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Dirt Jumping Vs Trials Riding?


Carrtoon

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Hey guys. This kinda stinks because I live in the US. I've mountain biked for a long while now and started doing some trials tricks about two years ago. I began working on the track stand and pretty much have it mastered now. I use it constantly on my road bike. Such a good skill to have, even though it's extremely simple compared to what I'd like to do.

So, my current bike is a 2008 Giant Yukon with mechanical disk brakes and a 3 sprocket front gear. I know that's not the technical term, but the point is that this is not a trials bike by any stretch of the imagination. I've been practicing a wheelie just about every time I take the bike out, and I can't get it. I've been trying the rear wheel hop for quite some time and can only get a max of 5 hops before I loose balance. The pedal kick doesn't work because the gearing is so sloppy. I'm at the point where I think the problem is with the bike. It's an absolutely massive frame, XXL, the largest Giant offers. I'm 6'3 and skinny. Searching for trials riding on the internet comes up with virtually no results and the ones that do show have to do with time trials, not this artful form of riding.

I've been looking at frames and it seems almost impossible to find trials bike dealers in the US. However, dirt jumping bikes have similar looking frames. Would these bikes allow me to balance better and do more advanced trials stuff? The Giant STP seems like it has the right shape. So, my main question would be: are dirt jumping bikes essentially trials bikes? Any suggestions for a tall guy? Thanks a lot!

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Hey guys. This kinda stinks because I live in the US. I've mountain biked for a long while now and started doing some trials tricks about two years ago. I began working on the track stand and pretty much have it mastered now. I use it constantly on my road bike. Such a good skill to have, even though it's extremely simple compared to what I'd like to do.

So, my current bike is a 2008 Giant Yukon with mechanical disk brakes and a 3 sprocket front gear. I know that's not the technical term, but the point is that this is not a trials bike by any stretch of the imagination. I've been practicing a wheelie just about every time I take the bike out, and I can't get it. I've been trying the rear wheel hop for quite some time and can only get a max of 5 hops before I loose balance. The pedal kick doesn't work because the gearing is so sloppy. I'm at the point where I think the problem is with the bike. It's an absolutely massive frame, XXL, the largest Giant offers. I'm 6'3 and skinny. Searching for trials riding on the internet comes up with virtually no results and the ones that do show have to do with time trials, not this artful form of riding.

I've been looking at frames and it seems almost impossible to find trials bike dealers in the US. However, dirt jumping bikes have similar looking frames. Would these bikes allow me to balance better and do more advanced trials stuff? The Giant STP seems like it has the right shape. So, my main question would be: are dirt jumping bikes essentially trials bikes? Any suggestions for a tall guy? Thanks a lot!

Before I got a trials bike (November 2008) I was using a Specialized P2, and I was hopeless and could only balance, do little hops and fall off. People do turn STP's into trials bikes, But they are heavy and not as good. A trials bike has completetly different geometry than a jump bike, Mind you a STP is a better trials bike than a P2.

Im from New Zealand (That little place by Australia) and Theres only about 30-40 riders in the whole country of 4 milion, so I dont know if there of any companies in the USA, your local bike shop should know, or find out for you.

There are American riders in Trials Forum that can provide useful information to you, also http://www.observedtrials.net/ has more American riders than Trials Forum.

Asking there would also be good, But you should find out here.

Correct me if Im wrong.

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Take a look to www.observedtrials.net, it's a US based forum, you can probably get something second hand and cheap there. And some well known shops are www.trialspads.com and www.trialsin.com. Tarty is a UK based shop but their service is really good and they also ship worldwide.

And about the bike, you should get something long, with a wheelbase around 1085mm and a bottom bracket rise of +15 to 30mm, I'm around 6'2 and I ride a bike with a similar geometry and I feel it really comfortable.

Edited by Blitzmo
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