ranger17

In my own view, the professional Officers of the Peak Park will have enough on their plates just coping with the lanes without having to consider looking at private ground events as well. Even though they've just been given a stack more money to take on another full-timer to help work on "management", there's still a lot for them to do, including a list of priority routes that will be under scrutiny. The reason I put the bit about some could interpret that

Darn it! And I was so careful when putting it together Just looked now and the 2nd link - the email address to send to - doesn't seem to work, either. If that happens for you, go to peakdistrict.gov.uk. You'll see 4 coloured bars/tabs along the top: hit "Looking After" Near top right of the "Looking After" page you'll see "Current Consultations". Again, hit that and you'll find the document and email address.

PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK - STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RECREATIONAL MOTORISED VEHICLES IN THEIR USE OF UNSEALED HIGHWAYS AND OFF-ROAD Anyone who lives and/or rides in the Peak District National Park may want to have a look at this http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/looking-after/consultations I’m with Manchester 17 MCC who are members of Peak & Derbyshire Vehicle User Group (PDVUG). Man17 run both private ground trials and trials that use the green lanes. We and PDVUG are both responding directly. You may want to consider doing the same. Any comments have to be submitted to this PDNPA email address by 15 January 2012. At first sight it’s mostly about green lanes. However, some could interpret that “and off-road” in the title as covering all non-tarmac use … You may also want to check this out. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/9910 As it says, this guy wants to “Stop off-roading in the National Parks”. Apparently, if these e-petitions get 100,000 signatures it triggers a Commons debate. I thought I recognised the petition author’s name. Some of you may have seen the recent Tales from the National Parks tv series, one episode of which focussed on vehicles in the Peak Park. This http://jimdixon.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/tales-from-the-national-parks/ is a link to the section of Jim Dixon’s Blog relating to the programme, JD being Chief Exec of Peak Park: take a deep breath and have a run through the article and then the Comments below it ;-) Not sure what we can do about his petition, but at least he's nowhere near the 100,000 mark. However, it does show something of what we're up against. If you’re concerned about having somewhere to ride, it’s worth a look through the PDNPA Strategy proposals. If you live in or near a different NatPark, remember that the Parks do talk with each other. If you’re concerned about something in there, tell the Peak Park. And if you live in the Park, tell your local councillors and MP too.

I prefer this. It has a certain inevitablility about it. I like the ape's finale, too - almost as though he knew exactly what he was doing all along.

Re Pistonbroke's comment about "an organisation

My own response to the Forestry Panel went off a while back and I forwarded the info to well over 100 members of my club. When he says "the Ramblers Association are very dangerous people", Pistonbroke is right, though I would qualify that by saying that some of them are dangerous. Some will be fine, it's just the active antis that we need to watch and counter. I have no personal objection to the guy from the RA who has been appointed to this Panel. Don

Hi folks Just to confirm that the Manchester 17 MCC "Boxing Day Madness" Trial is on. Venue is, as usual, Roman Lakes, Marple Bridge, Nr Stockport SK6 7HB. Signposted off the B6101 Marple to New Mills Road. Start at 11.00 am. Close 30 mins to start. Contact Ken Roberts, 07977 137018

I'll vote for that! But you forgot about a fully-stocked bar as well!

Nahhhhh! You've just seen the light, that's all

Phil Depending exactly where you are, have a look at www.manchester17.org.uk, www.macctrials.org.uk and www.ndymcc.co.uk. Other clubs are available but those should keep you quiet for a while and get you back into things. Then just ask around at trials. As for practice, Hawks Nest, just south of Buxton is a favourite for many. You'll find directions on the Man17 site - pay at the farm below the road. Don't know offhand how much it is - maybe someone else on here can say? Good luck.

