Help Me Describe Trials

[King C]

Ok so Im writing my personal statement and I need to describe what trials is. Remeber it'll be someone who hasnt got a clue reading it.

So far I've got: Trials riding is a hobby of mine which I have been doing since 2004. Trials riding in its most basic form is overcoming obstacles on a bike.

Good isnt it. Luckily its only a draft. Im just putting the main points for now, the I'll pack it out with some bull shit.

Just some ideas will do.

I want to then go on about how its kind of turned into a more technique based sport and go onto talk about fixing bikes and shizz.

I want to do a mechanical engineering course so it needs to gear towards that mechanical engineering.

Thanks in advanced

King

[AdamR28]

I usually use the old 'motorbike trials but on a pushbike' line!

[King C]

Completely forgot about that.

[future orange 660]

say about how u assess the objects and spurs creativity.

may also wish to mention maintenance

[trialsguru]

king in your case its "riding around on a silly looking bike, then sitting down and watching other people ride trials"

although you are changing your ways

[King C]

king in your case its "riding around on a silly looking bike, then sitting down and watching other people ride trials"

although you are changing your ways

natty is the way forwards and sometimes sideways but not in my case.

but pete, how would you describe the sport that im watching?

[steve@banbury-trials]

i've often thought of the best way to describe trials,its a hard one to explain.

what i usually say is "trials biking is a form of cycling that focus's on bike control/skill whilst riding on differcult obsticles by using special techniques and methods"

meh if you think thats a crap explaination of trials

steve

[TrashZen]

Ok so Im writing my personal statement and I need to describe what trials is. Remeber it'll be someone who hasnt got a clue reading it.

So far I've got: Trials riding is a hobby of mine which I have been doing since 2004. Trials riding in its most basic form is overcoming obstacles on a bike.

Good isnt it. Luckily its only a draft. Im just putting the main points for now, the I'll pack it out with some bull shit.

Just some ideas will do.

I want to then go on about how its kind of turned into a more technique based sport and go onto talk about fixing bikes and shizz.

I want to do a mechanical engineering course so it needs to gear towards that mechanical engineering.

Thanks in advanced

King

Personal statement.. that's a school or uni thing?

I'd say, Riding over difficult obstacles with a bike, without putting the foot on the ground.

[Sam Moore]

If it is on the computer throw in a little vid

[Andeee]

Like when lance said out of tricks and stunts: You can do trials anywhere on the streets, benches and curbs and i like it.

Another lance saying: If your gonna start trials just start of small.

I loved the old skool trials days.

Andrew

[King C]

If it is on the computer throw in a little vid

Its a written piece.

[duane]

Your after being accepted for a mechanical engineering course so I would leave the description of trials to one line, then talk about mechnical things. The description you have is fine as the opening one liner, however I would say that I compete in trials rather than refer to it as a hobby, hobbies are fads that can change quickly whereas being a competitor implies a level of discipline and dedication.

After the one liner I would concentrate on mechanical aspects of trials rather than bike techniques. Your lecturer might think that kids jumping around on bikes are vandals, but if you can show some knowledge of and interest in materials, mechanics and anything else he might be teaching then you have a much better chance.

This is rough, but its packed with keywords

"Trials is a form of mountain biking where competitors have to negotiate man made and natural courses designed around obstacles which require a wide range of techniques to successfully overcome.

As trials has become an increasingly specialised sport, so the bikes have evolved to take advantage of new materials and construction techniques, as an example the most recent frames have hydro formed aluminium main tubes. Recently the geometery of trials bikes has changed away from the familiar mountain bike geometery in an attempt to maximise the transfer of rider input into the specific techniques required to negotiate a trials course. Traditional mountain bike frames are based on the safety frame or diamond frame which provides a strong and light mechanical design along with a safe and stable ergonmically comfortable riding position. As trials competitions are generally composed of sections lasting 3 minutes or less and rarley include any section which can be pedaled through, ergonmics are less of a consideration freeing designers and framebuilders to concentrate on gaining the maximum response from the available rider input."

You could add something about how the recent evolution of trials frames has given you a good understanding of how even the most optimised designs are ultimatley a compromise between competing factors such as strength, weight, cost, durability and how as a design is optimised for one application, its suitability for other even similar applications is reduced. (i.e. high BB frames)

And then finish with something like - I beleive that my experience in competing during a time of rapid material and design change in mountain bike trials has given me a good background in materials and thier application and in the competing factors which are a reality of every mechanical design.

You should then be ready to talk about any of the key words about which even the most half assed interviewer will ask you,

Its 40 degrees outside which should be enough to explain why i wrote this,

Duane.

