Shez.sheridan

Okay TF Basically I had a brief interview with Dainese last week in Italy, which ended with the Design Manager asking me to create 2-3 products (of my choice) to test my ability/understanding of the company. Now, the Design Manager was quite influenced by my interest in trials - hmm, opportunity I thought. From my experience I find wearing a helmet/protection: - Distracting - extra momentum i.e. helmet. - Resrictive - cant see/move limbs properly - Uncomfortable - too hot, poor ventilation (mainly due to low velocities involved) - Over the top (aesthetically) - look like a t*at.. However, you feel secure & that's the main point.. For me trials is about agility, flexibility & power - I'd love to wear as much protection as a downhill rider, but I wouldn't be able to move..a back protector like daineses would be ideal, but even that is far too restrictive - imagine trying to 180 in one...you'd hardly be able to move your back. Do others agree? I'm looking to design some gear that may not offer the same amount of protection as a full downhill outfit, but something a little more minimal that compliments the nature/culture surrounding trials. I think I will primarily orientate the products towards street as this is where I feel/have witnessed people are at their most vunerable - (usually natural involves comps - therefore people are forced by the rules to wear protection). I'm looking to create a line of clothing that incorporates elements of protection - for example, a casual shirt with a layer of intergrated back protection - a hoodie, with an integrated unit to protect your head/back etc.. I need your views guys, all constructive comments are welcome... Derv

A bit of a random idea - it's three o'clock in the morning, so I doubt one of my best; there should be a travelling trials park..kind of similar to the circus, but with less gypsies..& no goldfish either everyone brings a bit/object on the day (similar to a barbeque - but with pallets etc) where only the best bits actually get used, or there could be a trials tour van/truck travelling around with bits & pieces that get set up on site - which could be anywhere you please...still rolling with the gypsy theme here guys..people pay a deposit online etc. if they don't show on the day etc - yada - yada this was definately a useless solution, but fun non the less..

I'm quite pissed off actually, mainly at the ridiculous amount it costs to replace the little beggars; but happy that they never gave up on the near by Feltrina (main road) I ride to get to work - I'd be just pancake on the road... Firstly, I wouldn't mind if I actually rode them hard...I am a tad heavy handed, but considering I A: can't, don't and have never taken the opportunity to develop any kind of front hooks B: don't & can't successfully wheel swap on anything over 12" C: and only really ride for 2 hours every week (if I'm lucky) I'm bemused as to how this has happened - I rode over a kerb & the steering went heavy, then dove under breaking...tut, bearings I thought - ah, sh*te; but oh no, only after I'd peeled half the frickin' stickers off the front with my nice oily hands to remove the 'stop steer' bolt, when I noticed a large crack running around the base of the steerer tube - 'stop steer, stop steer'....you're Goddamn right it stops steering. Here are some pics, I peeled the forks apart like a babybel - funny how people always associate monty with cheese; I think I'm beggining to see the connection..if you look closely at the pics however, there were two sets of scoring around the fork, one where it snapped (which is no longer visible - I peeled them), and one underneath thats only cut partway into the fork (visible).. I'm assuming the bearings havent been holding the forks in place correctly, as I also imagine the scoring probably came from rubbing against the internal rim of my frame - am I wrong?

I usually try not to get involved with thezse topics..but remember, you know the risk, you know the kind of tits that linger around & what they get up to - and yes it is unfortunate when you have a run-in with these gangs..but it's is a risk you take when you gou out trying to practice a sport you enjoy.. The police won't do anything regardless - in the widnes I've seen 5 police cars circling an area the size of two football fields, in the space of five minutes...none of which were circling in the problematical areas of the town..such as the centre. I've had numerous run-ins with the groups of bone heads that linger around, you just have to remember they're big fish in a very little pond & in two years time they'll never be remembered..unfortunately, some of the damage they do can be. I was arrested at the age of 14 for walking around our local estate with a gang of friends - some of which decided to steal christmas tree-lights (as I was not stealing/involved, I was okay or so I thought)...but the police arrested me anyway as my presence proved I was 'aiding & abetting' - it's easy pickings for them. I'm not going to bitch on, as there really is nothing you can do..but the police did nothing when: I was beaten & hospitalised by a group of 10-15 18 year old boys & girls outside a local off-license, in a re-occuring trouble spot (the girls were the worst believe it or not) - the shop had cctv & the police didn't even bother to check as I can't identify any of them - mainly due to the fact that I do not recal the incident, or the night of the attack, or a few days after to be honest due to the fact that it damaged my short-term memory for a time after the attack. Then I was threatened with a knife (which I never seen) & beaten by three 18yr olds while biking alone.. Then recently my Dad was punted off the road by a drunk/drugged driver (a woman), who then proceeded to drive away from the incident. The Dadman called the police & guess what, will they go out to find her that night to stop her dangerous driving, given that my Dad had provided them wwith her registration plate...no, they would do no such thing as they would "visit her within 7-14 days" - convenient. My point is, don't expect anyone else to look out for you - you are your responsibility & if you decide to ride out, or alone, you know the risks... I just made sure I had something to defend myself with...the biggest spanner I could find in my Dad's shed, when I rode..I used to strap it to my shin-pads & the spanner was as long as my shin..lol

