JD™ Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Got more of my wonderful drink counselling session later, and I was given homework to do before the session. Just looked at it for the first time and it's f**king ridiculous. Hey 'professional': Stop looking for an underlying reason I drank too much - I just liked the way it felt. Now just let me rant about how I now can't do that instead of asking about my favourite film and how it relates to me growing up. In other news, 1 whole month today. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Thanks to the joy of snow and my car being a piece of s**t I managed to slide across the road straight into the pavement on the way home from work this morning. That's yet another new wheel I'll have to buy for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 What is this shit car you keep complaining about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewEH1 Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) Caught sight of a small furry b*****d running about outside my flat near all the cellars. It's time... Edited February 5, 2013 by AndrewEH1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Ford Focus cmax, had nothing but trouble with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 26. I know you could be my granddad but please don't compare myself to you. You're a semi-pro (or a pro even?), this is different. I ride for the sake of riding if that makes sense. Cycling clearly comes more naturally to some people, I'm not terribly slow but I'm not a quick learner either. In 2008 my riding level was better than it has been ever since. Perhaps I'm better on natural now, but in other respects I suck and it's really frustrating when you try hard to do repeat something you did 4-5 years ago and fail. I've been thinking that maybe it's because of different gearing, might change from 17:15 to 17:16 and see if that helps. I was 26 when I swapped to street trials (I'm a few days off 29 now), I know you don't want to compare but I'm not really a fast learner, it takes me a long time to learn new stuff but the simpler side to street seemed to come fairly easily, it's all about the flow. Once I had an Inspired I never rode my comp bike again. It may just be what the doctor ordered. (not sure why it's randomly quoted Revolver) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Oh... I'll just leave, then 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 well if you want to be included I do agree with your post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I switched to street at 29, it's the right thing to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 well if you want to be included I do agree with your post No, it's not the same now... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I f**ked up, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 The problem I see with street trials is that I'd rather go to the dentist and have a tooth pulled than 360 or 180 off a ledge. I've never had the guts to do things like that, I'm not an adrenaline junkie Me neither, I'm a raging pussy but doing spins and shit isn't about being 'scared', it's just about adding to riding trials. Instead of doing a straight drop then doing something else, you just do a spin or go to manual or whatever. They just feel nice to do, it's something else to try and it's basically like setting yourself a really fun section. I don't really get a 'buzz' from the riding I do, I just enjoy trying to do things nicely so they actually feel good, rather than the usual trials thing of sending it up a wall to the wheel of your choice, irrespective of how you do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 do things nicely so they actually feel good, rather than the usual trials thing of sending it up a wall to the wheel of your choice, irrespective of how you do it. This. All day long I'm a major pussy and can't ride a bike for shit, but I find it so much more enjoyable riding small stuff cleanly and getting it right, than doing stuff an inch higher than before but being sketchy as hell throughout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I totally agree, this is obviously biased but I believe I have a nice riding style and what makes me happy is doing things smoothly or in a stylish way. The thing is that there's only so many things you can do in normal trials, especially when you suck at half the techniques used to get up walls. I was 26 when I swapped to street trials (I'm a few days off 29 now), I know you don't want to compare but I'm not really a fast learner, it takes me a long time to learn new stuff but the simpler side to street seemed to come fairly easily, it's all about the flow. Once I had an Inspired I never rode my comp bike again. It may just be what the doctor ordered. (not sure why it's randomly quoted Revolver) Ok, you might not be a fast learner but you have something in you that has pushed you to the riding level you have now. The same goes for Mark although I'd hazard a guess that BMX riding has played a big role in the development of his current skills. My point is, that whatever you two have, I lack. And I'm sure many other riders who never reach your level lack too. It looks like I'm trying to justify not wanting to ride, the upshot of it is though that I've been fighting with this problem for a few years now and am slowly giving up. I'm going to edit a video from some clips from last year now, perhaps that will change my attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onzatrip Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) Thought About building a cheapish one up then go from there? I did and now spending far to much on an inspired! And I'm the slowest learner in history Edit: I'm also soooo crap at trials Edited February 5, 2013 by onzatrip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Just gotta find what works for you really mate! At best i'm average on the 24" - i can hold manuals, hop 360s occasionally, pretend to be Danny Mac a bit when i want to be and piece the odd line together. Not sure what the scene's like over there as far as real good friends who ride goes, but for me that's the reason i can't just pack it all in. I miss my friends, and even if i never get amazing on the bike it's that enjoyment of being out dicking around with them in various parts of the country is what keeps me coming back for more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) Well, a few days ago my motivation was 1 on a 10 point scale, now it's about 3. So some good has come of this discussion. I'm not convinced by street trials, I've tried various Inspired bikes and I thoroughly disliked them probably