old trials fanatic

One of the problems when using pairs is it can sometimes be confusing as to which pair to ride through at least on the first lap. Depending on how twisty and tight the section you then have to link the flags by tape to make it obvious but that can also get messy at times which is why one colour for left and one for right was the norm in the days when the world was black and white and we all rode one route. I accept that there should be consistency across the country just that people get used to "doing it their way" and most just ride in centre and cant afford to travel around the country to other centre events.

Do you ride much? Talking to riders and looking at their bikes i would say at least 60% of the bikes i see would technically fall foul of the elegability rules for the scottish event. That doesnt mean to say they wouldnt get an entry, just look around the paddock at Kinlochleven, just that they dont fulfil the elegability criteria. Also there are more, more every year actually, who dont give a monkeys about scotland and wouldnt be stupid enough to build a bike that complied with the elegability rules for that event just for one ride a year that they probably will never get anyway. Remember as we have previously discussed at great length on here there are really only about 80 at the most places that are "balloted" LOL so cross that bridge when you come to it. Wonder how many photos submitted would match the bike ridden ? Nah surely not. The scottish Pre65, yuk stupid term, is a one off anacronism that is either your holy grail or just a distraction depending on your viewpoint. British Twinshocks is for the whole year. I would say though that there should be outline rules for British Twinshocks agreed nationally by the ACU, Bob Hope of that one, then at least some sensibility and consistancy might prevail and we could all live happily ever after

Strewth you guys over there really like to overcomplicate things. I'd never offer to observe. Unless this is that ever elusive thing American humour?

Good point and i will try to get Martin to authorise us buying some more flags and introducing the "recommended" ACU route marking without the arrows for the next season 2012/2013 As you know this coming season we are droping the 50/50 route as a lot of the riders feedback was that 50% of sections were a waste of time, the Clubman ones, while 50% were about right, the Expert ones. So that is why we are droping the 50/50 and introducing a true Intermediate route which for the time being will be marked by red and blue flags. Then we need to have a Clubman route so as now we have a yellow deviation. Then we need an Expert route so we now have the white deviation. Once i get Martin to unlock the purse i will try to fall into line with the ACU recommendations minus the arrows. So for the time being please bear with us. I must admit i didnt realise you could get flags that cheap.

Good point in which case the Clubman at our Trials far outnumber the rest so they should have the red and blue flags Probably be the same at many clubs. As it should be.

I to have seen the same thing especially on flea bay but you have to remember a sale is an agreement between two parties. One has to agree to give the other what they want for the price they want to pay for it. If someone has the money and the other has the goods it doesnt always follow that a trade will take place. I've had bikes for sale before and people have made silly offers trying to "steal" it at the price, not for one moment saying thats what you are trying to do although we all like a bargain. Just because someone offers x for your bike doesnt mean you have to sell it to them at x. Good luck in your search but remember for you to get a "bargain" someone else will have "given it away" and nobody likes to think theyve been "robbed" Recession or no recession i would sooner leave the bike in the back of the garage than "give it away". Then again thats me. Other people may be more desperate and ripe for being taken advantage of due to the current economic situation.

Sammy Millers used to do a wide swing arm. Might be worth giving Richard a call to see if he has any left?

I normally just turn a new shock mount up on the lathe and weld it to the frame. Just remember to gusset the frame tube to the horizontal tube to dissipate the shock load. Dead easy.

I assume you mean no converted monoshocks? Trouble is as soon as you say that the you leave it wide open to "convert" a twinshock to take all worth having from a monoshock. Some Fantics are pretty close to and some have already crossed that line. Anyway whats so wrong with moving the shock mounts? Why is a Majesty ok but a TY250 with similarly modified shock mounts wrong in your book? Why would an Ossa mar that had its shock mounts modified to replicate the Ossa Gripper also be wrong to you? Your not part of Yorkshire Classic Club by any chance?

It's the arrows issue really plus our flags are all individual pennants on a single wire stalk. Suppose we could get round it but the expense, i do like your markers btw, worries me and if i had to replace the flags tomorrow the as the club doesnt have the money it would have to fold.

