gjbiker

Cheers Donald, I knew I could rely on you for your support (it was the socks, trust me) Thanks for posting the photos Bill, much appreciated. I'd be interested in more if have them? Drop me a PM if you can help out? GJ If Carlsberg did trials riders I'd be the cheap branded sh*t from the local supermarket

Can't say much more, absolute brilliant day and I did my usual best to keep the observers amused with some terrible riding! Many, many thanks to all involved GJ Edit; Stoopid keyboard can't spell!

No worries Ross, the offer stands for future reference if you or anyone else wants to split the journey for any trials up this way - it's just the nice kinda guy I am ! Mrs Wife likes a bit of warning though as she uses the caravan as a sewing parlour. I'm easy spotted when I take it to the SSDT as I'm covered in threads and needles GJ AKA Gav AKA Gavin (on Sundays)

Choose between the Spangle or the Collie if they're willing to leave the warmth of the house that is? As I'm afflicted (or blessed) with true Scots hospitality and community spirit this is a genuine offer if you really want to enter the trial but there are some things to consider; You might be too late for entering - contact the club to make sure? (on the assumption you have a SACU licence?) I live a further 50 miles up the road so this would add an extra 100 miles onto your fuel costs? The weather forecast isn't looking too great (over to you Donald). The following weekend is the Inverness National event at Alvie if you'd rather try that one (same offer?mileage difference)? Drop me a PM if you're interested? Shame you can't make it John, I'll fetch the auction tyre down to you the following Saturday? GJ

Travel up Saturday Ross, the caravan is yours for the night. I'll even chuck in a dog to keep you company! You feeling flush Donald? Awesome club, brilliant trial and free tenners to all that promote it, what more could you ask for? GJ

You do indeed get what you pay for and Perce's find seems excellent value for money but I wouldn't be too quick to knock the cheaper options as they have their advantages also. -They're very good as a 'back up' set in case your decent gear gets eaten by badgers. -They roll up into a very manageable size and are easy to carry for those 'just in case' days. -You don't mind so much when they get ripped, lost or used as rags. -No need to worry about the sticky residue left from the gaffa tape. -You can use them in the evening for walking down the Main St in a shower while your other gear is drying out. -You can stick them on e-bay after the six days and probably still make a profit. Whatever you choose to purchase you'll probably still get soaked if it's p*ssing down. See you at Fort Bill, I'll be wearing my trusty old Belstaff GJ

Nice find Mr Perce but if your budget is tight, even cheaper HERE? GJ

Shocking isn't it My monthly fuel bill for cars, bikes, heating oil etc has risen about 25% since this time last year! What do we do / can we do about it though? They've got us strung up by the bills (typo?) as usual Where is all this duty and tax going? There's certainly not much evidence of it being spent on sorting the horrendous state our roads are in. GJ

Hi Spike, I think you answered your own question - you moved from England to Scotland ! Everything seems more expensive North of the border and it gets worse the further North you go. Do we care? Not one bit! There's no price to paradise As for the cost of a licence, how much is a game of golf or a ticket to the footie (personally don't know and don't want to know), track day on a sports bike, 5k for a mountain bike etc, etc? All hobbies, sports, pastimes (call it what you want) carry a price and in the great scheme of things trials is still relatively cheap regardless of the 30 quid difference between Norf and Saf? GJ

A couple of points not already mentioned; Always use fresh brake fluid from a sealed container - The hygroscopic nature of mineral brake fluid (it absorbs moisture from the air) will lead to a loss of hydraulic pressure and can cause the symptoms you describe. Check the brake line (hose) for damage - a real pain if it runs through the swing arm but a defective area (not necessarily from physical damage) will 'balloon' and also cause this type of problem. Lack of the 'spongy' feeling doesn't always indicate that there isn't any air in the system. Small amounts of air will absorb the energy that should be going to the caliper pistons. Are you 100% sure that no air entered the system when you bled it through? Trials Tesco - every little helps GJ

Just the 'plus' in the post but the reputation box is still in the profile Andy GJ

Oh oh ! I can actually understand Mr Cope and I haven't even finished building the still ! I can only advise downing a bottle of Grouse instead of the wine ? GJ

