michael_t

Any news on the X-Ride? We just got a local dealer and he is bringing one in. I'm pretty sure I can get it on the road as I have my GG EC200 enduro on the road today . My sense is it would be tamer than the EC and more exciting than my old TLR200 so I could trade the 2 of them in for the X-Ride and free up some space in the shed. Would still keep the GG TXT200 for "real" trials.

Well I thought I might try something new... but wanted to check if anybody has done anything similar... or people with more experience than I might be able to give some advice. For the last 2 years I have worked with a local outdoor sport and RV show to put on a trials demo. The first year I had about 5 local riders and I brought in an old car and some junk I found in the parking lot and we demonstrated different trials techniques. Last year we had a much higher level rider from Quebec travel down with his Son (also an awesome rider) and daughter (novice rider) and we had a few local riders join them. They showed what a trials bike can really do by riding over much larger obstacles. more details here: http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/topic/44665-trials-demo-in-nova-scotia/ This year I am thinking it would be better to actually have a competition. The issue I have is that we need to put on a show Fri, Sat, and Sunday... and at least 2 shows a day. We share the space with a local dog group that have dogs running through obstacles, and a lumber jack show with guys log rolling in a pool of water and throwing axes... etc. The bottom line is we have to move our obstacles between our time slots. The show organizer enjoys us riding around when the show opens so we have an hour or so to setup and warm up. Then we have about an hour to put on a bit of a show and tear down. Later in the day we would have an hour or so to setup do a show and tear down. I would like to show that trials is a sport for a wide range of capabilities and have sections with both a hard and an easy line... My thinking is to setup 2 different sections (with 2 lines each) for each "show" then score the riders as they ride the 2 sections 3 times. The scores would be on a big score board and as the weekend progressed the scores would be recorded. So by the end of the weekend the riders would have ridden 12 different sections 3 times. Or maybe I would repeat sections and just have 6 that we use twice... A ride off might be fun as well with 2 riders going head to head like they do at the pro indoor events. We usually let kids try balancing on the bikes while we tear down and there would still be time to do a bit of hot dogging... We really only have novice and advanced riders locally (no pro riders) but I might be able to talk a few into making the trip . It is in March so it is nice having a free spot to ride inside even it is only for 3 days (and in front of a crowd). The space is roughly 80ft by 30ft. stop, no-stop ??? Any thoughts or ideas on this sort of event would be appreciated... including indoor obstacle ideas that are novice friendly... and need to be cheap to build . Cheers, Michael T. PS. - yes I know I am crazy...

Hi All, I have moved the June 1st event to June 16th to accommodate some of the riders (away for USGP Trial). I have a new job which is great news for my family but not so good for my Trials time. I would still like to try and do the event at the farm June 16th but to pull it off I will need help on the weekend before and on the 15th. My hope is to use the same area as the event last fall (on the slope to the river) but build at least 3 new sections that are easier (or at least possible). Cheers, Michael T.

Thanks to the Jonathan English training weekend (and the great generousity of Jonathan) the MTR was able to raise $500.00 to support our Canadian TdN team. We challenge any club to the West of Nova Scotia to match or beat it... . The weekend itself was absolutly awesome!!! I just received a note from the mother of a 15yr old that put it well... "I just wanted to let you know that Mack told me that this weekend was ‘the best weekend of my life’. I think he liked it " We saw huge improvements in the new riders and the olders riders just had a really fun day of riding. Special thanks to the friendly fellow who loaned his brand new (1hr old) 280GG so Jonathan could demo some of our smaller obstacles ... http://youtu.be/deZC1smRqSA 

I have a 2002 200 TXT, I replaced the clutch but like the rest just the way it is Sorry I can't be more help.

Trials Training at Miller Meadow with 2011 Canadian Champion and 5 times Trials Des Nations rider Jonathan English! I realize that all the events I have done so far have been free but I can't cover the expense of this one on my own so there will be a $50 fee for the 2 day course. There is a $25 discount for anyone who helped out at the outdoor show. There is a 20 rider limit on this event so we can really focus on the training. Saturday will be formal training starting with the basics and helping people get their bikes setup (if needed) we will then move into turns, hopping, small obstacles, reading sections, riding sections, and then a bit of the extreme stuff - just being able to see this stuff in person can be a big help (and great entertainment) Sunday will be a less formal day, practicing setting up sections and riding them ... plus covering anything people want help on after the Saturday session. There will be a $15 donation to the Canadian TdN team required for any non riders who would like to come out and just observe the training. - First 20 riders to respond $50 - Open number of observers $15 Cheers, Michael

Here are some pictures from the show as well, best seen as a slide show... http://dualsport.smu...37080&k=7XLZFDR

Well after organizing things I was only able to stick around for the first day before heading off on a ski holiday... Just got back today. The trials community really rallied around and put on a great show. Stephane's obstacles were a great attraction especially for people who had never seen trials riding before. It was awsome to have higher level riders visit from Quebec to show us all a thing or 2...

