NoTraction

Sorted it! After messing about with the Dremel and all sorts I tried a Bosch multi drill and it drilled it straight through. I’ve just used a longer bolt and put a nyloc on it 👍

Thank you, I met a guy called Peter at Stokenchurch, I think he’s from HUX as he was talking about a trial he’s putting on at Dews Farm. Looks like I need to travel a bit further afield!

Is that a regular fixture all year round? Sounds like it’s worth a visit. By the way, have we bumped into each other yet? Did you go to Stokenchurch on Sunday? You might have seen me, red Beta, white Hebo lid, often on the deck or paddling….

So I twisted my forks when I took a tumble at the weekend. I loosened off the bottom yoke pinch bolts, mudguard bolts and axle pinch bolts and straightened it all out best I could. I then retightened everything up. The only reference I could find that mentioned torque settings said ‘steering stem bracket 25nm’, I realise now that wasn’t referring to the yoke pinch bolts as I tightened them to this and sheared one off! So I bought some snapped bolt removal tools, carefully drilled in, started winding it with a spanner and then snapped that bloody thing off! So now I have part of a snapped off tempered steel removal tool also in the hole, I have been trying for hours now with various drills and a Dremel but I’m not making much headway. So two questions really. Firstly, has anyone got any sage knowledge on how to sort this out? Secondly, the bottom yoke on mine (‘08 model) has three bolts each side, most I’ve seen only have two. Would it be safe to run it with one of the three missing? Oh, and does anyone know the correct torque value?? Thanks.

Should suit me just fine! 🤣

That’s great, thanks for letting me know. I met someone at a trial on Sunday and when I told them, knowing I’m a newbie, intimated that it might not be beginner friendly. He might have just watched me fall off rather spectacularly twisting my forks in the process but maybe not…… I fancy giving it a go, theres not much on around here in December i dont think 😀

Can anyone tell me what the layout is like at Seymour’s Arena? North Berks have a practice day this Sunday and I’m debating going but I’m a novice so don’t want to be climbing big rocks etc like I’ve seen in the photos of the place. Wondering if they have stuff there that’s beginner friendly? TIA

Thanks, looking forward to it. If the rain holds off between now and then it should be an enjoyable day. North Berks are putting on a practice day the following week which I reckon would be good for a beginner such as I so I think I’ll try and make that too. They’re a good bunch, did one of their trials at Standlake 👍

Excellent, I’m signed in and will be there….. hopefully I’ll have a bit more success than last week at Beckley!

Morning People, Can anyone tell me what the WycombeMcc Stokenchurch site? Hills, mud, beginner friendly? TIA

When you say ‘Wycombe and Ixion Type’, what do you mean? I’ve only been to two trials so far and don’t have much to compare to. Are they similar to each other, ie muddy banks, boggy when wet etc? It would be good to hear what Wycombe/Stokenchurch is like, and Denham for comparison. Would you be able to give me a heads up?

That does sound good! They have one this Saturday, it’s about 60 miles from me. However, the organiser of the trial I did on Saturday has invited me to go along with the club to a trial at High Wycombe (Stokenchurch). Thinking I should show willing, they all seemed pretty supportive despite my inability to stay upright! I’m going to try me find out what the weathers doing and what the terrain is like at Wycombe. If it’s all muddy slopes and is going to be wet I might give it a miss this time round….

Thank you both….. found it now! 👍

I cant find anything online about that, is it a current thing? All I can find is Mortimer Classic MCC but they seem more about pre 65 motocross. Nothing about fun trials anywhere?

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll look into that one. I’m all up for challenge but it would be good to get some easyish going in for starters if possible. Would like to build up to some of the more challenging stuff as my confidence grows rather than be thrown in the deep end! Would be great to get a bit of training as well though.

