Will There Be Another

[lewis.jackson]

I was thinking the other day about trials and i then thought about Mr Ashton himself and what he has done fro trails. I then got thinking about all the big well known riders but i cant see that there will be another Ashton.

Trials has changed so much in my eyes and in a way it good but in another way its not so good because im sure more people will know of Ashton but not so many will know of Nezza or Danny mac or anyone like that.

Id just like to know you thoughts on this.

Edited February 6, 2008 by lewis.jackson

[Conor the basher.]

Ashton still rides and so dose his son ......

Edited February 6, 2008 by Conor the basher.

[Revolver]

i'm not sure anyone can be as influential as martyn. He was there at the start of mountain bike trials and helped it to become its own sport.

You're an idiot.

I have my moments

Edited February 6, 2008 by Disasterboy

[lewis.jackson]

I know that ashton still rides and i dont think your really getting though point.

Ashton has been all over the world riding and showing the sport off and he has had loads of MBUK covers and has his own spot in it.

I can see anyone being like that anymore.

[Tony Harrison]

Back then trials was different. And besides, the Martins (both of them) made it look 'cool'. They were doing 'stunts' as much as trials, and the MBUK articles were entertaining. They came across as lively, funny characters. Perhaps most importantly, it appealed to non trials riders too. I still think the videos they did are good to watch, despite the fact they're so old. For example, I'd rather watch Chainspotting again than the latest 5 or 6 videos posted on here.

I suppose trials was just different then. If I had to think of people who are good now that remind me of them, it would probably be Porter and Wayne. But also don't forget, the Martins were backed by international bike companies, who now obviously aren't going to try and compete (seriously) with dedicated trials brands.

[lewis.jackson]

Yer i guess you have it right there but i just find it sad that its not going to be as cool as it was.

Dont get me wrong trials is still cool but in a diffrent way.

Its all about going big now.

[Tony Harrison]

Yeah, it's sort of why I lost interest a bit. It used to be fun (I'm talking waaaay back in 1999 here!!) to get up early at the weekend, watch Chainspotting or T&S, and then go out on the seafront and piss about. Whether it was little street sections, steps, wheelies or proper trials stuff, it was all about fun.

[Alex Dark]

I agree..trials was a lot more fun when people pissed around doing wheelies and endos on spesh's and other hardtails.... It was more about riding your bike than costanty striving to get better...or sponsored etc

[lewis.jackson]

Now you know what im on about.

Id love it if trials went back to the days of the marts but i cant see it happening. I still remember the pics of ashton that made me want to do trials one day and when i got my first trials bike as i saw it (DDG SHOOTER) it was the best thing in the world and ib watch Tricks and Stunts then go and try some of the things i saw.

Nowadays id watch some vids on here and just think wow that good and not holy shit i want to do that.

Sad times

[Tony Harrison]

I know how you feel. I'm not inspired anymore really. I watch big sidehop videos, but there's nothing that makes me want to go and practice, because I know that if I achieve 50", then I'll just want 51", and so on. Perhaps that's why riders like Akrigg are good to watch. The Trial Noir DVD was inspiring, and that kind of stuff is always good to watch.

[Mark W]

neil tunnicliffe has done important things for our sport.

He's shown us just how high and far someone can go on a bike.

He's also one of the people who are closing the gap between street trials and bmx

Disagree with lines 1 and 3.

[lewis.jackson]

You got that right the trial noir DVD is really good to watch as its not all big stuff and its got the fun look of trials.

It seems like people just what to get sponsors and thats not what i thought trials was about.

[Tony Harrison]

Really it all comes down to personal enjoyment.

But... there's no denying trends exist. The 'tuck' photo thread is a prime example of this. Whilst on one hand you could argue that sharing newer techniques is good, at the same time is it healthy for people to labour over learning them when many of them will never ride in a competition anyway. Perhaps it's like training for a battle that never comes?

[lewis.jackson]

I guess i can only dream about the old days now as they will never come back.

Id still pay to go and watch Ashton now and id still pay to buy his dvds. I wish he would mack a new one.

[psycholist]

Trials is mostly about riding your bike over things most people wouldn't believe a bike could be taken over, without touching the ground and making it look easy... It's damned hard making things look easy though, I'm still trying - that's what it's really about, find a line and keep practicing until you can make it look easy, then find a harder line - the competition is between you and the terrain...

[lewis.jackson]

Yer your rite there but the main thing that it seems everyone forgets is that its ment to be fun.

Iv seen vids were the riders will get stressed out and sulk or even through the bike in a paddy.

iv got a friend that gets really pissed off if he cant do a line and i just keep saying to him "calm down and have fun"

Why do riders feel the need to get stresst over something fun?

[JonMack]

neil tunnicliffe has done important things for our sport.

He's shown us just how high and far someone can go on a bike.

He's also one of the people who are closing the gap between street trials and bmx

Agreeing with Marks point, can you please explain those statements?

[notknown]

no one has the right attitude in trials *at the moment* to be the next martins. there is no reason why what the have achieved cant be done again.

