Prototype GT Trials Bike First Ride - Too Much To Handle?

[@ashleytombs]

Wow this video just shows how talented and skilled modern-day comp trials riders are but Fairplay to Ali for even attempting some of these moves

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Yeah modern comp guys aren’t human!

[@jasonseiverling5354]

Love ya Ali. I’m 43 and know the skills of trials is the path to great control of a bike. Things are difficult, but you push on. Thank you so much.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Well said!

[@martinekliw]

Welcome to the over 40 club 😜

[@billlandon2160]

Ali "The Cat" Clarkson

[@jeffhayes1855]

It’s not a lose - its progress 💪

[@pympin87]

with the higher bb, you have to jump the same amount, but the wheel is lower than you're used to in comparison to your feet

[@gibbonRS]

This is exactly it Also your eyes will be those couple of inches higher than where you're used to which completely messes up how high you 'think' you need to jump. It takes a lot of time on a comp bike to adjust. Then I ride my MTB and I forget it all again 😅

[@goncarrasco]

What a gorgeous bike to ride! Fantastic to see you ride it!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks!

[@gg4760-k5n]

Good effort man ! Very exciting to see you somewhat get along with a high BB hopefully you can get used to it and enjoy the benefit during comps.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you, I’d certainly like to try and get used to it as it will open up a lot of cool lines but it’s gonna take some work!

[@StephenGinman]

I really love how you elaborate on all the technicalities of the tricks that you do. I really want to learn that static hook and your insights help me at least picture it out inside my head. No other trials youtuber ever go this deep in explaining these stuff. I really hope to learn that hook some day soon. Thank you so much and keep it coming. huge respect!

[@todd_on_bikes]

Good to see Ali. You expressed a lot of my same feelings on comp bikes. I hardly touch mine because I get 10,000% more joy from my Hex and Arcade. The extra back tire control just isn’t worth it to me.

[@tees_trials]

Picked some tough lines there grandmaster! 🫡 Would be interesting to see a direct comparison tackling the same lines with a more traditional style bike 🤔

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Great idea! I have a more retro comp bike like I used to ride I could bring along, see what’s easier on what bike 👍🏻

[@jeffhayes1855]

@@Ali_ClarksonI’ve been getting old trials comp videos in my feed. those riders on the mtb style trials bikes with suspension forks and derailleurs could ride better than I’ll ever hope to.

[@sapinva]

A head to head with the Hex would be cool. I'm curious to try out a comp bike. Think the lower front end would give me the most trouble.

[@Allthatglittersaintgold]

That up to front you were trying gave me anxiety! Sure you’ll get it if you come back to it after a some more time on a long bike. Great video as always

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I need to get more springy!

[@Emz_Jhaye]

That GT, what a beauty! 😍 Yes! New riding video! 😺🤙🚴

[@tonymighalls9667]

I can’t do hooks so I might be talking crap but to me if the bars are rolled further forward you can get your body weight further over the edge/front wheel, might give more room or a better platform to perform the move. Makes sense in my head but I could be completely wrong I’m not very good. 👍🏻

[@Ali_Clarkson]

You’re spot on! It’s a double edged sword though…the rolled bars make the hook part easier but it makes picking up the front end (from both wheels) harder…it also amplifies the “folding” sensation which I was struggling with

[@tonymighalls9667]

@@Ali_Clarkson I briefly had a 20 inch and I hated it, super long stem did feel horribly bendy in the middle. Didn’t feel like a bike and I didn’t feel like I could ride it anywhere so I didn’t have it long.

[@dansacco1964]

Love the analytical content on a variety of bikes! Static hooks are a bucket list item for me. The top comp riders have normalized this superhuman move.

[@qualm43]

now THIS is the Ali video I like to see. Trying stuff over & over again to completion (or not)

[@jamieneal8504]

Fair play in the wind and bit of rain. Have to try the static hook with the bars rolled forwards, should be easier as your weight should be more over the front

[@simonbrooke4065]

6:26 Oh! Nicely done, sir!

[@talldarkrandom3170]

I'm the same with new geo. My bars tend to point to one side on pre load and landing. I switched bars and that helped me

[@Sunspot-19]

As always, Ali! Spectacular!!

