Ben Swales

Ouch.

They must be old results then!

Episode 2 is now online and also features Guy Martin in fanboy mode! http://imaginate.redbull.com/

I'll be there, of course. I won't be riding though, so if you need observers on the day I can take a section (would prefer to be able to take photos etc. for the write-up though). I can come down on the Saturday to help setting out as well - just let me know when you're going

Aaaaand.... they're available! Thanks. Have you got a spacer on the bottom mount, or are they just bolted down 'crooked'? Good news for you I guess, but bad news for anyone that wants to ride with you. Best of luck with the training then - hope it all goes well up there! Thanks. Have you got a spacer on the bottom mount, or are they just bolted down 'crooked'? Good news for you I guess, but bad news for anyone that wants to ride with you. Best of luck with the training then - hope it all goes well up there!

Deng's leaving?!

http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/topic/181280-benito-ros-2013/?p=2503380

Cheers! Credit goes to Mark for the photos I can't seem to find a decent photo of your booster set up - any chance you could stick one in here? Cheers The ones on Stan's bike are protos (as are these - we had them lying about in the warehouse so I grabbed them). Production ones will be available any day now Cheers matey! Should get together for a ride soon, or have you sold your bike again? When are you off up to the SSDT?

Yeah, I was just picturing something different when it was described earlier in the thread. It'd be interesting to see how they define moving obstacles then, since they allowed the rollers in the Motorex section at the Worlds in Saalfelden. It'd also be interesting to see what they say about adjusting the difficulty level sections according t the conditions on the day, as that would also have safety implications (as it did this weekend) and the rule (if there is one) obviously wasn't enforced in Germany. But yeah, my point was really only that it looked like they'd done a few different things with the sections that would have been pretty cool if it hadn't been for the conditions making things too difficult/unsafe. I wasn't there though, so I don't really know, I'm just going on hearsay and the few photos that I've seen.

Not quite what I'd imagined - that actually looks like it's pretty secure/stable. I was picturing a more freely-swinging platform. And yeah, that's the one I meant. Interesting use of pallets - I've not seen them used like that before.

I actually think that sounds pretty cool. I saw a photo on Facebook of some pallets on their sides at an angle that looked interesting too. Nice to see people trying something a bit different. From what I've seen, the sections look like they would have been cool in the dry and just weren't adjusted for the conditions, which was obviously a mistake.

The info I got was from Facebook statuses and comments (mainly in French) by people who were there. Sounds like a pretty difficult situation!

I originally wanted a Kaiser on the rear, but they were out of stock when I placed the order, so went for the Baron. I toyed with the idea of going for the Rammstein Projeckt Der Kaiser, but didn't in the end, for reasons I can't really remember. Tarty actually got the Der Kaisers back in stock the day the bike was built but the Baron was on their by then. I thought about getting them to swap it out, but I stuck with the Baron to save Cap a bit of work. I'll see how I get on with it for a while.

That's what some people have been saying. There seems to be some talk of doing that if there's another one like it. I think the weather conditions made things worse, but it was the fact that the sections were so difficult even in the qualifiers, then got made harder for the semis and harder again for the finals, meaning that all spectators saw was people falling off in the mud and that riders were at risk all the time that he was protesting against. A lot of other riders and supporters have commended him for doing it, so it seems as though they're behind him in spirit, even if they didn't follow his example (this time at least). I don't know how he went about it, so not sure if it'll have looked like he couldn't hack it, but there doesn't seem to have been anyone saying that afterwards, so presumably everyone's aware of his reasons.

Cheers - it IS sweet Cheers Yeah, I wasn't too fussed about the weight (but couldn't resist some SL goodness!) - I want a bike that'll be durable and reliable, rather than one that's ultra-light but will break when I inevitable drop it down some rocks or just ride into a wall (as happened yesterday!). Having said that, I was pretty pleased with the weight especially, as you say, considering the wight of the rear tyre and a couple of the parts. and yeah, Trialtech Sport pads in TNN backings for a bit of extra stiffness (also so I could be more like Stan)

Cheers Dave! How's the ankle doing?

Cheers Carl. They were the only choice really, haha!

I've been thinking about getting another seatless bike for a while now and finally went ahead and placed an order last week. Mark dropped it of yesterday (Tarty Bikes personal delivery service for the win), so I thought I'd put some pictures up. It's an Echo Pure 2013 built with Trialtech SL and Sport Lite components. Weigh in at 9.94kg, fo those of you that are interested in that sort of thing. I've only had a short play on it in the street after a mammoth street ride on the Hex and a fairly hefty tea, but first impressions are that it rides really, really nicely. Can't wait to take it out properly and get some scratches on it! Big thanks to Trialtech and Tarty Bikes, and to Mark for the photos and delivery service!

From posts on Facebook etc., it seems that Gilles pulled out in protest at the organisation. From what various people have been saying, problems included unrideable, dangerous sections, poor timing, impartial observers, poor access for spectators and the safety of riders being at risk. A lot of that will have been exacerbated by the weather conditions (four inches of mud, apparently) Riders and their supporters that were there seem very frustrated and angry and are talking about writing to the UCI together to make an official complaint.

Nice job Mark. I really like this. Nice to see something a bit different coming out of the trip

Technically though, that is the fault of a group of people, so only a small portion of the blame actually rests with me. Hopefully more Stan soon then

It's a standard Hex Team full build Cool video Mark - looks like a really fun few days! More Stan next time please. (I know he was busy, but we don't see enough of him )

That'll be the 'extra stiffness of the HS33 on the front' then. Or something.

It's a more permanent set-up. In the recent interview on Tribal Zine (not in English, sorry - I just don't have time for translations at the moment) he talks about preferring the hold of a disc on inclines and uneven surfaces and says that with an HS33 on the rear he was too preoccupied with making sure it was holding well that he couldn't concentrate properly on the move. He has an HS33 on the front because he doesn't need that extra power and finds it stiffer than a disc for front wheel moves and hooks.