rodjackson

Hi all: I am planning a trip to a conference the Netherlands in late October and would like to include a ride on the continent. I will be travelling into Germany (Baden-Baden area) and possibly Belgium or lower Scandinavian countries also. Any ideas for finding a local club, renting/borrowing a bike and riding a local club trial? Thanks for the help! Rod Jackson

I like using water with a drop of dish soap in it with a sprayer. Make sure the surface is clean and dry and lightly spray the area then put the sticker right over the wet area. The reason for using the water is that you can move the sticker around very easily for positioning and when you smooth out the sticker, all the water and air bubbles move out quickly and easily. Let it all dry and sticker is on for good. I used to put them on dry and if I mispositioned, pulling the sticker back up could stretch and distort it. Not good with expensive stickers. Hair dryers also work great for getting the old buggers off, much better than scraping! Good luck!

Thanks to all for the great advice. The dealer wants $5800 for the bike, claims all he had to do was replace the piston and that the cylinder was "perfect"..... I am currently looking at other bikes while trying to be happy with my old '93 160 Gasser! Rod

I wanted to get a 200 or a 250, but I think I could get this one reasonably. If I have to pay full price, I couldn't afford the gas to get to Lolo Pass! Is there any way to tame the beast?

Hello everyone: I am looking at a new 2007 TXT 300 Pro (homologated) that seized up during the dealer prep. Apparently, the dealer did not get the throttle cable seated and it revved to the moon until it seized. It has been fitted with a new piston and the dealer will warranty it for 3 months. Is there anything I should look into or be concerned with on such a bike? Could there have been lower end damage? What should I expect to have to pay for such a bike? Thanks! Rod

In one of his books, The Man said that he always held on to the very last. Looks like he is continuing to. What an amazing guy!

I would check eBay, that's where I've found TY80 parts. Any ideas about finding proper tires for the little TY's?

Now we know why the US lags so far behind the UK in trials! Our pies are sweet fruit things that just make us fat, no performance enhancing qualities whatsoever. You can't even drink beer with them! I had the chance to try eel pies a few years ago on my honeymoon in England. Passed up the chance, perhaps for the best. I probably couldn't afford them now with the dollar weighing in at half a pound, but apparently that's the price of success?!

Thanks for the replies, my friends! I'm glad that there are big brains out there to help. I'll look for Flashget. Andy - Thanks again for this great site and all you do for our great sport!! Rod

Does anyone know a way to download Trials Central videos (like the newly posted indoor rounds) all at once, rather than one clip at a time? I'm sure there is a way to do it, but I five every attempt. I have a PC, my wife tells me a Mac would do it in short order.

I'd like to clean out the exhaust on my '93 Gas Gas GT16, but it has a solidly welded aluminum mufflers for primary and secondary. Any good ideas for this one?

Good suggestions by all, but be careful with straight leg lifts - these can cause undue pressure on the low back and increase problems. Stretching is very important for the lower back, especially since we are standing while we ride. To stretch the lower back safely, lie face up with the knees bent. Pull one knee up to your chest only to where you feel a light stretch, hold 20-30 seconds, do the other knee and then do both. Repeat several times. When you pull both knees up, feel for a light stretch in your lower back. Do not pull too hard, this is a group of small muscles attaching to points in the spine and can be over stretched easily. Don't bounce or make it hurt - if you feel pain, back off. Muscles like to stretch slowly. The hamstrings (back of the thighs) and the gluteal (butt) muscles need to be stretched so that the forward bending happens mostly at the hips and not so much at the lower back, which can cause undue strain and lead to low back pain. An easy stretch for the back of the thighs is to stand up, put one heel up on top of something a foot or two above the ground (a modern trials bike "seat" is about the right height) and lean forward while bending only at the hip. Put one hand on your lower back to make sure it is straight. Feel where the back of your leg starts to stretch and hold it about 20-30 seconds. Do each leg a few times and you should notice that you can go a little further each time. For the butt muscles, sit down and cross one ankle over the other knee. Pull the crossed knee up toward the opposite shoulder and feel for a light pull in your buttocks. Do each side a few times. Also - make sure you are well hydrated. Start drinking fluids early in the morning before a trial or practice session and continue to sip on fluids throughout the day (coffee, tea and beer don't count!). If you are low on fluids, the muscles won't work as well. Hope these tips help! Rod Jackson

I'll trade you 3 acres of snotty Oregon rainforest logs for 3 acres of those dry rocks! We have our own Yeti, so you can keep the ninja.....

Scott: Low back pain can be an indicator that there is something wrong. Do you have leg pain, numbness or tingling as well? Do your legs feel weak at all? Does the back pain occur any other time besides riding? Have you had any abdominal pain or problems with bowel movements or urination? Have you had any hard crashes in your life? Do your work activities cause any difficulty? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should consult a physician or a chiropractor to make sure there isn't a significant problem. If none of these questions seem to apply, let me know and I can give you a few tips that may help. Rod Jackson, DC

Hi all: Back in the 80's, when I was a "real" trials rider (not the imaginary rider I have de-volved into in recent years.....), I used to get these great European and Japanese trials videos from Cosmopolitan Motors (the old US Beta importer). There were compilations of World Rounds, Beta factory stuff and Japanese instruction tapes. When I joined Trials Central, I eagerly went through all of the great videos posted (thank you, Andy!) and have found that I need more. I would like to find outdoor world champ DVD's, top rider practice sessions, UK or Euro training instruction. I am a bit isolated now that my favorite nearby riding areas have gone under state control and we are told to stay on their GPS'ed trails (boring!) or face a huge fine. Subsequently, the local club is having the majority of events a couple of hours or more away from where I live. I am hoping that if I put enough time into "Zen training" I will once again get the big itch and have the notion to drive far away to go riding with my old buddies. In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying catching up on the last few years of observed trials through this fine website. Where can I find cool trials DVD's?