grahamjayzee

Ralphy, those fives left deep scars! ;-) I know, I could fit a stand, but the serious point is that low speed topples, whether or not the bike has a rider on it, are a fact of trialling and this just seems needlessly vulnerable. Even a flush fit cap and then a screw in spout to fill it at service time would make more sense... Graham

Now I'm sorry, but good engineering practice is NOT "it hasn't broken yet, therefore it won't" I don't care what anyone says, that is a poor, poor design. For us clubbies that own bikes without stands (My rev3 doesn't have one and since I caught the tip of my old zero's stand on a low stump twice in the same trial, each time costing me a five way back in the 90s, don't miss it!), bikes get leant on posts, propped up by sticks, balanced on other bikes etc etc. It may be wrong, but that's the reality of a club trial. It's only got to fall over and land on a stick/ rock/ rider and that daft neck is toast and your trial over. Why could it not have had a flush filler and we fill it with a modern aid, like a funnel? Too vulnerable for me.... Graham

Gosh guys, I'm so sorry to hear that. I had hoped to meet up and help Aaron get started. My sincerest condolences to Aaron's family. Graham

Dixie, "Too many bikes is not enough" eh? When you are thinking about putting a C90 lump (limp?) in a gasser 80, you clearly DO have too many bikes!

No excuses now! I'll see you on the 5th July! You need anything else, just ask or drop me a PM Graham

No worries, the link is a bit flakey at the minute; Secretary Mr. Colin Nunn, 42 Old School Lane, Milton, Cambridge CB4 6BS. Telephone 01223 860829 Email margaretnunn@btinternet.com Colin and Margaret are fantastic and will tell you all you need to know. Tell them Graham Davies sent you and they may charge you more... ;-) Graham

Some of the 12-year old girls beat you in the results, then at arm wrestling, and then take the mickey until you cry. They're a tough lot...

Aaron, Andy, Go for it! That gives you 4 weeks. An ideal preparation time! Glendon is a great venue with enough to make it feel like you've not been patronised and had a proper test. If you look me and Skov out, we'll make sure all is well with your bikes (tyre pressures etc) and ease you through the day. Skov is a newbie so will be able to empathise with you. I think he'll appreciate the company on his route as well! You'll find me easy enough; I have a huge white UN-issue Nissan Patrol 4be4 and ride a blue Rev3. Skov rides a 315R with impossibly narrow bars! Graham

Andy, you need to join the ACU as well as the club. (I moaned about that a while ago as there is a series of signings and countersignings which was a reet pain in the crevice for us that joined in November at the end of the ACU year, but won't be a problem for you). If youjoin the club, the club will help you get this sorted. It's only a tenner and that's that. If you join a club in one region (in this case, the south midlands) you can ride trials at most clubs in that region. Unfortunatley for you (and I), Earl Shilton is in the East Midlands region so you need to join another club to ride the trials local to you. The advantages of the practice ground (and a very healthy membership) outweigh this small extra cost AND you get to ride the excellent peterborough trials too. As for rules, they are all the same! The scoring is the same where ever you are. The only problem is that the route markers are NOT standardised. You will need to get used to a variety of marker styles and colours dependingon the club. As long as you can learn to 'tune out' the markers that are not relavent to your route, you'll be OK. If you can, get along to the Yennards on Wednesday; an evening at a trial will answer all your questions and this is a VERY friendly sport so someone will come and chat to you. Graham

Sorry, forgot to clarify the nature of the hazards: Rocks: You may get some, but not rock steps, even on the middle (clubman route) you rarely get anything bigger than a foot or so. You rarely see them on Matchless or NV trials, and when you do you'll lose marks on loose ones, not big ones! Climbs: Sometimes you get some big ones on the easiest route, but usually if you do, you get a generous run-up. Drops: Rarely will you get anything where there is even the remotest chance of going over the bars. Usually they are long and reasonably shallow or short but sharpish. You're unlikely to get any degree of tight downhill turns either. Downhills are often scary when you start and clubs take this into account Streams/ Mud: This is what it's all about; getting dirty! You'll have these depending on the weather but you won't get deep water unless you get lost in section! Most of the time you will be dealing with climbs, drops, cambers and turns. Sometime turns on rough stuff to test your steering. You'll lose marks on many things, but you will be UNLIKELY to hurt yourself. Don't worry guys, it's all good... Graham

OK Guys, let me provide encouragement! I have got a couple of mates involved since I returned from a long break (13 years). One of these guys lives near Cambridge too and is often on TC (skov). He came from a road/ trackday background and had never ridden a bike off road before last November. We joined Earl Shilton in order to practice at least once before we rode a trial. Skov's first trial was Matchless' trial in November, and in retrospect was a bit tough for him. However, he survived and now champs at the bit for the next event! As a complete newbie, I suggest the easiest of the 3 routes on offer at Nene Valley or Matchless trials, which is ridden by beginners and some little'uns. Don't feel funny about sharing your route with 12-year old girls, they may well beat you! You have to accept that I'm afraid! The easiest route is designed to test newbies but provide plenty of opportunities to clean sections. You will do well to ride it completely clean, even if you have had a load of practice. But this is what it's all about; if it's too easy you'll soon lose enthusiasm, same if it's too hard. Matchless and NV usually get it right though. You can practice all you like, but your riding usually seems to fall apart when there are markers in the ground and a geezer with a clipboard watching you! However, no-one else really is, so it's not the baptism of fire that lining up at the start of an MX race is. If you can, get along to a trial for a look-see. The biggest thing that will shtup you is the sight of all the markers. This IS a bit intimidating. Picking out your own route from all the different markers is difficult, and then trying to remember it whilst you are queueing for the section is even harder! This still gets Skov, but he's getting far more used to it now. If I may make a suggestion; join Earl Shilton so you have access to the yennards to practice (you'll find it extremely hard to find legal practice ground round here otherwise) and then join either Matchless or NV. Practice and visit a trial if you can and aim to ride at Glendon on 5th July (Nene Valley). You can ride this trial if you are a memebr of either club. There is a matchless club only trial on the friday evening, but this is often very tight and may not be the best to ride as a 1st; it's more a light-hearted trial for slightly more experienced riders. By all means ride, or turn up to watch, but you need to be a matchless member to ride it. Myself and (probably) Skov will be at Glendon. If Skov's there you can tag around and walk the sections with us. It's easy and very, very low key! Look forward to seeing you both Graham

