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STEVE-0

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  1. Trials Study - What got you into bike trials and what keeps you interested still today?

    in Trials Chat

    Posted

    On 09/05/2019 at 4:52 PM, Ben Swales said:

    Saw an article about Martyn and Martin in a copy of my brother's MBUK and thought it looked cool, then saw some local lads riding street in my hometown. First started trying to do tricks on a 20" frame rigid XC bike, then gradually built up a 14" GT Tequesta as I could afford to swap out parts for proper trialsy ones, riding a mix of trials, jumps and 'tricks', then upgraded to a 'proper' trials bike. Was just riding street and natural round where I lived with friends, doing silly bits and bobs, learning moves from MBUK tutorials and the like. Did my first comp in 2002/2003ish, a YMSA at Knabb Quarry and had a mega time. Did a few more of those, then started riding Tykes and nationals. Got involved in the Tykes committee after a couple of years, then started helping out with the organisation of the nationals. Ended up doing more organising/observing than riding at comps and trials friends in Sheffield moved away or stopped riding, so I was riding less and less. In 2014 I started training to be a teacher and just didn't have the time to be dedicating to organising and travelling to comps, travelling round for rides or the inclination to keep riding on my own at home, so ended up selling my trials bikes. Some friends started mountainbiking, so I bought a second hand MTB and have been doing that for about four years now. I still follow what's going on, but can't see myself getting back into riding now. I occasionally think about heading to a nearby comp to catch up with people and have a watch, but so far have been busy whenever they've been on. 

    Great to hear from you Ben! Andy Chai and I were just thinking about what happened to you the other day. Definitely try and head down to a competition at some point. Would be great to catch up.

  2. Trials Study - What got you into bike trials and what keeps you interested still today?

    in Trials Chat

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Swoofty said:

    Ok I guess I'll be that guy then; I got into trials because of Danny's April 09 video. I started racing mtb xcountry in 1993 and was heavily involved in it. I'd see Hans and Libor and Ryan Leech at the big bike festivals doing demos, but it never seemed like something I'd ever be able to do on a bike so I never looked much further. I moved to Colorado and became a snowboard instructor for 3 years.  In 1998 I moved to Los Angeles and took up windsurfing and it became my all consuming sport of choice. I was still riding Xcountry, but only racing the big races in the western US. In 2009 I was expecting my first child and looking for something that would keep me closer to home. Danny's video was perfectly timed for me so I ordered my first Czar 24 (the Inspireds were too pricey back then due to the exchange rate at the time). I got Ryan Leech's training videos and slowly started learning. The 24" was great because I could put it completely built in the back of my car ('91 Honda Civic!) and ride it whenever I got the chance. I tried my first contest a few years later and finally met some other riders, but none were very close by (big problem in the US, large country, few trials riders). I still keep the bike (26" now) in the back of my car and I like exploring new areas whenever I can. Now there's a 14 year old that I ride with who lives just a few blocks away and he likes to throw in flatland tricks so that keeps me on my toes. When I ride alone it's about inch hunting and pulling off clean complicated street lines.

     

    Steve Rogers - You had a video called Andy and Steve Switch from 2010? After I saw that I really wanted a Rockman Switch frame, but I could never find an orange one. What ever happened to that bike? I heard most of them broke.

    Haha. Wow. That's a throwback. Andrew Walker owned the Rockman switch and had possibly the first one in the uk. To be honest I never saw another one so no idea how many were sold or how they lasted. It was a good looking bike in my opinion.

    Thanks for the responses so far guys. Very interesting insights.

  3. Trials Study - What got you into bike trials and what keeps you interested still today?

    in Trials Chat

    Posted · Edited by STEVE-0

    Hi Everyone,

    I’m working with Biketrialfederation to put together some studies and doing what I can to promote our sport.

    We want to know your story of how you got into bike trials and what keeps you interested still today.