So today I did my second ever trial. My first trial was about a month ago in Standlake Woods near Oxford, hosted by North Berks MCC. I entered the lowest group I could and amazed myself by managing to complete all four rounds of ten sections on the novice route with an overall score of about 34 or 35. I was extremely chuffed with this and despite splitting my front mudguard went home full of confidence and looking forward to the next one. Today was my second trial at Beckley, Oxford Ixion MCC. I rocked up feeling quite confident but, OMG, it was a completely different experience. Obviously it’s been wet recently but most of the sections were either up or down (or both) steep slippery banks with some pretty tight turns thrown on on the beginner route. In four hours I managed one full circuit plus three sections, flipped the bike at least three times, got pinned underneath it, got stuck in a couple of bogs and basically slipped and slid all over the place. I think I spent as much time on my backside or paddling as I did on the pegs. It would have felt better if there were a few easier sections to dilute it but I pretty much struggled with all but a couple (and I didn’t clean those!) Not an encouraging experience. So, slightly deflated and completely knackered from dragging the bike out of the bogs (although I still basically enjoyed myself) I have realised I really need some training and guidance. I’d rather be taught some tips and tricks by someone with experience than learn entirely by my mistakes if possible. At 53 , if I can ‘fast track’ the learning curve in any way it would be a massive help! Does anyone have any recommendations? I’m near Oxford, happy to travel but the nearer the better. But I could really use some help if there’s any out there.

Thanks, I get it now. More knowledge needed on what club is attached to what area etc so I need to look into it. Thanks for the explanation 👍

I hadn’t considered that… I’m not sure I even understand what it means! Do the different clubs belong to different areas then, like darts leagues etc? You can see how green I am, I never even considered that…. If that’s the case! 🧐

Thanks Chris, I wondered if that was the case. There's two possibly three clubs near me I would join, two of which I'm most likely to attend events regularly and one that has a practice area although I don't have any connections there. It's not the cost as it doesn't cost much, I just wondered if the etiquette was to belong to one club only. I'm happy to join more than one to both support them and benefit from them.

A quick question regarding joining a club or clubs…. There are two or three within driving distance from me, all of which hold periodic events that I will enter. I’m new to all of this having only done one trial so far, is the done thing to join all of the clubs whose trials you enter to show support or should you only join one? I don’t really know anyone in any of them personally although the lads and lasses at North Berks MCC were very welcoming at the trial I entered. They aren’t my nearest club though. Might see a daft question but none are exactly on the doorstep and the nearest one only seems to come together when they are holding a trial from what I can see, it’s not like there is a practice ground or central ‘club hub’ as such as far as I know. Whats the done thing? Cheers

Does anyone on here know of or attend pre organised or regular practices held at Milton Buzzards practice ground in Milton Keynes? I have been in touch with someone at the Club by email who has said that if I join I can get access to the practice ground but that you can’t go alone for safety reasons, which is understandable. But he couldn't really offer any insight as to when anyone else is there. He said to check the Facebook page, I did this but the last post was in 2017….! So I don’t think I’ll find out much there.. I just wondered if there are any regulars of the Club on here that may be able to shed some light or that go up in groups, it would be pretty handy for me as it’s only 20 miles away but I don’t have anyone to pair up with so it’s a bit of a catch 22. Cheers.

Did you buy newer or older? Just curious as I was in the same position until 3 weeks ago when I bit the bullet and bought a 13 year old Beta Rev 3 for just under £1500. Maybe dearer than it should have been however it was still on its original rear tyre and didn’t look like it had seen much proper action at all. I just didn’t want to keep waiting for ‘the right priced bike’ to come along and I had a limited budget. I have since trialled it once (my first trial) and fell off twice busting the front mudguard so quite happy to have an older bike to get started on …. There will doubtless be more damage to come! Still, I fell quite spectacularly (in my mind) and still managed a reasonable score of 34 on the easy route. Quite happy for my first attempt 🙂

Come and say hello if you see me….. I’ll be in the silver high top Transit Custom with Mr Gas Fires written down the side…. You can’t miss it! Maybe we can stagger round at the same pace….. 😉

I certainly am! Are you going? Anbit daunting, first trial and all that but I’m looking forward to it!

Thanks for this…. Good to know in advance 👍