Mbuk

[Ali C]

just found a copy of mbuk from 94!! it must have been my brothers.

lets just say, theres a lot more trials in mbuk now then there was then!!

I just realised too, I have had a subcription to mbuk for 8 years now and my brother was buying them for 4 years or so before that! I think its better than ever.

[F-Stop Junkie]

If memory serves, the first feature with the Martins in (with the misspelling Martin Ashton) was march 94. I think there were a further 5 or so that year while they picked up differing sponsors - including Megamo during that period? - such as Coors and Magura. It then exploded when Hawziee went with Scott and Martyn got Volvo Cannondale, and other people like Akrigg, Ian Cooper and the Tongue brothers filled the pages of the mag.

Prior to that it was Hans Rey doing tricks, or Jez Avery doing another Switzerland Squeaker - or in one feature, doing a one handed wheelie while using his front wheel as a tray with a teapot and cups on it.

Funny what the brain remembers.

[TrashZen]

In all honesty I think its fair to say we should thank Martyn for trying hard to get as much trials featured as possible, but how ever much we may not want to realise it, there is a much bigger world out there then trials, and alot is shown in MBUK.

Pesonally ill be going out and buying when im feeling a bit better, cause i cant ride, i love the writing, albeit sometimes it can be rather stupid. And i personally value martyns opinion on the subject of trials, considering if it wasn't for him and martin i wouldn't be riding a trials bike now!

Well, fact is, I dont' think there is enough trials-related novelty that wouldn't be already posted somewhere on the forum to fill a standalone trials-magazine, or to do so would require someone full time searching for the info, talking to comp organisers, to riders, writing up interviews, etc.. all at an international level (that would really bring news, not just the usual rumor/news mix of the forum), and this is pretty much a full time job for an editor. I can't see someone taking up that job for free (or put it that way, without advertisers to support his mag), and maybe our sport simply cannot sustain a person to do that.

So if MBUK has one page or less of trials info in its editions let it be, it has probably to do with the economics of trials But you can't blame the magazine for that, it does more than any other MTB mag and at least, brings more riders to trials by mentioning some of the comps etc... I guess MBUK's role here is not necessarily to preach for the convinced (us) and try to please the fairly marginal MTB community that we represent, but to actually pin-point the existence of trials riding as a sport.

I reckon that's good enough for a generic MTB mag, until an editor takes the above job description .

Edited October 2, 2006 by TrashZen

[Ash-Kennard]

Many riders on this very Forum discovered Trials in MBUK, thats what the magazine does, makes people aware of the many ways MTB is great!

Along with other dedicated riders i take alot of time trying to get Trials featured in this amazing magazine, where as you have chosen to use very little time to paint a negative opinion over one of the best things Trials has going for it, an element of our sport that is not influanced by Politics, and produced by people who love bike riding. Last month i recieved an email from Ot Pi congratulating the "Trials Crew" of the mag on making a huge contribution to the Trials World. Although you disagree?

I will use this oppertunity to thank the following people;

Chris Ratcliffe, Chris Akrigg, Robin, Karinna,Waynio (especially), Ben, Fred, Andrew Dawson, Tarty(who also advertise in MBUK, sure they will be really chuffed with your comments, Not), Hawziee, Chris Poiser (advertiser!), Frazer (Advertiser), Danny Holroyd, Orange (also advertisers, so thanks again), Select, Barbera, CLS, Neil Tunni (re send your new Mobile Number), Porter, Danny Butler, Chris Doney, Giles.

Please read that list and realise that you have just insulted every single one of them. Your sport survives on the work and money of these people, as a rider of a small and struggling discipline i see it as your bloody duty to buy MBUK, you will probably laugh and joke this away "water off a Dicks back" however we will all continue to work very hard on something we believe in.

As for negative comments about the Column, i would say that is probably justified, although i maintain that Track suit bottoms are Gay!

Martyn.

I know that you have done absolutely loads for our sport, and i thank you for that, and hope you continue, but do you not agree that there needs to be more in the way of trials in the mag? Ive been buying it for a couple of years now, and I cant see it influencing many peopleif any to join our sport, simply because there is not enough of it in there. they are far more likely to go and buy a DJing bike or an XC bike because there is far more coverage of it in the mag and on the telly. I didnt start from the mag I just saw people doing it on the street and thought it looked awesome.

