Building/buying a trials bike?

[jlc115]

What are some good places to buy dedicated trials frames/bikes? I have the idea in my head of using a trials bike to improve my balance/technical skills instead of awkwardly hucking around expensive xc bikes. Hopefully there's something affordable out there I can buy.

Is there anything special I need to know about parts for trials bikes? Seems to me it's all pretty similar to other bikes.

Suggestions? :confused2:

[Vertigocycles]

go to www.observedtrials.net and read up. There are a number of places you can buy bikes. I used to get nearly all my trials goodies from Tim at www.trialsin.com. The company changed hands and now Vaughn Micciche (I'm sure I butchered that spelling) runs it...a swell guy and a very good rider. Even better that he's from PA and you might be supporting a localish company (but I have no idea where he operates the business).

Good luck, have fun.

[jabberwocky]

Suggestions? :confused2:My friend Katie had Webcyclery (http://www.webcyclery.com/home.php)build her new mod trials bike.

Have you ever ridden a real trials bike? The geometry is totally different from MTBs. I'm not sure that skills would transfer back and forth easily. Trials bikes are basically designed to be ridden while hopping on the rear wheel. I found Katies mod bike almost impossible to ride around or do anything on.

If you want something to build skills on, my suggestion would be an urban/DJ type hardtail mtb. They are close enough to most XC bikes that you'll be able to switch back and forth, and you can do trials type stuff on them too. They are fun to do urban assualt type stuff on (go out and bash around the city). Something like a Giant STP SS can be had reasonably cheap as a complete bike.

[jlc115]

Have you ever ridden a real trials bike? The geometry is totally different from MTBs. I'm not sure that skills would transfer back and forth easily. Trials bikes are basically designed to be ridden while hopping on the rear wheel. I found Katies mod bike almost impossible to ride around or do anything on.

Nope. Never ridden on one before. That's why I need suggestions. :p

Wouldn't a stock bike be closer at least in size/wheelbase to a small mtb? I thought mod bikes were more BMX'ish with their smaller wheels.

That being said, jensonusa has an awesome deal on 243 street/urban/dj frames:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FR283A01-243+Fr+Frame+08.aspx

That one is a little burlier than the SL version they were selling before, but it's the same frame with a little more reinforcement. It's quite heavy though. I'm not sure easy it'd be rolling around in one of those or getting it off the ground.

[Dr Phil mmkay]

If you really like your new Transition TransAM, I'd totally give the Transition TOP a look. It seems to be quite a fun bike. :thumbsup:

[jabberwocky]

Nope. Never ridden on one before. That's why I need suggestions. :p

Wouldn't a stock bike be closer at least in size/wheelbase to a small mtb? I thought mod bikes were more BMX'ish with their smaller wheels.I've never ridden a stock bike. But trials bikes have a very different geometry than pretty much any other bike. They are literally designed to be up on the rear wheel, as that is where they are 90% of the time. I think that a stock trials bike is still going to feel very different than any mountainbike.

I guess me question is: what skills are you looking to learn? I sometimes take my Evil DOC (http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1777/sevildjbike002.jpg) out and bash around Reston on it. Basically practice track standing, riding on skinny stuff, bunny hops, side hops, stuff like that. If your goals are to learn that kind of thing with intent of taking it to the trail, I think you'd be much better off on a DJ/urban type bike, as it feels much closer to a typical MTB. If your goal is to learn the more technical trials type stuff (rear wheel hops, pedal kicks, etc) then you should consider a dedicated trials bike.

If you decide on a DJ bike, I'd just look around for a complete. The Giant STPs are very nice and reasonably light. Specialized P series are nice as well. Definitely check the forums on ridemonkey and ridedc for used bikes.

[crack monkey]

On a budget, would a BMX be a better bet than a dedicated trials bike (which I imagine is going to cost close to $1000 or more)?

[jlc115]

On a budget, would a BMX be a better bet than a dedicated trials bike (which I imagine is going to cost close to $1000 or more)?
I don't know if it would be better, but like a mod bike, it seems like they'd be even more different than a typical mtb than a stock bike would be. At least a stock trials bike has 26" wheels.

If you really like your new Transition TransAM, I'd totally give the Transition TOP a look. It seems to be quite a fun bike.
I'd love to, but it's pricey. The 243 frame buyout at jenson can be had with 243 seatpost, saddle, stem, and handlebars for $160ish shipped.

[crack monkey]

I don't know if it would be better, but like a mod bike, it seems like they'd be even more different than a typical mtb than a stock bike would be. At least a stock trials bike has 26" wheels.

True enough. I guess it depends on what you really want/need. Since you wanted to get away from hucking on expensive XC bikes, I assumed you wanted something not-expensive for playing around on. BMX came to mind as a sub-$500 answer. Though, the 243 frame might work just as well for similar money.

[jabberwocky]

You might look into a BMX cruiser. They typically have 24" wheels and might feel a little more like a mountainbike, and completes can be had very cheap.

For general, transferable-to-the-trail skills I still think an urban/DJ type bike would be best.

[Vertigocycles]

If your goal is to improve your skills on your XC bike, why not get another XC bike? Or better yet, ride what you have and practice on the obstacles that give you problems. Is it cheaper to buy a second bike than to replace parts on your current one?

If you do go with a trials bike, forget a mod bike. They don't roll well and it's much easier to fall into the trap of hopping around rather than rolling things. If you're looking towards a stock bike, take a look at whatever the current Ryan Leech Norco model. Ryan usually specs a bike that's very similar to an actual mountain bike. Most modern trials specific frames have +20 or more BB rise numbers, 15" chain stays, no seat and no useful gears.

Whatever you decide to get, you should probably try to roll into and out of every obstacle if you really want to transfer the skill. Once people start hopping around (me included) I've noticed that it becomes the default way of dealing with a rough section.

[cbashaw]

You live very close to me and I ride trials a few times a week. let me know if you want to try mine out sometime. I can bring it with me to the Shaffer trail work day if you're going to be there. Just let me know.

If your focus is on improving your trail skills and balance go for a stock bike. I ride a mod now but am looking to go back to stock. Like vertigo said mods don't roll easily and you will end up hopping alot more than rolling.

Neither stock or mod will feel anything like a MTB though. It sounds like a smaller mountain bike with a rigid fork and flat pedals may be more suitable unless you're planning on doing some rear wheel hopping and trick riding.
If you get any real trials bike I would look at an older Planet X zebdi. They will ride much more like a mountain bike and you can learn to approach obtacles at speed like you would on your MTB.

[jlc115]

If your goal is to improve your skills on your XC bike, why not get another XC bike? Or better yet, ride what you have and practice on the obstacles that give you problems. Is it cheaper to buy a second bike than to replace parts on your current one?
Probably not cheaper, but I don't want to ruin bikes intentionally. For me, it's one thing to break something riding to the limits and another because I dropped the bike onto concrete a few times. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to have a dedicated bike just so I can have fun on the days the trails are too muddy (i.e. everyday :rolleyes::p)

You live very close to me and I ride trials a few times a week. let me know if you want to try mine out sometime. I can bring it with me to the Shaffer trail work day if you're going to be there. Just let me know.
Not going to be there on the workday but maybe I'll take you up on that offer when it stops raining for good. :flushed: