Stagger your section severity levels. Hard easy hard easy hard easy
--Biff
I was taught by the old timers, and I'm now an old timer, to orchestrate section difficulty by starting and ending the loop with easier sections and tapering up to, and down from, the most difficult sections in the middle of the loop.
I've found that the beginning of the loop is a good place for those spectacular, but not necessarily point taking, expert sections as there always seem to be the most spectators at the first sections.
(QUOTE) I am sorry to have write this, but I have been to yet another trial today, where, IMHO the sections were poorly thought out and many sections were too severe for the average Novice, the Sportsman was more like Expert and some parts of Expert were an (serious) accident waiting to happen! I spoke to a group riding the Sportsman route who thought that it was ridiculous and were going home after doing the twelve sections once, rather than doing them three times. Others were heard to say that they would not bother with this club's meetings in the future. So, remember that if the sections are too hard then people will not come back to the next event. So, organisers, please think about differentiation and severity. Think carefully and be realistic about your expectations and the challenges that you are setting, especially for the new/less able/older rider, and for those who just want to have a bit of fun riding the Novice sections. Because, if you don't then riders will become disillusioned and leave the sport, then the sport will become even less popular.
So, organisers please think carefully about your expectations and the challenges that you are setting, especially for new/less able/older or, the rider who just wants to have fun, riding the Novice sections. (QUOTE)
Did you discuss your concerns with the marshal or other club representatives? As many Trials as you ride, I'm sure that you have perspective that most riders don't.
I don't enjoy riding a Trial that has been set too easy any more than one that is set too hard. Only the top and bottom classes can't go up or down, respectively, in difficulty, so it's consistency that matters most.
My 199A came to me with 11/40 sprockets, that worked well. I have since switched to 11/42 because of the extremely tight sections that are too common here in the U.S. The biggest difference I've noticed between the two combinations is that 3rd gear (which I've never used in a section) works better on hill climbs with the 11/42.
Please post your impression of the riding differences between old and new.
My 199A starts and idles with half a stroke on the kicker, with stock ignition and carb. I'd really like to know if the ignition advance will let the engine rev noticeably higher.
Tried Rockshocks, good service from John who makes them, but couldn't get on with the shock action.
Ended up with alloy betors
Can you elaborate on what you didn't like about the action and compare it to your Betors? I'm currently having a hard time coming to terms with my Falcons.
When installing an ignition with an advance curve do you start from the standard advance and just get additional advance, or start from an initial position retarded from standard?
I have seen a compression release added to a Gas Gas head. the coolant passage was sealed by O rings. I don't recommend it.
Shimming the cylinder up not only increases the combustion chamber volume but raises the exhaust port as well, further lowering combustion chamber pressure. It also changes port timing and will alter the way the engine runs. It is easily reversible though. I would recommend a 1mm shim if you decide to try it, I have a Gas Gas Pampera that came with a 1mm aluminum spacer under the cylinder.
What this world really needs is an electric start Trials bike for gimpy riders like me. The weight and size of modern batteries and starter motors is negligible.
You may well be right. Over here we tend to average 4 laps of 10 sections on a closed course so that's 40 sections in effect. I can assure you though if I took 40 marks off the winner of each class there wouldn't be any entries at the next Trial so yes I agree the riders over in these parts do seem to want easier trials.
I finished the Trial last Sunday with a score in the 60s, the winning score in my class was in the 50s (it was raining and extra slick), and felt good about it. I had 6 cleans in 27 sections, that's about as good as it gets for me.
I'm kinda old and gimpy and don't ride for the win. If I can finish the event with a respectable score and a few cleans I'm happy.
Reading between the lines here it appears that riders in north America expect and appreciate a more challenging, higer scoring Trial (or perhaps we just don't ride as well), than those across the pond.
If I finish a Trial with ten points or less I consider it a poorly set event and don't feel that I got my moneys worth (I know I'm not that good a rider).
The standard I was taught many years ago is one point per section ridden from the winning rider in each class, except the lowest class, Novice, since they are the only class without the option of moving down a class. We typically ride 24-30 sections at an event.
I think that Honda spends more on dinner for their dealers at a dealer meeting than the U.S. Trials importers spend on our sport in a year. Honda would probably spend more by accident than U.S. Trials importers do on purpose.
Having Trials bikes in mainstream bike shops would be a huge shot in the arm for our sport. I believe that would also improve the market for the existing Trials importers.
Honda offers promotional financing and regular business hours, among other things (you may have noticed that Trials bikes are getting expensive). Also not everyone is satisfied buying a new bike out of someones garage, or the pole barn behind their house, as is the case with many Trials dealers in the U.S.
The O ring asked about in the original question is a common replacement part that should be available from any Yamaha dealer. It fits a million different models and many dealers will have it in stock.
I just pulled a box of TY350 parts out of my barn. I haven't sorted through it yet. I saw kick and shift levers, many gaskets, clutch cable, and some suspension linkage parts, brake shoes, all N.O.S. If anyone needs anything like that let me know and I'll see what I've got.
Is Vee Rubber available, probably good enough for these applications.
Yes they are available here. I have a Scorpa that came with them. In the first 20 minutes of riding in the rocks the sidewall developed a long crack (not a cut). That left me un-impressed with the tire. And I would prefer a tire with a tube type bead anyway.
I agree with your opinion of the Pirelli, that's what I'm trying to avoid.
I should explain that I'm considering this tire for trail and possibly vintage bike use. Not for modern Trials competition. Conditions that I used the TT Michelin succesfully for before it was discontinued.
The IRC wears very quickly when used on paved roads, which I usually ride for some distance to get to the trails.
Has anyone used or seen this tire? They are available in the states now. I wondering if it is a suitable replacement for the discontinued Michelin tube type 4.00x18. It might be a good tire for vintage bikes.
Riding saturday is no problem. There's plenty of rocks under the powerlines that aren't being used this time. The marshal and some helpers will be there finishing up. I hope to be there for a short time saturday.
Camping will be nice. The pasture has been mowed and the night air is cool.
Usually it's either Canadians or Montana guys that camp overnight. I haven't heard from any of either other than you but someone always seems to show up. Louis, a newer rider who is rapidly rising through the classes lives at the site.
Be sure to look me up in the morning, Jeff, the bald guy on the 4RT, as I have to leave early.
To Trials Masters - Set Up Event Difficultly - To How Many Points?
in General Trials Talk
Posted · Edited by motovita
I was taught by the old timers, and I'm now an old timer, to orchestrate section difficulty by starting and ending the loop with easier sections and tapering up to, and down from, the most difficult sections in the middle of the loop.
I've found that the beginning of the loop is a good place for those spectacular, but not necessarily point taking, expert sections as there always seem to be the most spectators at the first sections.