Hey. I may be relatively new on here, but I'm not new to Trials riding. I've noticed whenever I mooch around these hallowed pages that there are an awful lot of riders espewing the view that "Mod is cheating"... I'm not here to start an argument, but I would like to know where this has come from and what other people think of the subject. Now, I'm fully prepared to be corrected on the following statement, but weren't the original Trials bikes all Mods? I'm fairly sure the name itself comes from the fact that they were originally modified from BMXs for motorcycle Trials riders to practice on and to keep fit between rounds/seasons. If this is true, then surely it follows that rather than 'cheating', using 'mods' is more true-to-form than the current crop of 'stock' bikes. I've ridden both, and yes some manouevres are naturally easier than others on a 'mod', but equally I find it much harder to do some moves on my 'mod' than I ever did on any of my 'stock' bikes. Would it not be a little more accurate to describe 'stock' Trials as more challenging option, something to aim for perhaps, than to refer to 'mod' riding as 'cheating'? I don't particularly like the idea that people out riding might be looking down on me for my choice of wheelsize, and I can't imagine any new riders feeling any different. A lot of newer riders really take on board what more experienced riders have to say about the sport, the equipment used and also the size/shape/style of bikes used... Putting forward an idea that people who ride 'mod' are doing so because its easier and therefore cheating seems to go against the grain of everything we say as trials riders, in that we pride ourselves on not being elitist tossers, don't you think? We always claim we'll ride with anyone, are happy to help each other progress and other things along those lines. Do these 'stock' riders somehow feel that their Trials achievements are being undermined by someone doing a similar thing but on a smaller set of wheels? Honestly? I ride 'mod' now for a couple of reasons; I'm a clumsy rider and was fed up with breaking mechs and tensioners on my 'stock', I really like the look of the 'mods', I find that I have more confidence when learning new things on a 'mod', and finally for some reason I see videos of 'mod' riders and seem to be inspired more by them than a lot of the 'stock' riders... Obviously a lot of this is personal preference , I'm not here for a "which is better?" debate, just interested in what people think - Adi -