Trials..is it 'mountain biking'?

cunning-stunt · May 2007

No doubt this has been done before...but i didn't see it[;)]

I see the adverts and articles in the mags for trials bikes...no suspension,no gears......no bloody seat FFS.

I read trials articles and think to myself "when did this branch off"?

Trials riders have skill,more than me come to think of it,but is it really mountain biking?

I once 'rode' a loop with a trials friend.
When I left him at the start I went back to check he was ok.

"yep I'll catch you up" was the reply.
Upon finishing the loop,I found him 400 yards from the start of the trail sidehopping up the track[:o)]

Is it time for trials to break away?

For all the trials riders reading this...I am in awe of your skills,have no doubt,but hopping around Glentress isn't really feasible is it?.
I also wonder about street/park...amazing and skillful admittedly,but mountainbiking?
I skate in a skate park..I mountainboard on the mountains..

We all ride yes,but when I parasail I don't call myself a skydiver..

Anyway,hard hat on,opinions welcomed [:D]

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Big Red S · May 2007

Sandbox or delete?

First to three.

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cunning-stunt · May 2007

Genuine question...apologies for not being forum savvy :-(

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nicklouse · May 2007

the same could be said for many of the branches of MTBing,

dirt jumping/ downhill/street you on an XC bike will leave them standing still on a trail. but hey guess what when the trail heads down hill.

And as it happens a few of the trials bike companies are now making them with seats again.

gone is the day where we did everything on one bike.

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jamiejim · May 2007

i dont see why it matters. So what if things branch off, its just evolution of a sport. I reckon its beneficial to the sport as there is more variety, which means more people will try it out. Stop worrying about these things and get on your bike and do your thing, whatever that may be.

BTR · May 2007

Why does it matter?
Heck, the only kind of mountain biking that is TRULY mountain biking is when you ride on a mountain.

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elmotheewokking · May 2007

Guys, its just a question. No need to cut the guys head off.

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cadge · May 2007

Trials is mountain biking, street riding and dirt jumping is.

And by the way, mtbs started rigid and singlespeed, so saying a rigid, ss bike is not a mountainbike is complete bullcorr blimey.

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Thorpey_on_a_bike · May 2007

At the end of the day, all it is a label. If you hang around trails communities, you'll rarely hear them talking about being mountainbikers.

And if it shouldn't be in the MTB mags, should it be in the BMX ones? Because as far I know, there are no nationally distributed mainstream trials mags (might be a few internet/small scale printed ones), because the niche isn't big enough. Same goes for dirt jumping and street riding.

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Stuff · May 2007

I think were all one big happy family. Lets stick together to give the sport a bigger voice

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DavesNotHere

I wouldn't have put yours on anyway, on account of you being a n00b
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Moriarti · May 2007

i think that trials has become quite detached from the rst of mountain biking more so than any other branch. most types of mountain bike can handle more than one disipline quite easily where as specific trials bikes like zoo's with there really long wheel base and high bottom bracket make it very hard for them to ride different disiplines.

its all riding at the end of the day, and of course using specalist equiptment will help with any task but i think he had a point

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Drfabulous0 · May 2007

Perhaps it isn't mountain biking because many specialist bikes are not capable of other types of riding and it rarely takes place on mountains.

Perhaps it is mountain biking because to be good at other disciplines some basic trials skills are almost essential and trials can be done on most types of bike.

A lot of folks think of mountain biking as XC, but 4X and DJ are closer to BMX, I don't really think it matters too much how you classify each discipline, just enjoy your ride.

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westwood661 · May 2007

Trials is definitely not Mountain Biking. It is however a very skillful area of cycling that should be respected. I have wondered for years why MBUK still cover trials and a seperate magazine that covers trials and BMX related diciplines (eg. dirt jumping) has not been set up. Don't get me wrong, trials is great. But it isn't mountain biking.

pete700 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by westwood661

Trials is definitely not Mountain Biking. It is however a very skillful area of cycling that should be respected. I have wondered for years why MBUK still cover trials and a seperate magazine that covers trials and BMX related diciplines (eg. dirt jumping) has not been set up. Don't get me wrong, trials is great. But it isn't mountain biking.
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Didn't trials riding actually start in forests and mountains though?

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haroexone · May 2007

i can remember when you had to compete on a stock mtb!Hans Rey used to be amazing on a proflex with flexstem!

Norco_Hucker · May 2007

Ryan Leech has a suspension fork + saddle!

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Jon71 · May 2007

I understand the need to have a different bike for Trials and if there isn't a dedicated trials bike then a small MTB would do it as well.

What has suprised me is that there are jump bikes, what's wrong with a BMX? Seems to me that dirt jumpers do the same thing as BMXers so why the need for a completely new bike?

