Ben Swales

I might pop out and say hi. Won't be on the bike though

Nice to see this making an appearance again. I've seen it loads of times. So I'm watching it now.

And yet...

Cool good luck then!

Fair enough, it was a long time ago I guess. Did I see that you'd said a while ago you were thinking of doing one or two this year?

Nice! Where was it? Do you remember where you finished?

It's not the bike it's the..... *yawn*

This looks like a really interesting project - I look forward to seeing the finished article! all the best with it

Your Complete Guide to Trials Riding - Ever thought it would be good to have something to guide you through the techniques of our discipline ? Well, look no further ! Julien, the webmaster at Trashzen, is going to publish a 240 page book that does just that…. John Webster's Got Talent - John Webster has talent, as we all know. This talent could reach a huge audience in Canada 2012, if he is chosen for the first season of Canada’s Got Talent! And you can help him!

Street trials in Newcastle - A pleasant little video from Australia... Lewis Greenhalgh & Allan Phillipson give us a lesson in street trials by the sea in Newcastle! Clean 2011 - Looking for some inspiration before going out riding? Mark Westlake has what you need... Some unseen footage of Adrian Lengyel - Rockman & Tribal Rider Adrian Lengyel brings us a new video compiling some mostly unseen clips from his trip to Canada in the summer. John Webster Back and Fourth - A brilliant video showcasing the talent of talented comp rider and Canadian No. 1 John Webster, who had another great result at the 2011 worlds, finishing in fourth place! Martin Direske on his Inspired Skye - Talented German street rider Martin Direske has started 2012 strongly with a video on his new Skye, filmed on the streets of Cologne. Joachim Skjaevestad - Best of 2011 - Another great video to start the year! Norwegian rider Joachim Skjævestad brings us a compilation of dynamic and impressive clips filmed in 2011 all over Europe. John Shrewsbury - Start Of Winter - Another quality street video from John... Stylish, burly and creative, with big bunnyhops, smoth manuals and imaginative lines. Enjoy... The new Koxx website - K-124 are continuing their web revolution... After the new K-124 website and iPhone app, heres the new elegant and functional Koxx website, which presents the team and the bikes ridden by the World Champions! A Day With La Bestia - The Grand Master of 20" trials is immortalised in this great video from Colombian rider Francisco "Pacho" Villegas, filmed while Benito was in Santiago, Chile in October 2011! Pavel Borisevich - 007 - Russian powerhouse Pavel Borisevich recently uploaded a new video that blew the trials world away once more. The glacial cold of the Russian winter, a shattered pedal... nothing cans stop this phenomenal rider! Stan Cap in the new Tarty Bikes Warehouse - Before Tarty Bikes move into their new warehouse, Stan Shaw and Andrew "Cap" Willan spent two nights in there riding the new set up... This video is the result. Four bargain bikes from Tribal Zine - Looking for a new bike to start the new year ? Tribal Zine has what you need… Four test bikes that have been tested and approved by the Tribal Zine team, at knockdown prices!

We had the Tyke Trial AGM yesterday and set our dates and venues, so there's another date to add to that list (Tyke Trial Round 3 - 20th May - Branshaw Quarry). It is pretty straighforward to get around the UK by train, just try to book in advance to save yourself a bit of money. The only problem I forsee with using the train to try and get to these comps is that due to the nature of the venues (apart from Blackpool and Fort William, which will be very well served with public transport), they're not easy to get to using public transport. I'm sure people who are going would be happy to pick you up from the nearest train station however. I'll be going to the Tykes round and the British rounds, so would be happy to offer my services for those.