because I don't know how to ride them. The thing is that when your motivation is so low, you're not going to learn new stuff. So I should probably be sticking to the old perhaps on an updated bike. Been thinking on and off about a 24" trials bike. I remember riding a 24" Echo 2 years ago that I built for a customer, was given a free hand when it came to the choice of parts and geometry. It was an epic bike, not sure it was better than my current bike in the long run though. I spent 5 years riding a mod and that was wasted time, in the back of my head I still have this fear of smaller wheels no matter how fun a bike feels. Skoze, I totally agree with the social side of trials, it's something I wouldn't be able to give up. Worryingly, my best riding friends who are 200 miles away are giving it up slowly. Local riders are fun but I never felt a strong connection with them, we have very different backgrounds and cannot relate to each other. Edited February 5, 2013 by Greetings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Skoze, I totally agree with the social side of trials, it's something I wouldn't be able to give up. Worryingly, my best riding friends who are 200 miles away are giving it up slowly. Local riders are fun but I never felt a strong connection with them, we have very different backgrounds and cannot relate to each other. Not ideal! Try organising something to give your scene a little kick start? It's what me and Luke did with the 24Tour. One awesome week every year that i know for a fact keeps a lot of people riding who'd have otherwise quit, even if it is just for that and a few little jams here and there throughout the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onzatrip Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Not ideal! Try organising something to give your scene a little kick start? It's what me and Luke did with the 24Tour. One awesome week every year that i know for a fact keeps a lot of people riding who'd have otherwise quit, even if it is just for that and a few little jams here and there throughout the year. I want in on this year? Pweaseeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 First you must pass the test to be sure you're deemed suitable 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 The thing is that when your motivation is so low, you're not going to learn new stuff. Isn't part of that motivation because you're still doing the same old shit though? By trying a different way of riding and forcing yourself to approach it differently you open yourself up to a lot of other things, and some of them might give you that spark back. Sort of similar to the way that if you throw enough shit at a wall some of it's got to stick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 Mark knows the truth. I used to be able to bunnyhop to rear pretty high up stuff but it kind of got repetative to the point I started getting worse at it through boredom of doing the same old thing. Now with a brakeless Inspired it sets a whole new challenge of how to do the same stuff and is also helping my do stuff I couldn't before. Even though I don't get much chance to ride currently it makes me want to try stuff when I do go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I totally agree, this is obviously biased but I believe I have a nice riding style and what makes me happy is doing things smoothly or in a stylish way. The thing is that there's only so many things you can do in normal trials, especially when you suck at half the techniques used to get up walls. This is funny because this is kind of a big part of street riding. You could just add in bunnyhops and other techniques that conserve momentum rather than break it and you're most of the way there. https://vimeo.com/21806140 Check this guy out, he doesn't really do spins, but this is a sick video! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 It's not all about being brakeless though in fairness - seeing guys like Dominik Raab do relatively trialsy stuff but in a super nice way is good motivation for me, and from the little stint I've had with brakes on again it's been fun just dicking around on the low bits of our indoor area riding balance beams and doing little linking bits and pieces. Alex - you mentioned before about how I was at a 'certain level' or however you put it - I'm painfully slow at learning new stuff and have no commitment to anything, but it's just that I've been doing it for 3 years so it's kind of worked out to some extent. I've had fun the whole time whether it was doing really small, low-level stuff at Lee Quarry that - at the time - felt like a big deal, or learning to hook brakeless on the Hook Wall by my house. You don't need to be particularly adventurous to do it or to come up with new stuff to do, it just kind of happens. A normal trials bike is relatively limiting in the sense that it doesn't allow you to be spontaneous, and I think that spontaneity of a more all-round bike really makes it more fun to ride overall. That's within trials riding itself, but also with riding as a whole - Andy T mentioned on OTN recently that he was having fun riding Dominik's spare bike around LA with them because they just rode all kinds of stuff in one day, and that kind of attitude might help you too if you've got a variety of stuff there. It's clearly not going to be amazing at everything and you'll be limited in some areas, but the fact you can do whatever tickles your fancy is a big bonus of having that type of bike. If you've got a decent set of bars, 26" forks and a freewheel you could just grab something like a Zoot Dual Disc that'll be relatively cheap but will give you a chance to have a pop at it. Alternatively, just piecing something together second hand might work. As a third option, Bessell built up a Hex a while ago pretty much just using bits from a long, low, seatless bike and it worked OK - we're talking Trialtech SL rims front and rear, trialsy tyres, a FFW crankset, etc. As long as you get the bar and stem sorted then the rest doesn't really matter too much in all honesty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weirdoku Posted February 5, 2013 Report Share Posted February 5, 2013 I wrote a long ass reply to greetings but here's a shortened version haha. When you get bored of doing something, stop and do something else. It's that easy. I got bored of riding trials, stopped, went and rode fixed freestyle for a bit and got bored of that and now I'm getting some money together to by myself my first BMX at the age of 24, so not far off you greetings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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