Negative Aspects Of Trials

[roly]

I gave up riding bmx due to injury and started trials around 4 months ago and there are loads of aspects of it that I love. I find the speed at which you can progress is really satisfying, it always feels like the next step is acheivable with a little bit more push and I really enjoy it phisically. I have read a lot of people on this site asking things like "why isn't trials as big as .." and also people slating different types of riding as not being trials. Natural is different because that requires flow but I find the majority of street riding totally repetitive and unengaging and I think its limiting the sport. I have seen shots in videos of people with tape measures out and I think that totally sucks. I want to be out riding and when I clear/climb something I want my mates to say "yes mate, that was wicked, or come on, you can do better" Not, "ohh hang on lets get the tape measure out, whoa you're 3mm higher than before" Riding street should be about using your skills and imagination to link up obstacles and maintain flow not side hop up a wall, hop off and go look for one an inch higher.

Obviously this is just my opinion and it might not seem important. There is nothing wrong with natural or comp riding (as long as you don't wear skin suits!) but lots of people ride street now and it could be massive but I think these problems are holding the sport back. What do you reckon?

[Brian Bleech]

I gave up riding bmx due to injury and started trials around 4 months ago and there are loads of aspects of it that I love. I find the speed at which you can progress is really satisfying, it always feels like the next step is acheivable with a little bit more push and I really enjoy it phisically. I have read a lot of people on this site asking things like "why isn't trials as big as .." and also people slating different types of riding as not being trials. Natural is different because that requires flow but I find the majority of street riding totally repetitive and unengaging and I think its limiting the sport. I have seen shots in videos of people with tape measures out and I think that totally sucks. I want to be out riding and when I clear/climb something I want my mates to say "yes mate, that was wicked, or come on, you can do better" Not, "ohh hang on lets get the tape measure out, whoa you're 3mm higher than before" Riding street should be about using your skills and imagination to link up obstacles and maintain flow not side hop up a wall, hop off and go look for one an inch higher.

Obviously this is just my opinion and it might not seem important. There is nothing wrong with natural or comp riding (as long as you don't wear skin suits!) but lots of people ride street now and it could be massive but I think these problems are holding the sport back. What do you reckon?

I couldn't agree more with. Using some flow and imagination in your riding makes it more interesting for yourself and for people watching your video.

At the same time an important part of trials is going bigger and higher, but we don't need to see every damn sidehop/tap in videos.

You will probably enjoy this vid of Chris Akrigg too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7TFAmhNpus

[Jamie_Neal]

Tough call. On the one hand, height is a good bench mark to judge progression by - whether it's in bricks, inches or millimetres but it can make for a very dull ride/video if you get too obesessed by it.

Personally I hate the idea that trials becomes dominated by people going I can get up a .... inch wall or do a ....gap. (But having said that, I know I'm guilty of it but I do try to focus more on the fun/flowy side of riding and not getting too bogged down with the height of a wall.)

I do find that if I spend too long on one wall doing the same thing that I will eventually find something new to do on it which can be good.

And as for Akrigg's vid....who says you can't flow on street stuff.

[Willsey]

Tough call. On the one hand, height is a good bench mark to judge progression by - whether it's in bricks, inches or millimetres but it can make for a very dull ride/video if you get too obesessed by it.

Personally I hate the idea that trials becomes dominated by people going I can get up a .... inch wall or do a ....gap. (But having said that, I know I'm guilty of it but I do try to focus more on the fun/flowy side of riding and not getting too bogged down with the height of a wall.)

I do find that if I spend too long on one wall doing the same thing that I will eventually find something new to do on it which can be good.

And as for Akrigg's vid....who says you can't flow on street stuff.

i totally agree... i personally do trials only because i enjoy it and have always wanted to do something of that sort.. i have had motobikes (latest is the Yamaha YZ85) so i love speed, but lately i have enjoyed more challenging slower riding on quads, like seeing how fast i can get up HUGE hills or just cruising over bit ruts n stuff... anyway i remember a few years ago seeing some kids on saracens doing trials and now iv decided to get into it.. and love it.. i have got my own style of riding and i'm not going to change to suit the fashion, and to tell people how high i can sidehop and stuff.. i personally do not want to enter competitions (not just because i'm not that good) but i do not like to see the changes.. i much prefer challenging friends, and basically 'showing off' what i can do.. not who i can beat.. i do watch ALOT of videos, just to see what their techniques are, but also to see if i can do what i have seen others do.. like say seeing someone doing some tricks on a double bench.. i will then go out and see if i can do it.. but as always purely for fun.. also i think thats why i have to have my bike looking perfect.. instead of having the best parts for trials, i seem to be going more towards the looks more than performance.. maybe its just me.. ill post a topic later and see if it is just me..

wow quite alot.. yea thats me done for this topic.. i'm going to keep an eye on this to see other peoples replies now, see what their views are..

[roly]

maybe its just me.. ill post a topic later and see if it is just me..

