Trials Training And Technique

Hi guys! I would like to learn how to balance stationary bike with front wheel straight and sleeping engine. I should add it is on the smooth concrete floor. I have tried plenty of variations like keeping the weight back, middle, front, low and high, moving bum/knees sideways, crouching wide or touching bike with inner legs while weighting quickly on the pegs when doing all of this. I see some progress but not enough to see what is working and what is not. Can please somebody tell me what to do? Also, I cannot figure up the leg stretching - which side is which and what is it combined with. Brain balance implant chip wanted! Maplin?

When watching people who can get over rocks, double blipping they make it look so slow and their body doing the work and not so much the power of the bike.also how theres a split second they leave the front wheel on the rock it looks like it aids them to keep the front wheel up when ontop of the rock. For me it all happens so fast but Ive been practicing today and the way im doing it i blip once to get front wheel on rock then touch back break to slow the bike after you raised the wheel then go again with another blip and push up with my body. I feel more controlled and it doesnt seem everything is happening to fast. Is this the correct way using a slight bit of rear brak…

Recently watched the 2016 SSDT vid and Dan Thorpe mentioned he rode most sections in 2'nd gear. Riding last year I attempted most in 1st and struggled to maintain momentum and my line. Not too many similar sections here in California, but have been working hard on it and attempt them mostly in 1st. For those who have ridden similar sections what are your thoughts or tips? I ride a Vertigo 300 with a 38 rear and almost always are using the 3rd map. Much appreciated in advance.

Lance Armstong and Michael Phelps are apparently 6% or less....but they don't have to physically handle a 150 pound piece of high-torque machinery over the toughest terrain that any motorized vehicle traverses, like trials riders routinely do. What percent body-fat are Dougie, Bou, Raga, Fuji, etc.? Or better yet, what % would they ideally LIKE to be? At 46 years-old, what body-fat percentage would be the very very best for me, trials-wise? Is it closer to the body-fat percentage of Iggy Pop on free heroin day, or documentary-maker Michael Moore on free Hot Fudge Sunday day? I'm tracking my body fat percentage occasionally (I'm not really looking at my WEIGHT, per se, a…

After a bit of what I saw as misunderstanding around the differences between Double Blips & Zaps from my first couple of videos with bar-cams I thought I'd have a go at making a video with those two plus a Splat. I'm not pretending these are particularly good specimens of the technique (large understatement!) but maybe they give a fair idea of what I consider the differences. Double Blip doesn't use any clutch - just throttle, Zap uses rev and dump the clutch as both suspensions bottom & Splat uses rev & dump to launch the back wheel directly into the obstacle. Willing to be corrected, but this is my understanding. EDIT - corrected "Zap" to…

G'day all, One thing that has become apparent since doing some miles off-road (since last January) is my fitness, or more correctly the lack of it! I cruise many hours on my road bike but the trials bike has shown up some need for attention to fitness. This "trials caper" later in life needs some resolve to gain some fitness but not injure myself in the process! Hehehehehe I'm reasonably strong for age and weigh 87 kg at 178cms, but the aerobic fitness is lacking as shown by my arms and legs giving out before my concentration getting around the next obstacle. I have some past injuries from motocross when young.... like a collapsed disc in neck and bad vertebrae in low…

Is there a big diffrence betveen 250cc and 280cc as a beginner... I have tried 250cc for a couple of years ago, and now i finally moved from mx to trial. I bought a 280cc, but DAMN !!! .... it is difficult to get along with... and just hanging on to the handlebars is a full time job

Hi everyone I just can't get the hang of this I put a log on the drive and clear my front wheel but always scrape over with the back wheel. Can anyone give me some advice on how to perfect it. I'd love to be able to clear a good height eventually. Thanks Doogzie

This may be a simple one (but that's why I'm asking). I'm a novice (been riding enduro for a few years) and I think I've got really poor throttle control. It may be because I'm very left handed but I work the clutch all the time and perhaps use it to make up for lack of throttle control. I've already fitted a slow action throttle. So - Are there any good drills for developing throttle control? Any pointers for when to stay off the clutch? Thanks.

