Curious about the bike?

Well if you are curious about the bike in the picture listen up. It is called a Zoo Python, that is like Chevy Camaro: Marque and Model.

Some background: Observed Trials is a judged competition where competitors use bicycles to navigate a course over VERY uneven ground, rocks etc. The object is not to finish in the least amount of time but to 'clean' all the obstacles on the course. To 'clean' something you must ride over it without touching down with feet or hands and staying in the confines of the marked course. You would not believe the stuff that the really good trials riders can ride over. Crazy.

So in trials there are different types of bikes: like in auto racing there are different types of cars. The bike in the picture is a 'Modified' trials bike. There are also 'Stock' trials bikes that look like mountain bikes. A modified looks like a bmx bike but there are some marked differences. Modified trials bikes have 19" wheels and relatively small frames compared to the stock class which use 26" wheels.

Trials has been around for years but it has gained popularity in European cities and much more recently in some US cities. Cities have all sorts of 'terrain' that provide a challenge for trials riding. Trials, like any sport, evolves and trials has evolved in the last twenty years. Hans Rey, who rides for GT Bicycles has done a lot to make the sport known but there are many riders that are 'pushing the envelope' as far as what is possible on a trials bike. BMX and BMX trick riding both have evolved and now there are some very talented riders that are using techniques and styles from both in urban trials. Check out the videos to see what I mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7z4HxpWfA Ryan Leech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjJkiF-xVNk Ben Travis