bikespace

My curiosity has got the better of me. Can someone have a look at picture 24 and tell me who the bloke in the background with the hat and glasses is please. I recognise the face somehow, but can't put a name to it. Nice selection by the way Vinnied

I asked her if I was going to get served with my England shirt on. She said "The shirt's not a problem but your dad's brummy accent is getting right on my t!ts" Those grey hairs must be coming through again mate

Stop bickering about who was first you two! Dabster you're too old for her, let the poor lad have a chance And by the way, that site didn't seem that cheap. That's top whack for tyres isn't it? And postage doesn't seem to be free for everyone? I must admit I've not looked at too many of the other prices, but just the few I looked at seemed fairly average. ****Had to edit this one - there are some good prices in there, tyres are fairly average, but I just ordered some other kit tonight.****

Lets not have this intelligent, unbiassed, logical **** get in the way of a good argument. I think my problem is probably the lack of Scorpa's down here, which is probably because of the lack of dealers. i've not seen one on the expert route at all I don't think, and I've seen very few new or nearly new ones so my judgement may be marred by that. In my mind I've got them pictured as noisy rattly things. I'm willing to admit they may not be if well maintained......and taped up

Which road trial you at Marky, or was it yesterday? There is a Centre champs trial this weekend (CWAC) I think but not sure of the quality, so open to suggestions maybe. I had a look at wiggle.co.uk. My problem is that XXL on there is 46 inch chest, which leaves me a couple or 4 inches short. You may have to have to have the implants removed as well mate My apologies if they're not implants. Man-boobs aren't funny...much

Or.......you could watch someone of equal (dis)ability bust their guts while you have a beer. That'd do it as well.

I feel like I may be the only one, but does anybody have any good stories about Scorpa. Someone who has owned something alse preferably, and please spare me the "They grip well" comments. That can be translated to "short on power". I must admit I can't see the attraction at all - they're not even cheap. Let me start you off on the positive points: 1. You can get a high seat when you get old 2. Reliability reminiscent of the 80's machines (because it is an 80's machine) Any more???

I've seen a Sherco 290 glide over some **** that I can manage to hit like a sack 'o' spuds 9 times out of 10. I do find it strange that we're going to four strokes to combat the emissions of two strokes, only to create a noise pollution problem, which will give us a damned site more local problems getting land than any emissions laws. How about a conspiracy theory. If I were trying to do away with motorcycle sport, how about guiding the sport down the line of becoming super green by lowering emissions, knowing that overcoming this fairly invisible (to the general public) pollution will open up a whole new bag of worms - NOISE POLLUTION! Soon every happy clappy vegetable munching rambler will be on the bandwagon. Just a thought....

How about Rathmell - 1973 - No idea where.

You got two bikes Heath??? That Gasser just looks too new. Stickers on the swinging arm, paint still on the airbox. I must ride mine like a Tasmanian devil I think. Do you ride yours in slippers or summat??? Bloody annoying

Pervert! Stick to the subject

Sorry everybody, I've just found out, the owner has left a message with my better half (probably bloody ages ago) and I'm to take it to the Neath National next week. Still don't know who it is yet. It's come to summat when to communicate with my trouble and strife I have to post a message on the web Less arguments though eh? If you're listening dear, your coffee's getting cold

Worst thing is, one of our lads from Llangollen (Billy) lost his left leg years ago, but the boot's a left as well. Otherwise I would have given you first shout on it Billy, sorry mate How unlucky's that

A Diadora Stone boot was found at our Welsh National 4 weeks ago. A notice was put on the results on the web, but didn't make it on to the hard copy results. It's an almost new boot, so someone must be a bit miffed. We thought someone would ring but we've heard nothing. Some bits of Wales haven't got access to "t'interweb" so if you live near the bristol channel could you shout across the water for me. Seriously though, Welsh peeps please pass the word or let me know if you know of someone who's lost it. I'll bring it to the next Welsh National at Neath next week anyway. Ivelostmyboot@trialspace.co.uk