OK folks, some information from you historically knowledgeable types please. I wasn't sure where to place this one so I've gone for General Trials rather than UK Trials to give it wider coverage in view of the subject's international reputation. The name of John Hartle will surely be familiar to some on here but probably not to others. A member of the Manchester 17 MCC, John was a top-level international road-racer. From Chapel-en-le-frith in the UK Peak District, he wore the town's coat of arms on his helmets. To quote MCN's Peter Howdle, "he was an outstanding example of a great rider who never won a world title." A former Norton, MV-Agusta and Gilera rider, in the 1958 Senior TT he became (after Bob MacIntyre) only the second rider to lap the TT course at over 100 mph. When John's MV caught fire, eventual winner John Surtees became the third. Hartle died at the Oliver's Mount circuit, Scarborough in August 1968. Like many racers, John was also an active trials rider. We have photos of him in the 1954 Bemrose and a 1963 Lightweight MCC trial in Ulster. In his memory, Man17 have the John Hartle Trophy, still competed for at our Hipwell Trial in the Peak Forest area, not far from Chapel. His name also appears on the club's John Simister Memorial (Racing) Trophy no fewer than 12 times. John's racing career is well-documented, but we don't know that much about his career and achievements in trials, which a family member is now trying to research. Over to you. Anything you can come up with will be much appreciated. Cheers.

Ahhhh forgot the unforgetable Hipwell Trial Yikes!!! Me too!! I foresee the distinct possibility of getting mugged by a certain pair May have to buy them off with some

What he said Of course, I might be a tad biased about the first 3 ... never done or even been to the JW so can't say The John Mac and Nexperts (don't be put off by the Experts bit, it's dual route with a big clubman entry) are both due up shortly. They aren't the time of year from the original posting, but you could always come and have a look this time round with a view to bringing your buddy next year?

Chewy I do the route map for the Bemrose programme. I'll PM you with a copy from this year's Bemrose for interest. Hope it helps. It's definitely a cracking good clubman's trial - very popular. If you want to show your mate what a good traditional British road trial is all about, you won't go far wrong with the Bemrose, then bring him back for the Dave Rowland in July - same sort of area. The Addict is right about the number of sections and they're a mix between limestone and gritstone, so a bit of variety, too. He's probably also about right on the route length but if you really need to know I can probably waz it through a digimap program and get somewhere pretty close. As for camping, the start is a plain old field and I've never known anyone camp there before. I can't specifically point you towards any campsites but a quick Google or a call to the Buxton Tourist folk should sort that. It's pretty much prime Peak District tourist country, so there's got to be some around not too far away. Cheers

Depends on what you mean by "in the Manchester area". How far are you willing to travel? There's Hawk's Nest, near Buxton. This Manchester 17 MCC website is a link to a location map via the Manchester 17 MCC website. No need to be a member of any club. Please note that the other venues shown there are for trials events only - no practising at them. You could try Victory Quarry at Dove Holes just north of Buxton, but that, I think, is only for members of North Derbyshire Youth MCC North Derbys YMCC. Both Man17 and NDYMCC run trials that are great for beginners, too. And before I get earache from the Macc guys Macc TC, so do they. I think there may also be somewhere to practice North Wales/west Cheshire-ish that won't be too far from you. Maybe someone else on here can post the info? First time you've had a trials bike? If poss, avoid practising on your own, just in case ... Good luck and have fun!

Yep, sheet metal tank/seat unit, folded along top edges and a row of rivets running along bottom edges. Some kind of quick release screws for the seat. If I remember correctly, very reminiscent shape-wise of the Gaunt 118cc Suzukis. Nice bike neatly made! Don't recall anything about chain-tensioning extra sprockets though. However, I understand that Duncan later went into making some pretty handy mountain bikes, so it wouldn't surprise me if he played around with something like that. I don't think large numbers were ever done, so maybe each one was a bit of a special? Could be that one or more of the others had it. No doubt someone here will know. I usually see Duncan's brother Andy a couple of times a year, observing at trials like the Dave Rowland, so I'll maybe ask him when I get the chance. Cheers

Not forgetting Duncan MacDonald's MACs. From Macclesfield. I had one with an OSSA 250 engine, but I believe there were Bult-engined beasties and maybe even Mont-motored ones ...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CprQ295dxVw&...feature=related Jasper Carrott version of what was originally a Jake Thackray song, I believe, so why not check out http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QmSezwugtd8&feature=related ://http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QmSez...eature=related as well? Hope those links work for you. If not, hit YouTube and find Jasper Carrott Bantam Cock and Jake Thackray - On Again Enjoy! Cheers!

