bikespace

Not had a knee job, but I've had a few hand jobs in my time. Recovery not a problem What's the knee replacement involve? What's the new bits made of?

How much of the trials population have you met Billy? I reckon I must be in the bottom 5% of the population because even though I can see you seem to know your stuff, I haven't got a clue what you're talking about most of the time. Is there a babelfish equivalent to convert your technobabble in to plain english Cut me some slack and try to give me some simpler talk from time to time I did however suggest the "Deep cervical work using a BP cuff or biofeedback device" to my good wife, she informed me that my "Lower body could go two ways" so I left it at that.

There's a nice Beta 50 in the TC classifieds - Ok - it's mine If I weren't selling one I'd say you can't go wrong with the little Beta 50, but I can't now can I.

It's easy to slag people off. The problem is from the outside we do regularly see the poor job that the police do in tracking crime. I'm not saying the police are to blame there. They seem to be absolutely limited by the need to chase statistics rather than criminals. I had my car broken in to recently outside a pub/hotel, in broad daylight, items stolen from the boot. The scumbags were caught on CCTV. Obviously I reported this (about 15 minutes after the event) to the police. My details were taken and the fact that it was on CCTV. I was given a crime number to satisfy my insurance and received a call on my answer phone a week or so later providing me with an update - which basically said we have not found the culprits but will keep you updated if there is any progress. I checked with the pub/hotel next time I was in and they confirmed that the police had not been to see the CCTV footage. Now I would imagine that the police just don't have the resources to respond to the majority of vehicle crime, and they will have priorities set from above. I really didn't even think about it afterwards as I would agree that the amount of effort that it would take to find the culprits, for him to get a slap on the wrist just doesn't seem worth it. I'm now trying to get my crap car broken in to again so that I can dish out some tough love Watch this space - I'll end up with an ABH charge. P.S. whats the difference between grievous and actual bodily harm?

I'm struggling not to comment here Did he just mince over and say that? I'll get me coat

I'll let others guide you on the gearbox oil. I've always used Silkolene light gear oil and seems to have been fine, but I have no real preference. Oil mix I use a decent fully synthetic two stroke competition oil, but I mix it between 75:1 and 80:1 I'm definite that 50:1 is too much (my own view). Weekly maintenance I whip the airbox off, wash out the filter and recoat with silkolene filter oil (sprayable), drop the float bowl from the carb and blow the jets out. Oil and adjust the chain - I use WD40 as I think it's best when you're using it so often, doesn't grab the grit. WD40 over the rustable parts including suspension linkage and suspension unit. That's honestly it for me weekly. Every 4 to 5 months: I take the linkage apart and either replace bearings or just regrease - usually only once a year to 15 months the bearings need replacing on mine. Replace wheel bearings if needed. Check head bearings and regrease. Change plug (for a few quid why wouldn't ya) My tyres usually last about this long, so it normally coincides with a tyre change. I've got the odd bits that go in between like grips etc, chain/sprockets usually last about 12 months with WD40. That's about it for me.

Is that you Mr Xispa??? Sorry, couldn't resist

Not sure if there's much over the bridge, but most things this side of the bridge will be within this centre: Clicky HERE

Well said Woody - agree with every bit of that. I do think it's unfortunate that they couldn't get round the problems of the 80's by introducing a time wasting rule (or something) - observer warns rider to get out of section and if he still takes the Mickey, he's 5'd. Anyhow, I agree, nowt wrong with having a few rules to choose from. I don't think it's particularly that the observers don't understand which rules are being used, just that some of them are hard to police sometimes. Better as it is than everybody being forced in to one set of rules and clubs breaking off to AMCA etc.

Has trials got more miserable old gits than most other sports? Rugby and squash are the other main sports I've been involved with to any level, but the old boys tend to be very positive in both of those (from what I've seen). What d'ya reckon? What gives trials such a bunch of negative followers? Anti-importer, anti-ACU, anti-other clubs seems to be the trend.

No probs, P.S. it wasn't a typo, it really is Fil, Filipo the italian stallion I know he's pretty damned busy normally but may be able to manage something for you if you give him time, worth a try. Just make sure that if you or anybody you know needs any kind of gates from garden to massive automated fangle dangle things that you give him a call. He's good.

Have you tried Andy Licence up at the bike shop at Hengoed. Ask for Andy. I'm guessing it was Mikes Bikes you already tried? John Kendrick-Jones & Co Brookside Gas Filling Station Upper Hengoed Oswestry Shropshire SY10 7EU Tel: 01691 658977 If not you could maybe try asking Fil Poli at Condover Forge Not his core business, but I know he can weld two carrots together with a cigarette lighter. Wasn't an IRIS chain was it?

Do you think that could be used in their defence? How can we have copied the Sherco, a previous World Champion has testified that it rides like a 98 model. Wasn't this a year before the Sherco was a GasGas? '98 suspension technology should make it comparable to Scorpa or Beta eh? Could still be a bargain at that price then.

