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Are they really like rocking horse...... I am looking for a left hand " Alloy" rear brake pedal for a 199a. Has anybody got one laying around for sale please. Thanks

I would keep them they won world championships in their day more than capable.... its all smoke and mirrors with these upgrades some /most times..

Entries are now full.....and closed

Well, I would add some caution. Last year we ran a classic trial, that due to early morning rain became very slippery. A guy decending down a moderate hill lost control and some how wrapped the bike around him with the footrests slicing.. into the rear of this thigh. Not noticing for a minute as he straigthend up, its only when his Hebo's filled with blood that the extent to the injury was evedent. He made it back to the start were he almost passed out, as the ambulance whisked him away for an operation and an overnight stay in hospital. A keen dancer he managed to, after recupatration return to that, and trialing some months later as luckly, it missed vital tendons.... So....without trying to over dramatise what happened, it was a very serious injury from a very inocuious fall... Beward of riding with carving knives as footrests as this could be you .......

No its a little more complicated, you need a team of three all riding the same route. I recommend you pick a route and stick to it.

Back to the Ventoux, another class has been added this year... Green. This to bridge the gap between the easy yellow and the harder blue and the even harder big boys red. The green is usually good in as much it allows to ease the yellow and lift the blue, so bear it in mind if your entering.

www.ventoux-trial-classic.com

Entries open this weekend.... www.ventoux-trial=classic.com

I rode the trial in Andorra at the weekend, and one of the sections was at the Toni Bou practice area, complete with shaded grandstand. The upright logs in one of the online videos are huge and the spaces between large. Plus an array of metal blocks and steps. He must have balls like a small planet... not my bag. I rode the same sections as two world champions, French and Spanish champion didn t hurt myself, bend the bike which was 45 years old... but it did have a new rear tyre. Thats trials not this circus of serious injury. As long as those in charge don t meddle in classic trials the young bucks can bend themselves and their bikes all they like, but someone is going to get seriously hurt soon.

I really do not know, where trials and more my bag, classic trials are heading here in France. Your right in your view of the low entry at the recent twoday classic trial in France, I observed at the sunday venue and I think the club scrapped 50 riders. Fuel costs, over active rozzers with speed camera's, speed limits, and sheer time you have to spend getting back and forth are all impacting trials here. Bikes have to be registered and insured , this adds another 75 euros yearly per bike. Clubs are loathed to organise due to high and complicated paper work and costs, you should have a doctor and or ambulance present at the trial. Sections, you should have vehicular access in event of an accident, and of course the old chesnut of finding observers. The seventies and eighties were the halcyon days of trialing here where many of clubs held trials those club stalwarts have sadly died or lost interest and the trial has been lost. I am riding this weekend at a club where its deemed a friendly trial, sections marked no observers, you mark yourelf or your mate marks like golf. There will be a good turnout with only a small percentage of these holding a competition licence. How you convince these riders to support " Proper trials " I really dont know. Sadly its a a big problem, getting land and permissions to use the land is the easy bit...

Dabster, I remember us discussing the Ventoux several years back and thats only 18, three different loops and like St Feliu although you could do a few more, it does seem enough . My point is that I really think 18 / 20 is the bare minimum. If people accept 16, next year it maybe 14, etc. Apparently talking to a chum here riding from the Uk 36 sections is a minimum requirement for a centre round. My local national the Phil king is 39/40. For a national that Rochepaule is there should be at least a few more.

Interesting comments, not really my cup of tea for a days competition, but understand the sentiment. Speaking to a couple of riders who where there, competing on the harder routes. were fed up with the amount of interzone and lack of sections, but I imagine the less competitive classes might have enjoyed the ride round more than sections. I have always found stopping for lunch a hinderence, however French, civilised it might seem. Each to their own.

