trapezeartist

I would guess that there are typically 3 women riding at the trials I do, alongside 60+ men. So we have a long way to go. I can't imagine women ever making up 50% of entries but that could be the potential target, and would double the size of the sport. I accept that this comment is just an impression rather than a measured fact, but I get the feeling that the kids doing conducted routes are pretty close to 50/50. But by the time we get to the teenagers who are the future of our sport, the ratio is down to the same as the sport in general ie about 5% girls/women. We can all appreciate what fantastic value-for-money trials are, but that does mean that there is very little money swilling around for promotion and education, whether that is targeted at the fairer sex or any other objective you may care to choose.

A custom app for that should be super-simple. I think even technophobic observers would be able to cope. Especially on dedicated phones where you could clear out everything not required. Reading glasses would be less necessary than with a typical observer sheet (I struggle when a trial is self-observed as I don't have glasses when I'm riding.)

Full marks to bikerpet for having the integrity to admit he was wrong. Not many people would do that.

I use a lever under the clutch lever for my FRB. For me, it's ideal. John Uyehara in Hawaii makes them. I think it is basically a pushbike lever or possibly something for a small quad, that he mounts a magnetic switch in and then adds a wire with the correct connector. I thought about buying a batch from him for re-selling in the UK, but never did anything about it.

That was the sort of thing I had in my head. The problems I foresaw were: 1. Observers don't want to use their own phone for the task. 2. Difficulty downloading the data at the end of a trial. 3. General resistance to change. If those obstacles can be overcome, it would be a great step forward. I've seen the punch card system used at the Southern Experts and it was very good. Of course you need lots more cards than observer sheets, but the cost would not be great. The biggest problem was that it required two observers on each section as one must be standing by the Ends card. I suspect this may be the killer for club trials. Even without a scanner or lightbox, transcription to a spreadsheet would be much easier, especially with one person reading and one typing.

A PLANE IS ON ITS WAY TO TORONTO , WHEN A BLONDE IN ECONOMY CLASS GETS UP AND MOVES TO THE FIRST CLASS SECTION AND SITS DOWN. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WATCHES HER DO THIS AND ASKS TO SEE HER TICKET. SHE THEN TELLS THE BLONDE THAT SHE PAID FOR ECONOMY CLASS AND THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK. THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE." THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT GOES INTO THE COCKPIT AND TELLS THE PILOT AND THE CO-PILOT THAT THERE IS A BLONDE BIMBO SITTING IN FIRST CLASS, THAT BELONGS IN ECONOMY AND WON'T MOVE BACK TO HER SEAT. THE CO-PILOT GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE SHE ONLY PAID FOR ECONOMY SHE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO HER SEAT. THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE." THE CO-PILOT TELLS THE PILOT THAT HE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THE POLICE WAITING WHEN THEY LAND TO ARREST THIS BLONDE WOMAN WHO WON'T LISTEN TO REASON. THE PILOT SAYS, "YOU SAY SHE IS A BLONDE? I'LL HANDLE THIS, I'M MARRIED TO A BLONDE. I SPEAK BLONDE." HE GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND WHISPERS IN HER EAR, AND SHE SAYS, "OH, I'M SORRY." AND GETS UP AND GOES BACK TO HER SEAT IN ECONOMY. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND CO-PILOT ARE AMAZED AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE SAID TO MAKE HER MOVE WITHOUT ANY FUSS. "I TOLD HER, FIRST CLASS ISN'T GOING TO TORONTO."

I've never done any scoring but it has always stuck me that the worst part is transcribing the results from observer's sheets into the spreadsheet. I have wondered how it might be automated but not come up with a workable idea yet.

There's plenty to like about AMCA. I ride far more AMCA trials than ACU. But site maintenance should only be an hour or two at most.

Another little advantage of the FRB: when queueing for a section I hold the FRB on. No possibility of opening the throttle by accident (which I did once, with a somewhat alarming result).

The website is down for "maintenance". It's been down for at least a couple of days, which is pretty poor.

Niro, if I read this thread right, you seem to be trying to ride very slow without using the clutch. Why? Virtually everyone slips the clutch in sections in order to keep speed down and avoid stalling. Rather than fiddling with gearing, I would advocate you practice slipping the clutch.

Yes.

A bit obvious, but it hasn't been mentioned: a rear number plate.

I bought it from John Uyehara in Hawaii. I think the basic lever is probably intended for a quad bike throttle, or possibly a very short lever for a pushbike. Then he's put a magnetic microswitch in where the cable would go and attached a lead with the correct connector for the bike. $50 plus postage I think, which worked out to about £50.

It would require a complete power unit including the motor. The primary drive on Lite and Sport is a belt so the motor turns forward. On the Race it's a spur gear so the motor turns backwards. Presumably it would also require a different controller too.

I watched hours and hours of the Jitsie coverage of the SSDT. On a more general level, I did notice what appeared to be some very variable ideas of what constitutes a 5 on the part of the observers. It seemed that while each observer was consistent on his (or her) section, there was no consistency from section to section. Some observers were really very generous while others were quite severe. It may be the same for all riders but it's important for the riders to know how strict the observer will be before they enter a section. I am surprised that the organisers didn't brief their observers on how they should be marking.

Beat me to it. 😆

Agreed, that looks really awkward to use. On my '21 I use a small lever place directly under the clutch lever.

The controller is a fairly standard item, made by Silixcon. If you look at their website there are various downloads related to programming it. You'll have to be a bit of a whizz on brushless motors and controllers though, if you hope to understand it. I would love to be able to change a few things, but after reading all the bumph I've given up.

I ran my Beta 250 with two springs removed. I liked it and didn't have any issues with clutch slip.

Do you have an Electric Motion?

There's "so much conflicting advice" because any of the leading products will do a good job for you. Follow manufacturer's advice on grade of oil, pick a brand you like, and that's all there is to it.

I've just bought a wheelchair modified Doblo. It's early days but it's looking very promising. The ramp makes loading super-easy, there is oodles of headroom over the handlebars and I don't have to stoop too much when standing in it, and the bike just about fits with the ramp folded up. I thought I was going to have to modify the ramp but I tried the bike in it today and I can fold the ramp with no problem. I've removed the rear seat (it only had a single one on the left) and pushed the passenger seat forward to give a bit more room. Now I'm waiting for some eyebolts to arrive for lashing down.

I am one of the converts. The EM is the dog's danglies as far as I am concerned. And as you are starting from scratch you wouldn't have to adapt your riding style to suit electric.

It's back! So all's good. 🙂