A Trials 24"?

[middleageman]

Hello.

I'm still a newbie. Still asking that eternal question. 'The choice of bike!'.

If I may recapitulate?

Well, i've posted a few questions regarding the differences between Mod, Stock and 24" cycle

and their suitability to my needs and have received abundant, helpful and detailed replies.

Thank you all. (Please feel free to read my profile for previous details).

I have also read many other threads, topics and posts and have attained valuable knowledge.

But, for me, there is a 'missing link' in my understanding of your intriguing sport.

Please, let me explain my ramblings and indulge my inexperience...

I have understood so far;

The 20" Mod - a good beginners bike, smaller, stronger, lighter. Good to 'throw around', twitchier.

Great for comps, natural, taps, gaps and sidehops.

The 26" Stock - Maybe better for the more experienced/older/larger rider. Can perform the same

as a Mod in the right hands, but with the bigger frame and wheels, has a more

rolling and easier balanced feel.

The 24" - More 'streety'. Spins, Manuels, BMX style moves, but with some ability to do more traditional trials manoeuvres.

This is where i'm puzzled.

I thought, the inbetween wheel/frame sized 24" bike, would be an ideal compromise between a Mod or Stock?

Why are the 24"s deemed a bit different?

Is it all down to breeding? What I mean by this is,

have the 20"/26" bikes come from a more traditional Trials stock (excuse the pun), and maybe the 24" has descended

from a dirt/jump/bmx background?

Is it all to do with geometrical proportions?

Please excuse me for my meanderous ponderings, (i'm not normally such a wordy twat, i fear there may have been too much sherry in the trifle!).

Like a a rabbit in the headlights,

I welcome your replies.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

middleageman.

Edited December 30, 2008 by middleageman

[CurtisRider]

Why are the 24"s deemed a bit different?

Is it all down to breeding? What I mean by this is,

have the 20"/26" bikes come from a more traditional Trials stock (excuse the pun), and maybe the 24" has descended

from a dirt/jump/bmx background?

Is it all to do with geometrical proportions?

Got it there really, 24 has always been aimed at street because thats where that size wheel excells. For natural, a stock will always win because the larger wheels make it better for rolling across big rocks, so 24 has really just snugged itself into street trials because the wheels are big enough to roll over things but small enough to keep the bike light and flicky-A perfect comprimise

Thats not to say that 24s dont ride well for natural, because they really do ride fine and wont hinder your progression.

[Mike Winton.]

ive allways wanted to see a proper tgs 24 like :\ maybe inspired should make one, nice and long with high bb

[Jason222]

One thing I'd like to correct about your descriptions...mods don't tap very well. 26" bikes are more for tapping than 20". The bigger 20" ups are usually bunnyhops.

[middleageman]

Thanks Paul, Mike and Jason, food for thought indeed!

I think, (big) IF, money allows, i'm being drawn to the 24" - like i'm caught in a 'tractor beam'!

[Alex Dark]

there are no real tgs specific 24" out yet ( unless you get one custom made by someone like marino )

Id say go for a zoot, as they're cheap and have a fairly uci look to them....ive got one and really enjoy riding it; wouldn't take it out over my zhi though

[Damon W]

ive allways wanted to see a proper tgs 24 like :\ maybe inspired should make one, nice and long with high bb

me too! id luv one! i like the idea of slightly smaller wheels, chunkyer and wud like a 2.7 on the rear, maybe even a 3.0" like a mod

i think it wud be awsum, personaly, not sure why it hasnt been done yet

[Rusevelt]

Eddie Tongue, was probably the next best thing to the holy grail of 24in trials riding until he switched to bmx.

[Ross McArthur]

Don't think I've ever seen any footage of Ed on his signature frame

[middleageman]

Thanks for your futher advice guys.

The 'Zoot'. Is that the 24" Onza? Is that still available, as it's not on the 2009 Onza website?

Regarding 24" bikes/frames:-

I've only really discovered the Inspired, 24UK and Reset (and Zoot) so far. Does anyone know of any others please?

Maybe the lack of 24" Trials specific frames, so far, is due to lack of demand?

Maybe, the frame builders/manufacturers need to hear...... (to qoute: Kevin Costner - Field Of Dreams)....

..."If you build it, he will come"....or....."If you believe the impossible, the incredible can happen" !!!

Or in my, simple, turn of phrase, the more we ask, the more they will listen.

middleageman.

[PaRtZ]

Rowan Johns has done some TGS stuff on the new ashton. He did a couple of sweet hooks and that tap to blunt as well as some cool sidehops! But obviously he manuelled everywhere inbetween those moves too thus not TGS strictly

Damon please get one and lets see it. If theres anyone who can do it its you...or neil T (oh my god up to fronts on a 24 )

[Tomm]

I thought, the inbetween wheel/frame sized 24" bike, would be an ideal compromise between a Mod or Stock?

Why are the 24"s deemed a bit different?

Yeah, it's a weird one, I've wondered this. I think it's easier to think of a 24 as being a cross between a stock (26") trials bike and a 20" BMX - although obviously a lot closer to being a trials bike than a BMX. Mods don't quite fit in, they're weird. I guess it's kind of a compromise between being able to go fast and roll over stuff smoothly (big wheels are better) and being able to chuck the bike around (smaller wheels better).

Quickspider on here has a 1080 (?) wheelbase Heatsink 24UK bike, which he seemed to like. I had a Leeson which was 1040 with a steep head angle (74*) so that felt long-ish too. I preferred my Ashton ET though, which was a lot more chuckable. The other options besides what you mentioned would be Leeson bikes who make custom frames (although I don't know if they are still active?!), and Ciguena made a 24" bike but I don't think they're being made any more. Pretty much every 24" frame on the market these days is basically similar geometry (1040, 72-73, 385), so take your pick!

[J Trials 31]

What about shorter more streety 24"s? Anything that's is relatively short that is still flicky and trialsy? I'm currently riding mod and loving it, so if I was to go to 24", I want something as fun and comparable to the mod.

[spaceman]

What about shorter more streety 24"s? Anything that's is relatively short that is still flicky and trialsy? I'm currently riding mod and loving it, so if I was to go to 24", I want something as fun and comparable to the mod.

The 24UK is really short, in terms of top tube length. It does feel short to me. As for flicky and trialsy, I believe it quite is, esp if you watch the video of Gabriel P. riding his 24UK (he used to be riding for heatsink, not sure about now), and not to forget Fred Judd.

But I believe many would say go for the inspired. I only tried one for like a minute so I can't really comment about it.

[Skoze]

Leeson bikes who make custom frames (although I don't know if they are still active?!)

Last i heard Clive had stopped making 'em, which is a real shame! They're so well made, and the service was amazing.

Still does repairs and little bits and pieces, though.

As Tom said, there are a few frames out there, most of which are, unfortunately, from the past - seems like it's going backwards!

The 24uk, Inspired and Reset are the only ones that spring to mind that are in production today (aside from the Marinos, but i saw an awful lot of broken ones in his photo albums!) I'm not sure whether the Zoots are still going, and there were Leeson 609s, Ashton ET24s, Curtis', Ciguenas, Fresh products made one or two, and I think IOLO had a stab at one back in the day.

All the real 'special' frames have disappeared, there's not alot of variaton atm

Ashton/Diamondback are releasing theirs soon, and I think the 24bicycles Good Boy may be making an appearance in the near future - that looks really smart!