Tommy d

Sweet I'm in there!

Yeah that was nice, I need to get my ass back to Folkestone

Quality video! Nice wheelie, and skatepark in the rain is bravery :bow:

Good skills, I like

Brake: Magura HS33 2004 Brake pad: Kool Stop red that came fitted (3 years old) Rim: Smooth, no tar. Wheel size: 26" Works: alright. Can't be bothered to do anything with it because it's reliable and my tyre always slips before it does. Loads of modulation.

All of the above with a bit of Tra freerunning thrown in too

Ah I see. So the chainstays on a Leeson are dead straight all the way along? Didn't know that. Looking at this picture of my frame (Iolo) I think I get the idea, the chainstay would extend right to the BB so it has to be wider to join on. (I'm pretty slow to understand mechanical things) Now I understand why my frame had to have a 73mm shell. That was such a pain finding a long enough BB to make my chainring clear the frame! Hence spacer/cable tie bodge in that picture to push it out... (Now I have 73 x 127 UN54) By the way is the straight chainstay thing just for strength?

Yeah not a bad idea, if you can be bothered! I've had some other ideas for 'concept' videos, which I will also probably never bother to make: A whole video (a couple of minutes) consisting of a single clip. The ultimate test of stamina, creativity, consistency, and having a really good place to ride. Easy to edit though! No pedalling? I've seen one or two pretty impressive chainless sections in videos before. Same idea but brakeless? I have this theory that the smoothest possible riding is no use of pedalling or breaks... that only works for flowy stuff though, actualy trials is kind out of the question! Indoor videos are quality too. Not many kicking about though.

Signed. I've never been but I probably ought to get myself down there since I'm in Southampton half the year. If it stays open! Anyone involved might want to check out the recent successful campaign to save Revolution in Kent if you're after ideas. www.revolutionskatepark.co.uk

To the original post: I agree. I don't think I'd say I'm scared of change, but I tend to be suspicious of new things until they've been around for a while. Ahhh maybe I am scared... The normal-looking bike theory is also true but that's not really what makes me prefer old-school stuff, I mean for one thing I just like to be able to sit down! I had a bike with no proper seat for a couple of years and now having a seat feels so good. Also, old-school geometry (i.e. short) just suits how I like to ride. I realise it's less appropriate if you're trying to set a new sidehop record, but to me that's no fun anyway so who cares. I'd much rather a round of don't-repeat-the-move! Still on the mechanical side, I saw the topic just now about problems with new school smaller sprockets not having enough chain wrap. Another thing, admitedly not amazingly often but still useful, is that the more similar my trials bike and dirt/downhill bikes are, the easier I can swap parts between them if I need to. I still like to consider my trials bike a mountain bike. I guess that would be even more true if I ever actually rode natural... And I'm sure most people would hold this opinion anyway, but trials definitely doesn't have to be boring to watch! It's true that a strictly TGS video is boring to me if it lasts longer than about a minute, but to a non-rider it would be fascinating to see that someone riding a bike (well, ish) can make it jump that high/far. From my experiences with showing videos to friends, they need be no less exciting than a high-speed big air sports. Street videos where you see riders doing stuff on obstacles that people recognise from their high street tend to make people emit gasps and/or swear words. And I would say that both riders and non-riders could appreciate a street-style bike battle where the aim is to do something inventive on a course rather than to clear it without dabbing.

Forgive my ignorance but why are Leeson BBs different to normal? Is this the eccentric BB tensioning thing?

Now I feel smug with my archaic 22:18 large cogs for badass chain wrap

That one made me laugh the most. We didn't really do much prankage on the last day, was more about the atmosphere cos most people in our year got on really well. We did explore the Forbidden Tower in our school though (the building is really old), was pretty cool with the 50-year old grafitti up there and you could see the whole town!

It's well good fun, I am no expert but I dabble occasionally. We always used to do it on rides when one of us had a puncture, was quality. I reckon if you ride trials your body is half way towards being able to do most of that stuff, just gotta learn it! Who's seen TRA's old vids where the 2nd half of the vid was free running?

Wow what an interesting topic. I'll be honest I was only drawn in by the promise of 2800 words of irrational anger. I wrote that much in a weekend for an assignment, and it nearly killed me. I love the diversity of stuff you find on Trials Forum, it's a bit of a shame more people don't The first post was quite thought provoking so it worked on me if that was part of the point. The only bit I didn't really follow was where we went from global warming to the end of the world, that's an ending I genuinely haven't come across before. I believe the environment is pretty screwed but that people will sort it out and salvage most of it after they see some bigger consequences. All the floods happening right now, I wonder if that will make some people think? Could be a normal weather pattern... maybe not... I know it's not really the point but I was pleased about the smoking ban. I just find it really unpleasant. I can kind of see how it looks as though alcohol etc could follow, I just don't reckon it ever will. The whole thing does get a bit 1984 especially when you think about ID cards as well and plenty of other issues, but I tend to believe that most of this stuff will turn out alright eventually cos I'm an optimist. The post is too big for me to comment on all the little things that occurred to me when reading it, I do need some sleep tonight at some point! Now for the rest of the topic: If Poopipe ruled the world and the smoking tax thing was in, I think I'd hate life if my friends decided they liked the taxed smoking pubs or if they were where I could get work... And the phrase 'intellectual sex' tickled my funny bone. So do a lot of the things people come out with, hooray for tangents! Sorry my brain is throwing in the towel, it's bed time now.

Yeah good stuff, shame about the frame rate, guess it's an old school video camera too Methinks I saw Herne Bay there, but where else were you riding?

What else has V-Dub been in? I've only seen JIB but he's amazing so I'd love to see some more...

An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore) 9/10 You get to laugh at his amusing pronunciation of tricky words like 'niche', plus it's pretty well made and if you listen to what he says it's powerful stuff.

I am pretty sunburnt, now that I did not see coming!

No no no the forecast is for rain later in the afternoon so gotta get in quick! Anyway, Hollyoaks?!

That sounds good to me. For once the trains are at a convenient time so I'll see you there at 11, unless it's heavy rain. Latest on the BBC says dry in the morning and early afternoon but who knows. I'll probably post on here before I leave (or don't leave). See you tomorrow

For the Hungarian Rhapsody, this is the version you want: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BcV19rylSZc (I've got no idea how you make it come up in your post!) My interest in classical music is kind of sporadic, but this is a bit of a tune: (you will know it) http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o

Cool, well I'll come too as long as it isn't pouring with rain. I can cope with a bit of drizzle but my brakes don't work in the wet. Any clues for meeting place and time?

Mine is only a few months old but so far it's tough enough to take the pain. I was amazed how light it was when I got it, I may have wasted that when I put a seat on but oh well Are you after a proper seat tube or not? The only trouble I had with my frame was getting a seat post to fit! Otherwise very highly recommended.

Herne Bay is pretty good, only been there a couple of times before too. I think Gilly is working tomorrow now so not sure about Ramsgate anyway, and weather is not looking good. Are you/people actually riding Herne Bay on Sunday then?