I salute your patience John, as I see your frustration meter hovering around the red. It's annoying that from the outside some people assume that decisions have been made through bloody mindedness and minimum effort without having any real knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes. There's always some chump who imagines that ACU House is a large gold plated manor house where the fat cats are wined and dined, then chauffered home. We've got to remember that the ACU is primarily an organisation based on volunteers, starting from the individual ACU centres and ranging up to ACU towers. Some people make the effort to even things up throughout the year by putting the work effort in whilst getting benefit from the sport. Some people don't even things up at all, and these fall in to two categories, the ones who do no work and take everything they can out of the sport, and the ones who take very little out of the sport but are happy to put the work in week after week. I'd hope to be able to put myself in the breaking even category. Every now and then some ar5e tries my patience and I think, why the **** do I bother at all. I'd imagine I get 1% of the hassle that the ACU 'fat cats' get so I've no idea what keeps some of them going, other than a love for the sport. I'm not trying to blow smoke up the 4rse of a few ACU officials. I've seen the work going on (from the outside) and I know it's a fragile balance where we could end up without the luxury of these 'fat cats' working for us. I know I can't afford the time to do it, and probably wouldn't have the patience if this forum is anything to go by, so I would urge people to use these forums to access the ACU to make constructive comments without throwing bull5h1t around.

I know because I tried that you will have difficulty getting it on your house insurance. I had no luck anyway. Can you imagine putting your car on your house insurance. The most it may stretch to is a kids bike if it can be classed as a toy. try ebike HERE They've been very cheap for me, both on trials bikes and road bikes.

Coincidentally I put in "Butthole Surfers" and ended up with some decent Scott vids. What's the chances of that eh?

I enjoy riding the odd non-stop trial such as the Manx, but I also enjoy our local club trials under TSR22a. I didn't vote above because I don't see that one set of rules is the answer. It's not that bad as it is. Some people will whinge no matter what. At the moment, if you don't like TSR22a you can organise your own trial and use non-stop if you're that bothered. Riders who like both have the option of doing that. Riders who are that bothered about riding one or the other can travel if they like. Here we go with a bit of devils advocate, or at least trolling :-) I think generally that the majority of people who will vote for one set of rules will vote for non-stop, because they tend to be 'stuck in their ways' and unable to ride both. Not all of them, certainly, but a good number which may sway the numbers considerably. Most of the pre-65/twinshock crew for starters. The lads who like TSR22a may be quite happy to let the other blokes have their non stop and would be equally happy with FIM. Just a thought.

My current boys toy:

I left 8 years ago now after nearly 15 years. Truth was I just couldn't afford to stay in. It was the start of the 'busy period' which seems to have just escalated since then. As a single bloke going away on ops was great. As a married bloke, it was still great but with kids it got grim, and I suddenly realised that I could get paid more outside. It really is a great foundation for a kid. I joined at 16 and never looked back. Who knows, I could have stuck around Teeside and turned in to Cota Kid I think the numbers go something like this - 6000 people left the forces last year - 4000 people joined the forces last year. That can't go on. I was never a great fan of National Service. It's got the potential to drag down the general level of the rest of the Army. The fact that everyone is a volunteer keeps the standards up to a certain extent. Same with the T.A. It's much better than many people give it credit for, and that doesn't stem from any loyalty, I've never been involved with them other than training them on exercise. My view, keep the recruitment policies the same, pay them fairly (i.e. more than currently) and keep our troops out of dead loss countries who don't want to help themselves. That way they can still have a real life as well as the visits to war zones.

in reply to the above yes i gave a five to a rider who was lying on his side against a rock at hawkstone this year, and yes the rider wasn't very happy about it!!! infact i learn't some new names and swear words about myself and my mother for the privelige of giving my time and effort to help with the running of the trial, but the rider who i will not name did come and apologise on his second lap. Its not an easyjob observing at any level of trials and no matter how well you think you can do the job, a lot of riders always think they can do better than you. and for the record i would have given him a clean as well, but as long as the observer scored every rider the same then its harsh but fair Ah see, by the time the rider got round to our section, I think he only leaned his knee on a rock so maybe an urban myth created in half a lap. I wasn't judging you, just asking. I knew someone would recognise the description. Two sides to every story. You should have yellow carded him, and he could have run through your whole family

What do you mean by Dangerous? Do you mean on an industrial competitive level or a military one? I ask because China has 1.3 Billion people! Thats over 2 times the size of the USA & Europe combined of course. China at some point will rule the world. To that there is no doubt! I'm a bit of a dab hand with the old chopsticks, so i reckon I'll be OK when they come over. My wife and my oldest kid will unfortunately perish if I don't hand feed them - they're all fingers and thumbs Am I taking this too seriously? ..........no I thought not. I am however slightly reassured by Sherco's claim: "We are positive that the motor, the chassis and accessories of this motorcycle are identical to the Sherco motorcycle" You may have just screwed your best weapon against Xispa at the moment chaps

I can sort of sympathise with the observer. He's given his decision based on his judgement and that's final, unless he's misinterpreted the rules (which i don't think he has). But.....I have to admit I would have given him (or anybody else) a clean for that. I really don't believe he gained any advantage from his toes touching that rock. If his bike had wanted to slip back , it would have just slipped back and left his toes on the rock, there was no position of leverage there. I've had the same where a rider has knocked a tree, and it's actually sent him off balance. I wouldn't give him a dab for the simple reason that he's not gained any advantage from it. Good to discuss though. Slightly separate note, I think it's dangerousd to say it's a brave decision. We develop observers on a bravery mission who love to catch out a rider any way they can - bit of bravado and the common sense goes out the window. Was there a 5 at Hawkstone this year when a rider leaned on a rock and was given a 5 because if the rock wasn't there he would have fallen over??? Or is that one of these urban myths?

Got to that time in the marriage has it mate I missed the 7 year itch, now got 14 year pain in the 4rs3

Anybody know a decent paint match for an 04 Beta frame/swinging arm. It's an 04 Beta Rev 50 if that makes any difference. Could do with a bit of a touch up.