Interested In Starting Up Trials Riding

[_tom_]

I've always loved watching trials but had a bmx so didnt bother trying anything as my gearing was too hard. However now I have a 26" bike so I would like to give it a go, but may need to go down a bit on my front sprocket (39t, with 9spd rear) to get an easy enough gear. I know my frame (trailstar) probably isnt the best thing for trials but I like to ride a bit of everything. Basically I want to know, how do I get started, IE what are the first steps/manouvres I should take? Any guides to the basics?

Oh, and I need your secrets for getting v-brakes to work top notch, at the minute they absolutely suck. Im using a front Avid single digit 3 and rear shimano deore, on mavic d521 rims. Would changing to Ody Linear slic cables make em stiffer aswell?

Cheers!

[bambi_3]

hey dude,just find some local riders in or around your local area and ride with them for a while and try and see how other riders pull moves because its better to watch and learn something then try to explain it.

anyways good luck mate <_<

si

[Mark W]

Hey Tom,

Linear Slics will do a hell of a lot to make your brake feel better. Just remember to try and avoid any super harsh bends in the cable routing or anything.

Pads are pretty crucial too. Some people find Heatsink V-brake pads work well for them, but I've found some pretty good results with my Plazmatic V-Flies. Saying that, that was with a chrome rim (on my BMX), but that compound's fairly dialled so it should work fine.

To really get them working great, you can either try the quick fix of using tar (such as roofing tar, or tar they use on roads) spread on the rim - you just rub a block of it against your rim - or alternatively, use an angle grinder to grind your rim. This just roughens the surface up which obviously helps the brake work better. It doesn't really damage the rim at all (seeing as it only takes a fraction of material off from near the surface), but it drastically improves braking performance in the wet, and also in terms of grab and hold.

Try getting a 22t front sprocket. If you've got a set of 3-piece cranks on your bike at the moment, DMR make an Elite Ring Thing which is basically a little 22t bashguard that bolts onto your cranks, and then you bolt the chain-ring to that. The plus point of these is that they look cool as shit too :) In general, a ratio of around 22:19 works pretty well for most riders. If you need a hand working out gear ratios, just put up a post in here and someone can help you out.

Trials is all about bike control, so just ride as much as you can. The more control you have will mean that you can learn moves faster, but more importantly make them look good. A lot of riders these days seem to learn to do big moves pretty quickly, but have a really shit style simply because they don't have great bike handling skills, but can do big gaps or whatever.

As a start, just learn to balance at low speed or at a stand-still. Then, just play around. Try endoing (just pulling the front brake on whilst throwing your weight towards the front of the bike), pivoting on the front wheel (similar to an endo but you turn the bars a little before you brake - so you preload - and then snapping your hips round to complete the pivot), pivoting on the rear wheel (just lock the back brake, and then preload your body to the opposite side you want to spin, then pull up and twist really hard on the front end whilst looking over your shoulder and spinning the bike round) and so on. Backhopping is pretty much the first main trials specific trick you'll need to learn, as it basically opens the door to all the moves on a trials bike.

www.trashzen.com has a LOT of useful information for learners on it, as does this forum. Just use the search to try and find out how to do something.

Just remember to ride as much as possible, but also do things your own way. Try and find different ways of doing stuff - don't just learn to hop-up stuff, gap stuff and drop the same way everyone does - try adding in little spins or X-ups or one handers or whatever and just personalise how you do it. Don't just become anothe boring clone, basically B)

Check out as many videos as you can from the Sites, Vids and Pics section and you'll get a good idea of what moves people are doing so you can in turn get inspiration for your own riding.

Good luck <_<

Mark

[_tom_]

bambi_3, the problem is, I've never seen any trials riders round where I live so I dont know if there are any, and where they would hang out etc.

Thanks mark that post was really helpful. At the minute I have an MRP chain guide thing to obviously keep my chain on for the "bumpy" riding I do aswell, which means I can only run a single front sprocket so I guess I will have to make some sort of compromise. I used to have a 32t but wasnt quick enough for my other riding I like to do. Thats why I thought a 9spd with 36t would be perfect for a balance of trials and general all round riding. And yeah, I run my old 3pc bmx cranks (fsa smack daddy, 3 years goin strong!)

As for the brakes, I think I'll buy some linear slics then, and get some plazmatic V-flys. However on the tarty bikes site, it says the V-flys are meant for ground rims really. I dont actually have an angle grinder but would there be anything else that could work equally as well? Oh and is a brake booster plate thing a good idea? And how do they even work?

I'll go out later and practise my trackstands etc, I allready have OK balance from bmx, not amazing though. I was trying back hops the other day aswell I definately need to lower my seat :)

I hope I havent asked too many questions and rambled for too long <_<

Edited November 20, 2005 by _tom_

[Simpson]

Just do novelty stuff, manuals, wheelys, endos, backhops, trackstands will build up to some sick combos and may help you out wen in a stick situation

[onzatprodude]

i got a little tip for your breaks i heard that rubbing coke (fizzy drink with alot of sugar) into the rim helps just make sure it drys first

good luck with your riding

cheers <_<

Edited November 20, 2005 by onzatprodude

[deonn trials 55]

Hey dude.

I started trials on a saracen x-ile.I was just learning to do endo `s ,back hopping,bunnyhopping,and trying to ride along rocks,wheelieing off walls,balanceing on walls curbs ect.Just practise things like that.Then when you get on a actual trials bike you can do the basics like hopping and things.I`t really helps starting on a bike like that.As for brakes I would get the heatsink v brake pads as mark said.Or buy a rear hydrolic hs33 with evo mounts.These can be found at www.chainreactioncycles.com.And use some tar on your rims , it can be found at the side of a road where the road joins or it can be bought on ebay.You just have to rub a bit onto your rims and it will give your brake a sqeak .And your away.

Thanks

Deonn.

[_tom_]

So the heatsinks are better than the V-Flys? They look huge!

I had a go riding earlier whilst the roads were thawed out, I suck! All I can really do is trackstand for a bit (10-20 seconds tops) and do a few back hops. Trackstands, am I allowed to move slightly, or do I have to be still, just turning the bars to keep balance? Ooh and should I move my Avid brake to the rear?

[Mark W]

There are no rules, don't worry :) You can move the bike if you want. It's just basically to get you used to being on your bike, basically - not to set records or anything :P

You could try the Avid on the back, yeah. For the time being though, you'll probably be OK as-is, basically. Trackstanding nad backhopping doesn't super stress your rear brake, so it'll hold up fine probably.

Just try and get more consistent with your backhops, then gradually introduce turning backhops, backhopping forwards (using a little pedal-kick), and so on.

[mat hudson]

basically. nad backhopping

lmfao. try getting your bunny hop skills up to scratch. you'll be amazed how quickley you can progress with "constant vigilance!!!!!"

[_tom_]

i got a little tip for your breaks i heard that rubbing coke (fizzy drink with alot of sugar) into the rim helps just make sure it drys first

good luck with your riding

cheers :P

I dont like rubbing stuff on my rims really as it just makes em attract more dirt and wears off quickly anyway. Do you lot think it would be worth switching to 24" wheels on my trailstar? Also are sus forks a big problem? I am happy with switching to some rigids as sus just annoys me to be fair!