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I know a few lads round here have opted not to receive their awards, and ask that the junior awards are extended. I have no real interest in awards unless they actually mean something. Beating a couple of blokes and winning because I'm the only one who turned up for most of the rounds doesn't float my boat. You know when you've earned it - it needs to be a battle. My treasured awards have been for events or occasions I know I've worked for and they're both useful items. They're actually both Decanters. I'd like to see a catalogue that riders could pick their awards from. Give them a monetary value and let them pick a decanter, then maybe next year two whisky glasses, then one, then a shot of whisky, then bugger all as they get worse and worse and they fall short of the full set Dunno - just an idea - you'd have to guarantee a catalogue that stayed the same over the years, but I'm sure people would try for it, even though they could probably buy the stuff with two entry fees

Cheers John, just replied

Hi All, I need to MOT my Sherco fairly soon, so I could do with putting a horn on it. Any of you GasGas boys that don't ride on the road - have you stripped your horn off an dumped it in the garage? In fact, have you got the switch gear off the left bar too if you've fitted a normal kill switch instead? If you have either or both, drop me a mail, let me know how much you want for it/them. Cheers, Gaz

There's probably at least two groups of people that don't really want to shout about it: The 2 stroke boys who'd rather stay away from 4 stroke and couldn't care less if the 4 stroke gets attention The 4 stroke boys who don't want to shout about it quite yet just in case it turns in to the same nightmare it did last time. It'll have to prove itself longer term, and it'll take some clubmen to take the risk before anyone really believes it. I for one won't be convinced by Jarvis' machine running sweet. It could be having the engine stripped down every week for all we know. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Sherco man and I'd consider having one if they get it right, or if they fancy giving me one to try to wreck it

I'm just on the border of Mid Wales. A few of the midlands lads come over fairly regularly for our trials. I did near enough the same thing as you, last bike was a Fantic, then a 16 year gap before I had another go about 7 years ago. The other group, in case people think I'm moonlighting was a yahoo group I set up when I first started, and sits fairly dormant now. Every now and then someone finds it and I redirect them to Trials Central. See you around soon Martin.

Welcome on board Martin - you found it then There is a fair bit going on in the midlands centre, although I'm an hour or so away, so there will be much more knowledgable people on here. Your best bet for finding out local trials clubs and suss out the lie of the land is start a thread in Uk Trials Talk and put midlands centre in the title. I'm sure you'll get a few bites and a stream of info coming back. You might be able to get some info by using a search on the existing forums. Not sure the Aprilia is what you're after, but I'll leave you to decide

Now I know a trials web site isn't perhaps the first place you'll think of when you want to build a PC, but we do tend to get a good spread of technical levels on here, so as I live here, I thought I'd ask you lot. I've built PC's for years, up until the point where it sort of became easier and sometimes cheaper to buy the thing as a job lot, but what I want to build at the moment is something to record sky TV. I bought a digi box a while ago with built in hard drive recorder What I'm thinking of is something like a liquid cooled shuttle, with a TV card, and an infra red transmitter to automatically change the sky box channel, so I just take the RF out from the sky box and feed it to TV. Looking around and thinking of maybe Linux Red Hat with MythTV But also thinking that I may be safer sticking with Windows Media and looking around for something to control the sky. OR....is there a sky receiver for PC's out there at reasonable price? I'm doubtful. OR....is there some way I can link in with SCART There's a mass of info out there, the trouble is finding the realistic bits with any idea of prices, the ones where you don't have to spend 4 hours a day setting it up - I want it to be plain sailing once it's set up, or the family just won't use it. Any info out there?

Nah - just a local, thought I owed you at least a quick rundown. Wherever you decide to stay, if you struggle to keep bikes safe overnight (Travellodge is a bit public on main A5), I'm sure there's something that can be done locally. Let us know.

From the South East you want to be heading for the M6 then M54, then along the A5 past Shrewsbury to Mile End roundabout near Oswestry (same road near enough from M6) - just keep going. When you get to Mile End roundabout 1 mile before Oswestry you will be turning left on to the A483 towards Welshpool. There is a travel lodge at the services on that roundabout. Head down the 483 for about 3 miles to a place called Llynclys Cross Roads. If you reach a place called Pant you've missed the turn by half a mile. The White Lion pub on the right and you want to turn right here. It will all be signposted from here. White Lion at Llynclys don't think they do accommodation though Travel Lodge Oswestry You will be coming up the A5 past West Felton If you want something pretty plush look for the Wynnstay hotel but pricey - I would imagine

Yep - that's what I'd like to do - just trying to justify a second bike (I just can't sell my Sherco - been too good to me) Still undecided on 240 or 300, but the 240 was always my favourite - never had a 300, went straight to 301, but I do want it to be a twin shock. Well done anyway ScrumpyJack - seems like you've got the spirit that wouldn't need all the bull**** rules - just plain fun. And yes, decent thread, some good discussion.