Hi Rob Don't ride myself, but am involved and, like you, am also in the Manchester area. If you're looking to start and want to ride around Buxton/Macc., then have a look at the following: http://www.manchester17.org.uk/ http://www.macctrials.org.uk/ http://www.ndymcc.co.uk/ All good clubs and good people not far from you. Other clubs are available NDYMCC have a trial at Victory Quarry, just north of Buxton on 7th December. The next Macc trial is at Rough Hey Quarry (a few miles south of Macc on the Leek road) on 14th December and Man17 have their Boxing Day Madness on - well, you can probably work that one out

General observation based on absolutely no surveys or scientific data whatsoever but my own personal experience/s

I can't comment on trials boots but I used to get a load of problems with my walking boots, stubbing big toes on long downhill stretches. Don't know what it's like over your side of the world, but here in the UK there are quite a few walking boot shops that will now adapt/stretch your boots if they're tight on a given spot. Apparently a lot of walking boots have a plastic box to form the toe cap and a plastic cup for the heel. They boil the boot up to soften the plastic and then stretch the offending spot out until it's sorted. Don

About 30+ years back, a few of the lads I knocked around with had trail bikes. One of the guys came out to start his Honda XL250 up one day. Kick, kick, kick. No joy. Leave for a few seconds then kick, kick, kick again. Still no joy! Check the choke. Kick, kick, kick. Zilch! Check and double-check the ignition switch. Not that either! Kick, kick, kick. Zero igntion, Houston, we don't have take-off! Hmmm? I know, check the plug cap. Nipponese bike, so take off those funny metal shrouds they used to have on the cap that would short out as soon as they saw a puddle. Nope. Next stage is to start bumping. They had a driveway that was level then sloped down to the road with enough length to get up a bit of running speed and that was usually enough. Nahh! Now said mate was quite stocky but nature hadn't blessed him with overmuch in the altitude department. This was also somewhere back in the 1970's, so he was wearing some mildly platform-ish zipped ankle boots. Not a major platform - more of a thick sole really, but they can't have helped stability too much for anything more than a slow walk. By now, we're talking about maybe 20 minutes to half an hour or so of heavy duty kicking, running and bumping, so he's reasonably well warmed up and decides he's had enough of this. They lived at the top of a hill. Quite a big, long hill. Maybe just under quarter of a mile or so of fairly steepish hill. Running and bumping down that has GOT to start it - the laws of physics say so. So off he goes down the hill in his enhanced footwear, pushing, running and bumping, sweating and swearing like a good 'un. Right the way down to the bottom of the hill. Do I even need to mention that there was still not the least sign of a spark? He and his bike are now at the bottom of the hill, with only one alternative - push the thing all the way back up. We all arrived just a few minutes after he arrived home, so his breathing and heart rate were pretty much back to normal but his face was such a wonderful shade of red! At which point one of the other guys, who also had an XL250, walked across, took one look at the bike .... ... and re-set the kill switch to ON.

http://www.manchester17.org.uk/ and http://www.macctrials.org.uk/

Just for a while there, when I saw the thread header, I thought we were going back to No Stop rules ...

Hi Pete. Yep, not too bad, ta. Less on the top, more round the middle etc. etc. No, for some reason, the DRTT isn't in the blue Upcoming Events section on the Man17 site - not sure why not, so I'll give the guy who runs it a heads-up. However, if you move down that column to the bottom, you'll find a small link to a pdf with the club's current trials calendar. If the technomolology works, this link http://www.manchester17.org.uk/Trials_Page...ates%202008.pdf should also take you there. You probably remember the Rowland starting from the old Duron Factory on the Ashbourne road, an excellent venue courtesy of the late Norm Eyre. Nowadays it runs from Haslin, also the location for some of our Dead Easy's. OS Grid Ref is SK 065 692. If you go back to the Man17 site, have a look at the strip of links along the top and you'll see one for Trials Venues: Haslin - aka Wrights - is in there, along with a link to a Google Maps satellite view. As mentioned, date this year is 13th July, start time is usually 9.00am. Sections/route still to be decided but typically includes Haslin, Etchings, Cheeks, Scaurs (opp Cat & Fiddle), Cumberland/Plantation/Clough, Manor Steps, Hawks and Danebower plus a few other misc odds and sodments. Look forward to seeing you there, if not before.