Can You Convert...?

[fezzer]

could i convert my carrera vulcan into a trials bike?

i dont see why not as the frame is made out of the same aluminium as trial bikes.

the only difference i can see is that the frame is a little higher, and i hav more gears

send me your thoughts,

thanks,

Martin

[Daniel C]

A carrera vulcan is a cross country bike wich are not the best frames to do trials on if you like the bits inbetween your legs

[mista-neos]

Wont work mate.

[Ash-Kennard]

Wont work mate.

bullshit

yeah you can, remove the front gears/cogs, get a bash gaurd, get a set or wide riser bars, get some decent brakes, lower your saddle right down or buy a mini seat. this will give you the basics until you can afford something more specialised.

[TrAsHeR]

Wont work mate.

I would yeah.

Just wouldn't be ideal.

[fezzer]

thanks for the input guys.

so i wouldnt need to get rid of the suspension forks i have on the bike (they are quite soft) ?

[Chandler]

Most important thing ull need is hydraulic brakes (as well as the stuff above)

Too much hard work though, by the time uv sorted out all the bits you mayaswell just buy a complete trials bike

And even then it wudnt be brilliant

Good luck if you do convert though, at least ull have something different.

I do like the idea of unexpectedly beasting out some trials on a non-trials bike..

The problem is, u find that u cant do half what u can on a proper trials bike

Take the plunge mate

[ManxTrialSpaz]

Most important thing ull need is hydraulic brakes (as well as the stuff above)

Too much hard work though, by the time uv sorted out all the bits you mayaswell just buy a complete trials bike

And even then it wudnt be brilliant

Good luck if you do convert though, at least ull have something different.

I do like the idea of unexpectedly beasting out some trials on a non-trials bike..

The problem is, u find that u cant do half what u can on a proper trials bike

Take the plunge mate

Errm. No. That's not even nearly important, and it is in fact not even necessary. Also, I highly doubt his frame has 2 bolt mounts required to fit a Magura (which is the best/only choice really for trials).

If you seriously want to do it, start with the gearing as in, get it as minimal as possible and sort at a trials gear. After that, you'll want to fix up the brakes by investing in some decent vee pads and grinding your rim. You'll probably want to ask about for a better vee set up for trials as well (lever, cable etc). Then after that it's all personal preference. Wheels, bar, stem, headset, forks.

[Diz]

You can convert any bike to use for trials...it just might not be very good.

My first "trials" bike was a 19" marin....was really pants but it did the job while i was learning. If you're any good at trials i'd advise getting a proper bike, otherwise if you're just learning i should think itd be fine.

[fezzer]

thanks for all of the intrest.

i dont think i need to change my brakes as i have 2 disc brakes and they are really responsive, i have also found a gear ratio that feels right (first cog on the pedal crank and fourth on the back wheel crank), but i thik i need to change my forks as i hav adjusted them so they are as hard as they can be and they are still really soft, i feel like a yo-yo..HA!

[Chandler]

Errm. No. That's not even nearly important, and it is in fact not even necessary. Also, I highly doubt his frame has 2 bolt mounts required to fit a Magura (which is the best/only choice really for trials).

If you seriously want to do it, start with the gearing as in, get it as minimal as possible and sort at a trials gear. After that, you'll want to fix up the brakes by investing in some decent vee pads and grinding your rim. You'll probably want to ask about for a better vee set up for trials as well (lever, cable etc). Then after that it's all personal preference. Wheels, bar, stem, headset, forks.

Errr errr errr Spaz, just sticking the bike in a low gear is easy. Decent brakes are more important. Just dont bother with V-brakes.

Just as well uv got disc. Hydraulic disc I hope, otherwise cables are just gonna slip.

[Skoze]

Errr errr errr Spaz, just sticking the bike in a low gear is easy. Decent brakes are more important. Just dont bother with V-brakes.

Just as well uv got disc. Hydraulic disc I hope, otherwise cables are just gonna slip.

Have you ever heard of an avid bb7? Cable disc, can easily compete with hopes on the power front.

And what rear brake is Ali C (and many other top riders) using? Yep, Vee's.

A good rear brake is a must, but all you'd really need is an avid sd7 (cheap) with a slick cable and decent pads, or a second hand magura with decent pads. Both of those are very, very good brakes and very affordable

As for the bike, it would work for learning the basics on, but you'll quickly become very limited by it, and at that point, if you still like the idea of trials, then you could upgrade to a 'proper' trials frame, swaop over what parts you bought for the previous bike, and continue to improve

Matt

Edited June 27, 2008 by Skoze

[markrat]

If its a big frame then id say no. But if its small (14"or under) then would be ok with some changes to bits like brakes, stick a bashguard on and a small front gear, wheels, bars, stem, tires. MIte be cheaper to buy an Onza or something similar rather than spend on the carrera

[Chandler]

Have you ever heard of an avid bb7? Cable disc, can easily compete with hopes on the power front.

And what rear brake is Ali C (and many other top riders) using? Yep, Vee's.