Gav, put the spliff away, you've lost me there

Just ordered the beeder from www.topfun.com so we'll see how it goes. 17 Euros plus about 30 quid delivery probably I'll save that much on the swear box though. Marky, if you need someone to guide you on how much lighter fuel to use give me a shout. I reckon for yours, just fill 'er up

Are they exactly the same as a mousse then??? If they are I can get hold of second hand ones, but they're steeper than

Next time your tyre comes off we'll try it Mark. I'll spray it in, you light it while I stand back Teamwork

That'll do for me! I thought they would probably be good, as the inner tube is nearly there. I'll have a bit of a look around, as they do seem a bit steep for a bit of rubber especially once they add shipping. Cheers Dabster et al

Cyanide you mean. I've considered it a few times after an hour of punching the Michelin in vain. Lighter fuel?? I'd never have thought of causing a small explosion to get the tyre on the rim, but would be good to watch.....from a distance

Shouldn't think you go through many tyres with only a hairdrier moter to take the edge of 'em. It's probably the front edge from bump starting it eh? I thought you just bought a new bike once the tyre was rounded? Yep - Clive tomorrow - I'll be slashing the tyres on your pimp mobile so bring your tyre levers dear.

It's a hard sport to get in to despite the relative cheapness as a motorsport. Any time people see trials (in UK anyway) they see Dougie Lampkin and co. taking their machines up cliffs, balancing 20 feet up on cotton reels etc. Your average bloke who tucks his trousers in to his socks before he gets on his mountain bike doesn't think "I could do that". He probably thinks it's a circus act that he couldn't get in to in a month of Sundays. I'm not knocking Dougie and co. because nobody would have heard of it at all if it weren't for them. The way people get in to trials in my opinion is through someone they know, or they used to do trials, or someone in their family did trials. These demo's at country fairs etc are usually closer to the circus act too, because that's what people want to watch, and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they should be any different. But.....I wonder if it would introduce more people to trials if at these country fairs/shows there were a couple of bikes to try on real easy sections, with a local dealer to let them know what sort of prices the bikes are, new or second hand (ACU sponsored maybe????). Someone to let them know how little they actually have to do and how little the sport can cost from week to week. Maybe it's pie in the sky, maybe it wouldn't work, maybe the logistics of providing boots/helmets/insurance would make it unrealistic. Not everybody has got the money, but there are a lot of people out there these days with more money available than there was in the past. I think if more people knew what this sport did by giving kids not just something to do on a weekend to keep them off the streets, but give them a full time hobby, there would be a lot more riders out there. Some trials seem to be organised in a much less professional way than they used to be as well. Some of them seem more like a bit of a Sunday afternoon ride out than a sport, especially when everyone can have an award because there's a class for every star sign, but that's another argument. I think people generally like to be part of something that's professionally organised, but turn up for a two bob setup and they can take it or leave it.

I've been thinking of buying Ryan Young's Tyre Beader but it never seems so important until you have to turn or change a tyre again. I put a new one on this morning in about 7 or 8 minutes, then it took me nearly an hour to get it back in the bead. Eventually managed it with a ratchet strap and a high power airline when I gave up on trying at home. I'm sure Michelin are making their tyres with a larger diameter these days. I didn't even use a lever to get it back on today, it went on by hand. Seems strange that on a road bike (where you've got nice painted alloys) the tyres can be a real b1tch to get on, but trials bikes (which could stand a bit more aggro) slip on no problem leaving a big gap to try and fill I used to be great at punctures when we had tubes, in a couple of minutes, now it's a full weekend job to get the bloody tyre back on Last time I tried it, the ratchet strap method didn't work and I managed it using a kids inner tube to fill the gap, then ruin the tube ripping it out of the bead. Would be cheaper in the long run to get one of these tyre beaders if they are any good. Has anybody used one???????

Friends in and around Vancouver, also seems fairly healthy for IT market. No firm plans yet, we're planning a holiday in about 18 months to have a look around.

It's easier than a Sherco, but I know what you mean. I used to: Wash the airbox out and leave on a radiator to dry out. Leave the rubber close to the radiator so it softens up. Loosen the front jubilee clip to the manifold so the carb can move about a bit. Quick waggle around as they meet up and it should go in nicely.