kevind

Hi Team, sections strimmed and Glemore Lodge have offerd me some interesting bits for sections? I will be up mid morning Friday if anybody feels the need to join me.

What I try to do is tie in with cycling events. Aviemore last year 1500 people through the gate. Not on this year, but hopefully next year. All on 700 tons of very grippy rock we moved to make sections last year. Onsite facilities, toilets bar, resturant hotel pool, sauna office facilities. Kirkliston was again to be at their cycling festival but they are not very good at organising dates. Killin falls, centre of the village and a huge tourist attraction and loved by the riders. always goes down well with everybody. Hotel right on the doorstep. I constantly get requests to help organise or layout trials at festivals or bike venues, but I only have so much time! Tried to tie one ih with SSDT last year but was told to give us money to advertise your event in the program. The club does not have that kind of money. Fort William is the big one each year. Other than Bob Macgregor which some of you rode last year, but again great venue with onsite facilities and the best cakes in the world. I try to organise and find venues with something else that will attract spectators, some fail but if you do not try! Never been to the Tarty days or other ones, but Barrow farm seemed to be as stated above, that the trials soaked up to much of the venue for to long, so trials events perhaps not the way to go for comps other than perhaps only the top class (s) with prize money on maybe four sections. They seem to well enough on there own. Perhaps (suggestion only) that the way to go is for only the top riders to ride at these events on less sections but with increasing difficulty through the knock out system. Maybe like the worlds with a junior and Elite route. but then no elites would turn up for second place! But that perhaps would bring through a younger generation of elites. My opinion is British championship should have a min level of ability that you gain at club events. I know the arguments against this. Other BRITISH chamionships all have only the best riders competing with perhaps the newer riders coming through. Think Big what about putting on a trial along with something like the British superbike champs. If it doesnt cost them or cost much for entertainment then who knows. I would ask up here but for fifteen to twenty riders of very mixed experiance, wouldnt sell, but if you sell them the top ten in Britian then perhaps. But I would expect to cover expensise and prize money. Just putting it out there for comment?

I was to attend the AGM. I did put forward points on behalf of the Scottish club for the future and had a vote on the points raised after the AGM. I unfortunatley had a trapped nerve in my neck which made driving long distances very painfull. Totally agree with all points raised above. Venues need to be in higher profile venues and with spectator access if trials is to grow. It maybe that this will be a point for this years AGM. Perhaps next year the clubs that have done British events, have a think of where they can do a trial that seems to be what the riders are requesting. But also riders need to stand up and help the few people that do these, then we will perhaps have a Championship going in a new direction. Negative points. Fort William has the biggest spectator numbers and yes they are there for the DH, but they still come and watch. I put in seven days of work up there (300 mile round trip) to get new sections built that resemble a modern section with two diggers (at cost). If I could, I would have had all eight in the arena but that cant happen yet! 36 riders made the effort? and nearly half were Scottish. Budgets may have to be prepared, even to cover increased costs for these public events and then we can go to BC with a program saying look here is what we intend todo for the future, and it is going to cost this. Grass roots trials at club level have to also move and put on more spectator friendly events, by tacking onto other public events where they can. That is what I try to do with the Scottish events where I can. Prize fund, but only for the top one or two classes would be good but from where? BC? I will ask for Fort William next year from the main organiser? The top guys live on there demo work or speaking to some have to work weekends which is the way it is. I dont have an answer for that one.

Hi Scott, Hope Connor is on the mend. Been there! Will send of em to see if they can get it strimmed down. Thanks Ross you going to try and bring Stuart with you this time and get Ben out of retirment?

Hi Team, Entry form here, again please let me know you can ride. Killin was a great turn out and I know we will have a few more riders coming. Glenmore Lodge has again kindly offered rooms on site at discount rates. Please book directly with them (info on entry form and say you are riding in the trial) I know they moved some stuff around and I will be going up Friday 25th to redo what they moved or rebuild new in another area. Come up Saturday and have a play and a beer at night in the on site bar/resturant. No festival this year but hopefully it will be back on next year. 2014Aviemore entry.doc

Wow some realy positve thoughts and hopefully something will be done about British cycling and its attitude to trials. That perhaps will not fix the grass roots low entry problems but I am sure it would help. Look at the spectator numbers for the tour! People if they know something is on will come along especially if its free. City centre trials/demos are I believe the way forward or taking a trial onto a bigger event as previously mentioned. But it takes huge effort and time and money, so perhaps thats where British cycling get involved and bring it to the public as it is a brilliant spectator sport and it lasts all day, not just once as they go past. But to go a bit negative, when I started this club, Scottish cycling sent me an em after I requested a page on their website, that they did not recognise bike trials as a sport and couldn't help. It has UCI status at the world champs so where they can state that is beyond me. I have em them in recent weeks and not had one reply. Maybe its about time the trials community stood up and lobbied British Cycling to recognise trials and help bring it in to the future! The Bike Trial Federation do a brilliant job year in year out and have an AGM everyyear where riders voices can be heard. More rider input on what the riders want and I am sure it will be listened to. European versions of British cycling give a huge amount of help to trials.