I don't agree when you said "struggling discipline" I think it is thriving at the moment, and is there is quite a large number of people riding nowadays, (this forum alone has 10,000 + members, not even including observedtrials.net) I feel for our sport that just seeing trials in the street is more of an inspiration for starting trials, videos on the internet too play an awesome role, just showing a few people some clips just stuns them.

martyn, I greatly respect you, and I know you are sound. but this is just my opinion of the situation.

[F-Stop Junkie]

TrashZen has hit the nail squarely on the head. Is there enough content?

I've had discussions with publishers about a specific trials magazine, and potentially it is feasible, but it depends on rider support to buy the magazine and advertisers to support it. It also relies on good quality content provided by a writer or writers.

The simple truth is that some things don't work well on the web. Long articles, especially multi-page ones, and photography loses impact. These are the hooks that would draw people towards a magazine. It doesn't matter if the stories arn't cutting edge latest if you're more thorough and complete than you would be on-line. Also stories are broken in MBUK before they reach TF, and it'd be possible to continue this.

Is a dedicated magazine possible? Just about. Is it likely? Sadly not.

[F-Stop Junkie]

I know that you have done absolutely loads for our sport, and i thank you for that, and hope you continue, but do you not agree that there needs to be more in the way of trials in the mag? Ive been buying it for a couple of years now, and I cant see it influencing many peopleif any to join our sport, simply because there is not enough of it in there.

I don't agree when you said "struggling discipline" I think it is thriving at the moment, and is there is quite a large number of people riding nowadays, (this forum alone has 10,000 + members, not even including observedtrials.net) I feel for our sport that just seeing trials in the street is more of an inspiration for starting trials, videos on the internet too play an awesome role, just showing a few people some clips just stuns them.

Ash, a number of people I've shown trials videos to, or shown them riding in person, would never dream of taking up trials because it looks too difficult or dangerous. The most likely people to take up trials are people who are already cyclists, and a lot of them buy MBUK - current circulation figures are around 45,000 readers a month IIRC. For them to see trials in MBUK, or Ryan Leech in ROAM, is going to be a likely starting point.

Of course we'd like to see more trials in MBUK, in fact, the more trials we can get in the mainstream cycling press the better! If you look at the motorcycle world, trials is a part of the sport, with major support, huge world class events, and so on. Biketrials is a much more marginal, insular sport in comparison. Though we have a small number of big shows, like the Cycle Show this weekend, a lot of what we do is hidden away.

Trials is struggling compared to a few years ago, but then it got too big, too quickly. In a way, trials is fighting against itself and we're not presenting a united front to the world. A lot of bike shops won't touch trials kit because they're not educated about it. Same with a lot of magazines. They confuse trick or stunt riding with trials.

Quoting forum member numbers isn't a true representation of the size of the the trials scene in the UK. Some accounts will be duplicates, some for people who no longer ride, some for people who no longer post or ride, some for people who registered then forgot, etc...

To be honest, I get 'stunned' by watching a Jackass clip, or a sword swallower, but I'm not about to go trying it myself! Trials could almost be considered a freakshow, with freaky bikes and riders with freaky abilities, who are about as relevant to cycling as an anvil is to stamp collecting.

[TrashZen]

Trials could almost be considered a freakshow, with freaky bikes and riders with freaky abilities, who are about as relevant to cycling as an anvil is to stamp collecting.

Nice one

Well, maybe an intermediate solution would be to run newsletters about trials (that's cutting the printing and shipping costs out of the equation, and a less risky enterprise)

But again, even at very low cost, it's a matter of finding the time to do the research and writing and meeting with the riders etc...

This could be a very nice experiment though... maybe something to talk about at the show

There once used to be a website that did a bit of that

Edited October 2, 2006 by TrashZen

[N.Wood]

MBUK got me into mountain biking and trials, no denying that!

Also, i recon the fact that 80% of the people on this forum are at a very high standard of riding and have been involved within the scene for ages means they've gained knowledge that 'allows' them to criticise.