Edited July 13, 2007 by duane

[Muel]

Trials is the art of buying a very expensive bicycle, then smashing it against very hard objects until you get the hang of getting over them. Very good fun and very expensive, you will end up working every hour possible and spending every penny on your bike. Which will break again after a couple of days. Highly addictive and very bad for the joints in large doses.

[King C]

Your after being accepted for a mechanical engineering course so I would leave the description of trials to one line, then talk about mechnical things. The description you have is fine as the opening one liner, however I would say that I compete in trials rather than refer to it as a hobby, hobbies are fads that can change quickly whereas being a competitor implies a level of discipline and dedication.

After the one liner I would concentrate on mechanical aspects of trials rather than bike techniques. Your lecturer might think that kids jumping around on bikes are vandals, but if you can show some knowledge of and interest in materials, mechanics and anything else he might be teaching then you have a much better chance.

This is rough, but its packed with keywords

"Trials is a form of mountain biking where competitors have to negotiate man made and natural courses designed around obstacles which require a wide range of techniques to successfully overcome.

As trials has become an increasingly specialised sport, so the bikes have evolved to take advantage of new materials and construction techniques, as an example the most recent frames have hydro formed aluminium main tubes. Recently the geometery of trials bikes has changed away from the familiar mountain bike geometery in an attempt to maximise the transfer of rider input into the specific techniques required to negotiate a trials course. Traditional mountain bike frames are based on the safety frame or diamond frame which provides a strong and light mechanical design along with a safe and stable ergonmically comfortable riding position. As trials competitions are generally composed of sections lasting 3 minutes or less and rarley include any section which can be pedaled through, ergonmics are less of a consideration freeing designers and framebuilders to concentrate on gaining the maximum response from the available rider input."

You could add something about how the recent evolution of trials frames has given you a good understanding of how even the most optimised designs are ultimatley a compromise between competing factors such as strength, weight, cost, durability and how as a design is optimised for one application, its suitability for other even similar applications is reduced. (i.e. high BB frames)

And then finish with something like - I beleive that my experience in competing during a time of rapid material and design change in mountain bike trials has given me a good background in materials and thier application and in the competing factors which are a reality of every mechanical design.

You should then be ready to talk about any of the key words about which even the most half assed interviewer will ask you,

Its 40 degrees outside which should be enough to explain why i wrote this,

Duane.

Wow Thanks. Thats really helped.

[t.w]

hopping around like a wally

[Danny Kearns]

Arrogant arseholes on bike's with no seat who are vandalizing .

So funny.

Danny.

[ManxTrialSpaz]

You could big yourself up by saying along the line of "Trials is a sport just like any other; football, rugby, cricket and BMX. the only difference is that it's not a very well known sport, as it demands a high amount of patience, determination and practice in order to get good and these high demands often put people off of the sport."

[trialmil]

Biketrials is an individual sport in wich you have to go across of a zone of obstacles without puting your feet, hands or something that`s not the wheels of the bike in the ground or obstacle. The winner is the one who traspass the zone with less points (pts are added when you put your feet, etc in the ground)... in case of a draw, the guy who did it faster is the winner.sorry for my english.Biketrials is an individual sport in wich you have to go across of a zone of obstacles without puting your feet, hands or something that`s not the wheels of the bike in the ground or obstacle. The winner is the one who traspass the zone with less points (pts are added when you put your feet, etc in the ground)... in case of a draw, the guy who did it faster is the winner.sorry for my english.

[_skj0lsvik_]

Bike-Trials is problem solving, on two wheels.

[T.McMillan]

Just Found the ACU hand book and ill write there definition for you

Bicycle Trials

ACU DEFINITION

Bicycle Trial is an individual sport that may incorporate the use of a special bike which the rider must manoeuvre and balance in order to ride through specially designed artificial! or natural "sections". The objective is to pass through the sections in minimum time and with as little physical contact with the ground as possible, hence obtaining minimum penalty points.

obviously that will help you if you want to put about that bicycle trials is a competetive sport etc, you could also mention the BIU rules and UCI rules? jsut an idea, but i do tell most people the old you know motorbike trials its basically that but on a bicycle. as adam said

ACU = Auto Cycle Union

Cheers

Tom

Edited July 13, 2007 by speedyjustice

[Billy]

Taking you and your bike over obstacles you wouldn't even bother trying to walk over?

[Greetings]

I usually use the old 'motorbike trials but on a pushbike' line!

Same here, most people seem to know what motorbike trials is

[joe b]

There's a good description on Wikipedia .

I saw it the other and was quite glad that there was an understandable description...

Cheers,

Joe.

[trialschallenger]

mechanical engeneering as in comercial plumbing,as in large boilers i.e. schools?

if so you definatly need to lean into the maintenance of ur bike and posibly mention the hydrolics and a slight discription on your brakes

and dnt forget the threads