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Ben Travis :

"Ride for yourself, and create your own style."

Ben Travis is one of this rider who is knew for his vid's. But if you have already seen some of his vid's, you have maby pointed out that there is something more compared with other vid's : the fact that he doesn't take his ride seriously. So, for my newest interview, I decided to chose him. And to say plainly, I am not disappointed !

- Hi Ben, how old are you ?
23

- For how long have been riding Trials?
For 10 years.

- How did you discover Trials riding ?
My mate fell off his bike and we started pulling wheelies and it evolved from there !!! After watching tricks and stunts we just started hopping about, and 10 years later, i am still here.

- How many times do you train per week ?
I ride my bike 2 or 3 times a week and generally a really long ride on a weekend.

- Do you prefer to ride natural or street ?
I like a good mixture of both, i have been riding alot of natural this year. But the weather in scotland is usually really bad so makes alot of the natural too slippy to ride.

- Who are the pilots who impress you and why ?
I really like Stan Shaw and Ali C, they are awesome guys and riders. For the full professionals there is no rider better in my eyes then Giacomo Coustellier. They are all so smooth and powerful. Definately my kind of riders. In the street riding scene, Danny Macaskill is just the best ridder on the circuit. Everytime i watch him ride he makes my jaw drop.

- What are your personal records (transfers, steps, sidehops ...) ?
Hmmm difficult to answer as i dont really measure anything. I just like to ride. My sidehop record is 135cm (54inches), my tap to back wheel record is 140cm (56inches) and this is all i know. I am totally against measuring anything though, i feel you should just ride to the best of your own ability. If it looks big, it generally is big :)

- That's a good way of thinking !
Cheeers. :) Much better to ride your bike to have fun.

- What was your scariest or biggest crash/bail out?
In one of my videos, i do a large drop gap, over a stepped wall. My back brake slipped out and i fell onto my back. That hurt alot, but i got back up and tried again, and did the same again. I fall off ALL the time. So i have had many falls, and many bails. But its best to get back up and try again if possible.

- Have you already rode in france ?
Unfortunately no... I think next year i plan on riding somewhere in france. However, i think many people forget that the UK has so many amazing trials spots. LIving in the North of scotland is pretty expensive to travel to france. So maybe next year ill see you in buthiers some time :)

- If you can comming for Koxx Days, it will be very cool ! It's a really good constest !
I would like to come for Koxx Days. I will see. I like smaller group rides so you do not have a cue to ride objects :). Ill be in touch if im coming over tho... You can be my guide. :)

- What was the best terrain you ever rode on in trials ?
The best terrain i have ridden is Either Shipley Glen or Addingham Moorside in the UK. These two places allowed run-ups at objects like on street, but difficult angles of natural riding. I like to ride street anywhere. I love a challenge !

- Do you practice trials in competitions ?
I have only entered a handful of competitions, however i hope to be doing the british nationals either this year or next. I have been helping with running competitions in scotland also. I felt i needed to give something to the up and coming riders in scotland.

- Have you got any web site?
I do not have a website. However a website - Scottish Muckers will be coming online soon. Which is a website featuring all the riders in scotlands (mainly just their videos) but i will appear on that. As i make the videos and star in some of them.

- Ok, on Youtube i have ever seen videos of Scottish Muckers riders !
You have seen them? Or you have not seen them?

- I have seen them ;)
Ah good :) They are the best group of riders to ride with. We have so many things to laugh at. Lots of fun !

- Yes, by the way, in france we appreciate a lot the fact that you are delirious in your vid's ! This gives something on top of that to your videos !
Haha. As you may have guessed i do not take my riding to seriously. When i was younger i took trials way to seriously. Then when i had about 4-5 months of not riding more than once a week about a year ago i realised i needed to have more fun on my bike, its not all about being the best rider in the world. So i like to show that we do stupid stuff for fun when we ride our bikes ! :)

- Yes ! In any cases, this small key returns your videos even better !
:) Thanks. Im glad people appreciate them. I honestly had no idea that many people except in the UK saw my videos.

- Lol, in France, on our forums (nopogo, espace trial) we have a special section were we can find the best amazing vid's !
Don't tell me im in there.... Haha... If i am you french people must be drunk ! But ill take the compliment. thank you very much :)

- Chympi of trials forum is in charge to found amazing english vid's, and a lot of french riders go on trials forum ! ^^
Well thanks very much :). Like i say, i did not realise so many people watched my videos or even knew who i am.

- No, we aren't alcoholics ! We just like english riding style !
Haha :). Im actually feeling slightly embarressed now. :) But thanks for all the compliments Lucien !

- Lol it's normal !;) Speak to me a bit about the Czar ! :)
Well. The Czar has been a breath of fresh air for me. After riding the high BB adamant, i went back to low BB, it has taken a while to become used too, however i think i am riding better then i EVER have ridden. Although its quite a heavy frame in comparison to some Koxx / Ozonys frames. The czar rides like a bike much lighter than that. I have only got better and better on the czar. However, things are about to change for me in the next couple of weeks. So expect some pictures and videos soon..... And possibly my last video on my CZAR in the next week for so. I have wanted a geometry change on the czar a little. However the future for me will get me the geometry i would like. All i will say, is im very excited with the changes.

- Do you prefer a rear freewhell or a front freewheel ?
I used to like a rear freehub, however i have just moved to using a front freewheel and i think this is much better for me. I am not sure why, but i think the fact it is lighter is better for riding.

- What are your most important quality ?
I like to be smooth, to have fun, and make friends. I like to push my abilities and those who ride with me, i like to help them improve. Trials is about the fun.

- 2 or 3 questions, and it's finished. What is your occupation when you don’t ride ?
I am an architect. I graduated from university last year. And now have much more time to ride my bike and get into shape and improve, which you may well see in my czar videos compared to my older videos.

- What is your music style ?
I like any type of music. I will honestly listen to anything, again i show this in my videos. I am going to be uploading all my older videos again, so if you guys check out http://tv.isg.si/site/filebrowser/ben@hulltrials you will see some old stuff of mine !

- What are your hobbies ?
Other than trials i like to go to the gym, to the pub, spend time with my girlfriend, and make mine and the scottish muckers videos.

- And to finish, what advice would you give young riders who would like to reach your level ?
Do not think that you need to reach a certain 'level' of riding. If you have fun, and keep trying, you will improve. If you desperately want to reach a certain level, then watch the techniques of the best riders. NEVER copy someones style. Ride for yourself, and create your own style. The best riders in the world have their own style. Danny Macaskill, Stan Shaw, Damon Watson, Giacomo Coustellier, Chris Ackrigg, they all have their own style.
BUT MOST OF ALL, i know i keep mentioning it, but ride for the laughs and the fun you have with your friends.

Ben would like to say thanks to his sponsors - Tartybikes, trial tech and Czar. "Really appreciate everything they have done for me" !

What conclude of the interview ? Many and many things. You without doubts pointed out the fact that Ben Travis is really approachable. To me, his way of thinking represent totally the world of Trials. We hope see you in France later and uninterrupted to make awesome vid's ! Good luck afterwards !
You can find vid's of Ben Travis on Youtube, or tv.isg.si ( http://tv.isg.si/site/filebrowser/ben@hulltrials ) and you can find him on Trials Forum ! ;)

He gives me so many photos but I can't put all here. You can find many of this pic's on Trials Forum !