wayne thais

Lane, I wholeheartedly agree! Class I is the top class. At least a class III to ride the Nationals, Brilliant! Wayne

Well said Mark!

Bicycle racing a few years ago used these numbers for classifications: V Called Cat 5 IV Cat 4 III Cat 3 II Cat 2 I Cat 1 PRO They would also have Master 30+, 35+, 40+ etc. The problem with this approach is that you could have a former pro riding in the 40+ class competing against someone who just started. V was the class where everyone started. For Trials you could add additional classes at the bottom if required, you could start at VI of VII if necessary. As far as I know they still use these same classes in the US. (USCF Road) Wayne

Al, Northern Illinois is AMA, Southern Illinois is independent, OK in the Tulsa area was independent, TI is AMA. However in all of these areas the classes are different. We use Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert, the guys up north have added a Sportsman class between Advanced and Expert. In this area there seems to be a big jump between Intermediate and Advanced, I can see the need for a class between them, maybe the Clubman Class. Here is another suggestion: Champion Expert Advanced Clubman Intermediate Novice Keep up the dialog! Wayne

For whatever it is worth, the NATC at one time stated that you should be an Advanced rider to compete in the National series. From what I have seen, if you are going to be competitive (in the support class) you had better be a GOOD Expert rider. Otherwise, this is my opinion, you should stay home, save your money and practice. BTW, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of class standardization; it has been one of my pet peeves ever since I returned to Trials after a 30 year absence. I have mentioned before how I was involved in bicycle racing for several years and could race anywhere in the US at a USCF sanctioned event and know that the classes would be the same everywhere. What we need to happen is to have all of the clubs become AMA clubs, then the AMA would have enough money to put some energy into Trials and set some specific rules etc. Bicycle racers have to purchase an annual license in order to race, the license clearly states your class, the same thing could be done for Trials. Here is something that I have also struggled with, if we have the AMA and it is the motorcycle governing body why do we have the NATC, and now the new organization? For MX, Hare Scrambles etc. as far as I know, they do not have splinter groups to run National series. The Springfield mile was just held in Sprinfield IL today and I will bet that it was not run by the MATC, the AMA ran it. I think! What I think I am trying to say is that the AMA needs to get involved in trials, and all of the clubs need to support the AMA and all of the members need to join the AMA. If you are going to race MX, Hare Scrambles, Flat Track etc, you have to belong to the AMA, again that is how I understand it. Our club hosts 3 AMA events each year, 2 Hare Scrambles and 1 Trials, everyone who participates MUST be an AMA member. Wayne

I was a spectator both days and was VERY impressed with the European Youth riders on their 125's. They made most of our Expert riders look really bad. It was almost embarrassing. Here are their scores from Sunday: YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS 1. Alexz Wigg - 34 2. Loris Gubian - 36 2. Matteo Grattarola - 43 4. Sam Haslam - 46 5. Lee Sampson - 51 6. Alfredo Gomez - 64 7. Ross Danby - 70 8. Nicolas Karim - 71 9. Robert Andrews - 80 10. Christian Kregeloh - 91 11. Alexis Roscapana - 105 Here are the top three US Experts scores: Ray Peters - 96 Will Ibsen - 105 Sean Bird - 109 They rode the same "green" lines. Ray and Sean as well as Travis Fox who faired better on Saturday have ridden in the US "Pro" class. Wayne

The Sherco website has a write up about the new Cabestany Replica. Has anyone seen one, it sounds awesome! http://www.sherco-moto.com/trials_29_cabes.html Wayne

Bent, It is good to see you back, especially on a Sherco. Ryan will be back in Decatur this September doing one of his famous schools. This year it will be an advanced course. If you are interested send me a note. Wayne wthais@hughes.net

Sherco offers the later model fuel tank in a clear unpainted version. I had the same problem, tried the auto gas tank sealer and it kept leaking. I did not try Alans method. The clear fuel tank price was less than the painted one. I installed "05" graphics on the tank and it looks really good. If you decide to make this update you will also have to purchase a new fuel valve. Wayne

Al, I talked to Ryan about your situation and he said that if you would call him he would share with you how he has trained his young daughters to ride. 1-800-607-8742. Ryan is located in Louisville and conducts trials training classes all around the country. He is going to be in Iowa later this month. He also does one on one classes, I gave my then 17 year old son one of these training sessions for his birthday, it was the best thing I could have done for him. He really learned a lot in that one day session. He rapidly advanced from an intermediate rider to advanced and rode Expert before going off to college. There is a Sherco dealer in Indy who is a great guy and a very good rider, his name is Jim Zuroske, here is his email address czmcjz@iquest.net. You might want to make contact with him. He sets up a trial every year just South of Indy. Wayne

Al, Please contact me off board, I am not too far from you and neither is Ryan Young. Wayne wthais@direcway.com

If my bike has been idle for a period of time I shift into 5th gear, pull the clutch lever in and GENTLY kick it through, this will ALWAYS release the plates. I then shift back to neutral and start the bike. Ryan Young the US importer showed this to me several years ago. Wayne

Here is the URL for the manual. You can use a simple automotive strobe light to check the timing. http://www.shercousa.com/pdfs/sherco_ignit...ement_03-04.pdf Wayne

