highside

I use a Dave Cooper Bike rack on the back of a Citreon Estate. The rack is second hand and came with the bike, I believe it is as old as the bike (1991). I have no problems with it at all. I use two straps, both with ratchets, one over the handlebars and one across the seat to compress the back-end. I don't use the upright bar. If you are used to a trailer you may find getting the bike onto the rack after a hard days trialling a bit awkward at first, but you soon get the hang of it. I don't have the problem of overhang that has been previously mentioned, I find if my wing mirrors go through the gap then the bike will go as well. As a bonus (though I don't know how wise) I am aware of people who use a bike rack AND trailer to transport more than one bike. Also, the rack is far easier to store away.

Well done guys, and well done Dougie. As a Kent guy I feel it's a shame Jarvis couldn't have come away with 3rd.

Don't hold me to this, but I have just seen an advert on Men & Motors stating that they are covering the Indoor World Trials every Saturday evening at 20:00 (that's 8:00pm in old money). I don't know how up to date the rounds will be, but it seems a more regular slot than Eurosport offers.

I have only just started in Trials, and have only attended self marking trials, but I have found myself marking myself for 5 if I dab a lot. It's not really a concious thing (more a mistake), but I do feel I have failed a section if I had to rely on lots of dabs to get through. However as a 'newbie' I get frustrated at 5-ing a section just because I paused to prepare for an obstacle, which as a newbie is something I have to do. I must also comment that three or four of the other new riders (who have taken part in more trials than myself) don't bother to mark themselves as they see no point, personally I don't see how you can gauge your progress without noting your marks. I guess it'll be a while yet before I am riding in observed Trials, so things may change by then.

Merry xmas all. Hey Gaff, did the trophy get pride of place on the fireplace? For all the Welsh riders out there.... Nadolig Llawen :hat:

I have just read the following on another web forum.... Ever been off road? Might not be able to for much longer... I saw a bit about this in a sunday paper, I asked the TRF about it, and it didn't seem like they knew much about it. ut here we go, taken from DEFRA's own website... ALUN MICHAEL LAUNCHES PROPOSALS ON USE OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES ON RIGHTS OF WAY Proposals to curtail the inappropriate use of mechanically propelled vehicles on countryside rights of way are outlined in a public consultation launched today by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael. The consultation responds to widespread concern about problems caused by the use of mechanically propelled vehicles - including motorbikes, quad bikes and 4x4s - whose users can currently claim rights of way for such vehicles on the basis that the routes were historically employed by horse-drawn carriages. Alun Michael said: "The way we use our public rights of way has changed dramatically over the past hundred years. "The use made of them today is often inconsistent with the uses for which they were originally established - in many cases long before the internal combustion engine was invented. Over time, the process for acquiring rights for the use of modern vehicles has also become inappropriate and unsustainable. "I am acutely aware of the concern shared by members of the public, and from conservation and recreation organisations, about evidence of damage to fragile tracks and other aspects of our natural and cultural heritage. "These proposals now aim to balance the interests of individuals and organisations with appropriate protection for the tranquility and conservation value of the countryside." A public right of way can be established through historical documentary sources, on the basis of long public use of a route, or through express dedication. The Road Traffic Act 1930 made it a criminal offence to drive a motor vehicle on a footpath, bridleway, or elsewhere than on a road, which means that while some pre-1930 vehicular rights may have been acquired through motor vehicle use most were acquired through use by horse and cart. Similarly, express dedication of rights of way for vehicles largely arose before mechanically propelled vehicles were in common use. The consultation focuses on three main areas: The better enforcement of existing powers to manage vehicle use; A limit to the basis on which new rights of way may be acquired for mechanically propelled vehicles, and An end to the situation whereby historic use by horse-drawn vehicles, or dedications made before the existence of the internal combustion engine, can give rise to a right of use by modern mechanically propelled vehicles. This will provide greater certainty about the public vehicular rights that exist. New legislation would utilise the category of 'restricted byway', introduced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, to prevent future use by non-mechanically vehicles giving rise to rights for mechanically propelled vehicles. The legislation would, with some exceptions, also introduce a cut-off date a year from commencement, from when it would no longer be possible to establish a 'byway open to all traffic' on the evidence of past use by non-mechanically propelled vehicles. Earlier Government action towards addressing these problems has included strengthening section 34 of the Road Traffic Act - so that the burden of proof that vehicular rights exist now rests with the defence, rather than the prosecution - and extending the scope of the Act to include all mechanically propelled vehicles, since the legal definition of a 'motor vehicle' did not cover some commonly used vehicles including off-road bikes and quad bikes. The new proposals also take account of the Government's decision not to proceed with implementation of the new section 34A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This had sought to limit the circumstances in which a defence could be offered against the charge of driving on certain rights of way, but now has been rejected because of its incompatibility with European human rights legislation. In its place, the consultation proposals acknowledge this as part of a wider problem and take a more direct approach to the root of the issues. The consultation will run until 19 March 2004. The full consultation document is published online at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/...cles/index.htm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes for editors 1. Public rights of way include: footpaths, which give right of way on foot only; bridleways, which give right of way to horse riders, those leading a horse, cyclists and pedestrians. The latter two must give way to the former; roads used as public paths, which are highways other than a public path, used mainly for the purposes for which footpaths or bridleways are used; restricted byways, which give right of way on foot, horseback, to those leading a horse, and to vehicles which are not mechanically propelled, including cycles; and byways open to all traffic, which give public right of way for vehicular traffic and all other kinds of traffic, but are used mainly for the purposes for which footpaths and bridleways are used 2. The category known as 'roads used as public paths' does not explicitly identify whether vehicular rights are available. Local authorities were required by the Countryside Act 1968, and then the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to reclassify each RUPP as either a byway open to all traffic, bridleway or footpath, according to the rights which could be proved to exist. However this exercise has not been completed in the majority of cases, and to end uncertainty RUPPs will be replaced by the new category of restricted byways, which provide clarity on the precise rights available. 3. Powers under the Road Traffic Act 1988, Police Reform Act 2002, Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, are available to deal with vehicles using rights of way illegally, anti-socially or, in sensitive areas, harmfully. 4. Penalties for offences under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act carry a maximum fine of level 3 on the standard scale, which is currently

I was knew to TA (posted as Daz.T) but thought for the new site I would revert back to what everybody on the Road riding sites recognises me as...Highside. Looks like a good site, look forward to hanging around.