F-Stop Junkie

Just had a look at the Biketrial UK site, and noticed the Fort William event is no longer listed as a National Championships event, just a one-off. Has this been changed or did I misread it the first time around? I'd still like to go though, is it worth the journey? Oh, and thanks Barbara for changing the colours on the site, much easier to read now!

Aaarrrggghhh!! Nooooo!!!

All you need is a table, or blanket to lay stuff out on! Have you never watched Car Booty? I think that as well as charging private individuals, companies who sell should be charged too, but if customers are there for the car boot, then that should attract the shops and distributors too!

Twin top tubes are nothing new. Like the Evil Imperial I rode in the US in 2003. The original Raleigh Choppers, AMP Research full sussers (though that may have been twin down tubes)...

I think Douglas Adams put it best with '"I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."' So, essentially, a caveat has been put in place that to demand proof is a lack of faith. It's a case of demanding evidence and proof somehow makes you a worse person than someone who believes without question. This worries me. A lot. It's a bit like NASA being censored by the Christian Right demanding Intellegent Design be covered in NASA's own findings and reports. Ultimatley though:

Am I alone in quite liking being older? Yes, there are downsides, but there's also amazing upsides. I'm in a job I enjoy, though it's certainly hard work. I have my own life with my girlfriend, and I can go anywhere, do anything and live how I want to live. Thanks to my job I also have the means to do it! There's something fulfilling I think about being responsible for yourself and making the best of what you have.

Why is 'not a pro' an excuse for 'not good'. Jonny Jones is 'not a pro' but he doesn't apologise for his work. Well, next time he's out taking photos of people on bikes, higher shutter speed, probably higher iso, and flash. BTW, you'll find most photographers like taking pics of everything, it's kinda what we do.

Not bad. Suffering from a slow shutter speed and washed out sky. I reckon it was a pretty dark day? And enough with the sillouette shots! They've been done. One thing though, I wish people would only post their best shots, rather than every shot they've taken. Seeing one good shot is better than five or six very similar ones which didn't work.

Please do, the reason I put it up is to try and help event organisers with a little extra cash! I don't think it'd work as an ad board, because you're then back to a forum concept. What I'm thinking is selling those little things, spare boosters, old tensioners, brake discs. That kind of thing. I'm not going to write out a card for every little bit!

I'm not planning on doing this myself! I think that event organisers should charge people selling stuff anyway, but for little extra effort they can attract a little extra cash and people may come just to buy stuff too. I'm sure some people who may give a comp a miss will turn up to have a nose around the stalls, and then watch some of the riding. Who knows, they may give it a try themselves! Why a comp? Well it's one of the few times you get a lot of riders together in one place. As I said above too, it might bring a few more people in to watch the riding. Any finally, it's fine selling big ticket items on here, but I don't want to have the hassle of postage and stuff for a £10 rim, or a quid evo adapter. It'd be a lot easier for me to turn up, show what I've got, and take the cash home at the end of the day. Plus I think it'd be fun to see what people bring, rummage through, see what bargains can be had!

When would people want to do it? I'm guessing it would have to be the morning of the trial while others are signing on and so on. How would organisers feel about marking out an area specifically for retail/car booting? The Nationals would be a good place to do it (Lots of riders coming from all over) but clubs could have one or two specific car boot trials during the year as well. It'd give people a chance to clear out old bits they maybe wouldn't have thought they could sell otherwise. Stuff like Magura lever blades and Evo adapters, odds and ends, even old frames, wheels and rims (like the pairs of Mavic 121s and Alex DX-32s) I have laying around doing nothing). Plus other people can pick up cheap spares or new bits... Anyway, this is something I'd suggest to all the organisers of UK series. It helps bring people to the events, and put's a little more money in the kitty.

Just having a bit of a think. As most people here have odd spares, bits and bobs they don't need/use any more, would people be interested in a trials car boot sale somewhere, say the day/morning of a comp. A couple of quid to sell stuff, then lay it out and see what people want! Would save postage hassles, and indulge those who love to get a bargain!

Just been sent a link about Earthed 3 by a mate of mine, which contains the following quote: "Chris Akrigg rides some monster lines and lays out some superb solar-powered laser-beam precision moves." What a description, full review with screen shots can be found HERE!

Finger tight? That's slightly worrying! It' needs to be tight, but no so much that you're heaving on it with a giant spanner. When I was working in a bike shop, I either had the tool in the vice and spun the wheel until it was tight, then gave the wheel a little tug, or a firm push on the spanner if I did it on the floor. Although there's no load as such on the lockring, I'd still want it done up properly so it couldn't be shaken loose during it's life.

