by Morley Wilkins
It was 4:35 Saturday afternoon. A rider was draped over the handle bars while the sweat dripped from his helmet. Staring at the rock face his conscious stressed over the details. “Do I give it one more attempt or do I give the terrain the upper hand and fold in defeat?” Another rider yells from the bottom. “Come on roll it out, you can clean it!”
Most people who ever touch a bike probably won’t understand what’s going on here, but that really doesn’t matter. Moments like this in mountain biking are for those who really ride. It’s not about winning or having the fastest time. This is a chess match against the terrain in a world that presents new lines, variables, and endless opportunities to ride anything and everything. For those who take that second glance, turn around, and attempt to clean some terrain without putting their foot down: you’re a rider… a pure Trials rider.
Some bicycle enthusiasts have been riding Trials for over 30 years now, embracing the sport and its Spanish motorcycle roots from the mid 70’s. Throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s the sport’s growth was facilitated through mountain biking as Rocky Mountain, Yeti, Ibis, Haro, Kuwahara, and GT Bicycles began producing dedicated Trials bikes. For these companies Trials was going to be the next big trend following BMX. So what happen to trials? Where did it go?
In retrospect, the sport was an integral part of Mountain Biking when stage races where the norm, and Mountain Biking legends John Tolmac, Ned Overend, and Greg Herbold used Trials to gain points and capture the overall title. As world class European riders made headway on North American soil, their high level of riding inadvertently created new subcultures in cycling, forking the sport of mountain biking and its participants.
Leading this revolution was Hans “No Way” Rey. He took his passion for riding and unknowingly spawned the freeride revolution. Taking a stock mountain bike Hans added the stylistic elements of BMX, his smooth bike handling skills with the philosophical approach to Trials, in his attempt to ride any terrain he could fathom. Snow, waterfalls, walls, fallen trees, rocky cliffs - Hans rode it all, and cleaned it with style.
Crankworx, Hans, & Trials Competitions
Crankworx at Whistler is a place where cycling enthusiasts can indulge in all the finest disciplines of Mountain Biking, and witness world class riders all in one location. This is the premiere Mountain Biking spectacle in the world, featuring the most gnarly Trials competition in North America.
The inaugural Trialsworx (Trials competition at Crankworx) was the single most significant moment in Trials history that I have witnessed. Mike Baia, who’s been organizing the CPTA trials competitions for years up in Canada, laid out various obstacles wrapping around Whistler Village, creating a spectacle of creative lines to showcase the competition side of Trials prior to the slope style mountain bike competition.
Trialsworx was also the marquee event where Hans finally came out of retirement to enter his first competition since 1998. Hans had nothing to prove, but the pre-competition tension was bleeding through his riding as he struggled through his first section. As he became acquainted with other athletes his nerves settled down, and through his nonchalant persona he drew more spectators towards the event.
I looked over to Leech and asked “Hey did you see Hans ride today?” Wide eyed with a subtle grin on his face Ryan looked back and said, “Ya isn’t it great!” Even Brian Lopes took the afternoon off to watch the competition, and I even caught him congratulating a few riders as they cleaned their section. Finishing the competition in second place, Hans wasn’t there to win. He was passing the torch in the most subtle way, as he put over new riders on seat-less Trials bikes from a different generation. After the competition he was chatting with local riders, testing their new bikes, and congratulating John Webster on his winning performance.
After the event Hans was the first to admit, “This event wasn’t about the result … it was about the memories and the respect I [had] gotten from fellow riders and spectators. Many of these competitors had heard of me or seen [me] in videos, but never had a chance to see me ride or ride with me. Props go out to the organizers and judges and the Elite riders who really stepped it up.”
The Sunday morning after Trialsworx a few old school BC locals were seeking shade while nursing heavy hangovers. For these riders Trials has become a social event - an old timers beer league of sorts. Relaxed on the patio in a confused state Brett McCullough yelled, “Hey, isn’t that Hans?” As Hans trudged past the Garibaldi Lift he looked up as a loud “Hans-eee,” echoed across the village from the old schoolers relaxing on the patio. He strolled on over and humbly asked them what’s going on. From there Hans broke into a loose conversation while sharing his insight and passion towards the sport.
Using the time to share his perspective on Trials these days, Hans presented new concepts and informed us about creating an event with longer rolling, natural mototrials-style sections. You could see the sadness in his eyes as he presented his take on the once distinct 26” (stock mountain bike) Trials style that has disappeared from the competition scene. As the variance narrowed between the two classes, Hans mentioned how the stock scene has basically assimilated with 20” Trials bikes losing its smooth rolling style. However, he was quick to emphasize all the advancements in technology and how far the sport had progressed in Europe over the last five years.
