Beginner questions on bike setup

[billdapart]

So I have some very rudimentary questions.

I'm just now getting interested in riding trials. I've ridden bmx bikes since I was very small and I am now 28. I've raced, ridden dirt, street and most recently flatland. I have a flatland bike that is sitting around collecting dust and I'm wondering if I could re-hash it as a kind of hybrid mod.
Does anyone know of anyone successfully using one of these frames for trials?

Wondering if there is anywhere I can download pics of some good mod geometry to compare.

Also, I see there are some die-hard v-brake users.. (i love them personally) and I would be going to a disk in front, but wonder why nobody uses 990 brakes at all? Again I love how progressive, light and feathery a v-brake is.. but the 990's have serious clamping power.. I ask because the frame in question (a kgb psychoconnecta) has 990 mounts in back and although I'm not completely opposed to cutting up the rear end and welding in my own mounts (I do a lot of metal work at my job) I wonder if it might be ok to learn on a bike with the brakes I already have, or if it's just straight :down:

anyways.. enough :blah: any help?

[Rodmunch]

Your flatland frame won't work as a trials bike. I mean, there's nothing from stopping you, but that frame is heavy and has the wrong geometry. It will hold you back alot. An XC bike is a better choice if you can't get a real trials bike.

I'm not sure what a 990 brake is...is that a U-brake?

[billdapart]

yeah i'm talking about u-brakes..haha sorry. Wierd the first reply I get from this site is from somebody else from Santa Barbara.. don't know how to put my location up there but.. are you ready to flee the flames of Zaca.. haha

anyways.. the thing is.. my frame is lighter than an Adament A3.. and the only differences I see are the rear dropouts aren't quite as beefy (they could be modified and reinforced I think) and if I go that far I might as well chop off the brake mounts and the seat post.. but really.. it seems the more and more I think about it... this frame http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1122593/frame.jpg might turn out to make a great little trials frame to START at least.. like I said the thing that is worrying me most is the brakes issue.

[Rodmunch]

Wow, you're right, that is light. I take back my comment about weight. I am used to older heavier flatland bikes that my friends rode. I guess there have been some changes since then. Still, the geometry might be wrong for trials. Well, why not give it a try? If you have the parts lying around. But yeah, brakes are a big deal when it comes to trials. If you can make something that locks up, it could work.

You can edit your profile by clicking the User CP link on the top of the page.

Yeah, I'm leaving town this weekend, getting away from the fire for a couple days. That day it rained ash was terrible. Welcome to the website, you can find a bunch of info here if you search around.

-Rod

[tubender]

the top tube is about 6" too short to be current but guys from 20 years ago rode bikes like that and still would kill me today.. it's a heck of a start!!

[netto]

head angle is too many steeps, bottom bracket is most likely too low, and the wheelbase is probably too short.

i can jump on a bmx and trackstand all day. i can probably pedal kick and ride some easy natural lines too. that doesnt make it work as a trials bike.

the frame is pretty light, but the bike will feel heavy because of the wrong geometry

[dubtrialsin]

just look in the want ads or on pink bike for a cheap bike