The recent classic trial at Rochepaule, France, attracted an entry of over 100 riders, the trial was held over 55 kms of interzone, and had 16 sections, 10 in the morning and 6 in the afternoon. When I mentioned at the weekend it seemed rather too little section action and not for me, I was met with a little gailic backlash. So would competitors on here, be happy with a trial with only 16 sections, would you travel up to 200 miles for this, or am thinking this is the slippery slope. .

You right, and also they cannot believe an annual licence in the Uk is around 15 euros, compared to the two federations here charging 50 or 150 euros a year to ride a handfull of trials if that . This coupled with the long distances, expensive fuel, road tolls, and the 80 km speed limit, whereby you cannot nip.... along... to a trial early on a sunday morning, without getting pinged on a camera, make it harder to justify doing the competitons. There are so many riders that go out on a sunday in organised practises , but have no interest in competing. A " Friendly trial in Angoleume, in a fortnight will attract 80 riders, most of which never compete or take a licence, so how do you get them to support organised trials... The two day trials I will do this year only require a weekend licence.. so whilst not cheap I will bite the bullet just to ride.

Just as I sent the reply above, I remembered reading that this years trial at La Roche was going to be the last... not far further East, Joel Correy used to run a 2 day classic trial in August, that has now been discontinued Something is amiss for sure

No, but have done in the past. Its a very good trial. This year , the first in many, I have not taken out a trials licence as France really has to sort out its trials ( in my opinion) and its two slightly warring federations the FFM and UFOLEP. I will ride the two day classics , 2 days in Andorra, VTC Mont Ventoux and Sant Feliu in Spain. We have a small but dedicated group in the Dordogne that ride quite regularly, some fantastic land and anybody heading this way is always welcome to come out. Hopefully things will improve in the future and we might bump into each other...

There is always this year... just hope the sun shines this year... it all ended in tears last....

The dates are the 12 th 13 th October.

Speaking to some chums yesterday, the word is that this might be the last ever trial held there. Apparently there are Mayorial elections next year, and there is a new candidate, who if elected wants to turn this whole area into a natural park. Result, no motobikes... So, whilst not set in stone, anybody who has always wanted to ride or its on a bucket list, I suggest when the entries come out later in the summer, to do it. There is a previous thread on what you need to do and how your bike needs to be... will be a real shame if it goes its the best two day twinshock / Pre 65 in France.

Thanks for the input. Scanning the various sites, seem a nice selection in Spain. And finally the difference between the red tank and seat and the cream is it purely age related. The red looks better in my opinion, thanks again.

I have a 1979 SWM that I have ridden most of the time over the last couple of years. Its a good shout, just fancied something a little different.

A year or back I let my Fantic go and now thinking of another Post 80 bike to take its place, the logical option would be another FANTIC but I do fancy something different, a Montesa. I don't know too much about them what could people who do tell me about the 242, or the 330. I have read the kickstart is a little fragile, but are these realistic competitors to the Fantic, it wll be ridden on a middle route in trials so not easy but not stupidly hard also. Thanks

Thats interesting as its around that price the guy I know, has paid to get his manaufactured. I know trials riders are known to be tight, but if you want one they will be around that price. The problem we all know a man who knows a man who can do it, sadly like a lot of things it never gets done. The guy is looking into where he can get the hardened washer made, that sits, if I understand correctly just above the knuckle. He tells me its the same as a Beta one. He spoke to the Beta trade stand last weekend at the French motocycle show in Lyon to see if they would be up for supplying just this piece awaiting a reply . We are looking therefore a second hand Beta kickstart to rob the washer and get it remade in the correct material. Then et volia it should be ready to go. Any help to get the show on the road would be apprciated. Cheers

Well, a contact of a friend has had 50 of these replica kickstarts made, in fact we were speaking on the phone today, however is just awaiting the final piece, which is holding the project back. if all goes to plan they could be ready shortly,, there is no price yet , none the less they were not cheap to manufacteur . I will keep you informed of the progress and where in the Uk you can buy them from.