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We had the World Trialthon Championships in Disneyworld a good few years back, '92 I think. Venue worked well, clean water, closed roads and plenty for the spectators to do while the racing was on. (Even though I enjoyed the sport, it wasn't really a spectator thing) Was just a bit wierd running down Main Street high fiving Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in your swimming trunks

I heard the tail end of this on the radio today - heavy **** ! Most impact will be on TRF types but concern about some of the trials that use Green Lanes. There was some Rambler type commenting on how motorcycles didn't belong in the countryside - it spoilt the peace and quiet. Obviously a towny - what about planes, trains, tractors, etc that also have a right to be there ? ALUN MICHAEL LAUNCHES PROPOSALS ON USE OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES ON RIGHTS OF WAY Proposals to curtail the inappropriate use of mechanically propelled vehicles on countryside rights of way are outlined in a public consultation launched today by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael. The consultation responds to widespread concern about problems caused by the use of mechanically propelled vehicles - including motorbikes, quad bikes and 4x4s - whose users can currently claim rights of way for such vehicles on the basis that the routes were historically employed by horse-drawn carriages. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2003/031209a.htm

Good point. Half legal, is that like being half pregnant (but of course not in a gay way) I just feel a bit better with something that looks vaguely like a plate - got stopped a few months back on my old bike and the young Mr Plod (about half my age) looked at the BSI stamp and thought it was all legal ! Perfect

Times the healer, and you're at least a couple of months behind me, so it sounds like your about where I was two months ago. The running was really tough to start with and my knee has 14 stone to deal with, so I was just doing laps of the local football field, in case it broke down and I didn't have far to limp home - then just build it up - 40 mins cross country now no bother. Cycling it only ever hurt when you were climbing and pushing a tough gear or getting out of the saddle - again was out on Sunday and didn't even think about it. The Physio gave me exercises to do everyday, which I now regret not doing at the time, but have started up again as I'm getting close to the point when I can crouch down and get my backside to hit my heel on the injured leg. Not wearing a brace for low risk is important, its the same reason why free weights are better than machines in the gym (providing you know what you are doing). The other tip I have is when you think you might have hurt your knee don't put ACL or ligament damage into a search engine on the internet. There's some real horror stories and graphical descriptions of the remedial action around - it will make it seem much worse than it might be. If in doubt get to a Physio fast.

I did a medial ligament in April this year, been through all that collapsing stuff and re-injuring it - had lots of physio (not on the NHS unfortunately) seems to have taken forever to get better, still can't quite sit back onto on my feet but I'm working on it. I have been able to run and MTB since end Sept, and it seems to be getting much stronger now. All the pain has gone. The physio's view was that its worse than a break and to expect a slow recovery - she was right. I have resisted strapping it or wearing a brace now, as I'm worried about not developing the rotational strength again and always being likely to re-injure it walking or running on an uneven surface without the brace. My view of course and I don't compete at high level in trials, my running and MTBing is much better - you couldn't race in either of these in a brace.

My local 'Classic Bike' shop has closed where I used to buy, a stick on background (BSI Approved !) and compact (read small) letters for my reg plate. I haven't needed to make a bike plate since this new law about producing a V55 and no stick on letters came in. What's the crack ? Are there any dealers around that will still sell this stuff. or are there any other suggestions for creating the plate - not looking for it to be legal, but maybe a bit bigger than the plate that MarkyBoy sports on his Scorpa

I've ridden it a couple of times, when I've been up with the inlaws for Xmas. The most noticeable thing was the weather - slightly cool up on them Cheviots. Not sure if its the same venue, but it was in a little quarry, quite a compact course, nothing mad, only on the Expert/Inter route. I hadn't planned to take my bike up this year, but its sounds tempting. Anyone know the weather forecast for Boxing Day ?

Too close to call - but personally I'd like to see The Man, beat The Spoiled Child.

Just to explain that behind what you see on TV is always the issue of money, as you can see from the cost of the rights to show the rugby, that everyone wants their cut. Ultimately money/budgets dictates what you see and what you don't. Since Sky particularly got involved there has been 'hyper-inflation' for many sports rights contracts, especially mainstream: Premiership, Cricket, Rugby, Snooker, etc. that means to show any of this coverage it means deep pockets. But I'm not defending the BBC on the trials front, they'd only need 30 secs max. of video material for a 'Other British World Champions Recognition Slot' on SPOTY and this could easily be rights free if Doug agreed to it. Unfortunately I think its going to take a longer campaign to get him and the sport a mention, something a little more co-ordinated. Sports Relief next year might be the answer, trials would need to raise some money for the charity, but I was looking around today for some sections - there's definitely potential We'd need to get some of the big names involved, as well as good support from the grass roots

I have made this point directly to the Producer responsible for Motorcycle coverage, unfortunately to no avail. What the Beeb needs to hear from the audience at large is that they are missing something special - which they clearly are. If we can bombard them with mail, text and phone, someone going to have to listen. I agree its Jonny's trophy, but it would be fantastic to get Dougie a mention. Hodgson will get some minutes, Dave Millar (another hardworking and deserved World Champion - Cycling Timetrial) will also get covered. These guys have worked hard for their first titles, what about the man on his 7th ! Planning to doorstep the SPOTY team in the next couple of days would be good to know that some votes have been cast - keep them coming.

