Check out the Frequently Asked Questions on 20" vs. 26" bikes
not really the best time to put a foot on the ground
There are two main ruling organizations for trials riding, each one with its own set of rules: The UCI rules... and the BIU rules (bashguard and pedal support allowed). The more balance, the easier it is to ride along an edge in one straight line without wobbling the bars. When riding trials, its not necessary to shift gears, and you can set the gear ratio to a nearly 1:1 (from crank to cassette, in fact between 1.1 and 1.2 is quite good). Typically, the front ring has 22 or 20 teeth (granny ring in normal mountain bikes), and the rear sprocket 19 to 17 teeth (the 6th or 7th easiest speed on a 9 speeds cassette). Good brakes are a must, with large bumpy tyres (2.25" or more on the rear) if you want to have a good grip on any surface. Some trials specific cranks have as little as 16 teeth on the chain ring.
Some cool ways to improve your balance.
Use the trackstand to look around, and concentrate for your next move.
If you are loosing balance or you are in trouble, bail out safely rather than crash.
The first thing you want to know is how to lift the front wheel for a wheelie.
You 'll get on the front
wheel by shifting your weight above the handlebars, for smooth repositionning of the rear wheel.
Make your first hops on the back wheel.
Then you can try a few hops on the front wheel too.
Use a combination of the front wheel and back wheel steps
to turn the bike around and get ready for your next move.
Push the technique to turn 180° in one slick move.
You can hop sideways in small
bounces, either to stay balanced, reposition the bike, or climb up some steps.
The wheelie is an absolute
classic for kids. Learn them up a very smooth slope, by adjusting the pedal pressure.
Try out the wheel-swap, usually front-to-backwheel, and finish off your moves in style. Useful in some advanced techniques.
Check out the basic setup of most biketrial competitions, and enter one to get an idea of what the real thing is.
Pin down your location on the World Map of Trialists and find out where the others are.
A good exercise is to follow some lines
Kenny on a rail.
Good brakes a must