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Has anybody got any experience of these vans.. and if so anychance of quick appraisal Thanks

H

Have a look at AFATA.fr for French classic trials . I would suggest if it was a one off experience then head further south and take in one of the two day Spanish trials. Have a look on the " Todo classic " site for details.

Just do a google search for "Castle Colchester MCC "

You havn't heard of the Castle club... without wishing to upset any old pals, the Castle club runs the best trial in the Eastern centre.... Hey Stormy...

I would not disagree that all three were/are excellent. However the clue was in the question, 15 stone and hard route, and realistically speaking with the best will in the world the little 200 is out of its depth compared to the others based on what us being asked of it.

A modded 240 frame, with a 300 engine... I doubt a better twinshock exists.

Very clever .... Excellent...

Sadly, Trialing in France is in decline, the cost, the paper work , finding the land and time to put on an event is proving too much for many clubs. Only the large well known multi day events coupled with a few of the classic pre 65 /twinshock generate enough interest to keep going. There is a break away from the very over regulated and expensive FFM towards the more laid back and inexpensive UFOLEP to try and stimulate interest but so far its been slow to get going. I cannot speak for Normandy but in the South West, I live in an area bigger than Wales and we have in total about six trials a year, the nearest to me two hours away. Unless you are willing to travel huge distances you are rather stuck..

What about if when sending your entry in for the Pre 65 Scottish you sent five, or however many, copies of results, showing you were a regular rider. This in itself would discourage straight away the riders OTF mentions. It would take seconds to check and verify. Further to this for what its worth, Pre 65 entrants to trials in France are in deep decline, the twinshock is the one everybody wants to ride now... only the die hards ride and you can count them on one hand...

Just read the last post and then switched across to a French online for sale site I know looking for tiger cubs. Someone has let the cat out of the bag already as a really rough, really rough one in khaki Euros 2500 and a shiny one although not trialable.... Euros 4700.. no bargins this side of the channel methinks !!!!!!!

Don t you just love em..Lights on a trials bike.... Also I am sure you will find, that all bikes ridden have to be insured as well. Riding along Chemin rurals (Bridalpaths) you have to be covered, as these are technically the same as roads if you have an accident. Whether they check this I dont know, but you will see most of the French bikes will have a green insurance sticker and they will of course have a registration number. Also be very aware driving to and from Sardent, as like all of France they are starting to take down the speed camera warning signs and they are more and more mobile speed traps. The village sigh denotes the start of a 50 km speed limit until you exit the village and and normal N roads are 90 unless otherwise indicated. Sorry to sound like your dad... but it be aware.. Have a great trial and a great time...

I reckon a good 8 1/2 to 9 hours from Calais

Hi Paul, Mt Ventoux is 15/16 Oct and Santigosa is the following weekend... Then Cabrianes the week after... Three, good two day trials on the bounce... Due to browny points I daren t even broach doing all three, maybe two is pushing it and I fancy the French one as talking to the organiser couple of weeks back they think the sections are as good if not better than previous years due to the slight change in venue... Anyway anybody fancy it.. my wife usually bunks off to a Provencial Antique fair down the road so any wives fancying a day out and a spot of lunch can have a " trials day off" too....

Anybody contemplating a classic French adventure this year fancy making up a team of Fantic riders for the trial in October near Mt Ventoux. I am looking for two more riders to make up a team of three.. We would all have to ride the same route, preferably the hard.. . Its possibly the biggest twinshock trial in Europe taking place on a new course this year..early chattering suggest it will be good... If anybody fancies it please contact me. Merci..

Not wanting to open old wounds... not really anyway... Word drifting down to France is that the scrutineers need to go to " Spec savers " Apparently had a few of the fancied " Legal " top runners getting hot under the collar.... Wots all that about ....

I think you have your lines crossed here La Roche is in France near Sancerre. The trial Greeves is talking about is in Spain.. I would think if its in fact the La Roche en Brenil trial you want to do your, ACU licence will do on its own. Ufolep trials are a relaxed affair , but might be worth checking. Book you accomodation in advance, I was caught out last year thinking of just arriving and getting a room for the night, ended up sharing a tent with a friendly chap from Paris in a borrowed sleeping bag, that or the car. Its quite a tough trial as well so if your there early look at some sections before choosing what route you will ride...It was by far the hardest twinshock trial I have ever ridden ( hard route ) and to be honest over the top.. If of course your really want to go to Spain ignore all of the above... Bon Soiree

On the same theme... Saw a ty 175 that had been beefed up to 239 cc.. It did have a French " Rayner " barrel and head though. Everything else pretty original although the black rims did look a little odd.... Handy little bike....

I am looking to buy a new van and could do with some help from those with van experience. My yard stick for a van is whether it will take a trials bike... although the lack of trials in France dictate this is really not a viable argument... However on that basis what is best overall small van , a Fiat cargo or a Ford Connect. Cheers

Yes thats the one I have pencilled in.. If you want to break up the journey Woody stop off and have a day practising in the Dordogne, its well over half way in fact about five hours to Ripol, a short hop....

Hi I fully understand the implications of it and why its been done, I am in no way being critical. Hi Paul and Woody sadly not this year, and I see you have seen through my cunning plan..... to circumnavigate the problem... We try and get down to one this year .. now wheres my ACU handbook .....

Further to my response, is it normal ACU national licences or do you need International ones to be able to ride..

Hi Thanks for the explanation, Yes you are correct in France there are two types Ufolep and FFM. Unfortunately most if not all classic trials, the most popular series anyway are all run under Ufolep licences. Also due to the high cost of an FFM licence many riders are defecting to UFOLEP with clubs running modern trials under the same federation in an attempt to attract riders. However no good if we wish to come to Spain. Thanks again

This is a question to any Spanish forum members.. last weekend a English friend of mine, resident in France went to ride a Classic Spanish trial. On arrival and presentation of his French licence was told this was no longer acceptable and the only option was to purchase a day licence at quite a cost. My question, has there been a recent change whereby Non Spanish licences are now not acceptable, when riding in Spain. I try to get down to three or four a year and would like to know before making further arrangements. It would be a real shame if this was the case, but I fully understand if its and insurance issue. Its a question that need answers as there are I am sure many Brits heading south for the trial in Robrigordo next month Thanks vm

I am with Twinshock 250, why would you want convert a very nice looking well capable bike into a twinshock.. The bike does look amazing and is a credit to you however... where will you ride.. are you looking to scalp the aircooled monos or take advantage of original twinshocks. I dont wish to sound argumentative.. and each to their own.. however nice it is where does it fit in...