right, sounds like 2nd most of the time, perhaps a bit of 3rd if it is muddy.

My bike is a bit of a sod for hitting a false neutral if I am trying to change gear in a hurry, so the tip about staying in one gear makes my day!!

if I fall off it's probably the wrong one...

I like to have my bike geared where 1st works on hills about 10 to 12 ft tall, that way I can ride 1st most of the time and if its taller than 10 to 12 ft I just pick a higher gear.

There are no hard and fast rules for this. One of my friends only ever uses first gear for absolutely everything (250 Majesty) and another only ever uses third gear for absolutely everything (240 Fantic).

If you can develop good enough technique with the clutch, you can use a higher gear than if you are a bit gumby with the clutch. That way you can use second or third even in tight stuff and still have great speed potential for big ups.

Another thing is that if you get your bike running so it revs out cleanly, you can get high ground speed even in first gear. This is one of the technical advantages of a well set up four stroke - they generally have a greater range of useful RPM than a two stroke.

Oh gawd.... you have only asked perhaps the hardest question in trials.

What gear to use comes down to intuition. Intuition is the application of skill and knowledge. Practice will get you intuition. Lots of practice. The previous posts are correct when you are learning. Read these and go practice, for months or years.

BUT.... when you are learned....... NEVER ask others what gear to use. Use your intuition. Asking other riders will guarantee to further confuse you. Do not ask as they are different riders on different bikes. Go with your very first gut feel.

I asked a rider what gear I should ride a section in on my first trial and he said "Donkey Jacket and Wellies"...

Sound advice, I thought...

As Feetup says the 4 stroke has a huge range of consistant revs on tap and long long gears, 1st for just about everything I ride

Edited December 26, 200817 yr by The Addict

So how did it all go? Did Graham's secret practising pay off? Did Nick find the right gear? Has everyone got the flu?

Ah yer, forgot about the big day, come on then lads who had the last laugh?

Ah yer, forgot about the big day, come on then lads who had the last laugh?

I don't know why they're being so quiet about it, but I have it on good authority that Nick kicked Graham's ar5e

I don't know why they're being so quiet about it, but I have it on good authority that Nick kicked Graham's ar5e

'Tis true. I have to be a man and stand up and say Nick took the honour!

On the easy route he lost 19 marks to come 8th; I lost 54 on the red route to come 6th, but there were more riders in Nick's class and he rode the last 2 laps for just one mark; a performance only matched by the class winner.

I will of course, be magnanimous in defeat.

Excuse me why I go and cry like a girl!

'Tis true. I have to be a man and stand up and say Nick took the honour!

On the easy route he lost 19 marks to come 8th; I lost 54 on the red route to come 6th, but there were more riders in Nick's class and he rode the last 2 laps for just one mark; a performance only matched by the class winner.

I will of course, be magnanimous in defeat.

Excuse me why I go and cry like a girl!

Thats no defeat! Nick rode the girlie course!!!

Thats no defeat! Nick rode the girlie course!!!

Well spotted IKB; I feel better already!

Got to be on the same route lads, Grahams day I recon for doing the tougher course

Got to be on the same route lads, Grahams day I recon for doing the tougher course

Thank gawd for that; I thought for a minute Nick had beat me!