Eventpost 38 - Zona 1 Trial, Birdlip Glos

Today I travelled south down the M5 to the Western Centre modern trial at Birdlip, Glos.

As we had not got an entry for the Reliance Trial (actually never got round to sending my entry in time), Steve Thompson and I decided that this was the nearest event to Worcester and would be a good run out before next weeks Sammy Miller National trial at Rhayader.

The trial was held in a quarry which looks like it is used for trials practice as there is plenty of evidence of previous sections and loads of scope for all levels of ability. The weather was bloody hot and the ground bone dry but that didnt stop the organisers actually finding the only bit of mud in Gloucestershire for one of the sections! The rest was run on the banks and rocks within the quarry and was actually a good little trial.

We rode the Clubman (alternative) route as the expert route had been marked for modern experts with a view to hopping and stopping so not really suited to pre65 bikes.

So to the event ..... To be honest I didn't really ride very well at all today. I just seemed to not be in control as much as I would like and the bike felt like it was getting away from me a little on some of the tight sections and far too many marks got away because I was just off line and not really where I should have been. I dont know whether it was just an off day, the heat was getting to my concentration levels or whether I am still getting used to the bike but what should have really been a low single figure score actually ended up closer to 20 marks - not terrible but not great all the same.

To make things worse I did actually clean every section at some point during the trial so my result was clearly more down to me than the severity of the event.

I did have chance to fettle the clutch on the bike though and after a bit of adjusting I finally got it working how I like it, which is good news. I am still suffering a little with the power not coming in clean when I open the throttle quickly, however it is very smooth off the bottom and I actually think it might be more down to me being a little heavy handed rather than some thing actually wrong - perhaps a bit of carb adjustment might help but so too would some practice to learn to ride it just as it is.

I will add the results when I get them but I think it might be a close thing between Steve Thompson (on my old Ariel) and myself yet both of us will probably be a bit down on Martyn Wilmore who was riding on his very modern looking B40 and didn't look to be losing many marks.

I am now looking forward to next week and a good road trial with some rocky streams in Mid Wales - will post an update next week.

Just found the results from Sunday and they were pretty much as expected - as Steve quite rightly said - he wins by virtue of the heavier bike with legal brakes!!!!

Pre 65 class (alt route)

1. M Wilmore 2

2. M Thornhill 11

3. D Dawson 18 (MC)

4. S Thompson 18

Eventpost 37 - Tardebigge BMCA

Today I rode the BSA at the BMCA summer trial at Tardebigge near Bromsgrove. The terrain was all in the woodland and consisted of a bit of mud (even thought the weather was fantastic) and climbs and turns amongst the trees and roots. 

All didn't start too well to be honest with a rather inconsistent throttle response on section one causing a loss of a couple of steadying dabs and then on section 3 as I entered the section and climbed a gentle bank the bike died as though I had left the petrol turned off. I am not sure what happened though as it fired up again 1st kick and ran OK for the rest of the section??

I lost another 2 on a cambered turn over roots on section 7 and a loose dab on section 9 when I lost the rear end just as I got to the ends markers. 

At the end of the first lap I decided to ditch the approach that I had tried and instead turned up the tickover and adjusted the clutch up to ride the bike a little more like a modern bike on the revs and slipping the clutch out of corners to ensure that the engine was running clean when I needed the power rathyer than feeling for the power on the throttle alone. 

This worked wonders as I did the second lap for 1 mark and cleaned laps 3 and 4 for a total of 11 for the trial. I felt that the result was very encouraging thought probably will not scare the head of the field as the 1st lap was a few marks too many. 

Overall the bike handled really well, it turned and stopped exactly as I had hoped and the suspension worked well. I made a few mods to the chain tensioner yesterday and that worked fine. 

Just got the results through - it seems that I lost 12 marks as the observer had me for a dab on section 10 on the first lap too.

Results

2 Stroke Class

1. Mick Parkes          7

2. Ray Collins           17

3. Graham Roberts  23

4. Steve Neale          25

Unit 4 Stroke Class

1. Steve Hay             5

2. Nathan Jones       8

3. Dave Dawson       12

4. Nick Wooley         16

Pre Unit Class

1. Andy Richardson   1

2. Pete Reed               27

Beezerpost 10

Just a quick picture for no other reason than I like it. This was taken last Fri when I gave the BSA its first run out on Steve's farm next to where I live. The Royal Enfield belongs to Steve and as I had teken the stand off my bike we leant the two bikes against each other whilst we had a look at the sections.

Beezerpost 9 - 1st ride!!!

Managed to get out and get some practice in on the bike today - one of the benefits of having sections to practice on right next door to your house....Thanks Steve....

As this was the first ride I expected a few issues to have to iron out but in all honesty it went like a dream. Brakes and suspension worked great, it steered quite well and felt nice and light. 

There were a few things that need loooking at, mainly a little bit of tinkering with the timing as it needs advancing a bit, the chain tensioner needing some mods as the spring is a little light and the side stand not working too well, but really minor bits and pieces. 

As you can see in the video, it pulls well and everything is looking good considering this was the first time it had turned a wheel....  Will add something on here after Sunday's trial.

Must say thanks to Dad for all the work that he has put in to this and produced yet another great bike - dont know what he will do now to fill his time .... dont worry dad i'll think of something!!

Beezerpost 8

Finally the engine is in, new seat has been covered and fitted, we decided to add an oil fiter to be on the safe side and it is ready to have a shakedown test tomorrow before it's first run in a trial on sunday. 

Will post some more photos and an update tomorrow when I have given it a try. 

Beezerpost 7

A couple of progress pictures with the bike in the Faber frame. 

The engine is almost ready so should be with us early next week and we remain on target for first ride out at Tardebigge in the BMCA trial next weekend. 

Beezerpost 6

OK - Regular readers of my BLOG will know that changes and evolution was enevitable - well I was searching for some brakes for the bike and had promised myself that this bike was going to be sensible in relation to cost so didn't want to go silly and buy new Alan Witton hubs as on the last few bikes because, believe it or not, by the time you have got the hubs, brake plates, sorted the brake shoes out, had them built into new ally rims with stainless spokes then added tyres, tubes, security bolts, a rear sprocket you have little change from about £1300 - thats just the wheels.... Anyway, I digress, i decided that a pair of Grimeca hubs would be a cheaper option so managed to find a complete pair of wheels, freshly built for the right money and to help fund them the old wheels could be sold on.

When I got talking to John Danter about my old wheels he mentioned that he had a Faber frame that had never been used and wanted to sell - eventually an exchange deal was done for the wheels against the frame and before I knew it the new wheels and frame were waiting to become BSA phase 2...

As this bike will be staying in the family for some time I decided that while the engine was between frames I would have it rebuilt and make sure that all was in order and anything that needs repair/replacement was sorted at the same time - thanks to Pete Kirby the rebuild is well under way and will give me some piece of mind for the coming season.

There have been a few bits of fabrication required to make sure that the bits from the 1st bike will fit the Faber frame, these have been done and the frame is now at the powder coaters so building should commence some time next week.

A few other bits and bobs - A KTM motocross kickstarter has been grafted onto the BSA stub as the old one was broken and did not clear the footrest without lifting it up which was a pain, also a new seat base has been cut out and is being covered which will fit the new frame better.

A few pics have been added from the early build activity with the new frame and also the new kickstarter - I will try and add more as it comes along.

Beezerpost 5

Here is the final picture of the BSA in phase 1. You can see the shorter rear shocks have changed the geometry quite a bit so that the head angle isnt quite so steep and you can see the clamps on the front forks to add the required stiffness. Now onto phase 2 of the project.....