Ali C

I did go to the gym for one winter a few years ago, not sure if it made any difference. I also had some weights at home, but I only used them when I injured my ankle to stay fit. I don't go to the gym these days.

I am a firm believer that technique is better than raw power, riding should always be more important than going to the gym, save it for a rainy day.

"I'm not that grumpy!"

I would need a lot of practice! I can't ride long bikes now after being on my Inspired for so long, I think I may do better on my inspired with a slightly lighter spec and grippier tyres than I would a pure comp bike. I am not ruling out comps, but for me right now, it's not the place to be. cheers for answering my questions Andee Dave.......... meh. (sorry to dig this up, I have been away filming in London since Thursday (check out "Sing if you can" on Sat at 7.20pm ITV1 to see some incredibly cheezy stuff))

hs33 has no advantage over front vee. a vee is: Lighter more powerful easier to adjust easier to pull pads last longer pads are easier to change can get spares from supermarkets vee forks don't crack as easily as maggie forks no cross-overs to break so yeah, why people still use front maguras is beyond me

wow! Firstly thanks for the comments about my riding! It makes me want to go and push myself more. Secondly, forgetting that Mark is my friend and neighbour, that video is possibly one of the best edited vids I have seen for a LONG time! The music was perfect, the timing with the riders was perfect, the whole vibe was spot on! Thanks for taking the time to film and edit Mark, it was well worth it!

before it closes can you answer my questions a few pages back?

it's fine

I don't think it's that bad a thing to fall off when in demos. From my experience when you fall when trying something hard, people realise that the stuff you are trying isn't a walk in the park and you are actually trying some pretty difficult and dangerous stuff. The commentator can then get the crowd really behind the rider wanting him/her to execute the move and when the rider does land it, the crowd tend to go nuts. If the demo is too easy to ride, it can show, no-one wants to see people do stuff they is easy for them, the crowd want crashes, they want the danger element.

I think that may be more adequate

Ah yes, looks like I read it the wrong way, I apologise and take back my comments made thereafter.

Dave, you say you think my type of riding isn't trials....what would you say it is? It's been a while since we rode together and you last saw me on my seatless comp bike, sure my bike now has a seat and a shorter wheelbase, but do you really think I have stopped doing trialsy stuff completely? Sure I do a few things that are directly ripped from bmx, but 90% of what I do is still traditional trialsy stuff. Also you only answered 1 of my questions (and others have ignored them completely).

in

Andee Andee, while you're here, please read and respond to my post, I am not after an argument, I am genuinely interested.

can someone like Andee or Dave answer my questions? I am actually interested in your views.

Matt, I don't mind what label myself and other go under for the type of bikes being ridden, I call myself a trials rider because the most of my riding falls under that category. the thing that grinds my gears is when I see people claim that they are the proper trials riders and people like Danny are almost cast as outsiders. What I want to know is when was the decision made about who or what makes a rider a proper trials rider or a fake one? It seems to be a pretty recent development, perhaps people never saw trials when people were winning comps on bikes with seats and gears? Lets talk about the Trials kings.....were they trials riders? I am pretty sure most (everyone?) would say yes despite the fact they hardly rode comps and were doing spins, manuals, stoppies, x-ups etc way before people had heard of Mr Macaskill or 24" bikes. Another thing I notice is that a lot of comp riders (especially the Euro guys) can be seen doing things like one handers when on the back wheel, crank flips and stuff when messing around, why is that acceptable and a tailwhip not? Like I said, I don't mind what label we are, but will the people who think trials is only comp riding with no seats please stop acting like you are more legit than the rest of us. Anyway, some of the street skills pay off in comps, take the last world champs for example, the sections had kickers in them, Gilles is an amazing rider, but he couldn't ride the kickers for shit. Kenny on the other hand rides street as well as comps, has a much more rounded riding style and crushed Gilles that day. When is a particular skill on a bike not worth having? When should a rider think "I have learned enough moves, I don't need to learn any more"? Trials is a challenge, the moment you stop wanting to learn new stuff is the moment you are failing to be a trials rider.

from my experience, you can't beat Shimano QRs

My link The hub uses end caps, they are not joined in the middle.

holy bar angle batman!

nope, it just doesn't have an axle be it threaded or not.

the Pro 2 doesn't have an axle, so bolts are not an option.

myself and Iolo invented the term years ago (2006?)

I didn't mean to upset everyone from south Wales, I apologise.

brakeless sounds like it's just what you need. I almost guarantee you'll love it.

is this your main bike? if not how about brakeless? That will teach some good skills, make the bike nice and quiet and will be REALLY fun.