Trials bikes
Trials' riding is sometimes confused with Time Trials, which are very different. Time Trials take place on road racing style of bikes at high speed along tarmac roads, whereas Trials' riding uses smaller off-road style bikes where the rider has to hop over objects and near impossible terrain without putting their feet on the floor.
The Spanish rider Ot Pi has won several world titles and is often regarded as the man responsible for starting the sport of bicycle trials. It was his father, a motorcycle trials world champion, who adapted a bicycle for his son to learn the skills of trials riding. From then on trials riding has gone from strength to strength and is very popular with kids and adults alike.
Trials' riding is a skilful discipline as the rider slowly negotiates man-made and natural obstacles using controlled braking, track stands and balancing. If this isn't hard enough, in competition all this is done against the clock with penalty points for riders who put their feet down.
All trials bikes have very powerful brakes, which are usually disc or hydraulic rim type. The tyres have to be very grippy and are therefore made of very soft compounds. The wheels and tyres are wider than normal which increases the contact patch giving better balance. Gearing is low as the bikes are ridden slowly but allow for quick acceleration for jumping. Trials bikes can be odd looking as the saddles are low and small and some don't even have a seat or seatpost! The rider does not need them and of course it helps to reduce overall weight.
Trials bikes are no longer standard mountain bikes, as over the years they have evolved and become two types of trials-specific bikes: the 'Modified' and the 'Stock'.
The Modified (Mod) bikes use a 20-inch wheel, which allows for a smaller, lighter frame. The Mods typically have one gear and bash guards to protect the frame when jumping or balancing. The term 'Mod' comes from the fact that the original bikes were BMXs, modified for trials. These were the first type of training bikes for the motorcycle trials riders.
Stock bikes are more common, they have 26-inch wheels and originate from the mountain bike. Nowadays the name is often used to describe any trials bike that has 26-inch wheels.
Prices range from £250 - £900, see for example the Saracen Flea 1, ranging to the Saracen Flea 4.