No, its not just you. Despite what I said I have an Adamant frame which is totally wrong for the type of riding I was talking about but its so pretty! It makes even manualing really hard. I really should track down a Leeson

The Akrigg vid is awesome especially the sidehop up the steps. Even though he takes influences from all different types of riding, he's not a cheap imitation of any, he's super bad.

[Willsey]

oh my god have you got MSN or anything? you seem to be just like me lol.. apart from the fact you can probably type better i have always loved adament frames purely for the look!

[Ash-Kennard]

i try to whack in the style whenever i can, linking up lnes with manuals, or throwing in the odd x-up. on a long echo control too

[PaRtZ]

Mike (leedstrials) is the best example of going against the grain. Never seen anyone do so many combinations on 2 parallel walls than him

bah i cant finish my reply. originality = good

[Ben Jones]

Takes the competitiveness out of trials aswell...which is good imo because i don't reckon thats what trials is about.

Getting put down by someone who can sidehop higher than you, which allows you to enjoy yourself more .

Ben

[A!!]

This is a pretty old post i made, but it shows my view on things so i will quote it in (it may be slightly out of context)

People have become far too obsessed about how high they can go and if they can get that extra inch from tucking that tiny bit more. Yes i know it is a good feeling when you get your highest at a sidehop or tap etc, we all do, but sometimes it just seems people are getting too obsessed about it, rather than trying to ride smoother or more flowing or trying more technical moves, and testing your bike control over different terrain in a variety of ways.

I suppose it is good in a way to be able to compare yourself to someone else, but the best way to do that is go and ride a competition then the truth will tell, and you will be able to see how you compare to others.

I think if you get too obsessed about whats your highest sidehop or biggest gap, it will hinder your riding as you feel a pressure to to get that extra inch than someone else you know, instead of enjoying riding and being creative with the way you ride.

Maybe it is just me who feels like that, but i do think if people thought less about inches and more about creative lines and trying different approaches at things it would help. I'm not saying you should never push yourself or try to go bigger as you would never improve, but just don't let it be the only thing you ride for.

I recently started bmxing as well so i haven't been on my trials bike properly in a while now, but when i do get on it i find it lets me be more creative after riding bmx stuff because you can combine the two disciplines together

[roly]

yup, thats what I'm talking about.

Just to clarify though, I don't mean go and ride your local skatepark either!

[poopipe]

yup, thats what I'm talking about.

Just to clarify though, I don't mean go and ride your local skatepark either!

sound advice - it'll prevent you from getting laughed at by the bmxers for having no style, getting upset and complaining about the state of cycle sports in general

why anybody would worry about the state of the sport if they weren't doing comps is beyond me. If someone takes the piss cos you can't sidehop you just hit them or make remarks about their tiny willy

[killer4all2]

i think the crushes are a negativ aspect

[ben]

i do prefer the more imagenative riding like porter and company but i have used a tape measure before and i think there is a place for them it is nice to see what you are having but it shouldnt become all that trials is as lets be honest it would be boring as hell. im not for going compleatly street ether though there has to be a line between bmx and trials but if people want to ride between the both of them good for them there enjoying them selfs and thats what its all about i cant help but feel people want to brand what is and what isnt trials to much...having fun on bikes isnt it?

ben

[eskimo]

I had an enormous break from trials and only got back into it a few months back. I like the people mostly as they don't seem stuck up like a majority of bmxers.

so..

If your serious, inch pushing, messing about, i don't care as long as your not stuck up about it.

[Willsey]

some great replies here people.. but i just got another downer to trials... INJURIES! i have ligement problems or something in my legs and now i'v basically ruined my right leg, so i wont be riding for a few weeks at least which really pisses me off as i have just got my zzona fully build again grrr

[deadly venom]

I have never seen that Chris Akrigg video before. That video was top notch, I had my mouth hanging wide open through most of the movie. Is it available for download anywere?

I don't have much of an opinion on this topic since I am still fairly new to trials. But as with any type riding if the moves become repetitive and uninventive your enthusiasm will decrease.

Keep rolling,

Deadly venom

[Apocalypse_reaper666]

i also agree,

you see, i tend to break alot of parts on my bike, mainly BBs but having a break and riding a different bike or just having a break is a HUGE help!

Because when you go back to tials you think of different moves, lines, and because you have rode a different bike you learn different ways to controll your bike.

Thats a good thing with trials!

The possibilities are endless!

Edit: you should be able to download the vid off of his site or any trials vid site.

Edited September 27, 2006 by Apocalypse_reaper666

[captrs]

I am yet to truly get into trials, but i can see one bad part about it already. I'm in the US in Wisconsin, and after some real searching, i can't find more than a handful of people within an hours drive who are doing trials. I would love to try some bikes before I decide to by one, but the lack of interest in this area is preventing me from this. I'm also in high school and don't have a bunch of money to spend on a bike, and from what i can see, you can't really touch any decent used bike for under $400 USD. These are the things that are preventing me from really getting into trials.