But they are steel, which is reassuring, and strong.

Don't know why, but it reminds me of trials websites circa '99... Nice sponsorship deal

But what about trials being a family sport? Is it good swearing, sometimes loudly, around younger riders? Rob, I see you point entirely, but then if everything is being scrutinised, then shouldn't you be more careful than explain it away? I know plenty of riders who don't swear, jump up and down, or shout when they make mistakes. No one could complain about a scream in frustration, but when someone uses language that could be objectional to others, that's when people complain, even if it isn't directed at anyone. Plus behaviour like that can be misinterpreted, which leads to further problems. Not talking about anyone, or anything, just talking in generalities.

Ummm, where did anyone say that?

A quick reminder to everyone that the deadline for photo comp entries is midnight tonight! No extensions. To submit, PM them to me with the details asked for below. Rules repost: There will be two categories; action and non-action. Action will be as it says. This is for the shots of riders going for moves. Images should have a punch, and an impact to them, demonstrating in a single photograph how great trials riding can be. Non-action is for anything else. Pictures that show non-riding aspects of trials, from still life of a bashring, the people of trials, or the damage which ensues. Editing is free, anything goes. There will be a maximum pixel dimension for the longest edge of the picture of 1024 pixels. Images must be of a suitable quality. That doesn't mean super-high pixel cameras and pro lenses, just that it musn't be rubbish. For the web, a 2 megapixel camera phone may just squeek in, but video captures are right out. Given the potential high quality of entries, this must be considered. Judging will be by poll as per video competitions of old. Users should consider quality of the image (including the technical 'correctness' of the exposure, etc..), the composition, and the impact of the image. The shot can be of a big or small move (for the action category) but big riding tends to have more impact. There will be a second award based on votes via PM to me for 'competitors choice' which will be the best action, and best non-action shots as voted for by the other people who enter the competition. Details will be sent around to those who enter after the closing date. Images can be from any time, not ones captured specifically for this competition. Oh, and you have to have taken the image you submit. Entries sent to me by *31/01/06*, where I will put up a series of topics with a poll in each. Winner goes through. Details with each image must include a name for the image and your real and TF name. Any extra details will be posted alongside the image.

Hey Mike, good to see you here. I'm a big fan of the stuff you've put up on DeviantArt. I look forward to seeing what you make of the trials world. Are you interested in competitions or just group rides? Oh, entries for photo comp closes at midnight tonight Chris

Saying someone is dyslexic as an insult would be a slur, but not racism. It's not a cool thing to do anywhichway. It's like using 'gay' as a term of derision. BTW, the dyslexic folk I know have a hightened awareness of their spelling so actually take more care and make less mistakes than a lot of forum kiddies. Anyway, chill out. It's not worth getting to frustrated with each other! Talking about the pictures is one thing, making it personal is another.

--> QUOTE(danny B @ Jan 30 2006, 11:36 AM) ←my Dad says not for open practice its a club training day ie a number of riders pay a small fee to take part in the training day per book i think about 6 or so, we are there all day and i may as well help the club in this way just a new idea not every saturday before the event just some. Fair enough. I will be joining the club as soon as forms and whathaveyou are available.

Have you even read the articles? It's precisely the opposite.

Dan, if you're going to be on site, then does that mean that the competition sites will be available for practise - at a fee - the day before the events? Outside of the sections, obviously. I'm keen to do a few YMSAs this year, so I'd like to try out a few good natural venues as a warm up this year too. Could be a good laugh

From babelfish: Vincent Hermance forwarded to us a mall following a message posted on the l’accusant forum of doping : "fédé the m’a withdrawn my licence for a too LOW CORTISOL rate following stresses and displacements. They indeed supposed that this fall was related to a medicamentous catch d’ou my revocation of licence throughout complementary test. After these new tests they saw well that this fall was completely natural. The "escapes" come very from me which sought to explain to all my irritation compared to its multiple tests. Nobody would be well-informed if I n’en had not spoken. Then that was deformed and cortisol s’est transformed into hématocrite... J’enverrai quickly the mail of fédé specifying that my results are normal and coming from stresses with repetition and of many voyages. Moreover I n’apprécie at all this rumour, if "antidopage" wants m’en to speak : qu’il m’appelle and I would explain to him personally but I suppose qu’il prefer to remain anonymous. Vincent Hermance." Thank you for these precise details and good season ! So it looks like he showed a low level of something or other due to lots of travel, and as a result his revolked licence was returned and all is well.