    Also, please feel free to add any comments or thoughts you have on what could be done to improve our sport and how you think we can attract more riders, old and new. Be that new competition formats, more clubs, coaching sessions or more trials parks etc.

    Please comment on this thread or feel free to PM me if you’d prefer not to share your views with a wider audience.

     

    Here’s my personal story as an example (sorry it’s long - got a little carried away).

    When I was 11 I attempted my first backhops on my neighbour's recently purchased second-hand trials bike and I was instantly hooked. By my 12th birthday I owned my very own trials bike that I had persuaded my parents to buy. My neighbour and I learnt new skills together back when wheelies, endos, jumping up and down the kerb were everything. We would also try to emulate some of the trials videos that were available at the time like: Tricks & Stunts, Contact & Chainspotting. Having a friend also interested in trials meant we could practice together regularly and help each other progress. The buzz from learning a new trick or nailing a line you’ve repeatedly tried is what I lived for and is one of the reasons I still love trials today. Amazing people with cool tricks also fuelled my desire to progress.

    It was 2 years before I discovered the competition scene and I was frustrated I didn’t know about it sooner especially given how close the local venue was - Thriftwood, Essex. Stuart Matthews offered regular coaching sessions there too. The Essex Bike Trial Club (EBTC) used to attract up to 100 riders per club competition to ride mainly natural set competitions. It was amazing to me to find so many riders there, many of which became very good friends of mine. Two laps of ten sections was the standard format. From then on in I got a taste for the competitions and regularly attended.

    Upon discovering Trialsforum.com organised rides became more common and I attended many of the legendary London rides, usually starting at the shell centre (now demolished) near the London eye, which would also attract large numbers of riders (50+).

    Both the competition scene and street scene had their own heroes and role models that I looked up to. The Coustelliers and Trials Kings come to mind amongst many other amazing riders.

    My passion for the sport has never really faltered in the face of the occasional negativity from my family and whilst many other riders have come and gone. For me it’s a release and a way to de-stress whilst also keeping me fit and I still get a lot of joy out of cycling. Some of my closest friends have come from riding bike trials and it’s a pleasure to travel around the world and meet many more people with the same passion that are part of our community.

     

    Thanks in advance for your contributions.

    Steve Rogers

    • Like 3

  10. Steve Rogers - Loughborough Life

    in Videos

    Posted

    Hi All,

    3-4 years ago a friend from Uni filmed me riding over several days in between lectures and weekends. I managed to get some of these clips from him however, they have sat on my hard drive for all this time. Finally, got round to putting them together to make a chilled out vid. Hope you all like. Definitely got an Autumn feeling.

    Cheers!

    Steve-o

    • Like 12

  16. Steve Rogers Mid-Season Training Barrow Farm 2014

    in Videos

    Posted

    Hi All,

    Here is my latest vid, filmed at Radical Bikes, Barrow Farm, Essex, 4 months on from the last. Still trying to get out as much as possible to get somewhat prepared for the world cups in September :sweatingbullets:

    Thanks to all my sponsors under the MAD, such as Dare2b and Schwalbe, plus renewed sponsorship with Steve at Heatsink bikes!

    Lastly, I can't thank the Mitchell family enough for the hard work they put into creating one of the best riding spots in the UK!

    Look forward to your comments guys.

    Cheers,

    Steve

    • Like 7

  18. Steve Rogers Pre-Season Training Barrow Farm 2014

    in Videos

    Posted · Edited by STEVE-0

    Hello All!

    Finally got round to making a video, given it's been 3 years since my last. Thanks go to Samsung for making a phone with a quite an impressive camera that managed to take care of this slap together video from a day's riding at Barrow Farm*. Plus:

    The Mitchell family for building the UK's best man-made trials venue on my door step.

    MAD and their related sponsors such as Dare2b and Schwalbe for their continued support.

    Enjoy!

    Steve-o

    *one clip had to be repeated a week later as must not of pressed record ;)

    • Like 5
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