Okay boys & girls.. Can someone please help me...I've been stuck for ages on hopping up things, I'm not really getting any higher & it's bugging the hell out of me.. First, I used to ride a t-mag...that had quite a high rise on the stem & was easy to hop up..I can now get higher on my monty but not by much.. Here's a quick set of stills to explain.. As the monty has a lower rise on the stem, I find that I have to put a lot more energy into the bike which is fine, but I find that even when I tuck as far as I can (my legs are'nt as supple as the used to be), I still don't end up very far over the rear wheel as I have to stretch further to reach the bars because of the stem. I also don't reallt take any real speed on the run up, as I find I can hop nearly the same height with a 10 bike length run up, as a three.. Let me see...I squat, pedal & lean back & tuck - recently I've been trying to incorporate throwing all of my weight up towards the bars as I lift off (as if I'm trying to throw myself over them) as I see that my front wheel is quite high mid jump & I feel I should be trying to make the rear wheel pivot upwards in the air to reach the same height? Any ideas guys?

Pedaled....not really at any kind of level for booning... Derv

'Boon it'....still non the wiser..

I never post pics of my riding, so I thought I'd take one or two at the back of work today..not the best, or my biggest by anymeans...but I like 'em.. The multi-burst function is so good for analysing your technique, or in my case, why you f*ck up your bike..lol Derv

As with me under usual circumstances..but what I'm trying to explain is that sometimes I've experienced injuries that are relatively low in comparative pain (psychologically), but my body's response seemed automatic - like it's interpretation of the incident was far more dramatic..ridiculously overcompensating by trying to shut down, with what I expect are similar effects to shock..

Lol...thanks, but I expect I have a relatively normal threshold... I'm not talking about pain - to be honest my knee didn't even hurt too much (I know I've had far worse when riding; with no problems) - just I think my body thought differently & seemed to go into overdrive.. I've taken bad falls & been okay - I've propelled myself chin first onto rocks, broken my finger(s) etc & been relatively fine, but I've also had times where my body's automatic response seems to overcompensate for something that feels/seems far more minor - i.e. I bang my knee & my body seems to act as if I'm dying. What I'm trying to explain is that sometimes i think my psychological interpretation of an injury differs from my bodys physiological response..& does anyone else find this..

As with many other bike related sports, it's obvious in trials that your body's going to take a lot of harsh abuse over time..however, everytime I bang a bone I seem to go through some of the milder symptoms of shock.. Usually if brake slips on a drop/gap & I land on my back..no problem, I'll be up & walking again within 2-3 minutes; but knock my knee hard on the stem & my body goes ballistic...my breath shortens, I go dizzy & have to walk around constantly just to stop myself from feeling like I'm gonna pass out.. This happened last night & it isn't the first time - does anyone else have this problem? Derv

I've had this a few times from a combination of trials & daily use of Photoshop/illustrator.. Usually I get the masseuse who comes into work to take a look at it - The problem is usually overuse/overworking of the tendons in the forearm (although the problem seems like it's in your wrist..mine usaually burn like crazy) . There are many parts of the body, especially in my back between the deeper layers of muscle, that are surprisingly tender....but the discomfort is usually one of relief when she massages them (sometimes using even her elbows to massage depper tissue) - however, when it comes to my forearms, I usually sound like I have Terret's Syndrome as it's excruciatingly painful..”holy f*ck, you b*stard...” As trials riders, your forearms are probably going to be proportionally overdeveloped compared to the rest of your body - as with mine. Icing your forearms once or twice a day when you have this problem helps reduce the inflammation providing you rest (i.e. no trials for a couple of weeks) Derv

What are Czar's like to ride - I'm currently riding a 20" 221ti, and I'm toying with the idea of buying a Czar from Tartybikes; as I'd like to see if I can improve any on a 26". What specs your bike...as if I buy one I'm not sure as to what spec to go for...eno freewheel or try & see if a king will fit? Cheers Derv

I bought this one a few weeks back - I love it ........ I've always hated helmets as they never fit my head, and they put me off, I can feel the extra weight/feel restricted etc..i.e. my old giro helmet & a piss-pot This one, I don't even notice it..it looks good and it fits well - cost me 65 Euro

I think I'm quite close to discovering the source of perpetual momentum when it comes to the acs...

a caterpillar...eventually turned into a butterfly...then some little bast*rd 'round the corner threw it down the grid.