Bit of a mix, but tried loads of different combos till I got what I like. Pair of Triangle Zeys with Scotia speaker cable, Roksan power amp, Audio Research pre amp with upgraded valve, micromega CD player with Chord interconnects. Systemdeck II with a cyrnx! arm.(dont know what the catridge is) Had this for a good few years and the only thing needing upgraded is the CD player. You only get the real benefit if you can sit and only listen and do nothing else. (not much chance nowadays) We have a great shop in Edinburgh that deals in higher end second hand kit and lets you take the stuff home to have a listen in your own home. That way I can get stuff I could never afford new. I like most types of music except the obvoius chart crap but mostly rock. The Zeys are big and powerful even at low volume, so it suits my ear. I am lucky to live in the country with no neighbours so it can get cranked up if I am in the mood. Its a scary hobbie to have, I was in a clients home a good few years ago and he had easily over £200K worth of audio gear. Sounded wonderful as he listened to alot of classic music, but didnt do rock music as well. Been to a few audio shows over the years and it is very much a personal taste with some great sounding systems now at a very affordable cost. Started off the journey with second hand Quad gear which I still have lying in the workshop.

Robins comment about cheat dabs and tactical dabs is the difference. No harm in a tactical dab as most riders ride for a result no matter what they say. I teach the new kids to do that as whats the point of fiving rather than a one.Next time after a bit of practice they would probably have a go. Looking forward to Bracken.

Really still doesnt beat "bigot" for having a laugh with the SETs. So its ok to have a go at me but not me at you? pick your dummy up. I always listen to what the riders have to say or want improving as its not me that rides. Sections get altered before and during comps if they have to for whatever reason. Bitter: see Iains post. Ross has always made the effort and helped me when I started the Scottish club up, as I am from a motorbike background. In Scotland I see a steady entry but not high. I dont have the time to promote the club like perhaps it requires. This year the older (sorry Ross) have declined but new young riders are starting to come in and we spend one on one time with them at the comps or practice days. I dont have an answer but I always try my best to mix it up with new venues, sections and if I can in conjuction with other events to get the spectators. Well done to the new club put in a red route and we will make the effort to get to some of the events.

Sorry about the long post, just highlighting most points made over other shorter ones. I will keep it short as obvoiusly short attention spans here. Well done to Adam for trying something new and Sheffield demo was oversubscribed so maybe that is the future with no comps. Still dont see anybody offering any solutions here or offering to step up and organise the future, if the current situation is so bad. Hope that hasnt taxed anybodies reading abilities. Paragraph new start: I will still keep organising comps as long as people turn up and have fun. Three hours one way drive for alot of riders to comps up here (five one way for our newest rider last week). Maybe we could put a minibus on, free entries and you could just ride anything you want. Original post, make the effort, contribute, ride your bike, have fun with some friends and go home ready for another week happy and tired.If you want to street comps, stand up and organise something and then you can come on here with one sentance and say: there you go. (and probably still have to listen to all the moaning)

Thanks Iain, thats made my day and thats after a great comp in the sunshine today with people having a laugh and a smile. If you want (probably not for the armchair organisers) my thoughts as someone who enjoys the organising and putting on a trial for the last four years in Scotland and three for British rounds in Scotland. If I get one comment like Iains above then that is more than enough to make all the hard work worth it and some people do. Taping is extremly difficult with so many routes in each section, but it has been noted about the cheaters (thats my opinion) who dab around an obstical. Have a go and if you cant do it then so be it, go practice more!!! From experiance (Fort William and Aviemore) to set up the man made sections takes a huge amount of time an a big digger or two and thats not even in a city centre. Unfortunately we live in a country that is so against things like this and the elf and softies brigade almost make it impossible to organise. (I have tried up here and the guys that tried Newcastle last year?) It is I think on the change now. From experiance (not in Scotland as its a small club and its kept fun and I just tell them to get on with it) I hear at trials is: take your pick here suits 20" or 26" sections Its set up for left footers/right footers. to hard to easy to muddy to tight to big to long bla bla bla. I turn up with my lads and have a laugh, occasional moan (we do get it wrong as its bloody hard to set up a multi route section to keep everybody happy all the time) say thank you to the organisers for all their hard work and drive home. This country seems more happy to complain than enjoy whats been hard work for a few people to give you a day out on your bike with your mates. I see numbers going down in my short time with trials and I have my opinions on that. But look at European events 100+ entries and one of the main difference I see is attiude. I hear the comments about pushy parents a few times recently, I maybe one but I hope I am not. Question? what do kids with no means of doing what they want todo in any sport that costs money and travel do, if their parents do not help them out. I was good at motor bike trials and my parents gave me no help whatsover, but I was lucky to meet a crowd of older trials guys who chucked me and my bike in the back of the van and took me to trials until I was old enough to get a job and fund my own sport. My dad came to one event in all my years of riding and that used to bug me, until someone lately said it was him that missed out, as he has not had the experiance, the joy and the fun with his kids as I do with mine. Any sport they want todo is fine by me and would get my all in support as long as they enjoy it. Some parents are happy to spend £1000 on a bike just to get rid of them as often as they can. Mike and I used to load up the car and van and take these guys to comps in the beginning as thats what someone did for me.Some are still riding some are not. Where do the next top riders come from if it isnt from the parents doing everything they can to help. British cycling have no setup like other countries to train these riders up and by all accounts have no future interest in trials. So maybe come along smile, enjoy the comp, be amazed at the up and coming kids level of skill and dedication and even maybe offer some other kid a chance to live a great, small stream, friendly sport. Who knows he may go on to world level and say thanks one day to the guy who helped me out when I just started. You need to go to Football, karting or Schoolboy motocross to see pushy parents, I do not see much in the way of pushy parents in trials encouraging yes pushy ? Schoolboy MX a few yeras ago I was near to a parent who said quote: Ive just spent over a £100k on a f*****n motorhome and f****n two bikes for you not even to get on the f*****n podium your just wasting mum and my time and Ive f****n worked hard to get you all this for you to waste it all. He went on like this for several minutes with this young kid in tears. Yes he wanted to ride his bike but probably just with his mates in a field somewhere. Look at some of the you tube videos about Lorreta Lyne MX for pushy parents. Trials perhaps not. Just my thoughts and opinions, but maybe with more positive thinking, then maybe trials will be on the up and head into the future in a new direction with what the riders want with more people making the effort to give to a great sport. OOPS had a rant again.