Looks like he's beyond the point of no return to me

I have been trying to get some interest in Trials in the Beeb for a while. Its not that they are ignoring us, its that they don't understand the sport, and don't want to understand. They know who Neil Hodgson is, lets give them something to think about by voting on mass for Dougie ! He may not beat Jonny or Neil, but if we get together we might get him on the radar. Cast your vote Voting for the 2003 BBC Sports Personality of the Year has opened on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_rad...003/3222842.stm You can vote by phone, text message or online until 1800 GMT on Monday 8 December: Phone Ring 09011 110 830 with your nomination. (Calls cost 25p). Text Send your choice to 81111. (Standard network charges apply) Email Use the form on the right-hand side of this page. The award will be presented during a special 50th anniversary edition of the Sports Review of the Year programme, which is being broadcast on Sunday 14 December on BBC One (2000-2200 GMT).

Does it have a reverse gear ?

And for those of us on this side of the pond, there's Boots the Chemist ! Drop the shots on a CD and wander in, 'Something for the weekend, Sir ?' 'Yes, can I have 20 10 x 8s' Or for those of you who might like a bit of privacy, then try http://www.btopenworld.com/create/digital_printing its a bit of a fiddle to get the software sorted but, once your done its about 3 days till the printed photos drop on your doorstep. Thought about a printer once, but everytime I look in PC World there seems to be more choice, and a sales assistant who doesn't know his pixels from his paper quality.

Is there an echo on here ?

Friexa crashes just like I do

I agree with Andy, it is important to plan your shot a little. The pros think about the background, framing the shot, whether they zoom, pan, while planning where to stand. With a digital you can try a few 'dummy' shots beforehand and see how they look and just delete them. To get a shot of anything faster than 'a rambler on a sunny day' you do need to pan. Used to follow the RAC Rally (as it was then) and we'd get ourselves on the inside of bends to get the best shots - as it meant you're not panning so fast. It was nigh on impossible to get a decent 'in focus' shot from the outside of a corner. A big criticism of many trials shots is that the are normally of a rider at the top of a step - head on - so you don't see what they have just come up. (most of mine are like this ) Pretty unspectacular - but the easy shot to get in focus - but it's the shot that a lot of press guys take at the WTC or BTC, and unfortunately you really have to stand you're ground if you're in a good position and then the leading riders appear accompanied by the press crew.

Its pretty good, but as Andy says you need to pre-focus by half pressing the shutter. So its about planning your shot a little. I'll try to figure out how to send you a few pics I have taken at trials and you'll see that they are pretty 'active' - I can't work out how to reduce the size as they were all taken in High Res. I'm not smart enough to post them here. I use the view finder and not the LCD display, and hold it traditionally and not in mid air. Use to use a 'monopod' when I was into rallying, which is excellent if you want to eliminate any shake.

What's your thoughts on this... Apparently at a trader level there's currently a boom on those roadies buying into off roaders - trouble is they're Enduro/Trail/MX and not Trialsters. Witnessed this first hand yesterday, a group of lads I know have all parked the Hypersports bikes for the winter and are now buzzing round on big trailys. They have a very different view on the countryside to me and you - 'Ride it until you get caught', 'its just a bit of fun' and 'Who's gonna catch me on a 640, eh ?' These are normally responsible people (late 30s), who seem to have gone totally native since getting on the dirt - I have tried explaining how 'green lanes' work and that its important to behave responsibly - but its not a message that they want to hear. I'm afraid that the biggest danger to our sport isn't from the Ramblers (who'd love to see us shut down) - but from fellow 'bikers' who think that 60 mph along the Ridgeway is cool. Not good news I'm afraid....

Try 'The Bike Place' down in Swalwell, they had new Shercos the last time I was in there so most likely to have IPONE. If they don't then there's plenty of trick Mountain Bikes to have a peak at.

Stood with Raga on the first day of Luxembourg WTC this year. I was videoing and he was doing the commentary on the riders for me. The video is actually quite cool ! He was pretty bitter about the suspension that day, you could see it in his face when I asked about it. I think that it all comes down to mental toughness, DL is the master of this all the other guys are up and down 'like a bride's nightee'. especially Cabestany. Fuji is the next best but he can still throw in a 10th place if he really tries. All the fuss around the Spanish Champs can't have helped his season, another case of politics ruining a days sport.

I bought a Fuji Finepix 4700 about 4 years ago. If I could get a couple of shots down to size I'd post them as I reckon its not a bad piece of kit for the money - they are a lot less now than when I bought mine. I agree that it is a little battery hungry, so I have three sets to get me through a 64Mb card at High Res. A car charger would be a worthwhile investment !

Nigel, You started that project last year !

Excellent job Andy ! The best bit is the Trials Central banner isn't as bold as the TA one, which means its less obvious when you're surfing and should be working Which is important to me anyway.

I think we'd all like to think that it could take off an go big. But in reality, the sport isn't back to the state it reached in the 80s - and that was hardly big time - events attracted twice the competitors and it wasn't unusual to see spectators. My personal view is that there isn't a lot in it from a promotional/commercial perspective outside the WTC (In & Out), British Champs, SSDT & Scott. These are the only events that really draw a crowd, and those crowds are mainly riders or people otherwise involved in the sport - i.e. there's a limited interest group with limited funds. If you bring in professional promoters its just adding an overhead that we can't afford. So where does the money come from to go big time ? SSDT & Scott could never charge spectator admission fees outside the optional purchase of a programme, there'd be mutiny on the moors ! If the importers fund more events that money has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is the trials communities pockets. So whats in it for the external (non Trials related) sponsor ? I think Mx and Enduro are different. From a dealers perspective, a MX/Enduro customer must be worth two or three times as much as a trials punter (new bike every year, trick bits, latest gear, breakages, worn out bits, etc) so there's more funds in their system than ours. Its also more attractive for external income, because its racing. What am I saying ? Let Trials evolve, do what you like to MX and Enduro. Leave the power with the Clubs and ultimately with the riders.