Any other day apart from a club trial and I'd give it a go - maybe next time? Probably just as well I didn't join the GMCC just to use the ground for trials then! Shame, it had potential to bring in a few locals that don't otherwise partake in the club trials? Best of luck on Sunday mate, I'm off to round 3 at Barras quarry to pop the cherry on the new bike GJ

Statistics I can handle but you could have at least used a photo of some drunken obese Jocks tossing it off ! Looks hellava like the New Hampshire Highland Games to me? For those of you unsure of your geography New Hampshire is a north easterly state of our American cousins and I know the photo was taken there as I went to it a couple of years ago. Probably the best Highland Games I've ever been to! Woo hoo, alright, whoop whoop, och aye the noo y'all hic burp bring it on big man GJ

Jump on a mountain bike, preferably a 15 speed or higher and this will help anybody get their head aroung gearing. Small front sprocket and large rear sprocket - pedal like buggery and get nowhere fast. Change to a larger front and smaller rear to achieve maximum speed. Principals remain the same regardless of it being a sports bike or trials bike but the difference in power, torque, speed, gearbox ratios etc will make the feeling of acceleration a totally feeling altogether depending on the variables mentioned. I'm afraid your mates with sports bikes won't be able to relate as well to this as yourself Mr DBF unless of course they've dabbled with a trials bike? Getting the gear ratios right is a very personal thing and two different riders with two different gear ratios on the same type of machine could quite easily result in exactly the same lap times? Horses for courses and all that? Keep up the debate with the roundy roundy racers and point them in the direction of trials - they'll save a fortune! GJ

Welcome to TC paz46. Enjoy the TY, plenty info on here about them if you need any help. GJ

Woodside in Elgin? Not sure what's happening up there now but there certainly used to be plenty enduro stuff going on the last time I was up there trialing? Try the GMCC website and give Barry Hamilton a shout, he was very helpfull the last time I spoke to him. I also think there's some enduro things happening up by Invergordon, try phoning Gary at Heeland Leisure for info? Best of luck GJ

Medical issue or rust prevention? GJ

...., freshly shaved by

The man made sections at the hub of the event seemed to draw massive crowds (understandably) and if you time it wrong then you'll be lucky to see anything. For obvious reasons these (and the rest of the sections) are packed out when the top riders come through so if seeing your hero is of utmost importance then get there early. The lower natural sections are a bit of a squeeze unless you get there sharpish and 'camp out' at the best spots until the action starts? Some people seem to enjoy sitting in the same spot for hours and hours but I prefer to see each and every section from as many angles as possible. Each to their own eh? The stream that these sections follow has trees either side which also hinders the spectating but if you're a bit adventurous you can normally squeeze in somewhere. Try not to stand behind something that can be climbed on as you can guarantee someone will climb on it and block your view just as the top riders start coming through! It's a bit of a free for all jostling for the best position but I never witnessed and fights breaking out! If you're immune to midges then there are some parts you'll have all to yourself. The top sections (gondola trip unless you like hiking) are all pretty much wide open following the gully with good view points for the best parts. If you don't mind not being right next to the action a pair of bino's are a good way to bring you in close without chewing on the hood of the person who just stood up in front of you. Personally, I didn't find the spectating (natural terrain) to be that much different from the SSDT in regards to crowds. For what reason I don't know but I'd kind of expected more people to be there? As it turned out I think the numbers were about right for spectating to be achievable for most folk? I'm quite sure the organisers would have liked more people to have been there but I think a few trees down the bottom might have been uprooted by anxious punters if that had been the case? Go, enjoy yourself, let the pro's take the pictures and videos and have a dram for me as I'm missing it this year! Cheers, GJ

Mixing dissimilar metals can lead to 'galvanic corrosion', have a look HERE for a better explanation. Stainless steel and alloy are particularly renowned for their incompatability so it's wise to keep them apart in most cases? If I need to true up a buckled wheel these days I don't even bother trying to free up the nipples as there's a 50/50 chance of them breaking at the thread base and applying heat will only weaken them. I order a dozen new spokes and cut off the old ones. Simples. Clean 'em up and paint 'em and nobody will know any different. GJ