No, seriously, take it.
Super-steep, super-low, super-short rear end. It's probably the twitchiest, loopy-outiest bike ever (non-Killorado division). I remain somewhat convinced that Fly's entire research library consists of a GT catalog from the late '80s that has the Ricochet Trials in it:
I mean, they even copied the bashguard! Perhaps the layback is next. Or the tall forks/low bars combo. Although that could make footjam whips exceedingly hazardous.
Then again, the trials connection isn't that outlandish a suggestion. Fly is from Spain, and so is Montesa (or Monty), one of the companies that's been doing trials bike for the longest. So maybe Flys will eventually evolve to look something like this:
You'll note the fat tires, the colored (and drilled-out) rims and the plastic pedals. Also the complete lack of seat (the next logical step). Throw a topload and a set of Slams on there, and you're good to go. Well, maybe bump up the gearing a bit unless you like pedalling really, really, really fast. And just think of the things you could do with disc brakes!I don't like where this is heading. Not one bit.
••••••••••••••
Is trials cooler than fixed-gear freestyling? Only you can decide.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONTAINS A LOT OF VIGNETTING. AND HANS REY.
32 comments:
http://www.vimeo.com/1831788
i like some of fly's stuff.
not this.
someone on bikeguide is selling a stricker with a euro bb and regular headtube for 70 bucks.
just sayin'...
I think we need to have a video of some fixed gear freestylin for comparison to the trials, to decide which is cooler.
If memory serves, bicycle trials was born in Spain to help train for motorcycle trials.
Draw your own conclusions.
I like fixies better, at least you don't watch the fixters hoping around for half an hour before they pull a move.
Compare the crap you posted to stuff like Macaframa (granted it isn't on the same budget... or is it?), and it's a no-brainer.
Here is a better trials video,one of a dude on a bike that actually looks like a grown man bike and not a bent kid's bike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEcwfnM40do
I chuckled audibly at the "no, seriously, take it."
Aim that seat a few degrees down from "surprise prostate massage," and that's any kid's race bike from 1988.
The flexy/twitchy fad didn't last more than a couple years back then, and it won't now, either. Very few riders are well-served by a bike like that.
We'll get over it. Again.
(Continue mocking it until then, of course.)
I've always liked trials riding, and I always will. I've also realized that bmx bikes are slowly becoming more like trials bikes, which I don't really like. I knew it was only a matter of time before you made a post like this, Russ.
Well done, sir.
Don't hate on trials.
And whoever said Fixie Freestyle is cooler than trials can fucking bite me. Dear lord, how can you even compare shit like balancing on one wheel ontop of a handrail and dropping 15 feet to flat to doing a whirly bird in an alleyway on Telegraph Hill?
Yeah, I never understood the hate on trials. At least they ride a bike designed for the stuff they're trying to do.
Nice bit of research there Russ...
Maybe it's because it's pink, or because fly is about to put it out, but I can't help but think that someone consider (researched) this a viable option - for the most part, Fly's been a least willing to push conventional wisdom here and there and come out smelling okay. Conversely, I'm still not surprised that Eastern, or some other poor excuse for a bike company didn't get to it sooner.
When 75 degree headtubes became the big thing, toptube lengths, strangely became longer - though not uniformly (21.1, 21.25, 21.10001101010...) But, in the end, it came down to "feelings." 21.1, with a 75 degree headtube angle will FEEL like something 21 inches, with a 74.5 angle. (or at least that's what I was told about a 100000000 times...)
I'm interested to know what a 21.345 toptubed/75 degree headtube angled/13.00000000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chainstayed frame "feels" like, because I need something to help me with what it "looks" like.
I don't know, this is strange: With BMX so style/image sensitive these days, why send something to market that looks this retarded...?
"What's good for BMX...?" ah, the good old days.
Watch this, and then tell me if you think trials is lame.
Besides, trails and bmx don't always differ that much. Other than that they still wear helmets...
To lessen the taste of this, Joe has a picture of Ruben doing 360's on the t-1 site - everything seems better now...
Jason - one day I'm going to figure out why you hate Eastern so much, really I am.
