ryansupak

I know very little about these things and information is elusive compared to most other bike "genres", but I find these intriguing (and I already don't use a seat so the elimination of a seatpost from the frame would be perfect for me.)





Here's a video of somebody doing very cool things on one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYIKfEU8yl8

Anybody know much about these? I've never seen one in real life and they ain't particularly cheap, but they look like they might have potential as an urban street machine, with different gearing.

thanks,
rs

dookie

they are more pogo-stick than bicycle. gearing is ~1:1. check youtube for some absolutely mind-blowing video.

The LT

https://www.observedtrials.net/

I have ridden one before and it would not make a very good bike to ride for any sort of appreciable distance. they are very different and have the cg in a weird spot that makes it very easy to get up on the back wheel. lots of fun though

cc700

yeah, these are for jumping object to object, not riding.

jdms mvp

lol urban street machine....

there isn't even a saddle holmes

andrewro

solly81

It's weird cause I remember when I lived in England like 8 years ago this s'hit was raging. I didn't notice it in North America until recently. Looks "fun" I guess. I dunno.

Joetheshmo

mmmm cake.

wearyourtruth

i have 2, been riding for a couple months now and i love it. www.observedtrials.net is definitely the source for finding more information, but if you think the guys here in bfssfg are immature d-bags, you ain't seen nothin (just fair warning)

the bikes sure aren't cheap, partially because of the small production numbers and partially because they have to make the frame and parts so damn strong (but also light) you can find a decent used one for $400-700 with no problem. decent (not all) new ones are going to be north of a grand usually.

trials in it's purest form is really about getting up and down from the most ridiculous obstacles you can. it's not really like urban street, sure it has some of the same vibes, but trials is a much slower, controlled process. check out this video from a competition we had here in MD earlier this year. in this case you can see the course is intentionally contorted to provide maximum difficulty. there is no room to build up speed to huck up and down from things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDZHlib4kd4

point is if you really want an urban street machine, buy an urban street machine, not a trials bike.

sfcrossrider

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsbJn...D=11745&page=1

ianjk

I ride trials, currently a 20" mod bike. If you expect to go more than say, a mile, or plan on going faster than 5 miles an hour, you are looking at the wrong bike.

The geometry isn't ideal for "urban street" riding. Mine is scary as hell when bombing down hills to get to local riding spot. I usually keep it under 10 mph, anything beyond that is nuts.

ianjk

nice vid, was sad to see the 5 at the end.

Devolution

From 1998-2000 or so I rode trials pretty much exclusively. Fun times, I always think about getting a new school stock bike one of these days. My shoulders would not be thrilled, as I wrecked them back then in many a slow speed topple from tall objects.

Riding them for anything other than observed trials is questionable at best.