[Waynio]

OH wow cheers ian

i think me and porter as snappel has said, we would be entertaining and we dont take things serious. (maybe this is just how we take most things?) but as the topic says i dont see anyone who will fill martyn's role. dont get me wrong, i would love to do something like that and i bet someone like porter would too.

but if you name the big people who could, just ask yourself "could they really" as in are they the following:

1) Level headed enough

2) take to people enough

3) willing to have a laugh

4) dont take things too seious

5) do things because it pleases THEM and not others

6) comes up with creative ideas to make something work or happen

and most people dont really get past number 1? some big riders are big headed OK this is a good thing for "their" morale, but is it the idea that other riders should take??? take the UK trials scene now? "PERSONALLY" it has alot of good riders, BUT also alot of big headed riders who are stuck up their own arse and it doesnt help themselves or the sport, as the "younger" generation starting think they can get away with that sort of thing.

i remember someone saying to me a long time ago "never get too big for your boots" and "always keep both feet on the ground" and i live to this day (hopefully) thinking i have done this, if someone needs a hand, you give them a hand, if someone asks a question you give them a nice/polite answer. the person that said the 1st phrase unfortunatly is no longer living and it is this point i stick to as when i was young this "old guy" was an idol to me. he was a friend of my mother and to this day i will 100% apprecaite the advice he had to offer me when i was younger.

ON the other hand there are riders who are totally mis understood and totally under rated and deserve alot more recognition for what they do for "OUR" sport. the other KEY to trials is bikes have no seats (therefore are TRIALS specific (not a bad thing obv)) there is no money to throw in the pot for a rider (well there is but it is VERY hard to obtain)

Wayne.

PS sorry for the rant and the essay

[Revolver]

...

Edited February 6, 2008 by Disasterboy

[lewis.jackson]

You just made a really good point and i hope everyone who looks at this should read what you spent your time writing and there is no need to say sorry for what you believe.

+1

Edited February 6, 2008 by lewis.jackson

[Waynio]

:$ usually people dont like reading long posts though.

Wayne.

[Simpson]

Hmmm i don't know its a hard one really. The other question people should maybe ask is do we NEED another Ashton? Ashton has done great things for the sport with chainspotting and all the inspriation he has shown to younger riders and taking trials into a whole different class of riding, we are no longer a offspring from mountain biking, we are in our own right our own disipline.

I think that there are many people working very hard to keep trials alive, people who run comps and clubs and those riders who offer training and support to younger riders. I really think we have enough of a basis now to function without someone having to try to fill Ashtons boots (because they won't) i think people truley underestimate how hard it is for people to organise and run comps, with insurance paper work etc. out of the goodness of their own heart, i mean i doubt they earn much but just do it for the satisfaction

And as for street riders, everyone pretty much know's everyone through this great forum now so organisation isn't really a problem on that front. I think we have a lot of people on this forum who in their own right have contributed to the expansion and public knoledge of what we do i could list millions of people -

The Thinkbikes team (Spode, Dave, Phil etc.) for getting people who have never seen it before, Waynio and people like the Butlers for having a massive influence of young riders in the comp scence, (i remember them teaching the best way to do lines and his advise to me which ill never forget) All the "big" riders for really pushing the bounds of what we do - and all those riders who have been so nice and helpfull to me although im not a god on a bike

Not sure where im going, but hopefully you get something about my post hahaha

[JonMack]

no

instead i'll make a few adjustments

You're an idiot.

[F-Stop Junkie]

There could absolutely be another Martyn or Martin. What it takes though is a realisation of how you make money, how you can't wait for these things to happen to you, but work at it. Make it a job.

I remember when I started going to comps, and I sometimes saw Hawziee but rarely ever Ashton. As much as he loved - and love I think - competitions he's well aware that demos and magazine coverage pays the bills. The early magazine features the Martins did reflect this to, as they were accessible and inventive. I'd imagine early on that it was The Martins going to MBUK saying 'You know we could ride over a house?'

It's not enough to get good competition results - few people care - or to have one great Internet video, you need to promote yourself and keep in touch with those who matter, and stand out. In a good way. When a magazine editor is wringing his hands trying to find something interesting for the November issue, the idea you pitched is going to look good compared to probably making do with another feature on technical fibres and the need to wear layers.

You can't wait for it to happen to you. If you want to do your own thing, don't expect to get famous. Now working hard and making it look effortless is a harder trick to pull...

I think the other problem these days is that trials bikes are so specialised that a lot of people can't relate to them. Of course he can hop high, look at his stupid bike! I bet if I had one I could do that... Martyn's 24" with gears, saddle and suspension is a much easier bike to relate to for most than some Vario work of scaffolding with no gears.

As Nick Larson once accurately observed, Trials-Forum is one of the best things to happen to trials, and one of the worst. Any new superstar is compared to The Forum Favourite, and denigrated if they don't match up. Also a lot of demo stuff - for the public anyway - isn't technically amazing, but it looks good and it works. Ryan Leech riding along a 4x4s winch cable worked on so many levels, even though it was maybe 10" off the ground. Show that on here and someone would say "Yeah, but I bet he can't sidehop 50"..."

It doesn't matter though. I'm sure someone will take the initiative and get coverage and appear in videos. Some forum brats will be bitching that they don't match up to whoever has the cool video out at the time, but the guy on magazine covers will inspire far more people to give trials a try, and he'll (or she'll) become the next generation's legend. All it needs is for someone who's detirmined and can put the work in.