Peter Paice wrote:No criticism intended of David for trying to make his clutch light, it is just a worry that bikes are being modified to match modern bikes, and ridden in a modern style. I believe the whole reason for a twin shock class should be to bring back the riding style of that era combined with having a love for the old bikes.
I know my hands would have been much stronger back in the old days, so maybe a lighter clutch would be beneficial for older guys, but not necessary for use within a section.
The modern bikes are already available, so no need to modify old bikes. I have seen a couple of TY’s butchered and almost unrecognisable, to try and make them ride like a modern bike. The rules for twin shocks should be non stop and with the percentage of twin shock bikes being small compared to the rest, the observers would have no trouble accommodating them. There is no grey area for the observers to get confused under the 70’s rules. I’m sure the non stop rules would encourage older riders to come back to trials because there wouldn’t be the technical aspect required to ride modern style.
The modern rules being applied to old bikes are what annoy me, not the riders who are all enjoying this great sport.
You are right Peter on the part about modern rules, but there is more to this, I will explain further how I see it where I ride in the West.
The main reason I will be modifying my TY is be able to ride it in a trial set with modern bikes. I am under no delusion that a separate trial just for twinshocks with non-stop rules will be accommodated, as the number catering for to compete will not justified, so moderns compete together on the same course.
The main problem is the course setters, they often don't allow flowing lines and try to accommodate all grades, so the trial if set for twinshock in theory should be an easier modern trial.
The twinshock is generally not suited to these trials, it is often too tight and can be dangerous with drum brakes in steep loose corners, or steep rock climbs. So what do you do, sit by and let the clubs over here keep doing this? I tried to get momentum going a couple of years back for twinshocks to get the numbers up to compete in the series that was run then. The odd course setter was keeping twinshocks in mind, majority ruled and it was a modern trial again. Also I dont dare to raise a non-stop rule trial, I got shot down in flames for that, it's too confusing?
However one event a Scott Trial is non-stop, but far too hard on a twinshock as I found out, after two days it was too hard on bike and body, unless you like to be time penalised each lap!
So what do I do now, leave the TY as a shed filler? No, I will modify the bikes performance and setup to be able to ride the easier series still. What I intend to do is get the bike to deliver a more snappier mid-range to be able to make it more enjoyable to ride and not be frustrated and left wondering why I entered. Sure my ability wont be a factor, but I will possibly drop less points. The hard trials, I will ride the modern, simple as that.
This weekend a Twinshock Challenge is being set, the only twinshock event set for our club's calendar. After the twinshock series was dropped last year, lucky I raised this point with the club president and this is all we got, one trial for twinshocks that is run under modern rules, set in mind for twinshocks and moderns. I will be pushing for a series again for next season.