As far as trials go. In the 70s I was a huge fan of MC trials and I do like the trials influenced street riding style that a bunch of freeride mountain bikers practice. Still, I always thought that trials bikes didn't work well as, well, bicycles. That was always kind of the thing, when I was kid my BMX bike was my number 1 form of transportation. These days I can count on one hand the number of bikes that work as bikes, not tailwhip machines.
Sadly enough it seem like most kids ride at a similar speed these days.
The Tierra has a 13.25" back end? I would imagine that length is pretty unstable in the air if you are jumping anything other than curbs or maybe small spines. I can't imagine how much that bike would pitch in the air over a big box jump. 13.25" is shorter than the back end on my flatland bike!
why do people still do "bike checks" on riders? most are the set up and look with just different brand names.
Hans Rey?
No way!
"I don't know, this is strange: With BMX so style/image sensitive these days, why send something to market that looks this retarded...?"
When was BMX not style/ image sensitive and full of retarded products? I've never been able to figure out when it wasn't. BMX Action's first issue came out in 1975 and was full of advertisements selling you something, pictures of BMX "heros" and Kawasaki was pushing a full suspension BMX bike. I guess 1974 and earlier were those days that style and image meant nothing.
trials is just a mountainbike thats sucks more. is it mountainbike freestyle? i think scotty cranmer whould show those cats how it works. fuf-frontie? fixed gear freestyle is also gay. but it lead to flatland, which is slightly less uncool.
bikes have jobs, just like cars, but not one bike can do all the jobs. and some cars are just for style. some utility.
as for the tierra completes.... is that just to showcase of the parts they make? because i recall fly saying they wouldn't makes completes because quality was too low, so how is this a better option?
Bob Haro doing endos and rockwalks between motos at the BMX track led to flatland, not some French circus family doing wheelies on a track bike. Parallel evolution, and technically art cycling came first, but we're still better.
i was waiting for your trials post. I knew it was coming. haha.
At this point, why not just take it past this awkward looking frame design and go all out full on modified-bmx like a mod-trials frame? It wants to go there anyway. It's like a fat kid staring at a cookie, you know he wants it.
This post just reaffirms my decision to make my next frame an S&M Dirt Bike. Something long, stable and fast. But then again, it could be the old man in me saying that he just wants to feel younger by tearting around the neighborhood on a BMX bike. So then I guess the question to ask is, "Who's more delusional, me or the twitchy tailwhippers?" I dunno either.
what would happen if you replace a trails bike with a pogo stick, would those riders know the difference?
Wow, I always thought trials riding was the grossest looking shit ever, but then again so are abubaca's to front flips.. Cramner.
I can definitely see where things are going. I remember 10 years ago meeting trials dudes and looking at their bikes thinking "where the hells your seat at" and wholy chicago bars brah!?" I find myself thinking the same thing about bmx now, except bar width.
I will give it to trials riders though, as gross looking as it is, its pretty amazing. But one must consider, could the same be done on a pogo stick?
Pogo stick with pedals = unicycle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg644RVb3lY&eurl=http://www.volumebikes.com/blog-bc.html
And to be clear, I think that this is equally silly with other street forms. Step back from our over-investment in BMX and see if you can see that it is all just silly obstacle course stunting.
Word verification: crypto
Theres quite a bit to be said about trials riding. its pretty interesting. I saw a demo a few years ago (26" though :o) ) that stuff looks pretty damn tough!
does the gt have hydraulic v brakes?
I have to say, I can't get my head around trials biking. What's the draw here? Why hop on the ground 50 times before bunnyhopping onto the ledge? (Then hop 50 times once you're up there before hopping off?) I had to stop when dude started going up the stairs...one hop at a time. Looked about as difficult/fun as walking up them...really slowly. I have seen some footy of guys doing bad ass stuff on bigger trials bikes, like abubucas from one rail to the next across big gaps and down big/risky drops. Give me a high speed Stricker gap any day...but I guess it's all what you're into. However, doing pedal grinds on a unicycle will always be shameful.
I think this is the year when the seatpost makes it's return. Slammed will be replaced with the one fist rule.
haha, I HAD one of those gt ricochets. i should have kept the superlace wheels before i sold it. oh well.
anyway, i've been waiting for someone to make the new school bmx/observed trails... observation. fat tires, drilled rims, a vestigial seat, high and wide front end. same shit, except they have a much bigger rear cog.
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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