billycraig

In my first year of biketrials their was a german guy wearing a full face helmet to protect his recently broken (and still repairing) jaw. I watched in horror as he nose dived a gap and got a broken nose and cheekbone. One in a million chance that the only bit he had uncovered on his face took the impact. He later said he just couldn't see well enough to judge the gap right so it probably caused the accident. On the other hand the full face would probably of stopped the broken jaw that he already had. Any protection naturally restricts which makes us slower to react, less agile etc so I think its finding the balance that gives you adequate protection whilst also allowing you to be specially aware. If your happier in a full face go for it, you may start a trend. I'd happily wear one in the Scottish if its raining.

I like Jack's style and having spent a few days working with him, have seen first hand that it really is a difficult task to continually find something to talk about. Never saw any eurosport coverage but watched every round on the FIM website. Some rounds were without commentary but most had someone talking. Not sure who it was but it was pretty good and at one round Dabill joined him to help (sure he'd rather of been riding though). Its not very often trials is on TV so I'm just happy with whatever I can see and will listen to whomever is tasked with talking about it. Peter Purvis wasn't a trials expert and got a few things wrong but for the average man of the street he allowed them to understand what was happening. Sure Jack isn't as knowledgeable as some on here but he manages to connect with a wider audience range. I'm sure Jack does a better job than any of us could do but theirs always the option to turn the volume down if it causes that much offense.

I think you just described religion. In 2005 it was estimated that 88% of the world believed in god, and in the US it was 95% of the population. People believe what they want to or what they've been told to believe and they gain some comfort from their beliefs despite not a lot of evidence.

Quite a lot of different stuff. Rocky streams, rocks and even a graded hill climb usually. Great trial, see you there.

Thats the nature of consumerism surely? People want a quick fix and if they believe it helps them then it surely will to some degree. I admit every year when I get a new bike I ride better. At the level I ride at it makes little difference and is no doubt in my head (Matt Jones came out on an old sherco a few weeks back and made a mockery of all of us on brand new bikes). We (you included) buy things that we think will make our lives so much better, its what marketing is all about. Gatorade claim their drink makes people perform better and longer and spend bucket loads of cash making sure they get the research they want via their own sports science institute. I had a discussion (argument) with one of their trade representatives at a premiership football club when he made some outlandish claims about the product, he claimed it had that

Stunning bike, would of done anything for one of those. Shame they left the sport and never made a production version. Think Brendan Fairclough rode one as well.

Having swapped from a 125 to a 250 a few times recently I can feel the difference of a small amount of gyroscopic effect. The 125 is easier to flick around and feels lighter. The 250 takes more effort but feels more stable to ride. Think someone described it as angular momentum. My dad can't feel what I'm on about and always insisted theirs little difference in weight on paper between a 125 and 250 Gas Gas so they should be the same.

Great photos, glad you enjoyed it. You certainly seemed to be having fun watching.

eBike do (or did last time I checked) a pay as you go policy which you can do month by month.

Had one in 2009 and used it for all the novagar rounds, the Scott, a Brit championship round, SSDT and club trials in between. Was a fantastic bike that was more than capable and constantly amazed me from the big steps it would go up, to somehow cresting big climbs that I wasn't quite sure about. I found it easier to ride I'm sections especially in scotland and found it made me happier to attack things. Had a 2010 as well and it was even better. Am back on a 250 this year but managed to use my old 2010 one today at a road trial and can honestly say I prefer it. Rode the 2011 one the test day and was very impressed with it. Never really had any issues and I'd say all brands are about similar build quality. Sadly you only get to hear the horror stories and not the happy customers.

Yeah it was full, cheers. I'll ask him tonight and see if he'll sell one. Don't fancy scanning it

My dads got a brand new manual that came with one of our bikes if thats any use?

Mental... could do with that rope and crowd for the Scott

Great trial, well set out (tough day but I certainly felt like I had a good day out). Mega muddy doesn't even cover it. Lots of riders, observers on all the sections. All in all a very good trial, well done to all the club members...

My dad rode most of the rounds last year and I rode with him as a guest at all the ones I went to (think the only ones I missed were the lancs and bootle ones as I was riding elsewhere, and one in wales were I chose not to due to a trial the day after).

I watched the end of it on the FIM site and they had Dibs helping with commentary which helped with getting a riders idea of what was going on.

Tofu!!! Not a chance that'll ever come in the house never mind be eaten.

No just testing it, it was CTC's green one that was featured in TMX last week. Quite nice though. Gas Gas for me again!

That would make a good sight on day 2

Yeah, and training has begun...

Just trying one out for the day and he's happy enough with the new scorpa.

Knight won but not seen anymore results yet.

Well said, to often things get slated online. Rode one on Sunday and was very impressed with it!

Rode an 09 and 10 125 and it coped with the SSDT, all the novagar rounds, a brit champ round, various other nationals and all the club trials in between. I'm 34 and either 11.5 or 12 stone depending on what I'm training for and I couldn't of asked for more from both of the bikes.

?? Yeah pretty cynical, I've just sat through a lot of presentations that had a huge agenda behind them. Don't get me wrong I love scientific investigation I just prefer it to be independent, yet it's practically impossible for anyone other than big business to fund studies. An open mind is required when reading any paper to view all sides yet frequently they're trusted without a thought, take Ancel Keys and his research, terrible work yet it got steamrollered through.