I've thought about this before and have to admit I've never given away local practice areas except to people who have been vetted for suitability. Sounds snobbish but its the only way we won't lose places. There's the odd practice area I suppose where they are very unlikely to do any harm no matter what, but generally I think we need to protect them, and we've got an obligation to keep the nobbers away With the number of routes we put in now it's very possible to come along to a real trial having never practiced, then speak to people and find out what the local situation is. I certainly don't agree with a practice area database as has been discussed previously. One example today - this was possibly our last event on the hundred thousand acre piece of land we just lost (with only very slight chance of retrieving it) even though through no fault of our own. Despite us putting please close the gate signs on all the gates, we rode back down to the road (about 3 miles) and all the gates were open. We're passing through local farmers land here wth sheep that could move between farms. These are people who are competing in our trials but can't be a***d to get out and close the gate. One more example - we picked up half a bin liner of rubbish after one of our nationals from people camping. Scumbags!

Cheers Lee, sorry I forgot - that was in my email that got bounced. It's a very generous offer, but I really couldn't subject someone elses bike to the punishment that my body frame would inflict on it Thanks very much for the offer though I'm working on the 240 thing at the moment, but my lad could do with a replacement bike again. I missed my turn somehow

Hi Lee, Your TC mailbox is full My email gaz at bikespace.co.uk or if there are any problems with it (its been poorly lately) gaz at bikespace.f2s.com Cheers

Hey better to find an adams apple early on than something more serious when the lights go down. I've got to say I'm not speaking from experience, but I've heard some horror stories There's people cringing all over the world Back to the original topic I think

Elwyn gutted the same as the rest of us I suppose, except the Forest is his baby. Over the last 20 years he planted almost all of the millions of trees up there. He almost lives up there before a big trial There is still a small glimmer of hope for certain events throughout the year, but nothing firm yet. Certainly the May Forest Trophy looks doomed because of the nesting season. The job now I think is to salvage whatever we can out of it.

It's a tough one. I agree with Woody and Big John as you've probably guessed. I can see the other side of the coin and if everyone rides in the same well meant spirit it could probably work, but people don't and I think it opens up a door to ruin things for everyone. I'll try to give an example because i don't want to be just bloody minded. Your trial at the moment where the modified bikes don't have a class is aimed mainly at the standard bikes. Over the next few years I can see the popularity of twinshock continuing to increase, and more and more riders will be used to their modern brakes/clutch/tyres/lightness so may be inclined to do the mods and step up to the modded class. Eventually there are an equal amount of bikes on each and the modded class need slightly harder sections because Joe Bloggs is cleaning everything on his 'special'. Does the real twinshock class become a support class for the harder modded class? I dunno, maybe it won't become a problem. It's the pre-65 scene that gives me cause for concern. It's gone mad. There are too many variations of modding and too many classes. What are the awards worth anyway when the bike is a mongrel? I reckon demonstrate the true spirit and ride for no award. I'd probably be more in favour if the class was designated strictly no award - fun class only? Would that suit people?

It might sound extreme (but it was actually referring to your post where you mentioned mono's converted in to twinshocks), but look at some of the Pre-65 bikes out there. Some of them have very little of the original bike left, and just look at some of the arguments and complaints it's caused just on TC. That was my argument, that if you dilute things you have to regulate things down to the last nut and bolt, otherwise, one step at a time everything gets out of hand. It's starting to sound like I'm taking things too seriously, but that's the opposite of my argument - which is keeping within the spirit of things - If it's not standard then what's the problem with riding the same event, same sections, same enjoyment for no award? I'm not pig headed, so you might be able to convince me, but the pre-65 palava means I may take some convincing

I would imagine very few people would complain about works mods of the right era for your bike. I don't think that's a great argument to allow a GasGas Pro with a couple of shockers welded on