OK will be up mid afternoon to mark out.

Hi Iain. I was going to tame all routes down a bit as Kirkliston was hard and Fort Bill was a British and harder again. Killin is just such a great venue for a fun trial. Everybody else enters on the day as well. Just as long as I know beforehand somebody is coming!

Hi Iain, no problem need some experts as Aaron and Stuart and the beardy one are not coming. I believe Cal maybe giving expert a go as well As far as camping I will be up Saturday and we camp up in the hills. If you turn up Saturday you can just join us or there is a campsite on the other side of Killin with facilities probably no midges.

golden or not its on we will mock the size of your winkies.

BBC forecast has changed to no showers.

It is in the centre of the town on the rocks at the river. Cant miss it. Weather still looking hit or miss. I will go and set up on Saturday and hopefully the light showers miss us. I will have entry and membership forms on the day. 9.30am sign on and 1030am start.

Thats ok see you on the day as usual.HaHa.

Entry Form here for downlaod. As usual please let me know you are riding, low entries last event and we need at least 12 to break even, so its up to you? This is the easiest venue of the year and is set in a stunning location, but keep an eye on the weather forecast as its unridable in the wet. See you all in a couple of weeks. 2014killinentry -.doc

Leaving now to carpet,chicken wire, tape, hammer, dig, lift, move, screw and if time maybe a beer. Cant wait. yup looking forward to the lighting storms. Glad I am not ontop of a mountain under a metal framed tented with somebody going five, four, three, two zap.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Mike at Mikes Bikes in Haddington and Adam at Tarty Bikes for their help, in sorting out Aaron with a new frame at short notice so we can have him sorted for Fort William. Why? Rockman for not making the still new Rockman V2 short version.

Thanks guys will have a look. I do high end electrical systems in houses. One of the directors lives in Edinburgh and I had done his house. He helped Aaron with a cheque and hotels in Bradford last year. Nothing this year so must remove from footer. As long as I can make you smile Ben. Ross said you had been up to Aviemore and its been moved around and gravel put down. I spoke with them just before you went as someone else had mentioned it. They had to move the top bits to allow machine access for a new cross country track they were building and they can put it back. I will get up after Fort Bill with Aaron and get things sorted. (bigger and better) As for the gravel then I will just have to see whats what when I get there.

Heading of in August with Aaron to BIUs and was wondering if anybody has been to any trials parks on the way down through France. Cerny, the last French round looks like a great venue but cant find an address.

If the weathers crap then you could walk up the Glen Nevis valley from the top carpark (just keep going past your camp site) Big waterfall at the end! Ice climbing at the climbing centre in Kinlochleven. Good food and beer at the end/start of the footpath up Ben nevis (other side of river from camp site) great fun cycling pished back down to Fort William in the dark with no lights! Sorry cant remember its name but its not hard to find. All the mamore tracks above Kinlochleven even one goes to Fort William (part of the west Highland way. long cycle back to get cars but you can just go and have aplay.) Have fun

Really! BREW= mixture of IRN BRU and Bucky that is and will be the staple diet of most Scots. I think if we try hard enough we will be able to find the five a day that they tell us is required or we will die. I dont drink the stuff. Farming will be finished as the supermarkets will pull out of Scotland as there will be no demand for fresh produce and king Salmond will demand that it is handed out to the poor people free. (most of us by then).