The Mechanic

Afraid not only this one.

We are holding another bike trial at Binegar Quarry near Bristol on the 25th July all are welcome. We will be starting at 11.00 am and running sections for beginners, novice,intermediate, expert and possibly elite. depends really on how many elite riders turn up. The quarry is available all day, so any one can come and play as long as they sign on. There will be Motorbikes there as well for practice so if anyone has a motor trial bike they can practice on that as well. All are welcome.

Has any date been made for Radfest this year?

Just got a copy of a video made of last years trial at BInegar Quarry near Bristol. Big thank you to Will Clarke for making it, we will be holding another this year and will post date when it is agreed.

Hi Nick, I have been a welder for 40 years and still not bored with it, it does depend what sort you do of course. Production welding is easy to learn but tends to be repetitive. If you get on site work you never know what you are going to get. Don't expect to fall into a skilled position straight away it won't happen. Every weld is slightly different maybe that is what is interesting it does require concentration whilst welding, if you are using arc then you have in your hand something hotter than the face of the sun (well not right in your hand obviously).Its a job I would recommend if you don't mind heat,hard work, and getting dirty. Give me a shout on Facebook if you want any help or advice.

I am afraid the quarry is closed to access, it can only be ridden under special permit. So please do not attempt to ride there it could damage future access for comps. A video is being produced of the trial and hopefully will be available soon.

This was a one off at present but we are hoping to run at least one more this year, I do put notifications on here so keep a look out.There are no comps in the South West but I am trying to change that.

Great trial, we had a good attendance and everyone enjoyed themselves. A big thank you to the Somerton Club for letting us hold it. Results link. http://www.somerton-mc.co.uk/data/uploads/bike-trial-9th-august-binager.pdf

Don't forget Bristol Trial tomorrow at Binagar Quarry this hopefully will lead to more! Price at £8.00 adults and £7.00 for under 16 Saturday 9th August 2014 at Binegar quarry BA3 4UX signed from A37 Shepton Mallett to Bristol rd start at 11.00am Course will be 8 sections and 2 laps 20" beginner (adult and youth) then Novice,Intermediate,Expert and Elite then 24" and 26" with the same classes. Looking forward to seeing all who can make it, its about having fun!

Just an update on the trial at Binegar Quarry on the 9th August, contact details on the web page below. No ACU licence needed 5 classes, so all welcome a chance to try a trial if you have not ridden one before as well. A new venture for Somerton Club so support would be good. See you there. http://www.somerton-mc.co.uk/

We are now pretty certain the trial at Binagar Quarry near Bristol will go ahead on the 9th August. We are at present negotiating with the ACU to obtain a "Try Our Sport" type of event which will mean those who do not have a ACU licence will be able to ride cheaply and also give those who have never ridden a trial to give it a go. We are hoping to keep entry costs as low as possible and this licence will allow us to do this. We intend having 5 routes as normal. Don't forget if you do Moto trials there is a comp on the 10th as well at the quarry.

Hi skuzzbucket, It looking very likely to go ahead as a good few have said they are keen. We are trying to keep the costs as low as possible, we are guaranteed the venue and insurance is being sorted. As soon as its sorted I shall post full information. The more we get the better as it helps reduce costs insurance, and that are being sorted by Somerton Motorcycle Club

Hi David, I have put your name forward as well to join the group, but it needs an administrator to approve it. Saturdays unlikely due to weather I expect this week, although someone might ride Sunday I have not heard anything yet.

Bump

Here is an aerial view of the quarry to give an idea of the area, work is required to clear some sections I have a couple of pictures taken in the quarry floor not very good ones though.

Trials Competition Near Bristol. Somerton & District MCC are looking to hold a cycle trial near Bristol on the 9th of August in a new quarry venue for cycle trials. I am trying to find if people are interested in competing, The venue looks good with rocks as well as woodland section most would be on rocks. Response needed to get this going as it only happens if enough people are interested.

Get on Bristol Trials Group,on Facebook, you can find people to ride with on there.

Make sure that you are comfortable when practicing it makes a lot of difference, also just to straight passes to start with no rod, it will teach you to control the pool. once you are comfortable with that then move on to adding filler as you go. Take a look at Millar Welding webpage some good tips on setup etc.

I would think £300 for a handmade frame was fairly cheap, there is a lot of work involved. I have no idea what it would cost really but man hours alone without materials etc would put the price up. I never saw a completed bike after they had been through the furnace shipped off somewhere else to be assembled. Ideally its not just the welding either TIG or bronze which makes the frame part manufacture before welding is just as important, if I were to pay for a really good handmade frame I would like to see the standard of joints before they are welded, as you can hide a lot with a weld.

Interesting talk about Bronze welding, when I first started work making furnaces we made one for a company making bike frames. The prepared tubes went into the furnace and came out bronze welded,every joint was push fitted beforehand so a lot of preparation involved. It is a strong method of manufacture but for handmade frames not really practical unless you spend a great deal. Manufactures like Reynolds still recommend Bronze welding as well as TIG.

Reynolds do recommend welding rods and also technique to be used to get the best results. If you drop them a line they will send you details of all the cycle tubes available (there is a lot) and also a price list. Minimum order £150 but you can get drawn tubes, so tapers ovals all sorts even chainstays pre bent.

Reynolds 931 looks a good one a bit expensive but they do recommend it for ATB rather than the 953 which although stronger is a lot more lightweight and may not take the sort of stress a trials bike has.

Capitalism is bound to fail in the end, it is unsustainable because of the consumption of resources to maintain it. It will go the way of communism in the end. With regards to the impact of mankind on the planet it is ludicrous to say we are not having one. Yes the environment has been worse and better than now, Global warming will happen don't doubt it as we are changing the planet to such an extent by asset stripping. The millennia that went before was able to lock in CO2 we are now releasing that CO2 at an astounding rate. The pollution of our sea has never been greater, with fish stocks diminishing on a daily basis. The sea is our lifeblood for CO2 conversion to O2 and yet we continue to dump our waste in it at an amazing rate. If all algae in the sea were damaged by this pollution then the forests we have left would not be enough to sustain mankind. Politicians are driven by consumerism an d as such cannot rectify the problems mankind faces, a step which may help is being discussed at present I believ that would mean that a politician cannot work for other companies whilst in office, something which changes there perspective on the worlds problems. There is no easy cure, mankind will end one day it cannot continue as it is, Whether we self destruct or nature does it for is is open to debate but evolution will continue so will the planet long after we are gone as long as the sun exists in its present form. Nature restores the balance but it can't do that until we either cease to exist or work with it in a less invasive way. That's my rant done.

Part of the problem may well be the lack of trials clubs spread around the UK, more clubs would offer more venues and also increase the numbers of people who had tried and enjoyed competitions.You have to appreciate the time and effort the people from the Biketrial Federation put in,its hard work with little reward. We won't be coming to all trials this year but that is a personnel choice which people have to make those we do attend we will enjoy. So we should not gripe about there choice of venues as from what has been said they had no other offers, I know if I could find venues I would want to create a local club and get people involved, and that would get more choice for us in the West Country.

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