Thought I'd post mine - it's got a nice new armourdillo (my Dadman shipped it to me, how the hell he knew what one was I'll never know...) to cover the scratches (plus one or two dents - like that when I bought it) I just built my profile onto a new rim+new tyres+red rim tape..looks like every other 221ti I suppose though? Before the makeover During the makeover Post-op....sexy little minx Derv

I bought my monty 221 second hand, and it'd seen a fair bit of action...on my old bike I used to snap bashguards (flat type) like they were going out of fashion..I think I snapped 3 new ones in total (one in just under 4 weeks), then had then all of them re-welded, which all snapped again. I've landed a few times really hard on the eagle claw when my backwheel hasn't made it (at the point where my old bash's would of gave up), and it seems, so far at least, to be a lot more robust; due in part (I imagine) to the mechanical properties of it's shape..

Okay, my problem is two fold. 1. When I bought my Monty, the lever body had been worn a little from the blade on the front Marta disc; i don't know whether it's related, but over the last few weeks when I brake the biting point has moved a lot closer to the bars - however, when I turn the bike upside down & pump the brake 2-3 times..the biting point moves back to it's original place until I stop using it for a few hours - odd? Anyone have any ideas (could also be to do with the pads?) 2. As the topic says...do they do sintered (or red pads as they used to be on my old xc4 disc) for the marta disc, and if so, does anyone know where? Thanks in advance people.. Derv.

Time's now rolling on a bit....I'm soon to be 25, and sometimes it becomes all too evident that trials modifies/damages your body... I constantly have problems with my forearms...they've always been big for my build, but trials has made them frickin' ridiculous - I use photoshop/illustrator all day in work which doesn't help, the tendons burn like sh*t. My back is built up far more than my front, especially around the base of my spine, this plus the lack of seat gives me back ache... In work here we have a massuse, once a week...everytime I have the same problems. I've spoke to her a few times about how my body works/what effects she thinks trials may have on me in the future, and it's true, it probably will cause me problems - but that's the only way I keep in shape, and possibly the one of the only true joys I've found in life..despite all the bike problems, despite the possible future consequences - there's nothing more satisfying than being in that zone, just you, the obstacle & your bike...everything else just fades away..

I didn't bother reading all of it....as most other people I expect..

I'm sure a million people have said the same...but no, it will not take off. Aeroplanes fly due to the aerodynamic properites of the wing, i.e. air flowing over it. If the main body of the aeroplane is stationary, then it will not lift atall. During take off/flight, air increasingly flows faster over the top of the wing than the bottom as the plane speeds up, creating an area of low pressure above the wing, and high pressure under..thus producing lift. This lift (speed) needs to be maintained to continue flight - if I remember my aerodynamics lessons from uni correctly. I've always found the notion that if you walk to the back of a plane whilst in flight, it will actually speed the plane up (marginally), walking to the front slows it down; more interesting. To propell yourself forwards whilst walking, you exhert an equal force (acting in the opposite direction to you walking) on the ground (aeroplane in this case). This means that if you walk to the back of the plane, your feet have to exhert a force (small in relation) on the aeroplane...your feet effectively push it in the opposite direction, which adds (by a miniscule amount) to the speed/thrust of the plane going forwards. We calculated it once in physics at sixth-form.

I remember the first day I'd rode with Mike, Dave & Leo...I learnt how to backwheel things by just watching them, rather than trying to pedal hop from a static position - I think it helps to ride with different people too while you learn..when I'd started I rode with my mate in uni at Coventry. It was good, but the tricks I tried were limited in some ways to the tricks/his riding style. I find I learn quicker riding in a small group of about 4-5 riders (big get togethers like in leeds are great, but you spend all day just watching superhuman feats) Now I ride alone and I'm not as mobile, there isn't really a trials scene over here in Italy..but then again there wasn't really one in Widnes as I used to practice alone there too . I'm better (marginally) than when I arrived here, but progress is slow.

....with my lack of skill, I obviously mean laterally (on both wheels), not vertical ; can't sidehop on my backwheel up anything .

How do you guys learn, in terms of trials I mean? I've seen people who practice 5 mins & get a move...unfortunately, I don't...it takes me a long time. I can watch a move performed/practice 1000 times, I understand exactly how it should feel/you should move your body; but I still don't get it..until that 'little thing' in my head snaps...and instantly I get it. Ive practiced trials on & off for years (1998 I started - yet I know kids who've rode for 5 months & they s*it on me). I remember learning to pedal-hop...for about 2 months I'd practiced and I was nowhere close. I was in bed in my uni room & I wasn't thinking bout trials. Then it suddenly popped into my head - I know how to pedal hop, I picked my bike off the wall & started.. Today was the same...I can sidehop (with both wheels only) about 4-5 foot if I'm lucky. I've practiced for ages & not improved. Then today, I was just f*cking around behind work, and accidentally shifted my weight a different way - added another 1-1&1/2 ft to my technique. Now I get it & can do it everytime.. Just interested to know.. Derv