[@chrisrice4006]

Love the video. How about some geometry numbers? Chainstay length? Head tube angle? Wheel base? Bottom bracket looks above axle, how much please? Very interesting bike.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Loads more details in the bike build video I did but the geo is: 1080wb 380 chainstays ~71.5 or 72 head angle +70 bb height

[@chrisrice4006]

@@Ali_Clarkson WOW! That bb is up there! I was thinking maybe 50 tops. Thanks for the information

[@crunchysteve]

So I dunno much about trials riding, but I do know about visualisation. If you watch people you admire doing a thing you'd like to learn, and pull apart the whole thing, stage by stage, then visualise yourself doing that thing for a few weeks. See the move take shape, like the athlete you're trying to emulate, but see yourself doing it - a mental cgi effect if you will - but you're doing their move in your visualisation of it, each stage of the move, is them doing it, but looking like you. That will teach the theory to your muscles. Meanwhile break down each stage of the move into moves you know and build them up in your training. Once it seems like you understand it, try it, but don't analyse the try until after the try. Don't think about it, just see it happen as you approach and move into it. This is how I learn difficult fingerings for guitar and bass. I recently tried this for making a painting - visualising the landscape, my tools and techniques. I do a lot of industrial design in CAD software for 3D printing but I've never done graphic arts. The painting was pretty damned good for a first ever effort. An artist friend gave me some really amazing praise, a friend who tells me when I'm not doing the best I can. Visualisation teaches muscle memory. It really works. Practice is for refining the thing afteryou pull off the first rough one.

[@steveo7767]

GT back in the day, @Hansnowayrey

[@tamaspolgar3430]

Kudos for trying out uncomfortable setups, it was a great watch! Strange enough, i had around 20 trials bike and for me the higher the bb, the better the sidehop! I m riding a +95 bike for 6 years now :)) low and long stem/bar setup took me a month or two to get used to, but loving it! Takes away the smooth frenchies and manuals tho 😀

[@KevinSmithStrikeman]

I strugled also with riding high bb bikes after riding low ones for so long . with the high bb comp bikes its all about that front wheel and placing it on top first and sort of pushing it hard on top and leaning forward so your jumping straight up vertically and then forward which is very different to yanking hard up from a squat position on a low bb bike.

[@-TheRealChris]

18:39 'up to face' I reckon I've done one of them..

[@marcmasnou1927]

Hey Ali! Let me try to help you with the hooks. I don't know if you are already doing it but, the comp trials hook movement is made without the rear brake. Once you've jumped up, then of course hit the rear brake but, for doing the jump, it's better to just let go the rear brake to make the bike "flex" and act as a spring. At the beggining might seem taht it's harder to control, but once you grt used to it, you will never do it differently again!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Yeah that’s what I’m doing (think I mentioned it in the video but I may have cut that clip I can’t remember)

[@desmation]

Haha I understand your frustration. I had to relearn everything with high bb bikes.

[@deslomator]

I really liked your commentary in this video, very interesting

[@BTB_Works]

Hell yea. Ali C on front and back maguras.

[@YanDoroshenko]

Cool bike. Funny how much difference the bike can make.

[@winterwatson6437]

a few years back i got some platform boots for parties, and at first i found myself not lifting my feet high enough for steps. when i’d approach a step my body was already that little bit higher and i think that made my brain think that i didn’t have to lift my feet as high as i really did i wonder if this is similar to what you experience with higher bb’s: if most of your experience is with your body closer to the ground, then maybe the little bit of extra bb height tricks your brain into thinking obstacles are just that little bit smaller than they truly are. as someone who has a lot of time on a bike, you have a ton of muscle memory that ordinarily helps you but can cause problems when contexts change, like how pro strikers get tossed a new ball at the world cup and sky their shots

[@rabbitingon2503]

You can see why the pros have their bars horizontal / upside down, especially when it comes to hooks! It brings the bars away from the chest and puts more weight over the front end. I know you don’t like it Ali, but in these instances you should try it, a few comparison tests would be good content, “pros and cons of silly bar angles” 😂

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I’d love to get used to it, the top guys make it look so fun!

[@dimensionsofearth]

Moves 600 lb rock. This bike seems so extreme, it is badass but I can't imagine the ultra high bb. Going from a minus 30 mtb frame to a plus 20 Hex made a huge difference and made trials stuff much nicer, not sure how going another 50 would be . I think the bar roll is what looks the most awkward to me though. Stoked to see you riding it pretty damn well though!

[@ExplosiveNotes]

21:26 You can do that and don't call me Shirley

[@CallMeNighthawk_]

Anyone remember what the old trails brand was with the TV logo? Pache, lapache or something? A guy called Eddie (if my memory isn't failing me) used to rider for them - around the time of Ashton and Hawes.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Pashley and Eddie Tongue 🤘🏻

[@CallMeNighthawk_]

@@Ali_Clarkson That's the one! Thanks mate.

[@johnoregan4221]

Some great non-swearing in this video! Impressive as always.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks to the power of editing

[@eartharrow6772]

Really good effort on the GT I'd rather see you doing it on the hex or both as a comparison

[@skizzarz]

2 thumbs up for candid hand in puddle

[@GrigoryRechistov]

That's quite an lecture in bicycle geometry!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Just call me professor Clarkson 😂

[@azonicds]

Good one, great effort 👌

[@diederikvanbrabant1249]

This bike is an instant classic. Such a shame the frame was never commercially available. Didn't Kenny ride this bike with a more moderate handlebar setup? I believe he used an 150/160mm Echo stem and a Trialtech SL handlebar (95mm rise). Seems less forward-leaning than your setup. Do you use a higher handlebar to adjust for your larger bodysize?

