OAP

Apologies to Stan for ruining his thread. I think it was my fault, I only mentioned that i had noticed his foot position, then someone mentioned weight lifting and holy hell broke loose.

That makes sense and I suppose his foot position may restrict the movement of his ankle, resulting in extra loading on his knees as he comes forward on the bike. Patella Tendonitis.... !! Ouch. Im surprised he's riding at all. Mate of mine tried to ride through PT and can no longer ride at all. Im going back to the balls of my feet!

Cracking video and as usual super smooth riding from Stan. Something I noticed was Stans foot position. He seems to ride with his feet more centred on the pedal (i.e pedal axel towards the centre of his foot, as apposed to the axle being under the ball of his foot, like me). I've just nipped out and tried this... although feeling a bit strange at first, It definitely felt better. I felt more in control and able to deliver a bit more power. Also it's got to be better for the knees under loading. I realise this could just be me and more psychological than anything else, but has anyone else found this? Be good to hear Stans thoughts?

I have no experience of the new Neon 24. But I own the 2011 26. I don't really ride any street, I prefer more technical natural stuff. I'm more than happy with my Neon. It handles well, is light (8.8kg) and I have personally not had any issues with flex. Although I run a trialtech booster on the rear. I know a few people on here will say they snap etc But few trials bikes won't if they are thrashed on the street, especially when put through the same move repeatedly. I would have liked a slightly higher BB rise on my neon, (my avatar will give you a clue of how I like to ride!!) but the 24 has a high BB anyhow. I'm tempted by the Neon 24 myself.

Email the chaps at Tarty regarding your stem. They will point you in the right direction. It depends on what you like, but also the geometry of your bike. Adam at Tarty will know. He seems to be the Yoda of all things trial. As far as your front brake is concerned, it could be your rotor is slightly bent or a pad out of line/catching. You will get the feel of the bike soon enough. Then things will come a bit easier. Just keep working on your balance for now. If it p!%%ing down you can practice in a garage or kitchen. When trying to get to grips with balancing with my bad foot forward and high, i had the bike on an old mat in the living room, while watching a film with the missus. She thinks i'm a nut job at the best of times, but I think the eccentricity of this activity had her genuinely worried!!! But i'm short on time, I was watching her film with her and i got my practice in. So everyones happy.

Keep your eye open. Walked past a pile dumped on some spare land in Manchester the other day. Usually chuck them in the back of the van for the wood burner at home though. I dont have any room to set up pallets. Also im lucky enough to live near some great natural.

From the pic you posted, it seems like your running a rear Vee brake and front disk. I run maguras front and rear, so I can't advise on getting your brakes set up well, as I've not much experience of these on trials bikes. Other than a front disk on my old Mod & that always seemed good and looked after it's self! Ask on the forum about your Vee brake, plenty of people run them. Matt is right. It's a book and it's only just been released. I've got a copy and I stuff it in my bag and take it with me when I'm out on the bike for reference. There aren't really any mags sold. This is the best online trials magazine http://www.tribalzine.com/ I run it in google chrome and it translates it for me. But there are English pages done by Ben Swales. As Matt says try a search for Ryan leach on you tube The Art of Trials. You can't go wrong with this. Also a word of warning from someone of a similar age (i've learnt the hard way!!) Make sue you warm up and stretch before you ride. It will reduce the risk of injury and also make you feel better on and off the bike. A helmet is critical and shin pads will save your legs while your leaning.

All good advice above. Your Justice will serve you well. Definitely a decent starter bike. Make sure you get your brakes set up correctly, it will take quite a bit of fussing them, but it's worth it. Crap brake setup will make riding a lot harder and sketchy as a learner. As far as your age goes.. I'm 40. Trials WILL hurt and frustrate you. But it's worth it!! I'm hooked, im so keen to get better i've started running, yoga and strength training in addition to riding my bike. I also run my own business, so fitting it in is a challenge in it's self. But when you get a move or a line nailed, it's well worth it. Use the video's for inspiration but don't beat yourself up, if you can't get a move. Don't rush it, get the basics nailed first. Track stand, Track Stand front wheel not turned. Then both these with bad foot forward and so on. Once you have these sorted, you will be able to lift the front wheel in a nice controlled manner, without all the endoing and bouncing around that come from rushing to get on the back wheel. Hope that helps, for what my two penneth is worth.

No amount of rain can dampen the excitement of a new steed, I bet you'd of ridden it in a blizzard. My favorite 24 those. I used to do garden maintenance when I left collage, but we never pulled up the weeds like that. Which is a shame... i'd of probably been a better rider now.

Got to agree with all above. Great sections and nice riding.

