Ben Swales

Nope. It's new lever body time I'm afraid. Luckily, they're relatively easy to replace, so it's not a difficult job. You COULD wrap it in gaffer tape and see how long it lasts...

I'm going up on Wednesday with the rest of the organisers to start setting up and what not. I'll be pretty busy, but will have my bike, so if anyone fancies a chilled ride in the evening between then and the Weekend, let me know

Andrei finished 9th, just missed the final. Final is Gilles Coustellier, Guillaume Dunand, Jack Carthy, Aurélien Fontenoy, John Webster, Nicolas Viillermot, Iciar Van den Bergh, David Bonzon. On my phone so not got any more details at the moment, there'll be an article on Tribal Zine in the next couple of days.

Jack finished third in the qualifiers today. Final and Super Final tomorrow!

Yep. Should be pretty interesting!

I went straight to Sheffield University from school in 2002. I started studying Business Studies and French, largely because I wanted to study languages but my parents weren’t that happy about the idea and didn’t think that just languages would lead to ‘a career’. I didn’t get on with Business Studies at all (or the people that were studying it with me) and ended up failing a bunch of modules. Started again studying French and Spanish and got on much better, met a much better bunch of people, was much happier and did well in my course. As part of the degree I got to spend a year abroad studying in Perpignan in the South of France and in Oviedo in Spain. The joke of it was that one of my tutors at uni let slip that ‘because exams are harder to pass in a foreign language’ only the exams that we actually passed would be counted towards out degree. That meant that we got to play the system a bit and only really work on one module out there, pass that to get a decent overall grade, and then enjoy the rest of our time out there! Did plenty of travelling around in both countries, saw a lot of cool places, did a lot of cool stuff and basically had a year-long paid holiday (we got a small grant from the Erasmus scheme). Plus, the house we lived in in France was the coolest house I have ever or will ever live in, I’m pretty sure. My French and Spanish improved loads as well, which was the point of being there, so I didn’t feel bad about sacking off the work too much. Like Max said, one of the best things about going to uni, other than the fact that it was a pretty essential stage in my ‘career’ (I knew I wanted to be a translator from pretty early on), is that it provided me with a pretty relaxed, stress-free environment to do and to get into other things as well as studying, particularly while I was abroad. It really expanded my horizons and my mindset and, as corny as it sounds, helped me to develop as a person. Like Tom said as well, it also taught me to work to deadlines, learn things that I might not have given the ‘choice’, etc., so I’m really glad that I went. I graduated from uni a year after that in 2007 and went back to Spain (Madrid this time) to teach English and keep working on my Spanish, and did more of the same. Then I came back to Sheffield and started an Masters in Translation Studies in 2008, graduated in 2009 and have been working full-time as a translator and translation project manager since then. I’ve just got a new job (start in a few weeks) as a project manager with an e-learning company, still in Sheffield, earning pretty decent money and with pretty decent benefits I’ve been looking for a new job for ages though – the place I’m at currently is pretty horrible at the moment (for loads of reasons that I won’t go into) and it got pretty disheartening being turned down time and again. Made it all the better when I got this job, which is pretty ideal, and there’s a mother*cking slide in the foyer! Alongside all that, I’ve been helping out with Tyke Trial and the Biketrial Federation and writing/translating for Tribal Zine since about 2008. I’m still living with some of the guys I lived with at uni and in France, finding time to go out on my bike, to gigs and whatnot as well as the usual social stuff. I’m pretty busy all the time, which can be stressful, but it’s all stuff that I enjoy doing, so it’s all good. I’m pretty happy with how things have turned out so far. Starting to think about buying a house now, but that’s a pretty big step!

The first round of this is this coming weekend. I know Jack Carthy's going, and would assume that Andrei will be there as well. Best of luck to them and any other British riders!

Lovely stuff. I really like your style mark - particularly enjoyed the lines at 03:20 and 03:55 to the end (apart from the body popping, which needs more work).

My. Goodness.

Nice work Dave, really enjoyed that. Looks like you're getting the hang of it pretty quickly!

