monkeyseemonkeydo

I have a feeling this kid's gonna be silly good when he's a little older... Good stuff. Dave

As Hendrixmaster said- write a letter complaining about unfair treatment to the chief cuntstable at the station. Make it polite and informative stating why you don't think it was reasonable and then keep your fingers crossed... Dave

Had my 221 Pr for nearly 4 months now and love it. I upgraded to hope trials, a WI Eno and a KMC Kool chain when I got it and have since put my Onza carbon bars on it (only because they were lying around mind you). Rides really well and I think it's likely to last a good bit longer than one of those uber light Ti's... for a fraction of the cost. Only issues I'm having is with the wheels. Unsealed hubs are functional but a bit temperamental for my liking and the spokes don't seem to be stainless so are looking a bit old and tired but that's purely aesthetics. Conclusion: Go for it! You won't regret it Dave

I've heard this stuff before about wheels under 20" and small frame sizes being allowed on the pavement and technically it may be right but the law is in place to allow 3 year olds with stabilisers to ride on the pavements. Whenever I'm riding on the pavement and I see the fuzz I get off and start walking. Was riding in Aberdeen once with Fraz Milloy when we came towards some polizei- I got off and started walking and Fraz rode straight past them and got collared! They told him he should've taken my lead and started walking, just common sense really. On the point of criminal damage, even if you don't end up on bash, you're tyres will still be leaving marks which could be seen as graffiti and again (in theory) you could be done. I've never been properly done by the police for riding trials, on or off the pavement, but have obviously been asked to move on and usually if you're pleasant to them and don't make a fuss nothing usually comes of it. There will always be those evil nasty Nazi's giving the fuzz a bad name but that's life- there are always arseholes out there trying to stop anyone enjoying themselves. Just ride away and have a laugh at his expense (out of earshot of course!). Dave

Someone was telling me that the Sun reported that the car wasn't actually the drivers but was being hired for something like £20,000 a day... Dave

Saw Rich on the bike at the Hampshire comp today and I have to say it looks much better in the flesh. Don't know if it's the angle that picture's taken at or what but it certainly looks more functional in person. Dave

Wet but still reasonably fun! I really don't like muddy comps like that but it's still good to see what you can do and what you can get away with. Ended on 36 I think over two laps. Definite improvement between the first and second laps though which was good. Thanks to Terry and all the observers for coming and standing in the rain for 5 hours!! Dave

excellent use of an Anchorman quote

Are you coming to the Hampshire comp tomorrow Rich? May have to give the bike a quick inspection in person... first impressions are probably best kept to myself!! Dave

I think we can all ignore this post- coming from a guy who's happy with the performance of standard black magura pads on a polished rim... I ran dual disc for a good few years back when Echo first started making frames (the EM2 ~2002?) and only went to a maggy rear after a rather unimpressive outing on a Revell 20" in about 2005. The replacement was a Zoo Python which didn't have disc mounts so I was forced back to a rim brake. After a couple of years riding stock (rim rear) I'm now back on a Monty 221Pr dual disc and love it again. Although I don't exactly do huge drop gaps and the like, for my riding (lots of natural these days and normal ups/gaps etc) I find it ideal. Not sure how long the frame will last (about 3 months and counting so far and all good), but if this one ever gives up I'll be almost certainly sticking with DD.

I dunno... Just the excercise will help reduce excess blubber and I'm pretty damn sure trials works your abs to some extent too. I've even got the six pack to prove it!! Dave

And thou shalt kneel before me and tremble... ooh err missus! Lol, yeah I'll be riding and am still on 20 (Monty 221Pr). Hoping the weather stays (reasonably) good for tomorrow... Dave

Afraid I'm with Dave... Porter was rocking, looking really solid and going big (as usual) and good to see Ed still riding (of sorts) but Ackrigg's just never done it for me and that vid doesn't do much for my opinion on him!! More from James please!! Dave

Really liked that, part 1 more than part 2 but the guy has some serious skills. And, as mentioned above, some droolworthy spots!! First video in a long while that makes me want to go out and ride!! Dave

I'm a bit confused... The whole thing with Direct Debits is that it happens automatically so you can't forget/miss a payment... Also you say they charged you £45 for missing the payment so you asked for £117 from them? Meh, Dave

