OAP

Don't worry about it. Balance and lift the front wheel with which ever feel the most in balance. You sound like me. My good foot is my left, but I pull a wheelie, ie bring the front up with power with my right foot forward. It confused me at first but then i soon realised that with more powerful momentum based moves i need to lift the front with my right and launch with my left as it comes around, such as a pedal up or rolling pedal kick. I hope that makes sense Im by no means an expert and a lot more people on this forum could probably do a better job of explaining it! What I would say though is get your balance nailed before you get stuck into pedal kicks. Try to get to a stage where you can balance without rocking (or a minimal amount) and without your front wheel turned. Then when you have this practice squatting down with your weight over your rear tyre and loading your good foot. Then once your there practice gently releasing your rear brake and letting your front come up slowly and in a controlled manner as you stand up straight to meet the bars. You should have enough control by then to raise the front back up if it dips by cranking the pedals slightly. Hope that helps. It worked for me.

Owdo. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this. I've just put my back wheel back on, set the snailcams and tightened the wheel back up. But when I turn the cranks the chain slackens slightly, then tightens up again? this action coincides with a slight clunking noise from the rear sprocket. I've checked the alignment and it seems to be ok. Does anybody have any idea what could be going on?? Cheers Stu.

I learnt that riding gnarly coastal limestone is demoralising and made me feel even less able at trials. BUT.... I also learnt that when you get back on gritstone / quarries it makes it all seem that little bit easier!!!

Yeh they do look a crazy angle. I adopted that angle originally to help keep my elbows in and down when on the rear wheel and I have just got used to them like that I suppose. Old habits and all that...!!

Here is my pride and joy. I'm not too keen on the funky graphics and the front V!Z pads. But it rides great. All parts supplied by Tarty. Frame – Neon Bow 26 2011 Wheelbase: 1095mm
Chainstay Length: 380mm
BB Rise: 45mm Bottom Bracket -Trialtech Sport Lite ISIS with Bolts. Headset - V!Z sealed Forks – Neon Curved Blade Stem – Trialtech sport forged high rise 130mm x 25deg Stem Spacers - Trialtech carbon 10mm + 5mm. Bars – TryAll high rise riser. Grips - Rockman foam. Freewheel – Tryall 108.9 18T Rear sproket – Echo splined 15T Cranks – Tryall ISIS 175mm Pedals – Echo TR Caged Chain – Trialtech Z610 HX 3/32. Half ring – Neon Bow. Snail cams – Rockman. Brake Clamps – Echo SL. Brakes – HS 33 (pre 05) Front Pads – V!Z yellow (not too good) Rear Pads – Heatsink Coust on CNC backings (love em!) Rear rim - Atomz/UN elitis Front rim - Trialtech squared holes. Rear hub - Echo SL. Front hub - Echo TR non disk. Spokes - Sapim race silver. Rear Tyre – Continental Rubber Queen. Front Tyre – Continental Mountain King. Trialtech rim tape Continental MTB tubes. Weight 8.76Kg

Here is my pride and Joy!!! not too keen on the funky graphics and the front viz pads (although they have got better). But I love it. All parts from Tarty as they are only a few miles away. Frame – Neon Bow 26 2011 Wheelbase: 1095mm
Chainstay Length: 380mm
BB Rise: 45mm Bottom Bracket -Trialtech Sport Lite ISIS with Bolts. Headset - V!Z sealed Forks – Neon Curved Blade Stem – Trialtech sport forged high rise 130mm x 25deg Stem Spacers - Trialtech carbon 10mm + 5mm. Bars – TryAll high rise riser. Grips - Rockman foam. Freewheel – Tryall 108.9 18T Rear sproket – Echo splined 15T Cranks – Tryall ISIS 175mm Pedals – Echo TR Caged Chain – Trialtech Z610 HX 3/32. Half ring – Neon Bow. Snail cams – Rockman. Brake Clamps – Echo SL. Brakes – HS 33 (pre 05) Front Pads – V!Z yellow (not too good) Rear Pads – Heatsink Coust on CNC backings (love em!) Rear rim - Atomz/UN elitis Front rim - Trialtech squared holes. Rear hub - Echo SL. Front hub - Echo TR non disk. Spokes - Sapim race silver. Rear Tyre – Continental Rubber Queen. Front Tyre – Continental Mountain King. Trialtech rim tape Continental MTB tubes. Weight 8.76Kg

