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First Trials Bike?


iron_panda

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Hey guys, I watched Danny Macaskill's Imaginate a week or two back and it's made me really want to try trials biking.

I've owned a mountain bike for a few years but only used it a handful of times and that was just commuting to and from somewhere so I'm not looking to spend tons in case I don't get on with it so I'd be happy with a run down, really cheap, second hand bike just to start with.
Are there particular manufacturers that are suited for beginners or better than others or does it not really matter too much at this stage / what I'm looking for?

Thanks in advance for any info! :)

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Don't make the mistake and buy a street trials bike. You can learn on those as well but the basics are easier on a "real" trials bike; the ones without seat. Other than that there's no real advice. Get a cheap bike and see whether the sport is for you.

Edited by niconj
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Yes I agree, this is the main shop in the UK have a browse: http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/ to get an idea of what types of bikes there are. You can get decent stuff second hand which is probably better if you just want to try. Where you live and how big/old you are will affect what bike you choose. But a normal trials bike is much easier if you don't have a background in trials or BMX in my opinion. 

 

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I actually disagree with you fully there, learning on a streetier bike has loads of benefits.

Firstly it will still feel and look like a bike, if you went straight into a seatless comp style bike it will ride very strangely to you without previous experience.

Secondly you want to learn how to ride, having a super specialist bike may make some stuff easier but I'd argue that making stuff easier isn't the best way to learn. Riding a streetier bike that is slightly harder on the back wheel will teach you more about how body weight effects moves and increase bike control way more than just jumping on a bike that does half the work for you.

Thirdly you'll be able to use the bike in more situations, a seatless comp style bike are very specialist and unless you absolutely know you'll never want to ride a skate park or jumps I'd advise against getting one as a first trials bike, if you go for a more alround streetier model you still have your options open to ride more things. 

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Maybe I'm just oldschool when everyone started on pretty horrible bikes, but I really do feel you'll end up a better rider over all if you spend a year or so riding a "harder" bike.

To me it's like buying a first car and getting a Ferrari, you'll go faster than a lot of people off the lights as it's got a big engine and is easy, but someone who bought a slower car first and took the time to learn with it will end up faster when they eventually get a Ferari. Plus the super car isn't as practical and limits what the persona can do with it.

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You were inspired by Danny on a street bike, so I think you should try a 24" street bike, search for an onza zoot or a second hand inspired or Marino.  I started on a zoot and loved it.

www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/24-onza-zoot-trail-bike-/1175030122

If you buy something like that you can probably sell for same money when you upgrade or pack it in because you don't like it.

Edited by Dman
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2 hours ago, Ali C said:

but I really do feel you'll end up a better rider over all if you spend a year or so riding a "harder" bike.

That may very well be and I won't argue with you as you are a bit more experienced than I am. :D

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A street trials bike has a seat, lower bottom bracket and often 24" wheels (26" is available too). They normally have a higher feeling handlebar and a more neutral feeling on the bike (body's pretty centred). They're usually good for bunnyhops, manuals, spins and are actually not too bad for most trials stuff either. They usually have a little weight penalty but are a lot more robust. They feel most like an actual MTB.

 

Comp trials bikes don't have a seat to save weight, the bottom bracket is often very high to aid ground clearance and help with rear wheel control. The bars are often lower feeling (due to the higher bb) and the bikes are often very rear wheel bias. They're "almost" impossible to bunnyhop and spin but are great for natural due to the more precise rear wheel control. They're often super lightweight at the expense of duribility. They feel vastly different from a MTB.

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Most general cyclists who've had a go on my comp bike tend to find themselves falling over the bars due to the extreme geo differences to what they're used to. As has been said keep an eye out for a 2nd hand Zoot or Inspired, either should get you started!

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Think I'll go with a street bike :) Although Zoot's and Inspired seems to be the 'go to' bikes. Just for starting out and to save money are there any other makes or models that I could look out for? Obviously if I see a zoot or inspired for £100 (like the one mentioned previously!) I should check it out :) 

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Yes, a Zoot.

Some may disagree with me but I personally would recommend you stay away from older trials bikes if they crop up like Base, old Giant trials, Saracen or similar as you will be throwing away money you'll really struggle to recoup. At least with a Zoot or Inspired you stand a good chance of getting back near enough what you pay for them if you don't get on with the bike and they're good to upgrade if you do.

The only super cheap bike I'd possibly recommend is a MAD Phase 1.1 or 1.2 and they do sometimes pop up around the £100 mark.

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Thanks for the suggestions! The only issue I have is that a lot of the really cheap (zoots mainly) are 3 or 4 hours drive away and most of the time collection only :( Think I'll need to keep looking around and see what's better - a near by, more expensive bike or far away cheaper bike plus petrol!

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