Trevor Bodogh – Trials and Tribulations
You’ve seen them on television, hopping about on bikes with no seats, defying gravity and landing on impossibly small rails or dropping off high ledges. Trailburn catches up to the artist of a dying breed and talks Trials riding with Trevor Bodogh.
First off I would like to thank you for doing this; Trailburn loves home-grown talent.
Where would the world be if we didn’t support one another? Glad we connected for this interview!
How did you get started? Trials riding is a small niche of biking, especially since it is most popular on a trials dirt-bike and you really don’t see many guys riding the non-motorized version (In Canada anyway) Is it more popular in Europe?
At the core, it was the insatiable urge to ride up and over stuff on my bicycle that sparked my Trials ambition. Starting out, I was just hopping my bike around like a fool − not knowing what I was doing. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was back when the internet was in its infancy, so I had no real resource to investigate my curiosity online. It has got to be the smallest niche of cycling, by far, but I’m always happy to help beginners or answer questions when out on rides. It’s definitely most popular in France / Spain with the World Cup Trials series running yearly there. In North America, there are some very talented riders, but the winters and lack of infrastructure don’t do much to help the cause.
What is the competition circuit like? What kind of venues host them and what are the turn-outs like?
It depends where you are talking about. Europe, there is a very competitive and strong circuit, much like hockey or baseball here in Canada: You can expect 50-100 riders per event in Europe. In Canada, there is a bit of scatter between Trials populations that makes it hard to bring people together for competition − primarily Ontario and Vancouver are the strongholds. A few years ago I gave a shot at running the OntarioTrialsSeries.com and got some decent turnouts of around 20 riders.
Most of the guys we are familiar with ride a street-style with a traditional MTB and they have became very popular (Ryan Leech, Chris Akrigg) because they stay within the scene of mountain biking but still employ strong skills as trials riders; Have you tried all this on a bike with a seat? Some might say your popularity could increase if you joined the pack and rode an urban hard-tail.
This is a good question, and you’re probably correct about the popularity thing, so perhaps it’s just the gut feeling I have that won’t allow my interest level to drop. There’s something to be said about the pure art form of pure Trials riding. The relationship you must have with your bicycle to be able to be so precise while at the same time applying so much power and technique. Maintaining a high level of Trials ability is bar none one of the most intensive forms of Bicycle training, testing your problem solving skills and physical abilities to the maximum. The thought of rolling and bunny hops with huge gap drops doesn’t intrigue me right now.
Do you ride at Joyride 150? I’m sure you could get quite an audience there sessioning some of their features.
Joyride 150 is fantastic, and a great asset to growing Ontario cycling scene. I get there about 5 times throughout the winter. It’s always cool when I finish a training session and head back to the picnic table to regroup or get something to drink, and slowly, people start approaching me about my bike, how to start in the sport, or even just to say “Dude.. that was some f*&^%$# cool s^#%!”
Spotting His Landing - Click For Larger Version
You were recently on an episode of Dragons Den (2009) can you share your experience with our readers and what the outcome was?
This opportunity taught me a lot of things about myself, and the world. Primarily when opportunity knocks, you need to be ready to answer it quickly and with the best information you have. Look up “The Elevator Pitch” by Sean Wise on Youtube, and you can apply this in so many aspects of your life. I had a lot of preparation help from my professors at Sheridan College, and close friends. It’s not often you get to bring an idea in front of multi-millionaires to get their feedback and potentially invest in you. No, they did not invest in my idea. Why? I simply wasn’t ready. Fortunately, my approach to the business side of the sport has evolved since then, so it was a great learning experience.
Not only do you have a passion for cycling, you also have strong drive in the business world. Take a moment and tell us what you are up to now; Do you not have a hand in Meta Bikes?
Right now, my focus is primarily on developing myself as a performer, utilizing my passion and talent on the bicycle for shows of all kinds. Recently, I have made some great partnerships and looking forward to a strong 2011, and even stronger 2012. Outside of that, I do work on the Meta Bike brand. The concept is solid − the bikes are sexy − but it’s hard to sell a bicycle that is not an established brand.
What are your plans for 2011? Expanding the awareness of trials riding? Product launch?
Trials riding is always on my mind, and when I go Training out in the city, promoting the sport is second to none. Many cool ideas for 2011, but only enough time for a few to get things rolling. Over the fall/winter, I would like to bring together a tour of myself and a perhaps another rider to do a series of mental health awareness shows as I was directly affected with this issue through family. This summer I have a contract of Trials shows as part of a family entertainment act. One of the things I love most about life is meeting new people, sharing passion for doing something, and inspiring others to go tackle life in their own dynamic ways!
You’ve got to be fairly strong to Ollie the bike pretty high and have an un-canny ability to balance it. What kind of training do you do off the bike?
Trials, like most sports at a professional level, require a level of core fitness that gives you the ability to control your bike, or whatever you are using, to a supreme level. This year I got into Rock Climbing and have found many similarities between the two sports. When I teach Trials to anyone, I boil the fundamentals down to three elements: Balance, Precision, Power. From there, I focus on those guidelines, but learning balance is definitely the starting point for anyone interested in getting into it right away. Off the bike, I focus on maintaining a target weight, and making sure my jumping ability is always progressing. This is done with a series of squats, one legged jumps, and general core strengthening.
Trevor Making Friends - Click for Larger Version
Do you ride any other styles, or is it all trials all the time? Or do you love anything with 2 wheels?
90% of the time Trials takes precedent over anything else I love to do. Last year when we came out with the Meta MSSL XC bike, I was immediately turned on to trail riding. Let me tell you, that is one heck of a great release to try and keep up to someone while blasting through the trails. I love being outside and to have natures air rushing through my engine!
Do you have any Shout-Outs you would like to give? Sponsors? Friends?
The team for “Electro Gravity” who helped to make my hairbrain ideas come true (trevorbodogh.com/specialty.html). And of course, family, for staying calm and supportive while I blaze my path!
And finally, What is your favourite breakfast cereal?
I’m not much of a cereal guy, but my favourite breakfast is fueling up for a big day with a bowl of steel cut oatmeal, banana, heap of blueberries and 2 scrambled eggs on top. YUM!
Thanks Trevor, best of luck in 2011!
Thanks to TrailBurn! I enjoyed the time for self reflection and to share my experiences. Looking forward to checking in with you later as the adventure continues.
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