complete and total novice...spontaneous CL buy...what have i done?

[dookie1]

So, hello. Avid road / XC rider here...20+ years, former cat2 road / expert XC racer. I've always been curious about trials, but have only fooled around on the XC bike a bit. But today I saw this in the local CL and jumped...

26" Hooger-Booger 'Patrol' trials bike (early 90s?), for a whopping $75. Seems fairly well made...nice(ish) welds, decent tubing, gussets galore, integrated bash guard, light enough. Features: Tange MTB cromo e-stay frame/fork (paint knackered, some surface rust), XC Pro drivetrain, American Classic hubs w/Sun CR20 rims (look new!), Maggie HS11 brakes (rock solid).

A bit beat up, but quality bits and perfectly functional as is. I understand HB was a European sub-brand of Scott for a while, more known for snowboards than bikes.

So...what now? Needs a BB and maybe a crank. Is this a 'real' trials bike (looks like XC to me, except for the bash guard)? Do they usually have gears? Can I start calling myself 'No Way'?

http://middlepath.gotdns.com/bikes/booger.jpg

[rush]

Thats either a cross country bike with one or two trialsish adjustments, or a very very very old prototype trials bike.

Either way, the best idea is not to think you will be able to pogo around on something, ceretianly not on an older bike like this.

It will be fine for learning how to trackstand and do basic things like rolling over logs and rocks.

The best thing you can do? Ride the parts til they pretty much break, and have a whole shitload of fun.

[Cryo-Cube]

You can start riding trials with any bike.
You said you ride xc, i would have used that bike for starting out since the one you posted here has probably as much to do with modern trials bikes as your XC bike.:hsugh:

Take a look at some threads in the bike trial media section of this site. Bikes have changed alot :momaru:

this is a modern trials bike
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4720/coustsidelt2.jpg

[rush]

ps. welcome to trials, and to the site. :wavey:

[stocktrials]

that bike looks to be from the 80s/90s days of trialsin.. when foam helmets, bunny ears, and yeah probably the "No Way" era. hey, if they could do it, you can.

Just don't expect to be able to perform some of the more "modern" moves though...