Years and years ago we would just do all this on one bike (well I did anyway), seems like it might be the bike companies telling us we need these bikes to X, Y and Z correctly? Not knocking it just not understanding it.

If anyone can enlighten me I am all ears (well eyes really on a forum!)

haroexone · May 2007

thinking about jumping on a bmx hurts my back!

ddoogie · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Big Red S

Sandbox or delete?

First to three.

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README
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What's with the attitude?

Anywho, as far as I'm concerned, trials and street are not mountain biking. They are much to similar to BMX riding than MTB so that's how I class them.

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Anonymous · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jon71

I understand the need to have a different bike for Trials and if there isn't a dedicated trials bike then a small MTB would do it as well.

What has suprised me is that there are jump bikes, what's wrong with a BMX? Seems to me that dirt jumpers do the same thing as BMXers so why the need for a completely new bike?

Years and years ago we would just do all this on one bike (well I did anyway), seems like it might be the bike companies telling us we need these bikes to X, Y and Z correctly? Not knocking it just not understanding it.

If anyone can enlighten me I am all ears (well eyes really on a forum!)
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Perhaps some of use don't want to ride a BMX.
I started out riding an MTB then got more into Dirt jumping and street, so I just stayed on my MTB.

Wheres the 'completely new bike' comment from?
Many people wanted to keep riding a MTB not a BMX, manufacturers saw this and made more MTB orientated bikes to fit the needs.
Yes we do the same things as those on a BMX, but whats wrong with that? I ride what I am comfortable on, same as many others who ride dirt street and park on an mtb.

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Jon71 · May 2007

Whoa, park the ati-toood! I simply asked a question no need to get defensive.

Anonymous · May 2007

Who cares what you do on a bike, just get out and ride!

But the way I see it, all mountain bikers need to be able to jump a bit, climb a bit, descend well, and have a basic grasp of some trials techniques.

But if you do one thing more than the others, then having an all-round bike will compromise your anilities to excel in whatever kind of riding you prefer.
To race downhil, it helps to have a full-suss, strong as an ox bike.
To do dirt jumps, it helps to have a small, chuckable frame.
to do XC, it helps to have a superlight bike.
to do trials, it helps to have a tiny frame, and saddles aren't neccesary.

Just the fact that trials riding is sp specialised doesn't mean it shouldn't be classed as a form of MTBing.
Hell, i remembr when the only specific things on a trials MTB were bashguards and maguras. and that was for the really pernickety types!

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Anonymous · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jon71

Whoa, park the ati-toood! I simply asked a question no need to get defensive.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Its pretty much my generic response, they always come across as defensive as many people who see them selves as 'proper mountain bikers' look down on what I do.

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jAckAsS o__0 · May 2007

You could say that about any 'mountain biking'...
Is dirt jumping done on a mountain?
Most bike trails aren't anywhere near a mountain.
So I'd say it is mountain biking, because you can do it anywhere: On a table, On some rocks etc. (up a mountain if you really want...)

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danhargrave7 · May 2007

Personally, i think the whole sport as a whole shoul be renamed something like 'extreme biking'

can someone with some authority make it known. i think its a much better term personally...

dan

Anonymous · May 2007

Why though?

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Anonymous · May 2007

extreme biking? That the lamest name for a sport ever!
If it were to be known as such, I'd probably sell my bike out of embarrasment!

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xc-andy · May 2007

when i upgraded ( through age ) from my raliegh BMX to my GT talera , my mother said "what do you want a mountain bike for ? . there arent any mountains round here "
so have i ever been a mountain biker ? i have never biked on a mountain proper for sure .

trials is definately more related to BMX style biking.
but are definitions really important ?

bikes are about having a laugh with your mates when you have the youth and freedom to do it. And as you get older its about having the lightest bike, and knowing the best beer to go with cake.
and thats that.

lobes · May 2007

Hans Rey has an XC seat and Fox forks (Or some sort of fork, sorry for the error if it is one) and gears. [:)]

And You skate in Skateparks, Street riders ride in them [;)]

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jAckAsS o__0 · May 2007

Could it not just be called 'biking'?
Personally, I think it sounds alot better than 'extreme' biking...
It reminds me off extreme ironing!

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Gibbon on an Orange · May 2007

The same can be said about DH, DJ, Freeride, 4X, EVERYTHING!

DHers only go DOWN the hills, DJers play on lumps of dirt, 4X'ers ride downhill BMX tracks, Street riders basicaly ride big BMX's, so who cares of we trials riders hop about on things?! Its as much Mountian biking as ANY other MTBing today, apart from XC, which is the only true 'Mountain Biking' left.

Now, be quiet and leave us alone.

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Trials..is it 'mountain biking'?

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