If you know nothing about trials, MBUK and the trials it contains is amazing.

I remember being incredibly excited about MBUK arriving at my door, going to the Bike shows (as Chris explained in one of his posts) and getting out and riding, mainly because i was new to the sport and had so much to learn.

I'm at a stage where i know pretty much all i need to know about trials and can make informed decisions about geometry on frames etc. I didn't even know what a chainstay was when i started reading MBUK, let alone an ideal length!

So in my opinion it should keep its focus on introducing new riders to our sport rather than trying to cater for all levels of riders. Lets face it, many on this forum are in the top 10% of what Britain/the world has to offer in the world of trials. We know it all. XC'ers interested in trials have no idea, this is where MBUK comes in to introduce them to trials.

As for Martyn's comment about trackie bottoms, haha! I wear them for trials because I'm more comfortable in them, but i see his point and thats his opinion which is all good.

I want Hawyes back in the scene

Edited October 2, 2006 by N.Wood

[A!!]

I think trials as a sport is on the right track, especially with more demos going on and more publicity. But it still isn't as big as it could be. It's like if you have a conversation with a stranger in the street and they ask you what you are doing and you say "i'm trials riding" and usually the response will be "o whats that, like bmxing?" or "o never seen that before" which sums it up for me.

In my opinion any publicity for our sport is better than none, i suppose yeah it could have a bit more trials in mbuk here and there. But you have got to think it isn't going to draw many more outsiders into starting trials as you have to be interested in bikes/ride bikes to buy mbuk in the first place.

And i don't think you can really mock them for doing what they do, as all in all those two pages are better than nothing, although i'm sure it wouldn't go a miss with many people if they put more stuff on trials in the magazine.

In regards to the whole clothes thing, i just think publishing things like that isn't going to help the sport in anyway as it comes across as a scene thing and you have to wear certain clothes to fit in, which then makes people that read it think twice before they start, as after all do they really want to be involved in a sport where they get mocked for wearing something that doesn't fit in with a trend.

In my opinion it shouldn't matter what people wear when they are riding trials, as after all we all have a passion for it so why should trends or fashions get in the way of it.

We all enjoy trials so let it stay that way

[Dan-Walker]

trackies, ***.

[Jonny Jones]

Ive subscribed to MBUK for years. Like many others it got me into Trials (apart from a random person I saw hopping on his back wheel one day back in 1998 that got me hooked lol). Mart and Mart + others have done loads and loads for the sport and I thank them.

The magazine as a whole does have 'Corporate Mainstream' etched into it in my opinion (unlike any 4130 publication), if you get what I mean. Stupid space filling and other bollox included (who cares whats on the iPod this month - but cud this be summot to do with corporate sponsors?) just doesn't need to be in there imo. However, theres ALWAYS something in it that is interesting to read. I agree there should be more Trials in it but we do need to somehow make it look way cooler than it is... think about it, most of the general public have never seen Trials, hence why we get such huge audiences in London. So if we make it more attractive to more people it WILL get more coverage and the general public will become aware.. or, more aware of its existance. I ride/film trials cos i think its bloody creative and its just damn good fun and so if all these amazing points can get through to more people (perhaps through more dvd releases and other media interests like crazy articles where trials is being used in an unusual situation/location) then the sport will grow, more people will be involved, bikes will evolve even further, bike shops will be trading even better and everybody will be happier... most of all it WILL be the most progressive sport, we might even see a trials version of events like the Back Yard Jam... recycle, the possibilities are endless lol

Ride how you want, what you want (within reason lol) wearing what you want, we just need to make it somehow more attractive, thinking outside the box rather than what Chris was saying about the highest sidehop or tap (although this is what floats some people's boats). This way we can also pay tribute to DJ in the best possible way, by having even more fun doing what we love best!

Also, sorry if i've spoken out of line, purely my opinions :$

Jonny.

[N.Wood]

Stupid space filling and other bollox included (who cares whats on the iPod this month - but cud this be summot to do with corporate sponsors?) just doesn't need to be in there imo.

They've always had 'Whats on the stereo this month' though?

I guess an iPod is just a technological advance.