Gonna have to say The Offspring... with Guns N' Roses a very close second. That's the stuff I grew up on getting me psyched for riding. The Kids Aren't Alright still makes me go off the wall when it comes on!! Dave

Dodgy. As. Fook. Let us know if it comes through ok and we'll all be buying full carbon road bikes (to resell...) and kona stabs from him like there's no tomorrow!

heheh, you gotta admit those boys have got skills though (and balls for that matter!!). Better to watch than biketrials in my opinion, lines are able to flow like BMX rather than stop-hop-start like biketrials. If only I had somewhere I could practice on a mototrials bike... Dave

I never actually bought it as it was always slagged off for having too much skatepark stuff. Eventually downloaded it out of curiosity and I have to say it didn't do much for me. Lots of skatepark stuff with Chris Clarke and Jeff which is quite impressive but not all that. I think my official thoughts were a resounding 'meh'. IMO Revolution was the best and they went downhill a bit after that. Dave

To be perfectly honest I think that was a good thing, he really shouldn't have been included at all. Martyn , Martin I also still prefer Revolution though... got that on VHS but have no way of uploading it. emule? Dave

Heheh, some little bugger back home borrowed my Chainspotting and never gave it back. I picked up a VHS copy on evilbay signed by the squad! It's got Ashton, Will Longden, Steve Peat, Rob Warner and Tom Edwards (?) scrawls inside. Think it cost me about £2.99!! Still a total classic Evolve's good but I still prefer Revolution. The JJ Gregorowicz section was the reason I got my very first Monty Mod way back when! Dave

To be honest I hope it doesn't get big, and kinda doubt it ever will. Look at motorcycle trials. It's been going for a lot longer than biketrials and is still a seriously minority sport. One thing that makes a sport explode is that it's good for spectators to watch... Trials really isn't that spectator friendly. Anyone who doesn't ride has no idea how difficult it is and so tend to be fairly unimpressed by what we do. Motocross is more likely to draw a crowd because of the huge airs and speed involved but I'd still call it a minority sport. Do you really want trials to be a mainstream sport like football?!! Dave

Good luck with that Fred, Oxford Brookes has a very good track record. M-sport take on a student for a placement every year and the placement scheme sounds really worthwhile. Dave

Reading these I guess I'm quite unusual (surprise!) as I've known what I wanted to do since I was about 12. Always been into motorsport and specifically the aerodynamics of cars. When I was twelve I finally found out that the word for it is an aerodynamicist. All my subject choices in school were then effectively chosen for me, with the help of some advice from McLaren and Williams F1 teams who I got in touch with to ask them! Always aimed to do Aerospace Engineering at uni and was accepted to do that at Southampton (again, advised by Adrian Newey, current RBR aero guru earning something silly like £6M a year). In my final year of my undergrad I was offered the chance to do an Engineering Doctorate (like a PhD but better paid) sponsored by a successful World Rally Team to develop the aerodynamics of their car... So I'm now doing what I've wanted to do for the past 12 years! Meh, I guess I'm the exception but I do think that things tend to work out for the best and if you want something bad enough it can happen. Dave

I'm in an unusual position for this thread. On Sunday my university supervisor, who I've known and been close to for the past three years, was killed in a kite surfing accident. He was only 30 and had only got married about 4 months ago. It was a major shock and I guess cos I haven't been so close to a death before it really hit me hard. It hurt so much when I first found out and for at least 24 hours afterwards and it's only slowly starting to sink in now. The funeral's tomorrow and I still can't believe he's gone. I guess it will take a long time to fully come to terms with it and fully mourn. He was the only reason I got a first in my degree and the only reason I've been given the opportunity to do my postgrad and now he's gone. In answer to the question though... I really don't think it would be good or healthy not to feel bad after the loss of a loved one. If you didn't feel bad you wouldn't be able to value life and think about how things might affect others. Having lost Charlie, it's made me think a lot about things and I think in the long run will make me value life more and become a better person. It's also given me new drive to finish my EngD to the best of my abilities so I can accredit him and dedicate my Thesis to his memory (I, along with one of my friends, were the first postgrad students he ever supervised). I think that without feeling the pain of this tragedy I would be in a far worse situation... Odd question though... Ben you really ought to sign up to some psychology/theology forums... Dave