Trials Training And Technique

Right then, I have come to realise that for me to enjoy and make a reasonable assault on the SSDT next year I need to be super fit, so has anyone got any tips/ training programs to help??? I know the best thing to do is go out on the bike as often as pos but I have no practice area but I do ride every weekend and go to the gym about 4 times a week. I would be interested what kind of training program the world class boys have, any clues????

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…

Hey, All!!! Decided I'd have my daughter video one of my little practice sections at my home. After watching it, I'm kind of ashamed of how poorly I ride. If you folks see something that you can point out to help a Novice/Intermediate level rider to improve, please send the help in a post. I caught my front wheel essentially just "skimming" right over some of the contact points on the log (i.e., didn't hit the front wheel where I wanted to....). I also seem pretty stiff, and don't seem to bend my knees enough. And I haven't a clue how to fix these problems..... I really want to improve my level of riding. I want to get the fundamentals down well first, and figure other …

When I jump my bike over logs & rocks I have a problem with either putting more revs on when landing the front wheel or collapsing my wrist forward. I don't think I have particularly weak wrists but if I do I better start training them? It happens when I land on the front wheel first & my weight shifts forward on the bike. Any help or advise appreciated.

It’s a crazy idea and I just wanted to hear feedback. For back wheel hops, wheelies, or even controlling speed in a section I’ve always struggled with rear brake modulation. I tend to favor the front brake. Tempted to split both brakes off front lever. Lets hear why it’s a horrible idea! Maybe I’ll just give it a go and find out for myself.

Hi, I've read a lot of posts here and elsewhere and watched a few videos, I'm now a bit confused as to what to practise first and looking for advice. I've been riding bikes for around 22 years but I've only had 2 1/2 hours on a trial bike last night at Warden Law. It's clear that I need to pick up a few basic skills before I've got any hope of clearing any obsticles. I spent a bit of time just getting used to being off road again and to the bike but I still find the power delivery, lack of bike between the knees, the feel of the clutch and the size and feel of the back brake all a bit odd. I practised lifting the front wheel, 10 foot barely in control wheelies weren'…

I read in a great old book on trials that unless you have perfect balance you will never be able to ride trials. The author also said the best way to learn perfect balance is with a unicycle. Wondering if anyone has tried this route. Seems to make sense but a unicycle is very hard to learn I would imagine. At least with Winter coming it's something I can do in the basement to get ready for next season.

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

Has anyone made any homemade obstacles? i am tired of riding the same old rocks and logs on my property, and would like something i could possibly move around the driveway to practice in the evenings.

Hey all Had the opportunity to ride a 4rt for a few events this Christmas which meant I stood up all the time. I normally ride a TY250, which allows me sit down, between sections and relax. Very quickly I started suffering from really bad lower back pain. I suffer from this time to time while riding my YZF250 during hare and hounds. I know fitting bar risers would help but is there any exercises I can do to build up my lower back? I also want to build up general riding fitness but I can only get out on my bike about once a month. Any one know of any exercises to keep myself fit when I am not racing. Thanks in advance Scott

Well Ive been in the back yard trying to balance again just static engine off. Not had bike long and new to trials had bike about a month now not had to much time to practice but tried balancing quite a bit. Does it drive everybody mad at first. everybody I see makes it look easy. Is it just practice ? somedays I just can't get it at all just a couple seconds somedays a little longer. Am I just been hard on myself ?

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…

what sort of things make a rider smooth as when it comes to riding a section I feel all over the place?

I'm having a hard time getting any height. Theres ALOT going on all at once, so any tips would be appreciated.

Entered my third ever trial today, which was a success in that its the first I've finished. My score was nothing to write home about, but I've noticed I was losing marks consistently on the same 2 things: 1 - Going down steep slopes - I had absolutely no control, and accelerated downand out of the section on a few occasions. I think using the back brake was making matters worse. 2 - Muddy hillclimbs - Just couldn't find traction despite having two new tyres. I tried to roll the revs on and build or carry momentum wherever possible, but hillclimbs that I could manage in practice no problem seemed to be much much harder within a the context of a section. Any tips?

Ok, sorry for being really dumb, but i'm new to this trials thing and have seen loads of references on technique, stating..."be like a tree" Just wondering if someone could give me an explanation as to what it means?? Thanks in advance. Steve

Hey guys, Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue. I think a sprain a few weeks back (landed heavily on the bars) may have caused a twinge in my wrist. I have no pain while riding, I generally feel the pain more when I'm off the bike and I flex my wrist but the pain is isolated only to the area marked in red. If I flex my wrist into extension (like in the second picture) I get this fizzel/twinge in that spot or when I'm opening a door. Is this tendinitis? My Doctor instantly without even looking at my hand said Carpal Tunnel I've had the pain for about 5 weeks now. I've made some adjustments to the bike to hopefully improvement the ergonomics to …

I know this has come up before in some sense, but in looking for advise to others, I am unsure! In the case of multi day trials, 2-3 or more, such as the Scottish even, IS there a preferred diatery intake, other than beer, that replenishes muscle loss and overdoing? Over the time? After first day, supper of ? to replenish for the next day? Breakfast of what? Which is best? More carbs in the eve, more protien in the morn, Pizza, beef, eggs or sausages? Something, anything? I know there must be some dietary science to this replinshment, other than beer!

I'm practicing a few days a week at home to supplement the rides on weekends. Here is a snippet of todays practice. I hope it works? I have used the Gopro studio for first time and had to open a youtube account and this is my first ever video on the net. Mags

Hi All, I have been riding for many (40+) years, but I am totally new to the sport. Bought recently a Cota 315R and I am having a hard time finding a comfortable position for the levers, the clutch in particular. Holding the clutch with my index finger ends up pinching my fingers or hitting my knuckles. From various pictures and videos, I see setups that are dramatically different, WRT inclination and horizontal position on the handlebars. I know the answer is "whatever works best for me", but when learning I find easier to start from a neutral setup and progressively adjust from there. Any suggestions? Thanks!