[yoyoyo]

I never really got too much into MBUK being young and skint. When i got £15 a month. Therefore i never kept up with it, apart from buying it every now and then.

Now it just seems to me that £4 is a bit too much just for the two pages of hip hop.

And the people who moan at Martyn's column, try writing something different every month for however many years he's done it for. And remember if they were going to be amazingly good they would be written by an english writer, not a trials rider who has to split his time between family, designing bikes, testing bikes, probably demos too(although i haven't seen one down in taunton for a while ) and have a normal life.

When i was younger i really didn't like the columns he did but then i got more involved with trials and stopped reading MBUK just for the pictures and started reading the columns and enjoying them. But then i haven't read an mbuk for yonks due to college/work and not going to any shops, so i can't say anything about them recently

Perhaps all MBUK needs is another how-to section. Obviously Once Martyn brings out his new frames and has more time to himself. I loved them everytime, imformative, decent sized pictures, promoting trials. Everything we needed, and now that this ride or dirt(whichever one it is) dvd came out perhaps tricks and stunts could be next, or just the chase from the first one, or even the masterclasses. Increases publicity, and everyone loves tricks and stunts.

although i maintain that Track suit bottoms are Gay!

Martyn.

Whey, a man after my own. I can't stand trackies... ever. But thats my opinion. I only wear shorts when out riding, mainly because of a few problems jumping off with trousers.

[trialsguru]

might be just me on this one but, there seems to have been a decline in trials articles in mbuk since Mr Hawyes and Mr Ashton left there sponsors with giant and cannondale. maybe its just coinincidence but maybe the lose of those massive manufactures has affected trials appeal.

[adamtrials]

I like mbuk, it had my name in it once

I remember that, waay back when you were riding that Global ti frame...

I havent bought mbuk for years now, the price increase and quality decrease is a bit of a joke.

Edited October 2, 2006 by adamtrials

[Matt_Tupman]

There are more trials riders in the UK now than there has ever been, I think at least 50% of this is due to MBUK so on that front I thank them for making the massive effort (and it is!!) to promote our sport.

BUT! i do feel the MBUK has gone downhill not due to the amount of coverage of any sport but due to the direction the mag seems to be going.

They really big up being a sposored rider and even though it is great to be sposored and we need more big name sponsors for our sport to grow it is not the be all and end all of riding. There's nothing wrong with having a goal but I think new/young riders are getting the wrong idea about riding and the amount of topics on just this forum about trying to get sponsored is going up. This is worrying to me as it seems lots of riders are getting so called sponsorship that to be honest are no more than getting a few free stickers and I think this is taking away the achievements of the big name riders with pro sponsorship deal with real contracts

Another thing that as confused me with MBUK is the random thing they do! e.g towing a DH bike behind a Porshe to see how fast they can go, and riding bikes off a cliff with a parachute!! WHY!?!? just seems odd to me to destroy perfectly good bikes for a page or two of pictures. Puts out the wrong image of MTB i think.

Last thing that annoys me is the random figures that they come up with i remmeber not so long ago there was a picture of a bloke manuling along a bridge, the caption said he was 70ft up but you could clearly see he was 2 storys up which is never 70ft! Thats just one instance of what many people call the MBUK ruler has appeared and I don't really see the need for it, everyone knows it's bull so why do it

I don't expect MBUK to devote all there pages to trials in fact I think the amount they do is plenty considering the size of our discipline but i think a change in the way the report trials would be nice as it's been relatively same way for at least the past 5 years. I'd like to see more on competitions (not the british championship) and a varying in the riders that are shown in MBUK as it seems they have a rotational scheme of riders to appear in the mag.

As for the lad who said no-one can do as much for the sport as Mr Ashton has done, some of us are trying and are still young to do so no dig at your age Ashton a man in his mid 40's rides our trials down here and has just won his class

Still hope for us all yet.

Edited October 2, 2006 by Matt_Tupman

[yoyoyo]

Last thing that annoys me is the random figures that they come up with i remmeber not so long ago there was a picture of a bloke manuling along a bridge, the caption said he was 70ft up but you could clearly see he was 2 storys up which is never 70ft! Thats just one instance of what many people call the MBUK ruler has appeared and I don't really see the need for it

Heh, not as good as the t-f tape measure.

