SQuiT-man

I asked that question loads of times, worded in different ways and it kept saying "yes" in some way or another.

10 feet isnt that big for a rolling gap, that looks bigger than that to me (yes, I know it was taken with a fisheye). There are people around who have done like 16 or so feet.

BB rise takes some getting used to, but after that, Id say it is GREAT. General trials moves seem so much easier, as you have so much more space to manouvure yourself around the bike (as you are much higher in the air above the backwheel, so can tuck more, etc). However, IMO the standard vinco is just too long and too high BB- something like that would IMO destroy the flicky feel of most trials bikes, so just comprimise and have a bit of BB rise. Now im used to BB rise (especially as I have now fully converted to mod, which has a lot of BB rise), theres no way that if I was to buy a stock again I would ever buy anything with less than about 20mm BB rise.

I dont think frame length really matters IMO. On my monty 221 I could balance for around 5 seconds, and going to my zona zip with 1040+ wheelbase (pretty much same length as a python CLS), the length i can stay on backwheel is much the same. I think its just skill, and "keeping calm" on the backwheel

I know exactly what you mean about the whole thing, I experince it on a lot of rides, possibly something to do with funny blood pressure? Lack of oxygen/carbohydrates/water/dietry problems, or not enough sleep? Ive never really worked out what it is that causes it either, but I know it has helped me a lot by riding with different people, in fresh, new places that you havent ridden to take your mind off it. Soon you might forget about this problem and get back to normal riding without thinking about it, just concentrate on nailing each move, not on how weird your vision/concentration seems to be going overall while riding.

You can have it for £45 posted. Bear in mind it needs welding at some time, because it has developed a crack where the right chainstay joins into the BB (hasnt actually snapped yet, but might do eventually), although you may be able to get a proffessional welder to sort it out for you, either by re-welding, or adding an additional plate. A welder I know said he would fix it up very solidly+stronger than it was origionally for me, to get me riding on it again, but I just cant be bothered with the hassle and fancied a change.

Ive just gone from a monty 221 Ti with 985mm wheelbase to a zona zip with 1040mm wheelbase and very slightly shorter chainstays due to me taking a link out of the chian when I swapped my spec over, and to be honest, it doesnt make much of a difference. I dont feel at all stratched out like I was half-expecting, and I'm 5 foot 9. Id say my zona handles nicer than your average zoo python, due to my slightly shorter chainstays- my zona strangely actually bunny's easier than my monty, too! See my topid in Sites, Vids and Pics if you wanna see pictures and a description of the ride, but Id say for £200 its money very well spent (N)

From: To: Profile, king headset, monty tyres, monty cranks, viz+american classics front wheel, coust pads, etc etc. The ride: To be honest, "going long" hasnt actually had THAT much of an impact on my riding. I only made the change because the monty cracked and I wanted something a bit different from what I was used to riding. The bike bunnyhops just as well, perhaps better (strangely!). Manuals are a bit harder, but do-able. Gaps havent changed much, gaps to frontwheel perhaps a little better. Sidehops seem to be going slightly higher. Hooks aren't really any easier, about the same, and ups are about the same! For your information, my wheelbase is 1040, with 368/369mm chainstays, and 328mm BB height. Pros+Cons: The zona isnt a lightweight frame- a few hundred grams heavier than the zoo python, which itself is not reknowned to be any lightweight! However, the extra weight doesnt really make much of a difference, and in the end knowing it is a bit heavier inspires confidence that you are riding a VERY strong frame that isnt going to fail on you anytime soon. People still pick up my bike and go "wow, thats crazy light!", but the monty was just in a world of its own. Overall, I would say the zona handles just as nicely as the monty when equipped with a nice spec, not bad for a £200 frame compared to a £535 frame! Comments are welcome, Scott

They are both 1 1/8 inch, but the zip takes a "regular" headset, whereas the t-pro's headset is an "internal" headset, bit different as the t-pro's one is partically built into the frame.

lmfao. Ohhhh Boris, can I have your babies? How about: Fat chicks are like mopeds, great fun to ride until your mates find out.

Its just I could imagine him clicking on the link, seeing the first post, and being a moronic, probably over-paid twat, doing something unproffessional to get back at you. Probably is just their normal service though. So to zanneslover and JIX, did u manage to sort out the old t-pro thing and other thing? Unlucky about tht

Do you think he got pissed off at this forum and partially did it on purpose?

I think that would make an amasing arena to practice on, but only if you ride on things embedded into the dirt, not the dirt itself as it is too soft and any lips, etc will soon be destroyed. Try making a large, near-vert mound, and embed a heavy-duty pallet or two vertically into the side of the mound, also filling them with compact mud, and you could practice your backwheels, taps, hooks, etc on it. Im actually even thinking about making one in my own back garden now!

Pretty good riding, but the repetition of some gaps kinda wrecked it for me. And I thought the music was pretty crap for the vid, could have had a better choice IMO. P.s. I saw a clip if you not wearing a helmet, so Ill say the usual annoying t-f comment: WHEEERRRES YO' HELMET SONNY JIMM?

I like it other than I think it could do with a slightly higher BB! Other than that, looks sweet (Y)

Id buy a 4-bolt heatsink mod one of there was one, too.

Is it true that coust pads are made of plastic, not rubber like most other pads? They are the best pads Ive ever used! Running them at the moment.

Go for it- nice, light frames, and for £80 you cant go wrong if it goes after a year, besides its always nice to have a change every now and then (Y)

Absolutely perfectly clean, I cleaned it before setting the brake up with them, ran them for a week, then degreased my brake (with a degreaser that has always made ANY brakepad I have used before far more powerful, even if only for 30 mins before the rim is no longer clean), and it was still crap. My mate didnt have much success either, on a light grind

Ive just gone to some good old monty tyres from davetrials, they seem alright, but you can get them from cleanbikes.co.uk Beaten to it

I felt mine on a smooth rim were always ear piercingly screeching, yet very little power, limited with hold especially. In the end I went back to kool stops, similar power, just without the horrible screeching

In the end it doesnt really make much difference, I used to work out constantly and have stacks of protein shakes and protein bars every day, but although it will make you look big and strong, I can now ride much bigger than I could while working out, probably because my muslces can move faster (your average work out of doing weights can hinder this, as many of the movements build up more static, or slow-moving power as opposed to the kinda fast-twitch explosive power you want for big trials moves). I still take them though from time to time, just to help keep me looking good to the ladiiiieeessssssssss (for my gf)

I thought the toxsin pads I used were the WORST pads I have ever tried for maguras ever before on a smooth rim, not even powerful enough for my front brake (and I never have a powerful frontbrake at all), even after setting them up perfectly and having them perfectly flat to the rim, bedding them in for a couple of weeks of riding, and even cleaning them and the rim! crap! Might just have somehow been just my bad experience though.. They arent the same compound as koxx bloxx, as they are pink for a start- the colouring affects the braking properties! Might have to try out some Koxx blues, perhaps greens, after my Coustillier pads have worn out (AMMMASSSING pads when set up right on a ground cheese rim), thought it doesnt look like it'll be soon.

Its only a vid he made for a bit of fun as his compliation of last memories of trials, lads.

Are these the guys who made that BS-Style video, and used to ride a univega/monty, with his friend on a monty? I think Ive seen this video before, pretty amasing- they are some of my favourite riders for sure!