Lord Banks

or go snowboarding?

Crank length can affect the 'feel' of your gearing, not sure how much by though.

They should do a 20" version, maybe stick some pegs on it too (A)

My Trials naivety means I don’t even know what that means :$ Although my mate did try a ‘string’ bleed on his Vee’s but it didn’t work to well, fishing line is meant to be good.

Try a 'cable' bleed, thats what I run and I never have any problems with air.

I got some of this ages ago for my Vees:- http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/rim_brake_spares/monty_brake_spray/c5p2083.html and it works a treat and lasts for ages. I've got a grind on but not a particulary harsh one. Only problem is when the rims get wet, it turns back into liquid form and has the complete opposite effect. Also, it smells exactly like cheap hairspray, so i reckon you could just nick some of the missus and use that. I should have mentioned too, I’m running bog standard cheapo brake pads….

The beauty of trials is that you can build up slowly to it. As an example, learning to hop a gap, doesn’t even need to be a ‘physical gap’, it can be to two chalk lines on the floor. Also, the nature of trials, is you rarely travel at any speed, so crashes are (generally) quite mundane things. Obviously, if you’re trying to hop a gap with a 10 foot drop, then yes you’re going to hurt, but as I said before, you can build up to these things and with that your confidence will grow. I would (personally) say the majority of trials riding is skill based, it’s the terrain you start doing it on that turns it into ‘adrenalin’ sport.* *sorry, I hate that phrase, but it’s the only way I could describe myself.

My arms not up to scratch at the minute like, torn all the ligaments from me elbow (fancy way of saying tennis elbow). But yeah, I’ll be up for session. It looks really good down St Marys Lighthouse area, I'm down there a bit with the dog and I'm always picking out little sections in my head. I'm pretty much at the beginners stage like, so much so I'm still running cable brakes :-/ (plus - sorry if it seems like I pop up and then disappear again, its because i only have access to this forum at work so I have to pick me moments when I view it, luckily all the gaffers are in a meeting at the minute)

Just over in Heaton, to far to peddle ( But i reckon if i straighten the bars, stick a couple of bin-bags over the bike, i can just carry it onto the Metro.

Could try roofing felt, the type of stuff you stick on sheds and that.

I going to try and make this, I live quite close and I’m sure I could stick my bike in a bin-bag and get the Metro down.

Yeah, Newcastle to be precise.

How about a places to ride section? It could have different boards for geographical areas, North East, North West etc. I know a lot of riders will already know all the decent spots, but it might help out the beginners and Im always discovering new places to ride (new to me at least!). **I dont know if this has been suggested before, I did a search but couldnt find anything, so apologies in advance if it has.**

"I thought all the slopestyle stuff was being commentated on by Ed Leigh and some other snowboarder dude who both know their shit... Lizzy Yarnold looking really good for gold on the Skeleton. For anyone who cares she's also really nice and properly down to earth. Fingers crossed" You’re right, it is. I should have said, they did this little introduction-mini-documentary about it and they were talking to the ‘normal’ presenters and they all just had blank expressions on their faces. Also, they did a ‘track-side’ interview with a boarder, and they where asking her what she thought of the comp and she basically said she hated competing and she had been told to do it by her sponsors and the interviewer was gobsmacked, he couldn’t get over how she could be competing at that level but didn’t want to compete. And there was a guy knitting just before he dropped in.

With manuals try to keep you legs bent, arse over the rear axle and aim for something, relax your arms and use you legs to adjust your balance. Set-up tips....definatley brakeless, makes it more flowing and improves your riding. Get plastic pegs, much lighter but much better for grinding too, try Butcher Pegs, bit pricey but worth it. Get at least 100psi in your tires and get in some skatepark sessions.

Salt plus are decent cranks, within your price range if you shop around.

I’ve found the Slopestyle Snowboard amusing, watching/listening to the BBC stiffs trying to get their heads around backside/frontside and all the trick names.

Chains usually come with a lot to spare, so you’ll be able to have your wheel as far back as you like.

Really? I can assure you it weren't me! I'm just getting back into trails after a couple year gap, i've been riding bmx so i've not had much input in the scene. If I could sort something out, a small indoor area, few pallets to begin with etc, reckon it would see much use? I'll have to justify its existence you see with an idea of useage.

Following on from Trialsalots thread here > http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/topic/186230-north-east-indoor-spots-ie-near-newcastle/ Would there be a genuine interest in an Indoor Trials venue in the Newcastle/North east area? I do abit of work at the Dynamix Skate Park in Gateshead and I was just wondering if it might be worth me mentioning to them about setting something up. Theres stuff to ride there at the minute (few ledges/stairs etc) but nothing specific to Trials. There is an outdoor section (although Ive not seen anyone riding it) and loads of pallets/cable reels/general Trialsy stuff lying around. Any thoughts North eastern trialers?

Theoretically yes, mountain bike tires are designed with forward momentum/friction/braking in mind. But the forces on a trials tire (generally) tend to be rearward forces, so it would make more sense to run them backwards. Although if they’re trails specific tires, you should probably run them as directed. This maybe complete nonsense in the Street style of riding though, but from a Natural Trials point of view it makes sense (to me at least).

You could try Dynamix skate park. I do abit work there and I’m sure if they got enough interest, they would (or rather I would) build a section somewhere. I know theres an outdoor section and loads of pallets kicking about. Plus, the nature of trials, it could be put up pretty much anywhere in the park.

There are some right miserable c**ts on this forum like.

Your location is 'Highland', is that as in Highland Scotland? If so, get yourself out into the country and ride some natural. Highland Scotland always looks rocky and such, so I reckon you'll find some good stuff to ride.

What is your point?