Hi Azzacat and welcome! I live near Cambridge and ride for Cambridge Matchless. I love these people; they are like a second family! Check them out here: http://www.cambridgematchless.co.uk/ If Northampton is more convenient, Nene Valley Motorcycle Club is your man: http://www.nvmcc.co.uk/ Just as friendly really! They have some cracking venues. Their next trial is at Glendon quarry and is a good mix of rocks, woods and some big climbs. All set out sensibly. If you need parts and machine advice, use John Lee's in Higham Ferrers. It's a great shop and worth supporting. The Lee's are and have been active at the highest levels of trials and will give you supperb advice. http://www.lee-motorcycles.co.uk/ I ride (badly) all the Matchless trials and a few of the Nene valley trials, let me know if you're planning to ride and we'll catch up. Graham

Hi Fella, Had LOADS of trouble with the rear brake binding on my 2001 Rev3. It's the 4-pot caliper and there have been three issues: Grit in the master cyliner transfer port Binding pistons Uneven pad wear caused by the above. If this occurs, the pads can form a wedge which makes them sit askew on the pins. You'll know if it's this as rolling the bike backwards releases them. They do seem susceptible to sticky pistons, but all calipers do to some degree or another. I have spent a lot of time cleaning the pistons (I use hot soapy water and a toothbrush). Get some small blocks of wood of various thicknesses so you can isilate the movement of at least one pair (if you have 4-potters like me) and pump out the remaining pair. A small G-clamp suitably shaped in the grinder can then hold the 3rd piston in so you can work on one at a time. This has just about kept me rolling, but I need to service them properly with new seals and pistons. I am, however reluctant as I know I'm in for a world of pain getting air out of the system when I do this! Good luck Graham

Alright Dave, The washer will be a large one that effectively reduces the diameter of the pipe at the point it bolts to the head. Restricted mopeds have similar thing and it's usually a big washer with a big 'ole and fits between head and exhaust. Dave

I'm not for a minute suggesting you don't have a case to fight, just that this really doesn't seem like the place to do it. Given the current climate, it really does seem like a bit of a winge to me (and I suspect others!). Unless you were inviting some abuse. In which case, you've come to the right place!

I usually read the anything goes section because it cheers me up, but Jeez. Andy T. Stop moaning. I just lost my Dad and my mate's father-in-law is in hospital struggling to regain consciousness after a bike crash. In the grand scheme of things, your pay rise seems pretty small beer! Your (fiscal) life may suck, but why do you think anyone else needs to be burdened with it? I, like many others consider myself lucky to have my health, never mind a job, never mind a pay rise. Also, I am an appraising manager. Had I got wind of your rantings on an open forum (and these things do travel, you know!), I would have not been best pleased! Sorry for my lack of sympathy, but your issue is best dealt with in private... Now, anyone know anything about genital warts?

I got you at 3 minutes 5 seconds on section 5. Oh, sorry. Misread that. Retard the Timing....

Hi Chewy, I've got a pair of Vees on my Rev3. I bought them because I'd run out of budget after buying the bike and replacing all the usual consumables. I had thought I could get away with the front tyre and planned to put a michy on the rear, but realised the front was too far gone and I could get a pair of Vee's for nearly the price of a rear michelin. I wasn't expecting much and planned to change them early (I take the view that new tyres trump all, so new Vees had to be better than sh@gged michies!). I have to say, I've been quite impressed. They are a bit harder than michelins and seem to work well in the gloop. I expect they'll be poorer over rocks and roots though. They can be run at 2.5 PSI no problem but have stiffer sidewalls than michelins so don't really deform to the terrain like they do. One thing, between me and me mates we've had 3 pairs and at least 2 tyres have arrived to us with deformed beads from poor storage. That's made fitting a be-atch.... I think for the clubbies like me, they're pretty good... Graham

Odgie, Love your website! Breath of fresh air in this politically correct age! Graham

Thanks for all your contributions folks. I started this for a laugh and now I'm too scared to ride me bike! Graham

Hi All, I've sent a mail to the club, so any club committee members reading, save yourself the time and don't reply to both! Does anyone know if there will be 3 routes? I understand it's a south midlands expert championship round, but I ride the middle route and me newbie mates (skov and Nicks_TR34, soon to be Nicks_Rev3) ride the easy route. If there is an easy route, is it likely to be easy as in the NEL trial at Bayford Woods, or easy as in the Matchless trials in December and January??! Thanks Folks Graham

Spenser, I think even I wouldn't have laughed at that one!

Thanks for the report and well done! I welcome things like this; it's great to see a genuinely viable alternative approach. As mentioned, it will not be to everyone's tastes, but it's nice to have an option. After all, the foot brake is only a legacy from old rod operated drums! Graham

Minor broken nose? Rather than a full Mike Tindall? I've heard of someone doing a very similar thing at a trial I was riding and they lost a front tooth...

I shouldn't laugh, but that is pretty funny!