A good rear brake is a must, but all you'd really need is an avid sd7 (cheap) with a slick cable and decent pads, or a second hand magura with decent pads. Both of those are very, very good brakes and very affordable

As for the bike, it would work for learning the basics on, but you'll quickly become very limited by it, and at that point, if you still like the idea of trials, then you could upgrade to a 'proper' trials frame, swaop over what parts you bought for the previous bike, and continue to improve

Matt

I doubt he happens to have avid bb7.

Ur saying he shud all new parts for his current bike..... and then after that get a new frame

What a load of shite.

Just get a trials bike otherwise ull end up spending twice as much.

Ull just struggle to improve much on a normal bike, and ull end up just braking it up

and if you wanna know if u like riding trials bikes, have a go on someone elses...

If its a big frame then id say no. But if its small (14"or under) then would be ok with some changes to bits like brakes, stick a bashguard on and a small front gear, wheels, bars, stem, tires. MIte be cheaper to buy an Onza or something similar rather than spend on the carrera

Edited June 27, 2008 by Chandler

[Skoze]

I suggested the sd7 because of your "stay away from vees" argument. It's a good brake when set up right, especially when you're on a budget

What the op said whas how he was considering making his bike 'trials-worthy' by upgrading various parts on it. If he did it on the cheap (by buying through classifieds etc..) then he could easily do it for under £150. After a while it'll be quite limiting on the current frame, so if he then bought a trials frame, he could swap over the parts he'd bought and then continue riding and progressing on a pretty decent bike, then upgrade things as and when they need doing

Matt

[dan_addison]

Errr errr errr Spaz, just sticking the bike in a low gear is easy. Decent brakes are more important. Just dont bother with V-brakes.

Just as well uv got disc. Hydraulic disc I hope, otherwise cables are just gonna slip.

Utter shit, cables dont slip a bb7 is just as good as a hydrolic hop mono trial or something similair. As for vees a decent setup and correctly installed there just as good if not better than maguras. Explain to me why vee's are shite? and why cable disc's slip so much? what experiance have you had with eaither or any? Because i know speaking from experiance that cable discs dont slip and vees are excellent

As for your bike mate go for it. Experimenting dosent hurt (only your wallet) i was reading the old school thread the other day and from what i can gather they all uset to ride xc bikes modified and with the seat down. As for what parts you'd need is probaly a decent set of breaks. Avid sd7's are cheap im good, ive got one on the front and its amazing so much hold and power and im preety sure one on the back would be awesome aswell. Any set of ridgid forks as long as there stront and maybe grind your rims . If youve found a decent gear then great but you'd probaly save weight a packet changing to single speep

But with all the money you'll have spent and the time and effot, its probaly better to try and buy a trials specific bike

Good luck if you decided to stick with your Carrara

[Chandler]

Utter shit, cables dont slip a bb7 is just as good as a hydrolic hop mono trial or something similair. As for vees a decent setup and correctly installed there just as good if not better than maguras. Explain to me why vee's are shite? and why cable disc's slip so much? what experiance have you had with eaither or any? Because i know speaking from experiance that cable discs dont slip and vees are excellent

As for your bike mate go for it. Experimenting dosent hurt (only your wallet) i was reading the old school thread the other day and from what i can gather they all uset to ride xc bikes modified and with the seat down. As for what parts you'd need is probaly a decent set of breaks. Avid sd7's are cheap im good, ive got one on the front and its amazing so much hold and power and im preety sure one on the back would be awesome aswell. Any set of ridgid forks as long as there stront and maybe grind your rims . If youve found a decent gear then great but you'd probaly save weight a packet changing to single speep

But with all the money you'll have spent and the time and effot, its probaly better to try and buy a trials specific bike

Good luck if you decided to stick with your Carrara

The only decent cable brake you can mention is the Avid bb/sd7. Great, but apart from that, pretty much every Vee brake will slip in its tubing if pulled too hard. And I severly doubt he has those on his Carrera. And yes, Ive had Quad QMD-5 mechanical disc and vee brakes and they screwed up just learning how to backhop with.

My point was, just get a trials bike, which you have just reiterated at the end of your post.

Thanks for a thread war, but no thanks.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Chandler

[2hammered]

right dude ,

YOU CAN USE ANY BIKE FOR TRIALS !

i have been riding for a very long time and started with a 19" specialized hardrock ! i have changed bikes alot over the years and would say the new geomatrys they use make a huge difference but only if you have already learnt the basics ie: trackstands, bunnyhops etc

i would agree with my friend chandler on this one and say use your carrera untill you feel your level of riding is goin further than your bike can take you unless you have the money to throw at a cheap trials bike eg: onza t-bird , m.a.d phase look on ebay and buy second hand though that way it should be really cheap and your only going to scratch it to pieces anyway !

if you choose to stick with your carrera you should look at changing your brake to magura rim brakes if your wheels have the braking surface and boss mounts if not a cheap good mechanical brake with dual pad movement is GUSSETS rrp 39.99 and i sell them at 29.99 , fitting a bashguard to your crank and looking at your stem length , i use to find kona p2 rigid forks worked nice on a standard frame .\

Then if you do decide to go for a cheap trials bike your already gonna have a few parts to swap over !

[T-REX FATTIMA]

dont see why not i'd do it if i did'nt get my onza t-rex

[lil Jsy Chris]

Could definitley be done but i think you would be better off just buying a cheap trials bike.