Brettoll

Yeah had to stick on parts that I had. Will eventually change to a proper bar and stem, just temporarily using those. It feels fine at the moment, just might need a bigger rise on the stem/bar to change the feel a bit more.

Ahh fair play. I always thought fattys were 10mm longer than pashleys, guess that the rake changes the feel. Well talking to a chap about some echo urbans and cranks so will see if I can scrape the cash to get them as I need both. Cheers for the advice. Brett

Coool, look forwards to riding with you guys George. And Leon, what forks did you change to in the end as I know you went through about 2-3 fork options... Cheers, Brett

Yeah it is mega short, its like riding an old planet x which is just what I wanted. Well immediate changes are the forks and cranks, not getting on with the pashleys so looking for a different vee fork and the cranks are old and bent so looking to get some black ffw cranks with a bash. After that I will see how it feels, potentially thinking of changing the front wheel to something a little lighter. Once I get a new job and I can buy a new rear fixed hub im considering going dual disc. So a few ideas in the pipeline, all dependant on money over the coming months.

Thanks dude, actually went out for ride 3 on the beast tonight so let me know when your usually about (07739845636). Brett

Yeah im actually tempted, knowing its sacrilege to drop the marino stickers and run the front cable back as black and get some custom stickers made for it. Yeah its nice shape, lovely and old school.

Ok finally got round to taking some pics of this. Frame is a custom by Marino and the quality is spot on for £250 posted price tag!! As the majority of this was put together using parts from the garage it will be going some changes when I add bits to it to improve the ride Spec is as follows: Marino frame - 1025wb, 385 chainstays, +10bb rise Pashley forks (going to change these for some fattys or similar) Alex rim on a unbranded hub front TMS fixed rear hub on Mavic EX712 rim Trialtech bb TMS Cranks (bent so need some new ones) TMS Half Bash (again bent so time for a new one) TMS Prototype 72 click ffw Rear HS33 with Front Deore vee with spainsh fly pads and retro XTR lever Eason EA50 Mid Rise bars Ritchey 110 x 6 4 Axis Stem Superstar components GTO Headset in purple Superstar components Nano flat pedals in purple Gusset Slink purple half link chain Eclat Complex BMX Seat Its not to everyones tastes I know, but I love the short whippyness of it. Comments, feedback and complaints due to disgust are all welcome. Cheers, Brett

Was good to bump into a load of you whilst blindly riding round Bristol!! Cheers, Brett (on the Marino)

There's a phase going for £225 on ebay... Though you've probably already seen it My linkhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAD-PHASE-1-2-TRIALS-MOUNTAIN-STUNT-BIKE-M-A-D-/320650710775?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4aa8458ef7

Yeah that made it clearer, cheers Leon brains given up working.

The express shipping means it only takes 1-2 weeks to arrive rather than a month, and as it takes time to build means you get it that little bit quicker. The rest of the time is design and build from scratch as it takes the time to get everything ready and he has a few to build..

Totals about £250 with express shipping Yeah I know I am pretty patient, just after a few weeks silence I just thought a courtesy email wouldn't go a miss. Only a suggestion

Its his Marino Gmail account and his Marinobike account..

Thanks for all the responses everyone. My mates bought one for his Echo so I will see how he fares and stick to my Kool chain for now and stop being such a tart and wanting to buy everything purple for my bike. Cheers, Brett

Well it just seems a little strange that he picked up the money but I emailed him a few times about postage etc so I have an idea when it will arrive but no response. I will have a look on his fb page and wait. Cheers Ross

Can anyone help me... Sent over the final payment for my Marino frame with postal instructions last week to Marino. I saw that the money has been collected but I have heard nothing from Marino about whether the frame has been posted or anything. I can appreciate he must be a busy man but a quick email wouldn't go a miss. Thanks, Brett

Thinking of buying a Gusset Slink chain as im horrendously superficial and it comes in purple which will suit my bike. Anyone used/using one for trials? Any opinions/thoughts? Cheers Brett

Its going to be mid Feb so probably a bit of a wait

I would be able to give you feedback, but I haven't got a frame to put mine in yet.... Don't think one has been used for trials yet so not sure how it will fare, but it does look and feel rather nice.

What about this??

Get riding with others, that will help your progression as they can help you along. Took me a few weeks to get the balance right and learn how to back hop. Learn't how to gap hop in a few hours practising on some sqaured paving slabs in a shopping precinct near my house. From that, it took a while to get big and gain confidence. It helped riding with people who were better than me who could talk me through moves and demonstrate what they looked like close up. When I was 17 and I had my first proper trials bike I practised every day, even just the little back hops and kick hops on the slabs after college. It's the classic Martyn Ashton "practice practice practice". I have been riding trials on and off for 11 years and I can say hand on heart the times I ride 5/6 times a week I was riding better as the basic moves I didn't have to think about, I lost the fear doing the bigger moves as I was able to practise them more. Now im back at square 1 as I haven't ridden for well over a year and a half and im having to man up and build myself back up. So a bit of an essay there for you, but my advice: Practise as often as you can, even if its half an hour hopping up a curb by your house Ride with others and dont be ashamed that your a starter. Evveryone will try and help you improve Watch videos online to see how people do moves (body shapes, pedal positioning) Visit Trashzen as there are some helpful tips and how to's on there Hope this helps, Brett

Ha ha!! It's Brett Stollery. It was when you had first started out and were riding with Tim a lot. Fair play to him, I can appreciate that being an art student in my yoof. Im surprised he stopped though, especially living in London and all the street furniture there. I am going to be on here looking for rides loads when I move up there later this year. Oh that sucks about your bike, but good your still riding. Perhaps after all that BMX you will convert to a Hex or something similar. Yeah i've seen Jack about, but I agree it has gone quiet. Used to be loads of riders hitting Reading at the weekends, guess the weather hasn't helped either. Well thats answered my question. Thanks to everyone for catering to my whim.

Was riding through Reading uni the other day reminiscing about some of the old sessions I used to have in there on my Mark 1 T-Rex with Tim Pratt, a very young Daniel Gray (think you were about 13) and Danny Steele-Stallard when I suddenly thought..... Does Tim Pratt still ride?? So I thought I would find out if anyone knows if he is still riding as he seemed to disappear of the face of the scene. Thanks, Brett

Yeah I see what you mean with that.

It does, it is a mirrored black paint finish which will look sweet!! Might have to strip and repaint my forks so they match.