Trials Scene & Influence In The Uk

[maxwellduryea]

why would you say that?

[NSE]

Trials may be bigger, but it's in a far worse state than it used to be.

You’re wrong.

When I first took a small boy to a trials comp street did not exist, Essex comps had small entries, no Tyketrial or any other clubs.

U.K. riders rarely made it in international comps, with the exception of the two M’s, (inspiration for a little kid); F-stop junkie would turn up to watch small boys ride pallets in retail parks.

Now you can go on any number of street rides of a weekend, all over the U.K. – trials cycles are not a rare sight; comps attract entries approaching 3 figures.

Trials has grown, it’s just that the newcomers do not realise how minute it used to be.

Edited March 24, 2008 by NSE

[Sneakers O'Toole]

I think he meant in terms of the style of riding these days, what with all the TGS and such.

[F-Stop Junkie]

F-stop junkie would turn up to watch small boys ride pallets in retail parks.

Thanks Fred

Heck, I'd visit a shop that had a bashring I'd never seen before in real life. The scene is much, much bigger than anyone could have imaged back in '96, let alone in the MBUK heyday of 2000ish.

I think with it has brought a lot of variety in riding styles. Some are strictly comp - like Ben Savage - while others are really innovative street riders like John Shrewsbury or Tim Stedman. There's a lot of grey in between, but I see where OBM is coming from in that a lot of riders fall into the TGS group, measuring inches and 'tuckage' (urgh...). They should go to a skate park, do a natural comp, get back to what trials is about and find some individuality.

Heck, if they do a comp, they might possibly enjoy it!

[maxwellduryea]

i want him to elaborate on why its "far worse"... im interested.

[BONGO]

You’re wrong.

When I first took a small boy to a trials comp street did not exist, Essex comps had small entries, no Tyketrial or any other clubs.

U.K. riders rarely made it in international comps, with the exception of the two M’s, (inspiration for a little kid); F-stop junkie would turn up to watch small boys ride pallets in retail parks.

Now you can go on any number of street rides of a weekend, all over the U.K. – trials cycles are not a rare sight; comps attract entries approaching 3 figures.

Trials has grown, it’s just that the newcomers do not realise how minute it used to be.

It's marks opinion. His opinion cannot simply be wrong. You disagree maybe. I agree with him though.

[Tim/Trialsin USA]

While there are a number of things than can be said about trials comps not being big in the US, most are excuses. We used to have big comps years ago.

This US counterpart to this forum is OTN (observedtrials.net). In recent years, I can't count how many times someone has started a thread "how to make trials bigger in the US"...or something like it. There is a flurry of talk..................talk...............and more talk. All very enthusiastic and well meaning........but the talk is as far as it goes. Really it is simply a matter of action over hot air.

[maxwellduryea]

Tim, remember the film "contact"...thats the film that got me into trials. Classic film. Thats when trials was booming in the states. Now DJ/Street is booming. Trials isnt the only genre of cycling hurting from needed exposure. BMXers are getting on 26" bikes just for the sheer fact that they can make money and actually get noticed, where BMX would have been much more difficult to achieve. this isnt to say taht the BMX community cares or is worried about their "scene", but it does show a shift in apparent likes or riders.

anyone following the fixed gear craze? thats a whole other topic...which i would argue is the best cross-training for trials.

cycling is changing. its good and bad.

i just miss all the kick-ass monty full body Lycra suits riders would wear at comps:)

[nek0]

To me, I think we need to introduce trials to people who are already into biking; just like UK is spreading the trials through streets and not specifically 'this is trials' attitude. I don't think people would understand in few sentence what this sport is about nor they would show interest. To me, it takes years to really understand how & why riders do what they do in the sport.

Edited March 29, 2008 by nek0

[F-Stop Junkie]

To me, I think we need to introduce trials to people who are already into biking; just like UK is spreading the trials through streets and not specifically 'this is trials' attitude. I don't think people would understand in few sentence what this sport is about nor they would show interest. To me, it takes years to really understand how & why riders do what they do in the sport.

Here enter'th the problem.

People know what trials is, they know Hans Rey and Martyn Ashton. The problem is that 'proper' trials is at such a high level that people can't equate riding over a small log with trials where they see people hop onto postboxes. Equally competitions don't cater for people on normal bikes, so people don't enter on them, so competitions don't cater for them...

A lot of people use trials skills, they just don't realise. To be a good trials riders though takes a lot of time, effort, patience and specialist equipment. Same way as some flatland BMX tricks can be done on any BMX, but to be good at flat land takes many, many, *many* hours of practise.

Between cheaper and cheaper trials bikes/parts and the amount of Internet resources, all we need is a magazine to give good quality coverage pitched at normal riders, and we're good to go.