As Phil indicated, "Trails" bicycles are designed for slow speed technical maneuvers modeled after a similar competition with motorcycles, and (and as far as I know) have nothing to do with the Technical Trials. Both use very low gearing. I became aware of Trials motorcycles in the early 60's, but I don't recall being aware of Trials bicycles until well into the 70's, maybe late 70's, and that came about because of my interest and involvement in the BMX scene (my son actively raced BMX bikes in the late 70's and early 80's). All of this is grossly off-topic, of course.
However, I am now curious. If TA was making "Trials" chainrings in the early 70's or earlier, who were they making them for? Who was making trials bicycles at this time? Are there vintage lightweight trials frames out there somewhere, and if so, does anyone have more info, or better yet, pictures? Or better yet, where can I get one. Hilary??? I have a 26t TA "Trials" chainring that I might just have to build a bike around.
Wayne -- Wayne Bingham Velo Classique PO Box 2069 Purcellville, VA 20134 USA 540-338-8376 http://www.veloclassique.com
On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 3:36 PM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <
jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> So Wayne, any idea what "Trials" these 19T to 25T 50.4 BCD rings were made
> for? One naturally thinks of the Technical Trials, but despite the fact
> that they did involve some pretty difficult terrain, one would not think
> rings that tiny would have been used. Perhaps the Trials referred to are
> hillclimbs on very steep courses.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA