with 出tenn's...Translated by Bing 隆典北村 圧入してますけど、削りもしてますよ！Scraping, but it will press are even so!

Thanks guys! Kind of thinking of replacing my Sherco X-Ride as I thought it would be better on the street than it is... If I have to trailer the bike I might as well go more trials and drop a few extra pounds.

Has anybody had a chance to try out the new 250 Contact? Sounds like a great idea for a lower level rider who would like to do a bit of trail riding as well (like me). I notice the specs call for gas mixed at 50:1 instead of the typical 100:1 is the 250 engine different than that in the pro? or is it just because the intended use is different? Any insights are welcome.

Courage can be tough, I tried courage in a bottle once, turns out it only works when asking ladies out... didn't help in trials at all - be careful out there .

Did you see this one?

Great rider and instructor I have contacted him by both email and the phone and he always comes across as super nice. I only have the 1st video as it is challenging enough for me .

Given all the chat on here about people not wanting to be the ones buying a bike before it is tested it is awesome to read they consider having Dabill riding in world events as further testing and they will see how that goes before they launch a bike for the general public. Very interested to see how this all plays out, although I highly doubt we will see a Vertigo in Canada anytime soon. Except of course the T-shirt that Kevin won .

Most (maybe all) of the basic one is now on youtube... most be frustrating for Ryan ???

I'm fairly new to the site but aren't Nigel and Dadof2 the same person? they both seem to be always right and spend a lot of time posting about which bike people "should" be riding. Has anybody seen them both in the same room together? Isn't that proof that they are the same person? I think it would be a great event to have them go head to head the next time Red Bull has a big extreme trials event in the UK. Somewhat related, last week on one of our local forums one of the members looked another memeber's name up on the web and found out where he worked then actually called his work to let his employer know how he was acting on the forum... That forum was already going down hill because of the way the 2 members where behaving but that really was taking it too far IMO. I guess people can get carried away on all forums and I have had my share of backlash for stupid comments I have made. I now try very hard to be moderate in my on-line comments. There is enough hate in the world without bringing it into the sport we love, regardless of how passionate we are about it... Just my early (Sunday) morning thought - off to church and then Trials practice with a few friends (sunny and 0C here today) . Cheers, Michael

That sucks... I wonder if people in the States can see it? I did record it but I suppose if I post it I will be breaking copyrights...etc.

At least get one of those nice spandex suits, looking good is half the battle I find that not many people "bling out" trials bikes... if they want the look it makes more sense to buy a "factory" or "replica" edition. One of our local top riders rides an old TY and kicks butt as others have pointed out with trials it is more about the rider and time on the bike. IMO it is way more impressive to have a clean round than the colour of your wheels... but that is coming from a guy riding an all original 2002 TXT200 .

Great looking practice area!