[@DIMON199O]

Классное видео, звук у тормозов просто ШИКАРНЫЙ 🤩👍👍👍

[@SeraphXS]

it's just a case of practise dude, I felt the same jumping on my 2005 Cannondale after riding a much more modern bike, it felt really weird :D

[@ChristianPareATLAS]

Yes takes few weeks to get used to a bike with complete different geometry

[@ADI121195]

Always takes a while to get hang of diff bikes especially with such diff geo to what your used to

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Indeed!

[@indrekpart277]

Ouch dude. We have all as trials riders had those days and seems you were having it.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

It was a mixed day, I ride the high bb better than I expected but I lack the spring needed for the bigger jumps

[@indrekpart277]

Dude why not try and go all the way with the bars like charlie and jack? Crewkers high rise bars(the ones with neutral wrist angle). It seems to work wonders for comp style bike.

[@owenmorong3150]

Hey Ali (and all other riders) I'm new to trials stuff and am wondering what tire pressure more experienced people are running? Is it the same front and rear etc? Thanks!

[@jwmartnet]

Being new to trials you don't want to necessarily run the same pressure as very experienced riders. Lower pressure will be a bit more forgiving. But it is also terrain dependent. Higher pressure on dry streets, lower pressure on wet natural terrain would be a loose guide. Give it time, try different pressures, and find what works for you.

[@owenmorong3150]

@@jwmartnet 👍👍

[@HEREONOUTBAILEY]

What’s the rear brake? A v-brake?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

It’s a hydraulic rim brake, check out the build video I link at the start and end of the video for more info

[@HEREONOUTBAILEY]

@@Ali_Clarkson Thanks, Ali. Has your preference changed since famously riding a v-brake?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

@@HEREONOUTBAILEY nah, admittedly I do love the bite and looks of a hydro but the lighter lever action and increased hold power of a v brake really helps reduce my arm pump so I always did better at comps with v brakes

[@HEREONOUTBAILEY]

@@Ali_Clarkson Completely makes sense. I’m with you on the v-brake debate. Keep up the great videos, Ali - Always a joy to watch 👌🏼

[@TailSpinRCSpain]

Places you can't even walk, LOL.

[@aaron.biketrials]

Hooks are the one move I’ve never liked the feeling of.

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

you poor bugga Ali, I get the feeling that if that bike wasn't rare and lovely looking it might have been thrown in a bush 😅

[@Aksel.BR44]

Ali dont say “ i propely can’t do that” becouse Then its almost 100% that you fail. Insted try to motivere yourself a little more, then you Will propely get the hard things. Becouse you are an insane ridser! Its just your mindset.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Haha I like to see it more as under promising and then if I do land it then I’ve over delivered 😂

[@TheRolls08]

tip your bars forward mate, come on!

[@TheRolls08]

hook would go easier!

[@ДмитрийМельник-ф3т]

storor)

[@crunchysteve]

Yeah, you're thinking too much just before you commit. Just see the move.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

You have to understand that I’ve been doing this stuff for nearly 30 years, the vision isn’t the issue, the complete change of muscle memory by riding a bike that doesn’t react to how I’m used to is. It’s like being a good guitarist and having the vision but then using a guitar with a neck twice as wide and twice as long, nothing is where you think it is and any vision you have goes out of the window. I’m not having a dig though, you definitely need vision to do well and that’s sound advice but I don’t think it fixes every situation

[@Kohlwheelz]

What a nice content Ali. But I prefer to see you on the street bike!😅😉🤌🏼

[@crunchysteve]

So I dunno much about trials riding, but I do know about visualisation. If you watch people you admire doing a thing you'd like to learn, and pull apart the whole thing, stage by stage, then visualise yourself doing that thing for a few weeks. See the move take shape, like the athlete you're trying to emulate, but see yourself doing it - a mental cgi effect if you will - but you're doing their move in your visualisation of it, each stage of the move, is them doing it, but looking like you. That will teach the theory to your muscles. Meanwhile break down each stage of the move into moves you know and build them up in your training. Once it seems like you understand it, try it, but don't analyse the try until after the try. Don't think about it, just see it happen as you approach and move into it. This is how I learn difficult fingerings for guitar and bass. I recently tried this for making a painting - visualising the landscape, my tools and techniques. I do a lot of industrial design in CAD software for 3D printing but I've never done graphic arts. The painting was pretty damned good for a first ever effort. An artist friend gave me some really amazing praise, a friend who tells me when I'm not doing the best I can. Visualisation teaches muscle memory. It really works. Practice is for refining the thing afteryou pull off the first rough one.