Hello Guys, I've just started trialling after spending a few years racing cars and I've got a big hang up telling me that I'll never be able to trial. I haven't ridden a trial bike before and it seems totally different to a road bike or Motorcross bike. I feel like I need to control the power with my clutch for one. Can anyone tell me where you went wrong and how did you get it right? Cheers Dean

Hey guys, Here's my first post.... I was thinking about getting back into trials but I would like to find a bike that can ride around at 50km/h (or 80) as well. I don't know if this exists, or if it is physically possible. My 280 pro was perfect on trails and trials, but I couldn't ride top gear for more than a minute. I know the bikes aren't meant for that, but can any of the bikes do that? How about the Scorpa Long ride? I don't really want a seat but I'll deal with it if I have to! Thanks for any ideas you guys have. Jay

I've just purchased a very decent condition Gas Gas Contact JTR160 trials bike to try and learn the sport on. I've made some feeble attempts to learn with my Honda TRL200 but find the 4-stroke with the engine braking throws me off. I do not have that issue now with this 2 stroke. I've been a checker at a local event for the last five years so I understand the concept of trials. Watched tons of YouTube videos, too. My question is, how to begin from scratch? If you were just starting out, all over again, what would be your plan of attack and how would begin to practice? Thanks.

I'm starting a weight-lifting program, and even though I'll never be a Dougie Lampkin I'm just wondering how much a typical world/national level trials (or enduro/motocross) rider can "bench press". The one where you lie on your back and push the barbell up at a right angle to your body, with both arms. Also, how much can YOU bench press? I'm a bit embarassed at my own bench press figure, so let's just say that it has plenty of room FOR IMPROVEMENT (that's, uh, a good thing, right?) Some athlete by the name of "Tiger Woods" can reportedly bench 300 lbs. Tiger is what, some sort of massive sumo wrestler or something? Probably some massive NFL lineman or "Strong-man co…

I would have thought there would be a thread on this already but my search came up with nothing so I thought it would be good to start a discussion. I've watched everything I can find on both of these techniques as well as read through threads when I can find them and I am still very unclear on what a zap is and how it differs from the db. The db makes perfect sense to me. I can see how it functions and have seen it in slow motion. The zap from what I can tell is basically a db on steroids. More throttle with a clutch drop in the second blip. I have read somewhere that it is important to turn off the power as the rear wheel contacts the obstacle. If this is the case is it…

Hi all, Hoping you can help with a bit of technique,I’ve been practicing the jap zap over some barrels and these tyres. I can’t seem to get the lift I need which is stopping my momentum to get over. its a 300cc and I’ve been trying in second and third gear. any help would be appreciated,thanks

hey all, at the moment im learning to wheelie/lift the front. I can get the wheel off the ground so high by compressing the forks, then leaning back and hitting the throttle though in a trial this technique isn't to good. I have been told there is another method which involves using the clutch, leaning back and 'blipping' the throttle. Would someone please explain to me how to do it? thanks Jack H

Talking to some guys at practice today,got conflicting views on tyre pressures..............should they be different for comp and practice ??

What is your best tip for a new rider other than get out and practice

Anyone got pics of some good home garden or yard trials areas? I'm moving house, new place comes with a big lawn on a bit of a slope. Want to set it up for my novice riding and my kids 7 and under on their osets. Riding and more obstacles in place will keep the grass down too Cheers

I've had bikes for many years and regularly MTB, BUT... None of that has helped prepare me for trials!! Just bought and rebuilt the suspension (forks, swingarm and linkage bearings) so giving it a first outing. It's quite a unique riding technique isn't it! After watching a few you tube vids, here is my first attempt in the garden! Any comments, tips, criticisms from all you experienced guys welcomed!