Hi Dave, The Biketrial Federation website has an events page (http://biketrialuk.co.uk/Events.htm) that has a calendar with all or most of the UK and international competition dates. In May and June there are a few events taking place throughout the UK: 6th May: British Trials Cup Rnd 2, Blackpool, Lancashire 13th May: Crowthorne Cycle Trials Club Rnd 3, Hook Wood Trial Centre 13th May: Scottish Biketrial Club Rnd 2, Kinlochleven 27th May: Scottish Biketrial Club Rnd 3, Kirkliston (provisional) 9th June: British Trials Cup Rnd 3 & Scottish Biketrial Club Rnd 4, Fort William, Scotland (alongside the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup) 10th June: British Trials Cup Rnd 4 & Scottish Biketrial Club Rnd 5, Fort William, Scotland (alongside the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup) 17th June: Crowthorne Cycle Trials Club Rnd 4, Brackendene, Addlestone Moor So depending on when you're coming and where you're staying, you should definitely be able to take in a competition or two! I'd recommend any of the above events, but particularly the British nationals at Blackpool and Fort William, which are always great events with an amazing atmosphere and high turnout. If you're planning on going to Fort William, I'd try and book your accomodation in advance, as it fills up quickly! If you have any other questions, just let me know! Ben

You don't need any licences to compete in Biketrial Federation events, just enter and turn up and ride! The Elite selection policy is outlined on the rules page of the website, here.

Also this.

This looks sweet. I used to love the Rocket frames back in the day, could never afford one though! It took me ages to work out how you'd added the port holes and nose cone to the rocket in this picture, then I realised it was part of the workbench underneath! Trippy...

Schveet! I really enjoyed 01:31 onwards with the variations on/over the sloped small pallet - very nice!

It's nice to see a new rider making a video that doesn't follow the (now seemingly less trendy) trend of tgs + heavy metal + mega-squeaky brakes = video. I really enjoyed that and thought it had the makings of a very good video; nice tune, interesting and mobile camera angles and shots (get that yellow bike out of shot though!), good choice of lines, nice setting. Looks like you're doing a good job with the riding as well, keep up the good work!

Not my words, Lynn, but the words of Shakin' Stevens. I really enjoyed this video, I dug the mix of styles and bikes. I remember a lot of the clips from the roadtrip video, particularly the spinning variations on the low wall/handrail; still a highlight for me!

This. EDIT: Oh wait, I think I remember something about this from way back in the day. Is it a hop where both wheels come up at the same time (as opposed to an 'American style' bunny hop where the fron end comes up first)? EDIT 2: Flipp got there while I was typing mine!

He was incredible all night! As mentioned by Kevin (didn't realise you were there Kev!), the reverse drop into the skpi was unreal, as was the front wheel drop onto the bike-length box and the featured step. I think he picked up two points all night (and one of those was for a time penalty after 'messing about' getting up that massive step). It was a great night, spectacular riding from them all and was nice to see Dougie's last performance in Sheffield! EDIT: I still can't believe he dropped back off that step for another go! The only rider to get up it.

This. I was thinking that most of the riding in that wouldn't be beyond me, which was surprising considering that he's, usually, a top eight Elite rider and I'm... not. I love his riding on a 26", but this video left me a bit cold. Apart from... It certainly looked like it! About the only bit of the video that I found interesting.

Yep, you should be on the list as, if I remember rightly, you entered the round at RadFest last year? I'll check tomorrow and if not I'll get your details and add you to it. There's also a Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Biketrial-Federation-UK/379772689176), Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/210947722313095/) and Twitter (@BikeTrialFed) which you can sign up to/follow to get regular updates.

Hi Lee, You don't need a licence to enter Biketrial Federation events, you just need to pay the entry fee for each event you want to enter. Entry forms are made available on the events page of the website several weeks before the event, so just keep an eye on that and enter in advance. Easy, innit. Ben

I remember this video form back in the day - it was one of the ones that I used to watch over and over! I think people tend to forget that you've been riding so well for so long, it's nice to have a reminder. +1 on the refilming it

I'm from Sheffield (Hunter's Bar) as well and am normally out about once a week. I'm currently out with broken ankle, but should be riding again in February/March, so I'll drop you a line next time I'm out. Apart from all the people who have replied in this topic, you could try contacting Duncy H or Ogre on here, they both ride Sheffield a fair bit. Is it street or natural/comps you're into? If you'd like to give comps a go, the Tyke Trial (most local club to Sheffield) season will be starting up again soon (exact dates to be confirmed at the AGM on the 20th January), and I'll be going to them all and am happy to take passengers from Sheffield if you'd like to come and give them a go?