With all the people talking about the reviews. I'm sure i remember people talking about under the table "bonus's" at some point. Although that was quite probably just rumours.

[011001000110010101110010]

For what MBUK have done with trials and other mountain bike sports I am grateful. However simple because there is only every 2 (at least) dedicated pages to trials in it a month doesnt mean its not useful. I enjoy reading it and will continue to. I will not say that I enjoy all of every issue but thats simple my oppinion (I dont really want to know about the latest suspension forks) but in every issue there is something for everyone.

Martyn, when I spoke to you in Salisbury I was amazed how much of a sound guy you were. Just because someone on a laptop is getting angry dosent mean that you have to waste you time on than one reply to them stating you view. Its just not worth it sometimes . Keep up the good work and I look forward to next months Hip Hop.

Fred

[Christophe']

Hello peeps!

1. I think that one should wear what one likes whilst riding!

2. Trials isnt cool anyway

3.

Mr Ashton doesnt like pixie boots and trackie bottoms eh? Bad image!

(see mbuk hip hop)

So why is it there is a whacking big picture of Ben savage wearing said pixie boots and trackie bottoms right next to the lame colum?

Come back will be "thats for comps"

4. Ive never heard the term "Chav trials" ever! Chavs are the ememy round here?

5. It probably pissed a lot of riders off ( From an already small commuinity) that there is someone telling them in mbuk that they realy shouldnt wear so and so

6. Would anyone here go and tell Vincent hermance his pixie boots are gay?????

Sorrrreee was a lame article !

Hip hop is good dont get me wrong!

Maybe the space could be used for something more constructive? like lobbying for trials parks etc?

Dress code on entry of course!

[haydon_peter]

Another thing that as confused me with MBUK is the random thing they do! e.g towing a DH bike behind a Porshe to see how fast they can go, and riding bikes off a cliff with a parachute!! WHY!?!? just seems odd to me to destroy perfectly good bikes for a page or two of pictures. Puts out the wrong image of MTB i think.

Ever thought about Top Gear? Its the most popular car show in the UK but they just do random stuff! Where are the articles about new road laws, car safety etc... there has recently been a big change to child seat laws, but do they show that?

I used to buy MBUK all the time, I have a massive pile of them in the cupboard (Every month from May 2000 through untill June 2004, plus a few newer ones aswell) that I cant bring myself to throw away, they are doing nothing and never get looked at but I just dont want to throw them away for some reason. MBUK was one of the reasons I got into trials, yes there was the people I used to see bouncing on their back wheels in town, but MBUK was my main influence! I respect the time and effort put into the magazine and would still buy it every month but I dont simply due to not finding/making the time to read it. I still buy it every so often and most months pop into Smiths to have browse through but it doesnt have the appeal it used to...

[A!!]

I used to buy MBUK all the time, I have a massive pile of them in the cupboard (Every month from May 2000 through untill June 2004, plus a few newer ones aswell) that I cant bring myself to throw away, they are doing nothing and never get looked at but I just dont want to throw them away for some reason.

Exactly how i feel, i have about 3 big stacks of the magazines under my bed, but for some reason i can't get round to getting rid of them. I sometimes find my self flicking through the older issues to remind my self of why i got interested in trials and how the sport has changed.

I think for me it is something to look back on if you get me (not wanting to sound cliche), and brings back the memories of hours on end in car parks trying to learn to back hop

[Tomm]

I just read the article by Mr Ashton and it sounds spot on to me.

People wear pixie boots and tracksuit bottoms

--> People look stupid

---> Trials isn't cool

----> Trials isn't in MBUK

-----> The same people who are wearing the pixies boots and tracksuits come on here and complain that trials isn't in MBUK enough.

If trials had the same cool reputation as BMX then it'd be in MBUK all the time.