Here is a video from last years show... http://vimeo.com/38493472

Well call me crazy but I have organized another Trials demo at the NS Outdoor sport and RV show. Based on the success last year (despite me riding off the roof of a car onto my head) we have gone all out and Paul Yvan and his kids are going to join us from Quebec for the show. I even got a banner made up to make us look like we know what we are doing. Stephane has built one heck of an obstacle but given my performance last year I think I will leave it for the pros Just today I found a Ford Taurus Wagon which will be a bit tamer to drive over plus we have a large tire, a few wood triangles, a couple of logs, and a teeter totter - should be something for everyone. Luckily the car still runs as we have to move everything in and out of the areana between shows. Cheers, Michael

I started by having my front wheel near a curb or a rock so when I turned the bars the wheel would push against the rock it makes it super easy to balance but once I got the feel of balancing the bike I found it became easier to do without the rock. In the Ryan Young video I think it sais to balance with your hands and not your feet as you can make smaller adjustments with your hands... but I agree with the comments here about using your feet and actually find it easier to balance with hands off the bars a lot of the time. just my $.02

Not sure why this found its way to the USA section of this site... but being the Maritimes Rep for WTC I voted in favour of this... figured it was worth giving it a go... not really much of an issue at the events we put on here in the Maritimes but having people stoping mid section to take a breather and figure out their next move just doesn't seem in the spirit of the sport.

I had a similar issue with my 2002 the clutch would work a bit better once warmed up but it was always a problem. In the end I bit the bullet and upgraded the clutch... the 2003 and newer bikes have the newer clutch and I have been very happy since I upgraded mine.

Yep I got mine from Ryan as well... he even sent me an email thanking me for the order... I have been trying to organize enough interest to make it worth his while to visit us and put on his trials school... He does them in Canada every now and then and they are well worth doing if you get a chance.

I started out by balancing in the garage as well... its amazing what a work out it can be . I should have mentioned that http://www.lewisportusa.com/ is a great spot for all things trials... I haven't bought anything from them (yet) but they seems to have it all. BTW there wasn't anybody putting on events here in NS and only 2 or 3 guys doing any amount of riding so a couple years ago I started putting on events (despite being a complete noob). Last year I had 3 events and have contact info for about 30 people riding or interested in riding locally... so don't be shy once you get out there you never know who might join you. I agree on the RYP video... I have not got to the point of needing the advanced one (yet) but I really enjoy the intro one. Although I have been putting on events and getting riders organized I still really suck as a trials rider so 4 weeks ago I started riding my bike every day (well almost). I just ride 20 minutes or so but I have lost 7 lbs and my skills have really imnproved... I'm also a lot happier and healthier for getting out every day .

Welcome Lone Trialer I'm afraid a lot of Canadian Trialer feel they are lone riders ... Its too bad the Trials Canada forum has been down for a while now but there are a few dealers who advertise on the Trials Canada website that may be worth checking out for Scorpa stuff. Sorry I can't be more help I went with a GG as there is actually a dealer here in Dartmouth NS. I'm sure you will have a blast at Morin Heights I hear they do a great job catering to riders of all abilities. Cheers, Michael

Great teeter totter I have been meaning to build one. Have you tried moving the balance point left or right? you will need to ride out a bit further before it tips but all good fun . Here is an idea for the spools you have as spares...

English works (posted a note on the other thread) I would say it is a good video for beginers as it covers all the techniques in detail. If you already know all the basic techniques better to spend your time practicing than watching videos... but there are a few pointers that might help you improve and great things to pass on if you are instructing a beginner.

I had a similar problem playing it on my computer. It plays fine on a dvd player. When you play it on a computer... if you can get to the start menu and let it play the little intro and then click on the english icon everything works fine from there on. I have the Ryan Young video and this one and enjoy them both. I actually bought 6 copies for fellow club members and we saved a lot on the shipping plus a small discount for buying 6 copies (I live in Nova Scotia)