With a little joshing towards his European friends Hans chimed in, “[I] didn’t think it would last that long… Those skin suits. It was just a joke, and now they are taking it seriously those guys, and they’re still wearing them.”
As the sport slowly removed its Lycra clad barriers, its progression came through the likes of Kenny Belaey, Vincent Hermance, Dani Comas and Benito Ross. These riders were pushing a new style that made them the best comp riders in the world to this day. They laid the foundation for longer, lower, seatless bike frames, shorter chainstays, and wider rims that took the sport to new heights. Dominating both UCI and BIU world rounds, these professionals have inspired a new generation of riders on bikes that have eased the learning curve for new participants entering the sport.
The true test in this sport is when the rider competes against a Trials section. Every move they make determines the reaction they must perform in order to clean the section. When riding through a section these athletes must transcend reality and enter a zone where they become one with their bicycle. Competitions aren’t solely based on one’s technical ability when competing at an Elite level, it’s psychological warfare. Here they must find the perfect balance between technical ability and confidence. For anyone that isn’t primed for competition, the stress will tear away their riding ability leaving a dishevelled rider unable to ride. For these world class riders they need imagination, expertise, and mental strength.
After hearing a few stories from Hans you can’t help but recognize the adventure in riding, no matter what part of the world you’re in. As you grow and progress as a rider you’re never sure what terrain you’re going to ride, or what section you’ll clean next. Beneath it all Hans has maintained a deep faith in the sports’ progression, and inspired the likes of Ryan Leech and Jeff Lenosky.
“[I’m] amazed when I watch trials these days. The combination of new bike designs and physical ability allows riders to do things I never would have imagined would be possible.” - Jeff Lenosky.
Trialsinoir
In recent years the sport of Trials has become a hotbed of innovative riding styles, as unknown riders all over the world are taking new and radical approaches to the sport. Jeff and Ryan were two individuals who branched off on a Revolution, taking trials on a trip to Contact the dark side.
Cinematographer Reed Merchant’s first two Trials films, Revolution and Evolve, created a subtle push behind the North American Trials scene. However, it was his third and final movie Contact that became one of the most seminal videos in mountain biking history. Throughout the film North American and UK riders alike laid down the foundation that lead to the underground Trials movement known as Trialsinoir, the dark side of Trialsin.
This fork of Trials was initially criticized by various riders for its heavy BMX influence. It would take nearly 5 years before this style would mature into its own niche inside the sport. For these individuals, exploring the creative side of riding is a way to escape modern day life as a whole, and push their riding beyond the section. This style of Trials was about self-satisfaction and not becoming trapped inside a small section.
Some people don’t have the time or passion to train for competitions. For these riders the combined creativity of BMX and precision of Trials opens up a world of opportunity. Creative riding is a fundamental expression of their art form. Compared to the linear aspect of competitive Trials, this fork in the sport has no boundaries, no sections, and no limitations. The only limitation here is the riders mind.
Fuelling off its roots in Trials, this dark and creative side of the sport prays on any terrain from natural obstacles found in the forest, to the concrete canvas. It’s in this side of the sport dreams are made and legends are broken. There is no winning here, nothing to brag about, and nothing to prove. The only satisfaction is found in cleaning the line, or dreaming up something new. To sum things up Ryan Leech said it best: “You’re basically just letting the riding come through you”.
Localism
A note’s posted on the netweb, “Epic ride. Saturday, meet at City Hall at 10:30 AM”. The one thing that brings all these Trials styles together is an epic group ride. It’s on these rides where locals search for new spots to ride, share new ideas, and push their riding outside the conventional realm. This isn’t a training session, but a time to relax and meet new friends. The sessions last six to eight hours and typically end on the patio with a pint of beer to reflect the day gone by.
After 15 years riding Trials I’ve realized one’s riding crusade and passion towards the sport becomes firmly entrenched in a search for that perfect line. So many riders come and go in this sport, it’s important to create a resurgence of public awareness. Every rider has different objectives with their riding, but unified under the common drive to clean any terrain Trials riders will always find new places to session.
Staring at the rock face again the once stressed rider fell to the persuasion of his supportive friends. Leveraging his weight forward over the bars he stalled in an endo peering down the steep rock face. Rolling out the rock with technical precision the rider bolts towards a picnic table, jumps on, and ends his line with a stylish nosepic to crankflip dismount. His friends sigh, applaud, and move on in search of new terrain.
-MB
