Mountain Bike a Trials Bike?

[Adjuggler]

I'm looking to get into trials but the condition is I have near no money to spend. At the moment I have an older (3-5 years) mountain bike, that I'm hoping to use as a beginning trials bike, with wider platform pedals and a cheap large bash ring. The frame and fork I believe are 4130 Cro-mo, not really sure if that is good or not. :dunno: ... I've read that it would be good to move the seat all the way down or remove it, and what I'm trying to learn is if this bike will withstand very beginner trials from someone who is 130lbs. Thanks. (pics below [clickable to enlarge])

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2633.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2633.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2634.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2634.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2635.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2635.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2637.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2637.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2638.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2638.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2639.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2639.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2640.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2640.jpg)
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2641.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2641.jpg)

[J Trials 31]

Looks ok, might want to get smaller gearing, a riser bar, and some good V pads.

[xsv4crob]

Same answers this guy got less than a month ago.......

http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/showthread.php?t=37114

[Adjuggler]

Looks ok, might want to get smaller gearing, a riser bar, and some good V pads.

As for gearing I have it set at around 22/17 or something like that, any advise on changing that out (the sprockets, can't say I am the most bike savvy)? I also have tons of chain and that little "chain extender thing" maybe called a chain stay, is that removable to switch to a tighter chain.

[J Trials 31]

Not sure about changing sprockets. Depends if it's a one piece crankset or two piece. Your chainstay is the triangle at the end of the bike. Not a chain extender or whatever.

[Adjuggler]

Any comments on geometry? Bad... good... whatever...

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/th_IMG_2644.jpg (http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk231/ADJuggler/IMG_2644.jpg)
(click me)

[J Trials 31]

Not too bad. Just lower the seat all the way. I would also take that huge gear off of there and replace it with a 22 tooth chainring with a bashring over it unless you are going to be using it in that high of a gear.

[cwbashaw]

you will be fine with that bike to start out.

You will need to replace your cranks thought. Those cranks won;t let you take the big ring off.



Here's what I would do:

Get wider bars
Convert to singlespeed 22X17 or 18 gearing is fine
Get a wider and stickier back tire
Get a set of trials specific pads for the rear.
Get a singlespeed rear wheel with a wider rim and run an acs claws freewheel

After all that the bike will be fine to learn on, but you don't have to do it all at once.

[Adjuggler]

Get wider bars
Convert to singlespeed 22X17 or 18 gearing is fine
Get a wider and stickier back tire
Get a set of trials specific pads for the rear.
Get a singlespeed rear wheel with a wider rim and run an acs claws freewheel


Have any recommendations either from personal experience or just from good judgement which to do first?

[Blitzmo]

Have any recommendations either from personal experience or just from good judgement which to do first?

You can easily learn the basics on that bike, but once you begin to try rear wheel hopping you'll need to make sure that your brakes are in good condition, that means that you should be able to lock the brakes with one finger on the lever. The rest is not that important, yet.

[cwbashaw]

You can easily learn the basics on that bike, but once you begin to try rear wheel hopping you'll need to make sure that your brakes are in good condition, that means that you should be able to lock the brakes with one finger on the lever. The rest is not that important, yet.


I agree with Bitzmo the brakes are very important, the I would look for a wider bar and figure out what stem works best for you.

I would also at the very least shorten that chain. It won't cost you any money to do it, and the chainslap won't drive you nuts.

Most importantly get out and ride with us soon. We can offer much better advice during a ride + I can help you get your bike set up better for trials. :h5: