Two Wheel Blogs

Anyone out there enjoy watching or riding Trials (Observed Trials Riding)?

Even during my earliest days of riding, I was into Trials riding...I did not know it at the time, but I was. If you take everything that looks cool and can be done on a bike...there is a pretty good chance that it is common place in a cycling niche known as "observed trials" or "Trials Riding". The bunny hop, the track stand, the pivot, the rock walk, the drop, the lurch, the manual, the nose wheelie....just about every "trick" either came from or ended up as a staple in Trials riding.

It is worthy to mention that these moves in themselves do not constitute trials riding...only when a rider has mastered these (and other moves) to the point of precision whereby he/she can use them to maneuver their bicycle through a series of obstacles that ordinary riders would find difficulty portaging their bikes across, do I attach the term "Trials".

Recently, I have decided to make an effort to improve on my skills...namely Trials riding. I have always enjoyed aspects of it, but now I am publicly stating that I am going to make a bigger effort to become a full fledged Trials nut.

First of all, I am doing it the hard way...on a 29er. There are two main divisions of Trials riding; Stock, and Mod. Stock rules state (among other things) that the bike shall have 26 inch wheels and a functional rear derailleur. Mod allows for dedicated single speed, and any sized wheels you want (Mod riders nearly always use 20 inch wheels because they are VERY agile, light, strong, and they allow for the highest BB rise). Of course, rules are only for competition, but on the street "Mod" generally means that the bike has tiny wheels, and "Stock" is anything with 26 inch wheels (and generally is single speed, and looks nothing at all like a bike that most shops would stock).

Second of all, I can not state clearly enough how difficult this is. I am not talking about pulling the moves (those are difficult in their own right), I am talking about the physical effort needed to go even a short distance in Trials mode. Lurching, or hopping around on the back wheel moving in a forward direction will leave the average XC rider heaving wind inside of about 20 feet...this is strenuous stuff. For the past few days, I have been playing around until I get so tired that I can no longer do the basic stuff that is easy to me (this only requires about 30 minutes).

I have a long road ahead of me....

Third. I am learning quickly how important Trials-specific gear is. Safety gear is something that I will take everyone's word on...I am not going to learn this the hard way (helmet, gloves, and shin guards...the shin guards are on order). The bike gear is another story...

If I wanted to take the word of seasoned trial riders, I would order up a pimpy Mod bike and start going big (these little bikes are set up such that they are stiff, light, and disgustingly flickable...OTOH the BB is SOOOO high that coasting down a curvy hill is difficult at best). The most striking thing to me about a Mod bike is the BB height. Try to imagine moving your BB spindle up to nearly 3 inches ABOVE the wheel axles...This allows the bike to become very UNstable on two wheels (by contrast, on a 29er the BB sits well below the axles on the wheels which makes them VERY stable on two wheels...that is one reason so many people report great cornering, climbing, and low endo potential). The high BB of a Mod bike allows the rider to get up onto the rear wheel very easily and almost effortlessly...once there the rider can "camp" on the rear wheel.

Nope, not me, I am too broke to get a new bike. I am using an old SS that I have...My Karate Monkey. This bike really sucks for Trials for a few reasons: The BB is low even by XC standards. The wheels are big (29er) and hold a lot of inertia. It has cracks in the frame, and is heavy. However, this bike is good for me to learn trials on for a few reasons: It has really short chain stays (which help me to get onto and stay on the rear wheel). It is way too small for me (therefore allows me to "own" it and flick it better than a larger bike). It is paid for (I can actually afford it).

Here is what I have learned so far:

1. I suck at Trials. (Perhaps contrary to what some of my riding buddies may think?) I am the guy that hops around on rock outcrops and seeks out the hard line on the trails in hopes of a little extra fun...this does not seem to have indicated much pre-disposition to excel in trials riding.

2. Trials bikes have wide rims, because the lateral stresses rolls the tires right off of skinny rims (especially when you suck like I do...and make wild corrections to stay on the bike).

3. Trials riding is even harder on bike parts than my typical riding style (in only two days I shelled my BB, and have rolled 2 tires off the back rim).

In the next couple days, I may post up some more about what I have learned (which is actually quite a bit)...make no mistake though....fact that I have learned a lot does not mean that I can do very much.