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 Email: Davetrials@hotmail.com |
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Info Advice Competition Fun Stuff Other |
The Frame The basic things a trials frame needs to be is, small and strong things like geometry and weight follow.  The first and most important thing you need to consider when buying a frame is the size, (height from Bottom Bracket shell to where the seat clamp is) between 12"- 14" is what you should be looking for although some trials frames are just 11", this may seem very small to some but for trials you need good clearence so that you can get up things without getting the seat up your arse, also it allows you to bail off the bike if you get in a spot of trouble, where as if you have a big old frame say 18" your likely to have a good chance of not clearing the frame when you bail and you'll end up falling in a heap on the floor. Even if your over 6ft you don't want to get a frame any bigger than 14" as it will slow the learning curb of your trials skills down. The only exception to this is if your about 7ft! then look for a frame about 16". Next thing to consider is the geometry, this is all the measurements and angles of the frame, Although frames may have only slight differences in geometry it can make a huge difference in the way a bike rides. For trials it is usual to have a short toptube, short rear triangle, and a high Bottom Bracket this makes anything on the backwheel easy and makes the bike very stable. The shorter the frame the more twitchier the streering will be, this means it will be very accurate and will need adjusting to. Some prefer a short frame like the Pace frame, whislt others prefer a slightly longer frame like the Giant Hawyes Replica. Both have their pros and cons but it is best for you to have a go on difference frames with different geometrys to make your own mind up as it is a personal preferance.  Dual Slalom frames can be alright for trials though, they normally have lower bottom bracket heights, longer top tubes and longer seatstays which will not be as easy on the backwheel but as long as it is small and strong it will serve the same purpose. One of the best Dual Slalom frames for trials is the Azonic DS1. But at the end of the day when trials specific frames come in at as little as £210 for a DMR Sidekick your better off going all out trials, It' ll be easier, TRUST me! Material wise Aluminium is very common as it is fairly strong and light, but we warned aluminium frames will never be as strong as Cromo or steel which although heavier is almost bullet proof when made into a good frame (like a DMR Sidekick for eg) If you go for an aluminium frame make sure its is reasuringly bulky. Titanium is the ultimate material, as strong as steel yet lighter than aluminium, but a titanium frame will set you back about £1000! |
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