I use small hops and tweak the bars in the direction i want to rotate. I used to struggle with this ..... but I am getting better since i started using smaller hops. I just flex my foot at the ankle. If that all makes sense!

Big thanks to anyone who has given me a vote for validation. I posted just to introduce myself and speak up for us older riders. But i suppose it would be good to get validated at some point and contribute where i can on the rest of the forum. Cheers.

Great vids!!! At nearly 50 your an inspiration Ateam. When I was deliberating weather to give trials another go it was a old post of yours on the OT forum that made up my mind. They look like nice riding locations. I've just spent the afternoon in a dark damp quarry, in the drizzle and mud. Which all adds up to make gapping even more sketchy. Just keep telling myself it's good for the skills!!!

Blackburn. I tend to ride local quarries, but also travel further afield to lake district and yorkshire when i get the time.

Hi all im new to the forum but have been doing quite a bit of lurking so i thought it time i posted. I can't yet post in the other areas but I read through a thread regarding age asking 'is such an age too old to get into trials'. I've dipped in and out of trials for years with out much success due to not knowing any other riders and lack of info. It took me several years to of watching a short clip of ot pi at the beginning of a sheffield indoor video to figure out he was propelling himself forward on the rear wheel by a kicking action to his pedals. fast forward about 20 years and with all the info on the internet, stockists like Tarty it couldn't be easier to get into trials!! so at 38 I bought a mod on ebay and tried again. That was last year, I've recently got a new stock and sold my mod. I've got heaps to learn and perfect but im having fun and keeping fit. But I was hesitant initially due to my age and i do feel a bit of a dick riding street (can't see myself in skinny jeans and retro trainers with my undies hanging out) so i stick to natural. I think the sport of trials could benefit a lot from promoting a few of it's older riders. They may not be at the top skills wise but for a someone out there who is 30, 40 or 50 to see someone of a similar age riding is all the encouragement they need. Like i say im 38, run my own business and have very little time. I ride when I can. Yeh I've got aches and injuries, from motox, climing (both sports that have older participants) but that only makes me more determined. If i get a sore shoulder, I sort out why. Recently got into yoga as a result of an injury. Also I was tiring easy so I've started jogging. I suppose what im trying to say is let's have some older riders supported by the manufacturers, shops etc. No one is ever too old. Trials is great fun, keeps you fit and may even get you into other sports aswel. end of ramble. cheers.

Hi. I'm just in the process of revamping a second hand Echo lite long. I'm 6'2" tall and i'm figuring that i should fit a tall and long as possible stem and bars set up as I can get? I'm looking at Echo stem 185mm 35 degrees and Trialtech high rise bars with a total rise of 110mm. Is this the right thinking? or is it just all down to personal preference? Many thanks. Stu.

Hi im Staurt. Been riding bikes since I was about 10. BMX, trials, road, MTB and motocross. I've had a fascination with trials since i first saw a trials bike in a local motorcycle trials dealership. It was a Fantic and was made of square steel tubing!! Years later I bought a Monty 20". Then several years later a got Brisa B26. Without the tinternet it was difficult to learn how to master trials techniques, no matter how many times I watched Martin Ashton's video and studied a small section of Ot Pi on the beginning of a Sheffield Indoor video I had. So yep I've struggled, dropped in and out of this great sport over the years. But I'm back for another go. I've got myself a second hand Echo lite (long because i'm 6'2") and at 37 i feel a bit old for it. But b0ll@(%s to it, i'm going to give it my best shot. I live in Lancashire and prefer to ride natural. Cheers. Stu.