What a great video. Congrats to all involved and huge respect to Jack. His riding is incredible... totally inspiring. Andrei did a great job commentating. That said it beggars belief that this idiot (Ross C) is even allowed to post on here? If it genuinely is Ross Clayton then Jack should distance himself as far as is humanly possible from this willy, before he seriously damages Jack's image. Especially given the attention being given to Jack on the world circuit at the moment. Although I'm guessing the person behind this type of post doesn't act like such a dick in the 'real world' otherwise someone would of drop kicked them long ago. Actually I once new an seriously talented climber, who had a 'so called' pall who acted like this. Turned out he had a gone all Gollum from living in the dark of his mates shadow.

Hope everyone has a good trial and the weather holds up. I had myself all fired up to enter the seniors, but I've gone and wrecked the tendons in my left forearm... agony

I wonder if Rockman actually know their market and what their customers want?.... obviously not with this, another hideous frame job. Never had anything against Rockman frames, apart from the graphics, but IMO this just shows they are copying other brands and because they don't know what people want, painting up and decaling their frames with any old crap. Awful.

Had exactly the same problem. Got it seated with a bit of fiddling and then rode it. It still has a bit of wobble but it rides fine. They seem to get better with use.

Cheers Not sure it him though. I found some items, including what looks like a gym membership card, with a photo. No contact details for him or gym though. The stuff I found and the location leads me to think he is a trial rider, though he could ride moto trials as they use the same spot sometimes. Thanks anyway.

Hi all. Is this fella on here? If you are James PM me, I have found some items i think belong to you, while out at my local riding spot today. If anyone knows a James Lister who has recently been riding in Yorkshire, pass on the message. Cheers all.

Hi Jon The advise you have been given is spot on. Im 6'2" and rode a mod (20") quite happily with a few tweaks. I put on a high rise stem and bars. Although saying that I now ride a stock (26"), but only because i prefer to cover a bit of ground between areas I ride. My mod is an 07 Echo Lite and it's gathering dust, so i'm selling it for £180. Only problem is it has it's original bars and stem on. So you would maybe need to get a higher stem and bars. PM me if your interested. cheers.

Hey don't listen to this nonsense. Everyone progresses at their own rate. Keep at it and good on you for posting up a vid.

Liking that. Good to see a Brisa... still have one at the back of my lock up, with a set of RS7's on it... a crime really.

Im looking for some knee and shin pads that are not bulky and still allow a full flex of my knee. I have 661 veggie at the moment & they are worn out. These have been ok but still a bit on the bulky side. Im ideally looking for a pad that pulls on like a compression sleeve. Does anyone have any experience of the 661 rhythm knee/shin pad or the G Form pads? LINK both are the kind of thing im looking for. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers.

Not cool, where have you been... http://www.selectism.com/news/2011/05/03/new-balance-576-lake-district-pack/ I use 5.10's, they are spot on.

Out walking the dog last night and spotted a nice line across a local stream. Winter rains change the boulders every year. It's.. . low bank side rock, to larger (but not both wheels) boulder mid way, to tree trunk growing horizontally along the opposite bank. One, two, three. If only it where that easy!! Now can't get it out of my head and also can't get out of my head the severe lack of decent room to bail. Which I will definitely need. Does anyone else get this torment, when a great looking line gets into their head?

I had a look at the results and photos, it looked a great day!! I was suprised and excited to see a 'senior' class... .. Im very tempted if I can get off work. Never ridden at Blackpool, might bob over and take a look.

Some of the comments on this thread are a joke. Yes the French have a tendency to be a bit over serious, but this is obviously a just a collection of clips from his training sessions. Im sure Giacomo considers himself an athlete and obviously applies himself as such. As a result he obviously dresses in what ever is best for him to perform in and with that amount of effort the shouting can some way be understood. These types of video seem to get a lot of flak from the street and 24 inch brigade. References to tights, shoes and boring moves seem common. Says a lot about these disciplines in my opinion. I would argue that street, 24 and all that BMX'y bollocks are more concerned with showing off!!! Hence the need to put out well edited clips, with cool tracks and keep check on what outfit they have on!!! It a shame we have had some talented riders progress though the comp circuit over the years only to get to an age where, personal appearance and recognition seem to get the better of them. They would rather spend their time twirling round the local shopping centre. Instead of sticking with the sport, applying themselves, trainig had, using their skill and representing their country at the worlds. Long live REAL trials......

Never been hassled... but then again i do my best to get away from folk. I work all week in a city, so last thing i want to do is ride in one. Further away from it all the better for me Same when i used to climb. I suppose i'm lucky though to have a van and be able to get away.