Beginner passing through

[chug1]

Hey everybody!
My name's Glen, I'm located in Katherine in the NT and I really want to get into trials riding. I've got a Norco Katmandu MTB and it's good fun but frustrating when I'm trying out new trials moves (and at this stage just about everything's new). I'm just finishing Yr 12 and will be in Canberra for the first two weeks of January 2010 for a maths summer school. Seeing as there are more people in Canberra than the entire NT, I thought I should take the opportunity to investigate trials-ing further while I'm there.

I'm taking a gap year next year and hoping to earn a bit of cash, so getting a dedicated trials bike is a possibility. But before I go to that length I would prefer to actually have a look at one, and hopefully have a ride, to see if this is actually something I really want to get into, or if I should just hack it on the MTB for a while longer. My only experience of trials bikes is looking on internet shops and youtube, so even 5 minutes riding would be really valuable.

I'm afraid the only day I will have available will likely be the Sunday in the middle of the two weeks (the 10th, fingers crossed), but some times in the afternoons are viable, pending further information.

So if anybody in Canberra has a trials bike and is able to have it near the ANU campus or Civic during that fortnight (or just about anywhere in Canberra on the Sunday) to let a beginner have a look and maybe a wee ride I would be really grateful. At my current skill level I won't be doing anything too wild, and of course in the extremely remote event of a breakage I will pay for it in full.

Thanks in advance as any help is really appreciated!

[chug1]

Oh and I'm also a photographer, working mainly on sports (http://whosed.net/Glen/MotoX_11-10-2009.htm), so if there's a group ride on I can be your photographer for free.

[alex markwart]

Hi Glen,

That shouldn't be a problem. I don't plan on taking holiday's during the January period so I will be available to show you my bike.

Just post something a little closer to the time so that I don't forget!

Kind regards,

Alex

[chug1]

Thanks very much Alex!
Will keep you posted.

Cheers
Glen

[jacky]

I won't be back until mid January, but if you pm me your number I'll pass it on to some other guys, cheers jack

[chug1]

Hi guys
I have to confess that I have weakened and bought a new M.A.D. Phase 1.3 from the UK. Woo hoo!
I managed to borrow some money and my main justification was that the mountain bike was starting to break under trials streeses, and the geometry+fork were really starting to annoy me
But the dedicated trials bike is awesome, even if it's one of the cheapest available. The front brake was pretty unusable, so I swapped it for the rear caliper on my mountain bike. That was a bit disappointing, for it to be an UPGRADE to move to a Hayes MX-4 - a brake that you can't buy anywhere but as OE on mountain bikes...
Nevertheless, I am very much enjoying the bike.

So Alex, while the original purpose for catching up is no longer there, I'm still keen to meet someone else interested in trials. If there are any in this town I haven't met them yet, and it would be cool to see someone else's bike and maybe technique. So if you're still up for it, so am I.

Thanks for replying Jack, pm is on its way.

For the record, I'll be free for most of Sunday 10th of January to go anywhere the Canberra buses will take me, and from 3:30 to 5:30 for most other days from the 4th to the 15th, on or near the ANU grounds.

Again, thanks to anybody for your help!
Glen

[alex markwart]

Sounds good Glen. I look forward to it!