Ali C

It annoys me slightly when people say "trials clothing looks shit", "people shouldn't wear pixie boots". To me trials is a competition sport, much like running, swimming, road and track cycling. You don't see people ripping into the clothing that Chris Hoy wears? Much the same it annoys me when people say competition riders arnt cool and take things too seriously. Most comp riders I know are really friendly, mature and well spoken and are the friendliest people in the sport, you sometimes get the odd agressive rider or shout (I have done my fair share when failing a section) but its like that at the top of any sport. I agree with Mark about people only seem to do that same sidehop/gap/tap (hence TGS) time after time. I can't imagine how boring that must be? But I also want people to understand that comp riders are some of the more imaginative riders out there, working out exactly the best way to make it up a rockface, or across a a man made section within a time limit and saving the most energy<<<Thats what its all about for me, working out a puzzle rather than trying the most daringly biggest sidehop or gap. I would love to be as good as some of the bmxers there are now, but to me its all far too dangerous to be worth the risk. Errm, not sure if any of that made sense, so I'll try and bullet point my main views: *don't complain about how trials clothing looks you vein fashion munchers! If you do want to complain, why don't you wright to any sport that looks silly (horse riding, swimming, track cycling etc) *Just because some riders don't ride like Danny Mac and akkers don't think they are not imaginative when riding. Mainly talking about comp riders who have to pick the best lines in a comp or when riding natural. *I am sure I had another point somwhere

it was good and all, BUT the bike looks waaaay too small for you, either that or the fact your bars are nearly dragging on the floor makes it look small, your elbows are down by your knees when you backhop. I would seriously consider getting a longer frame or a higher front end, it may hold back your riding otherwise.

indeed

currently seeing Si Physio and he is being a great help! It turns out I have torn my ATFL, I went to the hospital and they gave me an x-ray, but there are no breaks. Si has but me though some electrpherapy and will put me in a cast tomorrow for 6 weeks . Its worth it though to get properly healed.

I would without question call the brakless vids that Akkers does "trials" vids.

sounds great! Hopefully I'll be out of my cast in April, so I'll have a couple of weeks practice before the comp, I hope I am not too rusty.

I like these photos of riders very much

you can also get a specialised stem which looks all perfectly normal but it has an oversized steerer and uses a set of shims to alter the angle. Its perfectly strong enough for trials and is quite light. The only down side is the total range on rise only goes up to 17degrees and they are hard to find.

I had a good but frustrating ride. It was ace to see all my old friends and meet new ones and also to ride places I have seen in dozens of videos. It was just strange being in London and seeing all the famous buildings and such (never seen the London Eye for example). I was very frustrated though, my ankle was killing me throughout the whole ride. I saw so many things I wanted to try but was scared of jumping off and hurting myself some more (turns out I have torn my ATFL again!). It was worth the trip, but I think the next big ride should be on some natural somewhere;)

much less maintenace and lighter

after snapping my chain on a 1ft drop and hitting my bollox on my stem which led to several hospital visits, I am one of those people who change a chain every 3 months or so! Its worth it in my eyes.

After a LOT of trial and error and a hell of a lot of fiddling, I am finally happy with my rear maggie. I have maggie lever and cylinders, 4 finger blade, magura braided hosing and TNN cnc pads plus a Trialtech carbon booster. I use standard maggie clamps, but I have filed them down so they fit as close to the frame as possible, I also run my booster with no spacers. I have also but an elastic band around my lever blade and bar to make it slightly easier to pull (to reduce arm pump). My brake acts like a vee, not great bite, but really good hold! I would like more bite, but holding power is more important, plus the brake is quieter which I like. I am running a front hope trials disk on the front a the mo with a 200mm rotor, the power is good but I have been playing with a front vee and I rather liked that. I just need some Trialtech vee forks now

I also cant tap rails

I cant frenchie on flat walls and I cant tap to front wheel.

after talking to si physio, its looking like I'll be crutching around

too serious! Narr, was good, nice one Jack

might have a possible fracture in my ankle, I can ride, but probably shouldn't. I'll go anyway, but we'll see if I have a bike with me or not.

wish I was at school again, I would love to stand up for myself against some of the stupid rules that are around. Uniforms piss me off soooo much! So did home work.....School was time to do my work, home was my time to do what I wanted, thats something I feel very strongly about. God I hated school!

depends on the day. I have had great rides on my own, getting lines dialled, sunny day, peaceful.....loveley! However, being in a group of friends at a great place with great weather is one of lifes pleasures.

depends how you ride. If you just ride street where you do one move, rest and then another move then you will only build up a certen amount of fitness. It will build muscle strength, but not endurance. If you do comps, you have to be fit enough to ride flat out for up to two and a half mins at a time for a full day (or more sometimes), you still get the same power gains for your muscles, but with added endurance. I do comps and would consider myself to have a good level of fitness, I can do a comp and not be knackered at the end, I also did a road ride the other day that took me up the longest gradient hill in England, I got up it with no stops and even overtook other roadies (on my singlespeed too) So to get good fitness....do comps!

I believe the whole picture shows a smaller alpaca standing with the alpaca

I forgot who told me it doesn't help with strength, but it was looking at it from a trials point of view. How often when you preload (for taps, gaps etc) are your knees past 90 degree? Going past that in training will only add mass to other muscles that are not being used and putting on pointless weight. Going past 90 does help with core muscles, but I can think of other exercises that help core muscles more than squats

Nice one Fruity!! I always had you down as gay, but I guess you have pissed on that theory. Seriously though, congrats and I hope you have many years of joy with your family.

just did a 22mile ride on my new roady, its not the logest ride in the world, but it does include the longest gradient road in England! Cragg road I am very happy with this as my bike is single speed and I didn't stop once.

its not a lama, its an alpaca!