Lane, I am really disappointed that there has been very little response to this post. I think that the reason is that most American riders don't train; they just go out and ride. I have several books on how to train for bicycle racing, and they all teach that if you are going to compete at the highest level you must train scientifically. I have not seen your book but I have the one written by Bernie and Len Weed, I also have Ryan's video and one by Andreu Codina. Bernie does talk about training; he recommends racquetball as a good cross training activity in addition to running, weights, aerobics and stretching. He also emphasizes time on the bike practicing specific skills. After spending two years in the National pits, my impression of most American riders is that Trials for them is more of a Hobby than a Sport. I like your four points: One, Riding ability, two, machine preparation and design, three, mental conditioning and attitude and lastly physical conditioning. For most riders today I don't think that machine disign is much of an issue, the bikes today are pretty darn good. Now machine preparation is another story. I have seen guys come to a national and it looked like the bike had not been touched since the last national. I also really agree with your point about mental attitude. I would ask a rider if he was going to podium and his response was, "I hope so". What I wanted to hear was, "That is why I am here". When I was on the starting line of a bicycle race I was there to win the race. I had done the training and knew that I was ready. I did not win many races but one year I finished second or third at nearly ever race I entered. When my son plays basketball he is there to win, not just play and have a good time. Mental prepartion is just as important as machine, and body preparation, maybe at the highest level it is the most important element. I am confident that when you entered a trial you were there to win, not just to ride and have a good time. If you have applied your four principles you will undoubtedly have a good ride, place well and have a good time. I hope that some of our young riders take heart and decide to make Trials a real sport and not just a hobby. Wayne

What type of training do you participate in to prepare for the trials season? What I am wondering is, do you run, bicycle, lift weights, set up sections and make them harder and harder as you learn to ride them. Just curious, would especially like to know what the guys/girls do who ride nationals. Wayne

We have not ridden any enduro's with the trials bikes, but have ridden several of our club hare scrambles and have not seen any adverse affects. It does clean out the exhaust real well. Wayne

My boys and I have ridden our "Trials" bikes as trail bikes, trials bikes and have competed in our club hare scrambles, with very good results, it is a blast to blow by a guy on his Hon/Yam/Suz M/X bike. My oldest son and another rider, both on trials bikes won a three hour hare scrambles team event. The bikes are very light, smooth and powerful and can take lines the bigger heavier bikes cannot take. Put the bike in 4th gear and go, it is amazing how fast they can go. Have you ever been to a national event and watched the Pro riders finish the last loop. Todays trials bikes are very fast in the woods. I tried a seat and found that it got in the way. The small tank will usually let you ride for a couple of hours. We ride Sherco, maybe the other bikes are not the same. Wayne

I would really be Surprised if your 05 needs rings or a piston. Just some good tuning. There must be someone in your area who can ride it and determine your problem, it may need to be re-jetted. Wayne

Alan, It was under the topic "Trials writer goes real big time." I did not recognize the author and he did not say where he was from. Wayne

Here is a quate from another post, and demonstrates (IN MY OPINION) part of the problem with Trials in the US. "In my opinion, it is folly to assume that we should atrtact as many youngsters as we can to trials, because, taking my local scene into account: - we already have 100 plus riders per trial. Queues at sections are long enough! - the more people who latch onto trials, the more who take it into their own hands to use ground for illegal practice, endangering continuation of the sport. Sure, we need to ensure the sport continues, but its current popularity doesn't threaten this." Again, in my opinion this shows that some people/clubs are content with the status quo. What if the M/X, S/X crowd felt the same way, we would certainly not have the growth in those venues that we have. Since there is no national organization for american trials the club/organizer can conduct the event anyway they want. If 100 riders causes long queues at the sections maybe the club should run the lower classes in the morning and the higher classes in the afternoon. Again if the number continued to grow they could hold "Heats" all of the riders would have to "Qualify" for the main event by riding two or three sections, only the top riders would move on to the main event. The M/X, S/X crowd have learned how to handle large numbers, trials needs to learn from their example. As far as people using illegal grounds for practice, again what do the large number of M/X, S/X and I could include cross country and Hare Scrambles racers do for practice. In my area there does not seem to be a problem. It seems like there is an old foggy attitude around some areas of trials, this is the way we have always done it and this is the way we are going to do it forever even if it kills the sport. Trials is a wonderful, fairly safe, family sport that I would really like to see grow, but those who are involved must change their narrow minded attitude, again my opinion only. I would love to see 100 riders at a local event, it would certainly be a challenge at first but I am confident that it could be managed. Am I the only one who feels like this or are there others out there who feel the same way? Wayne

Lane, It is very obvious that you are passionate about a USA rider becoming a WR contender. Why don't you find a young man who has the full support of his parents who wants to be a WR rider and groom him to do the job? Spend the time energy and money to make it happen. Show the nay sayers on this forum that you are serious. Make a change! if one young rider proves that it can be done then maybe others will follow. Maybe you can find the next trials Lance Armstrong. What about Daniel does he have that kind of desire? It would seem that maybe he has the genes? Just a thought. Wayne

If you have not already done so please go here: http://www.sherco-moto.com/wayne_corner.html And download the manual entitled:"Sherco Fork Seal Replacement". I think that it will provide you with some help. Wayne

Florin, I agree with you totally, we need to have a strong national organization and we need change! Right now the AMA and the USMTA are the best we have, I think that if the USMTA grows it could and maybe should replace the NATC. You should have quoted more of the Cycle World article; here is the part that I found interesting,

Dan, One thing that I would like to see incorporated in the class rules is a system that would move riders who accumulate a certain number of points/wins up a class. They did this in bicycle racing when I raced. It keeps a rider who "sandbags" from staying is a class and winning all the time when he/she should move up. There will be "much" opposition to this unless you let the rider who really does not want to move up ride in the class of his choice for "fun". He/she would not accumulate any points or be eligible for any prizes, he/she would just be riding for fun. Their score would be posted but in the "fun" class. Wayne

This would be a great time to remove the exhaust header bolts and apply a coat of anti-sieze to them. It would be a good idea to apply anti-sieze to all of the bolts that screw into aluminum. Wayne