[matthewholdsworth]

i stopped buying mbuk about 2 years ago when my subs ran out. i didnt continue it because i decided to buy private eye instead (read that and some of you will have a right rant im sure).

i remeber reading my first ever copy way back in 1999, martyn ashton was on the cover and the article blew me away, what he was doing on that beastly cannondale was just silly

the dambusters article being one that sticks out in my memory!

thats the one. i got hooked, changed my bike to look just like his. (bit of idol worship but hey who cares really???), i bought ever issue from then on, and even saved a my favourite poster of ashton 360 spinning into a swimming pool so i could get him to sign it (if you read this mart cheers for the autograph at the bike show in 2001).

i have always worn jeans and a pair of vans shoes to ride in, mainly because jeans protect me shins more ( ) i like that image, i feel comfortable riding in that attire. martyn raises points in his column that im sure loads of people think or chat about between themselves yet as soon as he mentions it in the press he gets slated for having an opinion. for those of you not familiar with the national press ALL newspapers have editorials and comments 9hey are what get people like kilroy into trouble), its the great thing about living in our nation that freedom of speech.

yes not everyone holds the same views and what a boring world we would live in if that was the case. but to slate someone so viciously as people have done is immature and not good for our sport, no one wants to create factions of "gays in trackies" v "jeans are cool" at comps or at street rides.

recently in sheffield i bumped into neil tunni and paul (zoo rider) two top lads whose riding styles were very different to mine and im pretty sure tunni was wearing trackies (correct me if im wrong neil), we all got on fine and had a laugh despite differing styles and abilities. just accept other peoples views, ok disagree but do it sensibly and intelligently. ask why people hold those opinions and then we could understand others better. (maybe george w bush should try this intead of bombin people back to the stone age, allegedly)

same can be said over the arguements between certain bike parts not mentioning any particular debates but everyone knows what i mean. each to their own.

shows how much martyn cares about his sport if he is coming on here though doesnt it and how he isnt actually out of touch seen as though he knows this is where the majority of riders come when its raining

hands up who thinks this might make it into his column next month

[mr kenny]

can i just say you may think that mbuk is shit..i still get it and read it(might be cause i'm managment in a shop and need to know about kit and stuff)

i still get the hip hop section,cut it out and keep it in a folder.

i personally think that ANY thing in any major magazine to do with trials is good.

i bet all the folks who are saying it's shite read max power and think nova's are amazin!daid anyone see the little mention in fhm a few months ago? no? ah lookin at the boobies......

yeh mbuk might not have much in the way of trials in it but it's done shit loads for the sport and abasidors to the sport like martyn, martin , wayne(luv you!!), savage even jonny jones with trial media ratcliffe

the tounge brothers(still true to the sport,the hardly get any press coverage but you'll see matt out obs

erving.

barber white, fred savage

need i go on all these people have done an absolute bucket load more than most/all of us.

man we are all riders who cares if magazines don't cover it....you like riding, you take photo's and film ain't that enough.

rant over.

oh martyn and or wayne....why no mention of me in your lists of love???

lol

[Waynio]

peter haydon i was going to say that about top gear!!!!! its a perfect example, look where it got the young lad. in hospital BUT the poeple or personalities in the program defy everything and anything that we as the public can do, just like the pro's from the mag. they get to do things that if we asked to do would have no chance!!!!

the problem is, if people arent buying MBUK like alot of people on here saying:

"the magazine is shit and i dont buy it cos of that"

then why would that person buy a trials specific mag? they may say "yes" initially but thats just saying it, doing it is a different matter. im more getting to the people that say they would love a trials specific mag and then not buying it. trials could NEVER fill a 50 odd page mag. you would run out of news or things to put in, i know how hard it is to find news for Hip Hop sometimes!!!!

Kenny you know i love you!!!! and you missed go karting sat it was the nutts!!!

Tomm your 4 points are good in the past i have been out and dressed like most others for comfort of riding, but now i go out, and i could physically turn into weatherspoons after for a few beers. i took the advise off probably 2/3 people that have helped me get into trials and all 3 really have had alot to do with getting the sport where it is today (Ashton, Hawzee, Akrigg)

the idea in life is to learn from mistakes, you can also make it "learn from the more respected and the more knowledgable"

i sometimes have the urge to ask my boss who is an EX PRO road racer, questions about "how to be better?" "what i can do to improve?" even though he raced a differenct disipline you have to have the right attitude, a good personality and get along with people.

Waynio.................................