Wires seem ok to me easy to carry when setting out, should be used in pairs, sling out the flags when they get knackered etc. They don't hurt when you fall on them - usually.
Setting out 10 sections with big timber markers took bagfulls of sticks OK for vampire slaying though I can't say I ever encountered that problem at a trial.
I think it is the multiple route arrangements that are hard to read regardless of the markers used.
The severity and style of section also depends on the club never mind the centre.
For example in the south some clubs with more younger or modern influenced riders expect bike hopping at intermediate levels to clean sections whereas clubs with an older or more traditional minded membership will avoid any on bike gymnastics even on the toughest sections.
With over 40 riders one local club does have 2 different classes.
I asked Graham Jarvis at the Sherco test day at Hook Woods recently which one he preferred the 290 or the 320. He was very non committal, sometimes one was better sometimes the other he thought. He said he rode the 290 in The Scott recently because it was a long day and it was the lighter bike.
If there was an electric bike that was OK with a reasonable battery time I would buy one. That would be yet another class in my local club trials! though a re charging generator sounds a bit well ... noisy.
I did see a hydrogen powered bike in the Uk press a couple of years ago. Not powering a 'conventional' engine but producing electricity. The bike did about 50 MPH or so and made no noise. The reporter was impressed. Instant recharge by swapping a small tank of the gas.
Good - the farmer allows everyone to use his land.
Bad - that includes 4 x 4, motocross, enduro and quads.
There is a large area, say about 10/12 acres of flat and hard land no use for trials, but in the woodland roughly 3/4 acres there are a couple of small bomb holes/ mini dells - otherwise again mostly flatish.
The 'dells' are rather smoothed off by the big stuff. It is clay in the woods and can be very wet - especially the holes. Deep car ruts too.
There are few rules so you must take care. Away from the weekends it is pretty quiet.
There is also a purpose made banger racing (?) ampitheatre and the local steam train puffs by!
East of Four Marks on the dual carriageway, turn up under the railway bridge on a small lane.
Nearest shops are probably Jamsport at Farnham 01252 725335 and Gordon Farley in Guildford.
Bognor has a trial on 1 January at Halnacker Quarry just east of Chichester you would be welcome to join and ride. They have 4 routes.
Alton also has a trial at East Tisted in the Meon Valley (by the side of the A32 I think) on January 1 though I think you would need your ACU registration for that one - 3 routes.
The new 09 250 Uk spec is an excellent bike with a very nice power spread. Sherco seemed to have got the suspension message as well.
Out of the box I think it feels compliant, comfortable and moves about easily. It seems to me to be different from an 07 bike which I did not like because the power band seemed to be biased towards the top end coming in more suddenly - hence comments made about not finding grip.
To describe the 290 as having 'soft' power is one opinion - there are other ways of describing it!
However if you are a seriously big bloke go for the 290 and hang on.
I bent one when the engine on my 290 backfired - a true banana shape! It didn't like being bent back, it snapped! Coincidentally it was also starting to tear at the shaft junction. Over 70 quid to replace.
Week 106 - Waving The Flag
in Centrally Speaking
Posted
Wires seem ok to me easy to carry when setting out, should be used in pairs, sling out the flags when they get knackered etc. They don't hurt when you fall on them - usually.
Setting out 10 sections with big timber markers took bagfulls of sticks OK for vampire slaying though I can't say I ever encountered that problem at a trial.
I think it is the multiple route arrangements that are hard to read regardless of the markers used.