MikeWarner

I have just bought a GT Hans Rey frame and I am considering buying some solid forks for it instead of using what I have. What forks should I considering? I'm after something strong yet light, no more than £100. I'm considering the Pace forks - are these any good? Would like to keep the weight to around 1000g or less. Cheers.

I know a few of you don't like the Hans Rey frame, but I considered others and I really like it.... so I've bought one. I should have it tomorrow. I'll build it up using components from my old Zaskar and I'll upgrade as I go. Should be a good base to get me back into the sport. (Y)

This is the frame I'm interested in. If it isn't any good, I'll steer clear, but I do like the look of it. Here

Damn - I was under the impression that the stuff in that vid was crap by today's standards, maybe I was wrong. I did ride trials for another 2 or 3 years after that vid and got much better (on platforms too). I'm really tempted to get a new frame now thanks to all the comments here. I do like the idea of keeping a bike that resembles a normal MTB though (i.e. gears, saddle, front suspension) - like those used by Hans Rey and Ryan Leech. I'm really tempted by the Hans Rey frame and it seems that this should be suitable......

Here's mine - show my Astra Coupe Turbo having some upgrades done (now has 250bhp).

Thanks for all the replies - this is a great forum, and I should know as I run this one; migweb which has 4 million pages views a month. Cars are my other passion - the reason I left trials riding all those years ago. I currently have an Astra Coupe Turbo with 250bhp - which is nice. :) Thanks again, I look forward to getting back into the sport and using this forum on a regular basis. :(

Cheers. I don't think the skill will be as much of an issue as the balls required. After ten years out and age 30, I think confidence is going to be the main factor.

Ah, thanks for the link. The Manitous on my XC Rockhopper have a lockout which seems very effective. So, If I want suspension in a trials bike, I need a shorter travel (say 80mm), fast rebound, lockout and preferably light weight. I'll look into it. (Y)

I think that might be why I like it - I used to really admire Hans Rey back then, Hence the Zaskar. Hans even rode my bike as I met him at the 1993 Malvern Hills classic event and asked him to try it out. In fact he approached me, as black anodised Zaskars where extremely rare (mine was apparentl the only one in the UK). Hans rode Zaskars for years.

Hi. Just interested to see most users with solid front forks. I used to have RockShox on my trials bikes years back and I notice that Hans Rey and Ryan Leech both use front suspension. It this down to preference, sponsorship, what? Just wondering. Many thanks. Mike

Cheers for all the replies. Brakes back then were all cantelevers, although Maguras were around - but they had crappy flexible resin levels back then and they were break easily in a crash. The more I read this site, the more I feel I need a new bike...... I would quite like to build my own again, like my Zaskar. I rode trials for 2 to 3 years after that video was taken, so got a bit better. In the video I wsas using SPDs (really!), but I learnt to use platforms in 1994. The bike now has hope titanium hubs, middleburn cranks, GT alloy pedals, control tech stem, club roost bars, USE post, flite saddle, mavic rims, mostly XT, deore V-Brakes, RockShox.... all very old stuff though. I think I'll learn what I can here before I go building a trials bike.

You may be right. The newer bikes are shorter and taller at the front. Also, they have better clearance at the top tube and the bottom bracket. This could contribute to the better level for riding now. Oh - also, trials riders in the early 90s only had the option of using XC parts - including wheels, so you were also limited by what the bike could handle. Hopefully I'll get back into it again and I'll buy a new bike (quite liking the look of the GT Hans Rey frame....)

The track is "Of Wolf And Man" by Metallica.

Hi All. I used to do trials loads from 1990 to around 1995. Back then it was a much smaller sport and people rode trials using normal mtbs. I have just bought a Rockhopper disk for XC to get fit, but I still have my old bike - a 1993 GT Zaskar. I plan to rebuild this and update it a bit to use as a 100% trials bike. If I manage to get back into it again, I will probably buy a proper modern trials bike. Back in the early 90s I was what was considered a very good trials rider - one of the best in the area. I have looked at riders recently and watched Manifesto and it has become very apparent that the level of skill has increase considerably - meaning that where I was 10 years ago, it nowhere by today's standards (oh well). If there are any trials riders in the Chichester or surrounding areas (Portsmouth etc), I would be interested in tagging along if that is ok. I made a video of me and my brother riding back in 1993. It is 35mb in size, but is pretty long - please bare in mind though that this is 12 years old. I'm the one of the black GT Zaskar. Download it below. (Y) Trails - Mike and Paul 1993