I fancy buying a Fantic 240, it was my favourite bike ever, and I do remember how bad the front brakes were, but..... I'd have to see how things went to decide if I upgraded the brakes. If I was planning riding it in classic trials and twinshock classes then I would have to leave it bog standard. I don't see the point of doing all the mods that weren't around in the day if you're going to ride in a twinshock class. There IS a class for heavily modified twinshocks - it's the either the inter or novice route depending on what you fancy. If I upgraded the bike then I fancied having a go at the Inter route. The only advantage to getting your own class is that you're eligible for an award, and I really don't think the award matters that much at all. I think it just dilutes everything. All of a sudden you're not the best rider on a standard twinshock, you're the best rider on a twinshock with disc brakes, then best....on a bike with disc brakes and hydraulic clutch and tubeless X11, then best.....on a bike with disc brakes, tubeless tyres, hydraulic clutch, titanium frame, Fantic engine with Scorpa internals, Sherco forks, Renthal fat bars etc etc. The last bike there might be an amazing engineering feat and would look great competing on the Inter route with modern machines. I doubt that many organisers would complain if you wanted to ride for no award, just there for the entertainment not the award. Thats my feelings, it's a point of view, what do you reckon? Gaz

How about an American/English team effort? Always liked Kelly Le Brock. American born, parents had the sense to get her brought up in England. What a voice. Its the voice I like - honest! This is from Weird Science, a kids film, but all a lad needs to get him through adolescence. Well throught he first 6 years anyway, I'm in to my 25th year of adolescence now Edit: Just so Steve Fracy doesn't feel left out - After some more extensive research it turns out that the Canadians got in there too. Her dad's a French Canadian, mother's Irish, she's a right mongrel

mmmmmmmm Just googled Terri Clark... I'm thinking it's the one on the left???? Although I can't see an adams apple on the one on the right, there does seem to be signs of one on the left???

It appears that the RSPB are actually almost on side (and fairly reasonable), and '5again' youre about right that they're interested only in about 5 or 6 months when the birds are nesting (although this could still kill off most of the trials as we run the risk of flash floods wiping everything out during 6 months of the year - the peat is permanently saturated, so any water flows straight through to rock and on down the valley. I think the root of the problem is pressure applied by a company employed as nature consultants for a company who intend to install 200 wind generators up on the hills. The managers of the land are actually very reasonable, but they only manage it on a clients behalf, and common sense says that if a company is going to pay a few million a year for wind farms then their wishes wil be granted over the trials community who may bring in a few grand for them if they're lucky. We have a potential replacement for the Novogar through 4 or 5 different venues nearer Oswestry - the Welsh Trophy will test this out for us in a few weeks, but there is no replacement for the Forest Trophy Trial where kids and adults ride along side each other over 26 miles all off road for 40 sections. It was too good to be true and now it may be exactly that.

Well I've not got the full story yet, but I'm marking out tomorrow so I'll get it then I would think. One of the best bits of land around is about to be lost. We run around 5 or 6 trials a year up there, and there are about 4 totally separate trials within the land, plus more which we hadn't even opened up. For those of you that have ridden the Forest Trophy Trial and the Mid Wales Novogar you'll know the land I'm talking about - the forest at Foel, West of Welshpool. I've been there so much but don't get bored of it, absolutely brilliant stream sections. Well, it seems like the RSPB has had something to do with it and this weekend will be our last trial on the land, so the Forest Trophy Trial will be no more and the Mid Wales Novogar will need a serious re-work if it's going to happen somewhere else. There has been no conflict up there, no known impact to the environment, you'd hardly know we go there, it's just come out of the blue. I only have half the info at the moment, but I'm absolutely gutted. Bad Day!

Now where did I put my hairspray, hmmm.... I do actually use it for putting grips on myself. I bought a can specially for the garage which disappears when my better half runs out. I remember getting some funny looks with the garage door open, shouting up the stairs - "Have you pinched my hairspray again?" Those that know me will acknowledge that my particular hairstyle don't need too much spray to keep it in place. And Kinell - don't say a word or the Grecian 2000 adverts you modelled for will be doing their rounds again The one thing with the hairspray - it does have a tendancy to loosen up again if you get it too wet - i.e. drop it in a river. Not normally a problem, but I managed to get both of mine in on a Novogar round so as well as being **** wet through and cold, my grips started moving too. So KTMSprockets advice is fine as long as you do all of it and wire the grips too.

I don't know whether it would actually make any difference but have you considered those prescription goggles that can be bought for squash. You might look a bit of a t1t but ......