Just two weeks until the opening of the World Cup in Aalter! - All of the info you need to know about the opening round of the 2012 UCI World Cup, which will take place on the 1st-3rd June in Aalter, multiple World Champion Kenny Belaey’s home town. It will make history as the first event to run the new "Super Final" and will have media coverage like no other before it! Phoenix Riders Co. - Phoenix is a new British clothing company, by riders for riders, who have already put together quite a team of riders, including Neil Tunnicliffe and Ben Rowlands ! We had a chat with the man behind it all, Iain Johnstone. 5x5 with Flipp & Stan - Sam "Flipp" Packman and Stan Shaw at Shipley Glen: two different approaches, but each as aesthetic and effective as the other!

Naaah... they looked pretty tech and plenty difficult to me, it's just you making them look easy! Werd

Easy, innit

This sounds awesome. I MIGHT be on holiday that weekend, but if not, I'll definitely be in. Free is, as Nick said, nuts. I'd be more than happy to contribute to a charity collection or something instead.

Cool - see you there!

Proper translation's now online, here

Supermance, the Koxx pro team's 'free spirt' - The big revelation of the pre-season... One of the main figures of the UCI 26" circuit and 26" World Cup winner Vincent Hermance has made the move to 20" ! Here’s an exclusive interview with Supermance, the Koxx pro team’s free spirit!

Neil Tunnicliffe, from the beginning - A look back over the career of one of the icons of street trials, Neil Tunnicliffe, from his beginnings in the sport to the present day and his new sponsorship with Phoenix. Your Complete Guide to Trials Riding now available! - After compiling many years of observations on the TrashZen online tutorials, trials rider and webmaster Julien Happich has edited the first handbook dedicated to the techniques of trials riding! Duncan Shaw - California Dreamin' - When Danny MacAskill is behind the camera the result is just as impressive... The street trials icon filmed his riding buddy Duncan Shaw on the streets of Newport Beach and this incredible video is what they produced!

I'd be happy to see Dan2707777777777777777 do something like this: Or someone do this to Dan:

British Trials Cup, Round 2 - Blackpool - Sunday 6th May saw the second round of the British Trials Cup take place on the rocks of Blackpool's north shore. Jack Carthy won the UCI World Elite Class with a perfect trial!

I wouldn't say that no longer offering half-price replacements is 'bad' customer service though. It was a brilliant service when they offered it, but discontinuing it doesn't equate to bad service. As stated above, Onza's reputation is steadily improving, and with frames as popular as the 320 and the new top-end 26 frames like the Genesis and the Limey 4, it's easy to see why. Sure, the full build Genesis has some parts that most people would change straight away or straight wouldn't choose if building from scratch, but they're a budget brand, so their full builds will obviously have to use some cheaper parts somewhere. Their starter/beginner range is excellent as well and, in my experience, they're fast becoming one of the most popular (note, popular, not desireable or fantasy) brands in the UK - there are always several Onza bikes at any group ride, event or competition I go to. A few years ago, I wouldn't have thought about buying an Onza bike, but these days I most certainly would!

I watched this on my phone before I got up this morning, then watched it again, and again, and as a result I was late for work, so thanks for that. Awesome edit - the filming, riding, locations and soundtrack all go perfectly together and combine to make a beautiful video. Definitley watching again!

There's a gallery of photos up on the Biketrial Federation Facebook page, photos by me and Paul Hesling, more to come from Paul Smith later.

Beautiful! Really hot and sunny. Had a great day, despite toe/wrist/brake damage. Enjoyed what riding I did, met some cool people, got a bit sunburnt. Jack Carthy, James Hyland and Andrei Burton were 1, 2, 3 in World Elite, Alec Wray, Steve Rogers, Wayne Mohamet in Elite 26, Rob Poyser, Jack Chapman and Dan Wheeler in Elite 20. Just got home, so going to have a shower and some food, full report and photos coming soon. Thanks to everyone who took part, helped out and turned up - especially Barbara for the weeks of hard work leading up to the event!