Trouble is mate that people now expect not to loose 120 + marks in a trial. I know, just my personal view btw, that if i was loosing that sort of marks or realistically anything over 40-50 i would probably just stop and do something else. The world has moved on and riders want a challenge but not impossabilities. "if you dont ride hard trials you dont get better" heard that before too many times. Approaching 60 i dont think i ever will or even care now. Just want an enjoyable ride like most people so unfortunately one route is a non starter. well unless you want 70% of the entry tied on clean

We currently use red and blue for the intermediate route with the experts following the white deviation and the clubman following the yellow deviation. Works fine and as some have said if you go the wrong side of a flag or take the wrong route then it's your fault. However it's the arrows issue that is the problem as i cant figure a way of this working all day without it being firmly affixed to a post of some kind so it cant swivel round etc plus you will need them in all four colours. Our current "flags" are whatever i could find, usually made out of feed bags in the right colour, on bailing wire. Again works well enough. To have 400 stakes made c/w plastic coloured arrows that can swivel and be locked in position must cost at least a

Very true Woody. Pre65 is a total anacronism. British twinshocks is at least a relevant description.

You ARE joking re machine elagability are'nt you!!!! Give me strength.

Reckon it would cost us i.r.o.

Changes to 2011 Trials Standing Regulations Section/ Route Marking It is recommended that routes be marked as follows: - Route A - Principle Route - Blue ( left) Red ( right) Route B - Yellow both sides Route C - White both sides Any further routes to be marked in a colour chosen by the Organiser In the above, the letters denote the severity of the sections in descending order ie Route A would be hardest, Route B next hardest and so on. Routes may be marked in their entirety in the colours shown, or the Organiser may mark appropriate diversions in these colours. Ideally, the coloured section of markers should be in the shape of an arrow, with the point toward the centre of the section

Cavieat emptor. You see loads on flea bay, been a few converted Montesa's of late, and the poor sap who buys one them finds they cant ride it anywhere or has to find a Club that turns a blind eye.

Of more interest to me at the moment, been aware of it for a while, is the "recommendation" re route marking. Changes to 2011 Trials Standing Regulations Section/ Route Marking It is recommended that routes be marked as follows: - Route A - Principle Route - Blue ( left) Red ( right) Route B - Yellow both sides Route C - White both sides Any further routes to be marked in a colour chosen by the Organiser In the above, the letters denote the severity of the sections in descending order ie Route A would be hardest, Route B next hardest and so on. Routes may be marked in their entirety in the colours shown, or the Organiser may mark appropriate diversions in these colours. Ideally, the coloured section of markers should be in the shape of an arrow, with the point toward the centre of the section

Told the ACU rep when he told me what they were proposing that the wording was wrong. You could drive a bus through the rules for twinshock. What allegedly they intended to infer was that a twinshock should be a twinshock at time of manufacture. However as i pointed out what is "at time of manufacture"?. If i build a "replica" frame tomorrow of ooh lets say a Fantic but make to take a much later reed valve or even a section bottom half it would be legal because it was a twinshock "at time of manufacture". Loads more loopholes but ho hum if only they would ask the right people. Used to be the same when i was rallying Escort twin cams. Every year the RAC blue book comes out and every year you go through it with a fine tooth comb to find what you can and cant get away with. Anyway as previously said laid down shocks are'nt really much of an issue unless you ride Yorks Classic Pre65.

Agree about the bogs. The tracks over the moors were good fun but the bogs were a complete surprise to me. Thats the thing i always stress to people i speak to who are riding the Pre65 for the first time. The sections arent the problem as they are all "do able" but after crossing the moors and pulling the bike out of the odd boghole a section you would clean no problem is suddenly a whole new ball game. All part and parcel of the event and what makes a finishers award all the more special and something to cherish.

OK just finished talking to Mick. He has firm orders for 4 frames to date and was waiting to see if he could make it up to 10 firm orders and deposits before he instructed the frame maker to buyin the T45 etc and start making the frames. However those 6 more orders havent materialised so he is going ahead with the 4 confirmed orders in the next couple of weeks. If anybody wants to add a frame or 2 to the order then they need to get in quick. The deposit required will be

Hi Charlie well you know what length i prefered cos that was what came on Bessie but i would probably fit Betor Pro's if i had her now but i also know you like the "period" look so what about NJB trick shox? ok they possibly arent as bling but do look argueably more Pre65.

Dont bother just mod the clutch actuation lever by lengthening it. Dont add too much though or the clutch might not part fully. Did this mod on my old Laverda Jota which were notourious for needing a grip like a Scotsman on his purse, sorry Brian couldnt resist, and by adding 1" and repositioning the cable stop with a small alloy bracket the clutch was at least passable for a Derbyshire lad.

Think you just summed Twinshocks up perfectly. Trawl this site cos there are some good links posted to videos of twinshocks on you tube that way you can see the sort of stuff we ride. No hero stuff just a lot of fun