Bicycle trial (translated from English as “attempt”) is a sport based on overcoming various obstacles, natural and artificial, on a bicycle. The main rule is not to touch the track with anything other than a bicycle. This discipline is so fascinating that it won worldwide recognition before it even appeared. In addition to a special bicycle, athletes demonstrate excellent physical fitness: endurance, strength, agility, and a sense of balance.
Today, there are 2 main areas of this discipline:
Sports.
Tricky.
Sports is the passage of the route with natural or specially equipped obstacles. The entire route is divided into separate sections (up to 10), each of which the rider must pass strictly in the allotted time, while gaining the minimum number of penalty points. Penalties are awarded for touching the track with hands, feet and anything other than a bicycle. An athlete who receives 5 penalty points is subject to disqualification. Removed from the competition and the one who has exceeded the established time limit.
The European championships continue to be the most difficult in the world. There, trails for trials are laid along mountain rivers, waterfalls, where on wet stones the probability of touching or falling increases significantly. Yes, and land routes are replete with mind-blowing obstacles, the passage of which requires virtuoso technique.
Tryukova involves a demonstration by riders of a variety of acrobatic stunts. It is not the speed that is important here, but the complexity and technique of execution. It sometimes seems to the spectators watching the competitions that the movements of athletes contradict all physical laws. But behind this are complex, hard work, inevitable falls and injuries. That is the price of professionalism.
Within the sports trial, several separate varieties can be distinguished:
Street trial – passing a track with obstacles in the form of street infrastructure: steps, curbs, benches, railings, etc. A variant is possible when the route is laid along the roofs of houses.
A cross-country trial with the passage of landscape obstacles, as well as various stones, piled logs, etc.
Trial on an artificial track, which includes several sections with various obstacles: car tires, concrete blocks, etc. It is necessary to overcome it in a minimum of time. The tracks are also equipped for a stunt trial, giving athletes the opportunity to show all their skills.
Trial bikes
In this discipline, 2 types of bikes are distinguished, designed taking into account all the existing specifics:
Mod – light units (up to 12 kg), which do not have a seat. The frame is made of molybdenum and equipped with additional reinforcement. The pedals are studded and the brakes are rim. These bikes have only one speed. Wheels are usually 20-26 inches in diameter.
Stock – heavy and massive bicycles with wheels with a diameter of 26 inches. A large mass improves balance, so it is more convenient to show different tricks and jumps on Stock bikes. But on drifts, its handling is worse than that of the Mod.
However, those and other bicycles have a similar design due to the characteristics of the ride. So, the bike trial prefers molybdenum frames, since aluminum cannot withstand such high loads. It is recommended to choose the size of bicycles for the trial 2 sizes smaller, because the shorter the frame, the better – it hinders movement less and allows you to properly distribute the weight of the athlete’s body.