Who Makes/has Made An Impact On Your Riding?

[Captain Scarlet]

Read before posting.

There have been many topics in the past asking for your favourite rider in trials, role models etc.

But the question this time is a little different, and is more on a personal perspective.

That question is; "Who has affected the way you ride? (and how)"

It may have been the person who taught you to pedal hop, someone who pushed you further, someone who gave you a different perspective on riding, or even someone who recommded to change your set-up on your bike.

I'll use my own personal one as an example, back when I got into trials a couple of years ago, I met a couple of riders from a nearby town who had been riding for a year already and rode a competition style of riding.

I had only seen the ways of street riding (TGS I guess), and back then, the riders; Matt and Alain educated me of competition style riding, they set out they own little lines and challenges that we undertook as a group, having a laugh on the way.

At first I was against the idea, slamming it as boring, and that I'd rather go off and do other more "exciting" forms of riding.

Eventually they got to me, and I loved doing lines, in fact its what keeps me going today, getting more controlled and finishing with the personal satisfaction that I've had to navigate my bike over such a challenging line.

I have not riden with the pair of them for some months now, and I still love remembering the times we had riding rocks (also being shown rocks at the seaside by themselves), making lines and having a laugh.

So who has changed the way you ride...?

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

I pretty much taught myself how to ride using Martyn Ashton as a guide from 'Chainspotting' and 'Dirty Tricks and Cunning Stunts' parts. Subsequently JJ Gregorowicz in 'Revolution' had a big influence on my riding and sent me to little wheels. Beyond that I've kind of evolved into what I am by myself...

[sstein]

Graeme from watford, I ride with him all the time, same level different style, we just push each other. Also hoots from Waterloo evans for showing me loads about contol and technique.

[Tylerlovesalex]

Alex treby has been my motivation, he is the best guy to ride with for my level

we both push each other i love him lol like my name says

[Guest]

ok im a begineer but i still have had on imapct on, luke (bigamac) helps me and is willing to teach me techniques, and jordan GU is just a funniest kid i know from riding. these two have defonantely had an impact on my riding / the way i will ride in future. and im thankful for their advice and tips. lol me and Jordan GU were trying to get a bolt of my hub on monty, we spent at least 50 minuets using all different techniques i think this was the funniest thing that made me alugh all week Jordan GU's desperateness to get a bolt off. And another reason is because as soon as i met both riders they were nice and pleasent, and made me feel comfortable.

Edited February 14, 2009 by Nick pyke :)

[Matt Vandart]

Believe it or not my youngest kid, for having the balls to try anything (he hasn't got the fear factor yet even after quite a few nasty spills).

He's seven by the way.

Matt

[manuel]

BOON and for that matter Potts

I remember the first time we met - he was on the Pashley. He came over busted out a bigger trick than I had ever seen before and rode off !! Totally inspired me. Next time we met he was on the curtis and him and potts actually came over and we rode together - He killed it. I learnt more from Boon than anyone else. We rode interesting different street stuff and had a load of fun. It was the golden age when DJ, wheeler, porter, rowlands, goddard used to ride here more often. Those rides were awesome - bristol was fresh and new, and new lines were opening up for all of us we improved. I think Boon + this time period really contributed to the way I ride in a huuuge way. I still have my own style carried through from before I met all those guys, but I never would have learnt half the stuff I know now.

Boon = TGS pioneer, line muncher and 24 killer all in one. Oh and a very funny guy - ask the urban legends girlfriend !!

H E R O

[RETROLEO]

Chris Woodhouse/Skeg is the biggest influence on riding that i have had, i would still be riding a Saracen 2.Zero and would have probley give up by now, he has taught me the basics and pretty much built my bike.

The best bit is you can have abit of crack with him while riding.

Leo.

[craigjames]

people that have given me the most help and advice riding and ultimately influenced the way i ride are Rich Pearson and Ben Moore, people such as Prawn, Andrei Burton and Joe Seddon have been a great help throughout the time ive been riding giving me loads of help. Inspiration wise, Rowan Johns, the ultimate combination of style, control and power; in my opinion the ultimate all round rider.

[Trials...]

Probably Ryan Leech, Mastering the art of trials Helped me and inspired me lots.

[!!()`/D]

Probably Ryan Leech, Mastering the art of trials Helped me and inspired me lots.

Me too.

