51 year old newbie

[Gsinky]

Hi, I’m keen to get started on some gentle trials. I’m in Aberdeenshire and have always fancied it, and realise it’s now or never as I get older. I’m budgeting on circa £1k for a used Beta or Gas Gas. Any buying advice appreciated and any more general advice also welcomed. Hope I’m not too old. I had a Fantic when I was 19 and have been a MTBer over the years, so like to think I’ll at least have some sense of balance and technique, but mainly I just want to have some fun and give it a go.

Also any advice on basic kit welcomed.

Graham

[feetupsbetter]

Hi Graham, welcome along to this wonderful world of trials.

There are/have been lots of similar requests on here with plenty of sound & friendly advice to help you along. I’ve had a look back at some of my replies to people & ‘grovesy91’ (I think that was the name) made a similar request back in 2018. Have a search for ‘what bike’, or ‘new starter’ or similar and you’ll find lots of info. If you can’t find anything come back & up let us know.

£1000 might be a bit tight on budget, but look around for the best serviced & looked after mechanically example rather than necessarily the smartest looking. Should still get a decent, if older, starter bike. I’d go Gas Gas Pro or Beta Rev 3/evo as I think that’ll give you best choice at that price & baring in mind spares availability. Go & read some of those old posts for some guidance.

Good luck

[Gsinky]

Thanks, I’ll search out those posts👍

[feetupsbetter]

‘Can a 50 yr old start from scratch and where’ by JonG71 from November 25.

Hi again, search for the above post as a more recent one. Tr1AL gives a good reply and I put some advice on there too. 

[RonH]

11 hours ago, Gsinky said:

Hi, I’m keen to get started on some gentle trials. I’m in Aberdeenshire and have always fancied it, and realise it’s now or never as I get older. I’m budgeting on circa £1k for a used Beta or Gas Gas. Any buying advice appreciated and any more general advice also welcomed. Hope I’m not too old. I had a Fantic when I was 19 and have been a MTBer over the years, so like to think I’ll at least have some sense of balance and technique, but mainly I just want to have some fun and give it a go.

Also any advice on basic kit welcomed.

Graham

Gsinky, I'm 65 and riding trials and just restarted two years ago. Don’t worry about age. I wish I was as young as you. Just relax and enjoy it. There’s a lot of people older than me that still ride.

[trapezeartist]

51 is young. Many riders start trials when they feel too old for whatever they were doing before.

£1k is a challenging budget if you're going to get something ready-to-go. Remember that needing tyres, chain, sprockets, whatever could rapidly increase the final cost of a bargain bike.

[Gsinky]

Thanks trapezeartist, good shout and maybe I have to rethink the budget, don’t want to go overboard on my first bike, want to test the water, but also want to be realistic, what should I budget would you reckon, £1500?