Why Do Trials Bikes Look Like This? | Jack Carthy Pro Bike Check

Some of the biggest mountain bike superstars are trials riders! Danny MacAskill, Fabio Wibmer, and Hans Rey, but their riding is very different to that of a modern-day UCI competition trials rider. In this video Doddy and Trials legend Martyn Ashton check out 10X UCI World Champion gold medalist Jack Carthy's specialist bike.

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[gmbntech]

How rad are modern trials bikes!? What can be achieved on them is truly mind blowing, making trials one of the most far reaching and impressive cornerstones of mountain biking!

[fourutubez]

I can listen to Martyn talk about trials for hours and listen to Doddy on tecg for just as long.

[bildoify]

It is absolutely great to listen to Martyn about trials. His passion and knowledge are evident. Thank you, sir.

[a.sonetwo]

My heart is bleedin' when i see Martyn. It's so freakin' unfair 😖🤦🏻‍♂️👍🏻
I admire this guy

[curtvaughan]

Nice vid. As an oldster (70, last I checked) I enjoyed some of the trips down memory lane Martin alluded to in regard to the prehistoric times of the 90's. I also like that you touched on the connections between current trials bikes and the old 20" bikes - the banana seat Sting Ray came to being when I was a teenager in the 60's, later evolving into standardization with the BMX bikes. It would be interesting to see your take on the history of the BMX bikes, and their standardization with both bike design and competitions among kids - and how that tradition connects to the evolution of mtb and the skills mtb requires (including specialized tangents like trials). Anyway, good show and good topic.

[etienneschramm]

When you spoke about "alternative" bikes to check, two in particular immediately jumped to mind: Cycle-ball and Artistic Cycling bikes. Both are extremely unusual, compared to any run-of-the-mill bike, they have one purpose and one purpose alone, and are optimized for their respective task.

[CuzzyWuzzy]

Amazing the progression from a mountain bike to a purpose built modern trials bike. I love it. Thanks for a great episode, love seeing how passionate Martyn is for trials.

[moz]

Simply the combination of Ashton talking while someone else is riding trials next to him is giving me unbelievable Tricks n Stunts nostalgia.

Chainspotting still being the OG.

[danielleblanc]

Such a great video... And Martyn's passion and understanding of trials riding is one if not the best vids I've seen. A master class in understanding how geometry, brake, body positioning on top of axles etc No wonder he's a legend

[jasonrollo]

I could listen to Martyn talk trials as long as I could watch Jack ride trials

[srac]

Best bike check I've seen! Thanks for the deep-dive into trials, Doddy and Martyn. The clips of Jack were amazing on their own, but connecting the riding to the bike geometry and riding position was really brilliant.

[herethere]

Mountain biking for me has always been about riding a bike over challenging terrain with confidence (and a big smile), whether on trails through the woods or around the urban jungle. I would love to see you highlight all of the nooks and crannies of alternative-terrain bikes, from bikes specific for doing big-air tricks to all of the different flavors of bmx where some amazing (alt)tech exists. Heck, I wouldn't mind snippets about bikes for oddball team sports or even those synchronized bike/dance choreography teams!! Love the fringes of where the bicycle takes us :)

[metaltrashcan]

Wow nice! Would be cool to see the GMBN team to do a trials ride/ lesson under the supervision of Martyn. Also, perhaps and idea to get Ali Clarkson, Duncan Shaw and Danny Macaskill on the channel for a few videos? Their riding and bikes are as impressive but a bit more relatable to normal mtb'ers.

[kel]

I recommend watching Ali Clarkson. He rides trials well and he builds some interesting bikes. He rides with Danny MacAskill.

[mazo]

The layout and scope of this episode are excellent! I learned a lot both from the narration and video. This is good work, thank you and Happy New Year!

[bicyclist]

I remember watching trials riders at a northern Michigan ski resort in the late 80's. I'm a huge fan of Hans Ray. I'm very grateful that he brought trials riding to the US. I used to have a purple GT mountain bike, and tried doing some trials on it. It's really amazing how the bikes have evolved over time. I've always wanted to be able to do what trials riders can do. Trials skills apply to the very twisty technical mountain bike trails in northern Michigan. Trails skills can apply to other cycling disciplines. I remember in the late 90's and 2000's we used to see ceramic coated rims. Thank you.

[manoz]

Wow, this is fascinating. Loved the transitions from the studio to the demonstration.

[talldarkrandom]

Jack is unbelievable. Martyn got it right. He makes it looks so easy but that's what greatness is. Making the impossible look possible. It still annoys me that he has won so many world championships but we don't celebrate him like we should.

[mithc]

Great video! Like many others have said, I really enjoy hearing Martyn talk so passionately about trials. What a legend

[greenfefo_fpv]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU! GMBN for spotlighting Trials. This beautiful sport needs more people 😄