[LEON]

Ashton & hawyes & Rey got me into it

Leech lenosky & gregorowicz pushed me further

Holroyd & burns pushed me even further

Leon

[tom jersey]

Ben Girdwood.

[andyb]

It would be all the locals that i ride with every week. Although watching Benito makes me want to go out and ride.

[Dave Anscombe]

tra

[JonMack]

Probably the guys I ride with most often, Ben Johnson, Mattheprat, Ozzy Dave, Eskimo, and then Rapebird too, but then both Boon and Rowan made me enjoy trials a whole lot more, watching those two ride years ago always blew me away, still does really.

[fruitbat]

I don't ride anymore (as much i would love to pull the bike out of the cellar and go up Shipley Glen again), but when i was riding it was Wayne that motivated/inspired me.

He was the main guy I rode with and was always encouraging bigger and better stuff, always telling me where i was going wrong, and just riding around him gave me that encouragement to go bigger.

Others also helped but he was my biggest influence, seeing him riding when I used to work in Shipley was one of the big reasons I got into trials to start with.

The Martin's and the videos they released were also an encouragement, but anyone who started late 1990's/early 2000's will say the same

Frooty

Edited February 15, 2009 by fruitbat

[Greetings]

Fred Grillet - front wheel ups

TRA - gaps

Rowan - lines

[bikeperson45]

Youtube really, I've never met another trials rider in person (or ever seen it in person)

[Revolver]

I think it's through watching Rowan Johns that I've wanted to learn to bunnyhop up stuff and learn to integrate manuals into stuff.

I'm not really advanced enough to do it properly yet though

Ohhh, I miss having forks now.

[Rich Pearson]

It was the golden age when DJ, wheeler, porter, rowlands, goddard used to ride here more often.

Can't quite describe how reading that sentence makes me feel, but the closest word is probably nostalgia, so I'll go with that

I have quite an odd/good one for inspiring me to ride: the song Take Your Best Shot by Dope. The first time I heard it was on the opening of new World Disorder 3 (possibly one of the greatest downhill/freeride films of all time, and it stars Jenna Jameson ) and at first I just thought, "What a kick ass song." So I found it and downloaded it and stuck it in my car, listening to it for the next couple of weeks as I drove to rides. After listening to it a few times over the lyrics started to become more clear to me, particularly lines such as "Don't let them say that you can't be the things that you want, just take your best shot," and "What do you want to do with your life?" which is really some of the most blunt and forthright inspiration I've ever had to just have a go at things, and aside from riding, the phrase Take Your Best Shot has been a kind of personal motto for me ever since.

The one occasion on which that song really pushed me the hardest I've ever tried with my riding, was about 3 years ago, on the 23rd of December in Plymouth, at the end of an awesome days riding, where me and Andrei Burton were trying a previously unconquered drop gap at Copthorne. We both had three or four unsuccessful go's, and then when I was just psyching up for the next try, I started hearing those lyrics in my head, and I actually shut out all the other noise around me and just went for it with those words screaming through my head.

To see that gap and listen to the song, here's the video,

Rich

[Skoze]

No Bottle got me off long low and silver things. Saw him bunnyhop a huge sloped wall on the seafront, and just decided there and then that i wanted to do that. Always happy to give advice too, and is a rather nice chap.

Simpson, the other third of the Southend 24crew, such a decent friendly bloke and always offering advice and pushing everyone to progress, he's decided to bully me until i ride more/ get better, and i'm really grateful for that

Feeney, Joel, Boon and Rowan always inspire me to just get out and ride, watch their vids for hours trying to work out how to do it!

[chimpanzyyyy]

To see that gap and listen to the song, here's the video,

I guess it's the first dropgap of the vid? I remember really well the first time I saw that drop gap...mental

As about the thread:

I will say the friends I ride with, everyone of them learns me some small but smart things about my riding. Such a shame I m still gay as feck at trials

[DrDoom]

http://jforjustice.co.uk/banksters

[Ali C]

Back when I was younger Danny Smith was one of my biggest influences. I had never seen riders go as big, I know when I saw him do massive gaps that some day I wanted to be that good!

Also, probably before Danny, I used to look up to Chris Wright and Chris Akrigg when at comps, I was always blown away with their riding.

More recently I would say that Stan Shaw is a good influence, he can go so big yet so smooth, I try to get his riding style into my own if possible. I also look up to the best riders like Kenny, Vince and Giles. They always remind me of whats possible and give me goals to aim for.