Thinking about getting a 2nd-hand trials bike to play around with. Don’t have any experience with these things (and no skillz to speak of 😆 ) but would like to learn how to bounce around on stuff, jump over things etc etc, basically I like the idea of making my urban environment (London) my playground 😀

Found this rig so far, it seems like a good buy to me, but what do those of you with experience in this stuff think? Would it be a good bike to learn on?

Cheers 😀

Seems like it has all the right bits – phat rear tire, decent brakes, no saddle (but an anti-ball-crusher installed) and it’s tiny so ready to throw around.

Expect a bad back 😉

I wonder if it’s too small for me? I’m a burly 90kg and 5’8″ (don’t suppose inside leg matters with these things!)…

Looks like a reaonable one. Only thing you might want to think about is if you want 20″ or 26″ wheels. The advantage of the bigger wheels is that you can run gears and thus get between riding spots at a half decent speed. Also, you can ride more “street” type lines where speed and the ability to roll is needed. Advantage of the little bike is that it more manouverable, less to go wrong, cheaper and generally easier to pick up the basics on.

I guess a 20″ wheeled mod bike will be a good ‘un to start with. I mainly want to play around learning how to manual, jump up onto things, over things etc etc… not planning on riding far. Does £230 seem reasonable for this bike?

cheers 😀

anyone else with some thoughts to add (shameless bump for the evening crowd 😀 )

Also, does anyone know of courses one could do to learn some basic skills?

cheers 😀

nobody with anything to add?

cheers for the thoughts thus far, appreciated 😀

you wont manual a 20″

i’ve ridden both and really prefer a 26″ a 20″ is such a specialised machine. Becasuse of the extreme geo (just look at the stem) they don’t even roll on two wheels well.

that looks pretty decent tho.

Try and get a ride on a couple of bikes – there is a big london ride (south bank) sunday am – wonder/ ride along chat to da kids – friendly bunch.

you will instantly see the differnce between 20″ 26″ (and 24″ for that matter)

so this is more for jumping around on stuff?

I find it a LOT easier to pull off just about anything on a 20 – its smaller, lighter, tougher, lower inertia to rotate, easier to balance on either end etc, but I have a 26. Very recently almost converted but somehow I just couldn’t, mainly because teh 26 is still ride-to-the-location capable and not at all because of the fact that people already say “that bikes too small for you mate” or “arent you too big for playing on bikes?”. The thing is the 20 is designed for trials, a 26 is more multi-purpose, its easier to roll over rough stuff etc. For 230 I’d buy it I suspect.

i find the difference quite marked between 20″ and 26″

20″ are best doing static one wheel moves
26″ are better doing rolling type moves.

either will be fun to mess around on tbh.
the 20/26 debate is a bit like spds/ flats no right or wrong answer which is why i recomended having a go.

Yep, I’m thinking the same,for 230 it’s a pretty good buy isn’t it? And if I don’t get on with it then I should be able to retrieve most of my outlay…

What about learning… how do you learn this game? I’m guessing lots of trial (ha ha) and error right? What about lessons?

cheers 😀

i was toying with the idea of converting my street/dirt/toy bike to a trials bike (with a trials specific frame and a rigid fork)
then grew out of it (the urge)

the problem with trials is its REALLY hard to get anywhere with it.
on my street bike, i can hop about, side hop, buny hop, almost got pedal hopping but got put off it by landing on my head :s
Abubaca(fanufu), stoppie, endo, front wheel pivot (turning around on the front wheel from an endo) manual (of sorts),trackstand aaannnddd……. having a suss fork at the front, double up step sets (also put off by a big stack that involved landing in a set of stairs and smashing a fork and myself)

I can hop up stuff as tall as my wheel (26″, so just over 2ft i guess) smoothly
but thats IT.(in retrospect it seems a lot but its not really)
i have TOTALLY plateaued.

ive learnt LOADS of bike control, which is all useful on trails, but i stopped progressing about 2 yrs ago now, and the lack of progress (not for not trying) has ment ive got bored of it.
the lack of “mad skillz” means a lot of AWESOME riding, and lines you can see, are un achievable, its a bit chicken and eggy really.
need the practice to get the skill, but need the skill to get the practice with a lot of situations

if its street mountain biking your after,rather than trials, i would suggest getting a street bikey thing.
a tiny hardtail, short wheel base, and built like a brick poo-parlour
fantastic fun, but no major commitments to practicing…

Chris smiths STP:

Me on my hideous mess

ive had SO much fun on that bike 🙂

oh go on then, have another

best way to learn is hang out with some people who can ride. the other way is just messing around – quite a different way than mtb

i’m sure theres some tutorials on youtube

I guess what I want to be able to learn/do is how to hop up onto/over things, balance on front/rear wheels… out the front of my flat there are little 2ft brick walls, park benches, concrete pylons (2ft tall thingies) etc… I like the idea of being able to play with them (and fall off them a lot no doubt). I guess I’ve been inspired by ‘that’ vid of Danny Macaskill… I have no illusions of doing anything like that, but I imagine it’ll be fun to start off and maybe I’ll learn a few tricks amongst the tumbles (it’s funny, everytime I think about this trials thing, I get that song playing in my head ‘The Funeral’ by Band of Horses 🙄 )