what skills would you need to have

[iceman]

to competeas a beginner in a comp

[trialsrider50]

none

[trialsrider50]

theoretically you shouldn't have to have any skills to compete in a beginner class.

[literocola]

Agreed. Check out biketrials.com and watch the beginner comp. video footage. That will give you an idea of what you have to compete with.

http://biketrials.com/comp/

[va_tick]

Mediocore xc skills will sufice.

[Acolyte]

Mediocore xc skills will sufice.

I was gonna say, "none" was a right and a wrong answer at the same time. No trials specific skills, but you should probably be able to ride a bike.

[Bryan]

To compete... you can just walk on with a bike.

To do well, you should be able to ride through rocky streambeds (have a bike that can brake well in water). You should be able to pivot around comfortably and trackstand, both rocking and static. Rolling down drops up to about 18" should be expected as well. You should be able to hop up a grassy hill where it is too steep to pedal and avoid obstacles while doing so. Being able to navigate well and pivot on downslopes is also essential.

[music_maj_34]

I guess it depends though... I saw a few sections last season that use to be sport sections that they are now calling beginner.

[publicenemy245]

ya i want 2 know 2 because theres a comp comin up in april that im thinking about entering and ive never been 2 a comp

[Povi]

can you pedal kick?


then you're over qualified

[publicenemy245]

can you pedal kick?


then you're over qualified
hell no.... ive been ridin trials 4 about a year

[Bryan]

just because you can pedal kick doesn't mean you are over-qualified

[publicenemy245]

ok im not over qualified, in fact ive never been 2 a comp so wut skills would i need

[cbosley]

ok im not over qualified, in fact ive never been 2 a comp so wut skills would i need

typing skills:dunno:

[publicenemy245]

can some one tell me (preferably from some one who has competed) what skills i need to have to compete and do good
because theres one coming up soon and i dont know what i should practice

[Povi]

if you read the thread iceman is talking about what skills he would need to compete in a beginner comp. a beginner's section recquires you to roll over a few things maybe, climb a hill, do some simple pivots. THAT IS ALL.
wat i am saying is that if you can pedal kick, you should definitely possess the ability to roll over a few things and pivot.

and publicenemy245 your a fucking idiot read the thread and what everyone has said

[publicenemy245]

ok no one said any thing but bryan
so quit being a little bitch
oh and thanks for the tips

[giventofly]

Ok, I think everybody is making this sound a lot easier than it is. I've seen a lot of people come to my events "knowing how to ride a bike" and five out every single section. Like it or not, even though they're not doing cool big moves like i'm sure all you experts here are....there is a considerable amount of skill involved, even at the beginner level. If this were not true, I (as an event director) would be seeing SIGNIFICANTLY better numbers in my beginner classes. Trials is hard...at any level.

In order to be successfull (I define a successful first comp as not 5ing out every section) you need the following:

Bike with 2 good working brakes
A Seatpost that can go all the way down
Ability to Trackstand, at least 20-30 seconds
Ability to Hop in place to regain your balance
Ability to roll over objects 12" high
Ability to negotiate turns that are tighter than the minimum turning radius of your bike
Ability to climb steep hills in loose terrain
Ability to put a foot down, and recover without using additional dabs.

Things that aren't absolutely necessary, but will make things easier:

Ability to rock the bike, lifting one wheel indipendant of the other
Ability to pivot in a circle (left and right) by lifting the front wheel multiple times
Ability to pivot in a circle by lifting the back wheel multiple times
Ability to listen, because at most events I've been to, most competitors that are better than you have already struggled through the same learning curve you are on, and will almost always dispense free advice.

Things that I see a lot of beginners bring to comps...but I think are pretty unnecessary.

High Pressure tires
Full suspension
Skinsuits or any kind of spandex
Water Bottle Cages / Water Bottles
Mullets / Pony Tails

[eastside]

Things that I see a lot of beginners bring to comps...but I think are pretty unnecessary.

High Pressure tires
Full suspension
Skinsuits or any kind of spandex
Water Bottle Cages / Water Bottles
Mullets / Pony Tails




:rofl: :rofl: Funny.

[bike_me]

Thank you, giventofly, that is the most constructive advice I've heard anyone say.

P.S. I think it should be against the law to use "spandex" and "trials" in the same sentence.

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

ok no one said any thing but bryan
so quit being a little bitch
oh and thanks for the tips

Seriously man?? Everyone here had been more than helpful. You shit talked me for running drilled rims and told me that you have been riding trials for about 4 years and don't run drilled rims because they break. My best advice is to just listen to the advice that people have to offer and not shoot everything down right away with little experience. I have not been riding trials long but have alreay learned soooo much just by listening to people on here and watching/talking to riders who are much, much better than me. At the end of the day, just get out and ride.

And I think giventofly has given the best answer you will get over the interweb as to what is required. I'm going to play on my bike in the rain now. I <3 Hope Disks.

[bike_me]

I think the idea is to do enough homework of what to expect and practice before entering a very first comp so as not to look like an idiot and a laughing stock. If winning the beginner class was based on who drew the most laughs then,...hell...that would be me!!!
My riding at the moment looks about like watching a monkey trying to fuck a football.

[bike_me]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[va_tick]

no one really pays attention to what the beginer guyths are doing anyway....forget about it and go.

[johnglazer]

When I competed in beginner class, there were 5 people watching: my dad, my brother, two of my friends, and the one other person competing in beginner class.

Just go have at it, if you do well then great. If not, you get a feel for what comps are like, and you get to hang out with a bunch of other trials riders.

I got to meet jj gregorowicz (spelling?) and christiano santos at my first comp.

Don't worry about not doing well, its beginner class, meaning you haven't been riding but for so long. People would laugh at you if you entered pro or expert and only had beginner skills. And not to sound mean, but they are right, everyone crowds around the pro and expert class. (however small of a crowd that trials brings)

[stewpend0us]

it'll still suck a little when you get your ass kicked by some little whippersnapper I would think...

[beastoftheeast]

if your seat pokes you up the ass when you try to bail (happened to me) people will laugh. at the only comp i have been to no one laughed at the beginers though?

[rush]

Read this thread. Check out the pics.

You should need only standard XC skills to compete in beginner, if you need any more than that the sections need to be reviewed.

http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/showthread.php?t=27459