Will 24" Bikes Be The Rule In 2020?

[JT!]

They're already legal. Ben Savage got 2nd at a British comp (Can't remember which) earlier in the year on his Tractor. It seems the main issue was that people couldn't agree as to whether they should ride the 20" route, the 26" route or have some new route, which the UCI don't appear to have really decided on themselves either. Personally, I think they should ride the same routes as 26"ers, and then sections can be made to balance out the advantages/disadvantages of each, in the same way that comps should theoretically have a mix of right foot forward and left foot forward sections (although that generally depends who's parents are laying out sections ).

Why do they have separates routes for mods and stocks to begin with? Surely they could just have one and score the mods and stocks in their own separate groups.

[Luke Rainbird]

Sod that, just let everyone battle it out on the same course! The riders can choose to ride whichever bike they want, but so long as the course designers factor in mod/stock moves evenly it would make things pretty interesting!

[dirt jumper jake]

a 24" zoo python/pitbull style frame would be friggen awesome!

[JT!]

Sod that, just let everyone battle it out on the same course! The riders can choose to ride whichever bike they want, but so long as the course designers factor in mod/stock moves evenly it would make things pretty interesting.

I can understand why they would have separate awards, ie first place mod and first place stock rather than just first place. But don't get why they have separate sections.

[Mark W]

Almost all the comps I've been to have had riders use the same route on 20 or 26, but a couple I've seen have had seperate ones.

[montyalp221]

it could be possible trials is moving forward lately

its bad to be honest that trials is known now more as 24"

[Mark W]

It is and it isn't, really. If people find that it's easier to get into the trials world through 24" riders like Danny Mac because they can relate to it more than some dude in a skinsuit bouncing around on rocks or some people in skin tight jeans on/offing a wall for hours on end, then that's probably a good thing. It also brings more money into things as well, such as Ali getting to do that Gatorade advert. Other people seem to be buying into the trials image too which is putting more money into it all, and the same goes for more people buying bikes in general.

Inside trials itself 24" bikes still don't really matter much. There's not really much in the way of tyre choice, only 2 (3 technically, I guess) companies offering rims, only a couple offering frames, etc. - the 24" market is still tiny in the trials world compared to mod and stock, so on that side of things the public seeing trials as being like 24" riding hasn't really affected 'real' trials riders much, if at all.

[TrashZen]

Why do they have separates routes for mods and stocks to begin with? Surely they could just have one and score the mods and stocks in their own separate groups.

Actually, a lot of 20" riders at comps do complain when the sections are too much 26" oriented (with more rolling obstacles and long reach gaps to front etc...)

Then, comp organizers and the UCI tend to say that just having one category taking all bikes' sizes for the best to win would drastically reduce the number of podium places, and in effect, would kinda make the sport look even smaller. :$

Another problem today is that whoever would ride in a distinctly rewarded 24" category at a national comp would get the first step on the podium (since there are hardly more than one or two riders with 24").

Until 10 years ago, stock bikes weren't at all optimised for trials which explained the different categories, but true that now they have become more efficient overall than mod bikes, offering more possibilities.

So who knows if 24" could be the final mutation of this sport (of course today we wouldn't take notice).

[TrashZen]

Main issue I can see is tyres, really. I know there are Schwalbe 24" tyres available, but I'm not convinced by them at all either in 26" or 24" sizes. There's a reasonable range of rims out now, although obviously you're a bit restricted still...

Yep, lets see if tyre manufacturers put the effort into making the equivalent in 24", I'll get back to that thread in 2020 then, just can't wait to see this evolution

[Matt Vandart]

The drawback with 24" trials is the price of frames, simple a s that.

I have been mooting building a 24" trials bike for ages now but just cant be arsed to pay £300+ for a frame.

I considered the because but just do not get the vibe off it I want.

I have settled now with a short stock which is giving me the vibe.

A major factor in popularity will be the second hand market of which there is effectively no market at the mo, once this changes I rekon 24 trials scene will shoot up, which quite probably makes no sense at all, I am tired.