If you’ve tried to purchase a trials bike in North America, you’ve probably noticed that there are few options: trials bike shops here are few and far between. Most of the trials shops are overseas. And unlike Europe, there are few bike trials parks and no bike trials academies or training centers. Grant Memmott and his father Cord have recently created “The Trials Line” – a new business that aims “to provide a trials-dedicated resource for skills coaching, promoting trials, and offering trials bikes and gear.” This is a bold and exciting move that we hope will help rejuvenate bike trials here in North America.
I asked Grant to share with us a little more about The Trials Line, including some of their story in getting started, the products and services they offer, and their vision for the future. If this resonates with you, please share this interview and help spread the word!
How did you come up with the idea of starting The Trials Line? What was your inspiration? What is your vision for the business?
Well, you know I have been riding trials for about 7 years. I got my first trials bike at age 11, and knew that I loved trials, but before that I was riding any kind of bike, mountain bike, enduro, BMX, and pretty much anything with wheels. I knew I liked technical and challenging riding. I started competing and wanted to get better, but there wasn’t really anyone in my area doing trials. I have met many cool people in the U.S. trials community and just feel like there is a way to help others find the same passion I have. I enjoy competing, I am super excited for competing in Bentonville this May!
In 2022 I had the huge opportunity to compete in the UCI World Youth Games in Poland. It was an amazing experience, and it has had an impact on me! I went with my dad and grandpa; when I first arrived, I couldn’t believe how many kids were doing trials! It was quickly clear that I wasn’t to the level of these European riders; however I did my best to represent the U.S. On the day of the competition, it was pouring rain! The other riders had teams, tents and coaches. I was cold and alone. My dad was talking with a lot of the other coaches during the event, and the coaches were asking where I got my training, because most of these kids were going to some kind of program or school for trials, and when he told them I taught myself in the backyard their view changed and they were actually quite impressed. That helped us realize that there is a niche market that other parts of the world are understanding that we are not.
In that moment, I decided that one day I would return with a team of riders who can represent the U.S. well and show what we really have to offer. This is a big part of my motivation for The Trials Line; I want to help expand the trials scene near me and across the U.S.
I am grateful for all those who have inspired me and put massive effort into promoting trials. I hope I can contribute to the growth of this sport. By offering both bikes/gear and coaching, I hope The Trials Line can be a place where people can come to get involved in trials and have the support they need to begin and continue their trials journey.
Where I live there are tons of youth and kids, and what I see is the future generation of trials; all that is needed is some exposure and support. People pay money for all kinds of things; why not learn a unique and beneficial skill?
I have realized that trials isn’t just about bikes, it’s about perseverance, dedication, and overcoming hard things, that’s also a contributor for this. I want to help people realize that trials helps teach life skills that can help people get over obstacles in their life and become the man or woman they have the potential to become.
What obstacles did you have to overcome to get the business started?
Well, let’s just say starting a business takes some work! There have definitely been tons of challenges. However, I have loved doing this and have learned so much. I have had to register my business as an LLC, meet with the city, create a website, create some branding, work hard to have enough money to fund this… the list goes on.
That’s just the business set-up aspect, then there is the actual running of the business. One big challenge with this has been getting bikes overseas with the high customs and duties. We have dealership relations with Clean and Comas. They have been great to work with, but it is difficult with them being so far away. A lot of people don’t realize that when they order a bike, they are going to have these duties and fees. Because I am trying to keep costs as low as I can, these shipping costs and fees are eating up any margin for me, so I am currently making zero dollars on bike sales. And I’m ok with that because I am just trying to promote trials, but eventually I’d like to get to where I can actually make some money!
We hope you can see this as an opportunity to support trials in the U.S. Trying to get my local area on board with trials and my vision has been a challenge, but we are making progress. Also finding how to reach a broader audience. And having a trials-dedicated physical location, I have been working with local cities and municipalities, trying to find places. For now, I have been going to construction sites and businesses getting concrete obstacles and other trials stuff and putting it on our small farm where we grow popcorn. On top of this I am also trying to balance school. I am a 4.0 student and I am involved in a lot of different things but I am super motivated and dedicated to trials and The Trials Line.
I can’t complain too much about challenges, as they are what have taught me the most and failure is essential to growth.
In addition to selling trials bikes, you also offer trials coaching. How did you decide to offer coaching? Tell us a little about the types of coaching that you offer. Who would be the ideal candidate for the different types of coaching and camps?
Coaching and bikes go hand in hand. We wanted to offer bikes, then have coaching to help them improve their riding on their new bike. A bike with no instruction doesn’t do much good for a beginner rider. By providing coaching it allows riders support to get them to the level they want. In addition, not everyone can afford or wants to buy a trials bike. By offering coaching, riders can use their current mountain bike or any functioning bike to get familiar with trials, see if they really like it, and apply the skills to mountain biking and other types of riding. Not everyone wants to go full trials, but everyone should have the basic skills from trials for any discipline of biking. As a rider I would have liked coaching and still would and I think many riders would, so I am here to offer my knowledge to help make the learning process smoother for others.
We are still in the beginning stages of business growth, so currently we are mostly providing individual lessons, (where it is just the rider and coach) and group lessons (several riders at one time). We have more options such as summer camps and events that we are working hard to push forward! Group lessons are fun as riders push each other to get better. Right now, our riders are mostly beginners, but we are here to coach riders from the level they are at to whatever their goals are. I really try to focus on very basic skills, and really promote positivity with my riders.
Trials is very very challenging and it can be very discouraging. I have watched people in this area buy a trials bike and try it for a couple weeks, then give up because it is hard. I don’t want this to happen, and I believe my program can help prevent this.
As for high-level coaching, I haven’t done a ton of very high-level coaching, other than coaching myself. I am very open to that, but there just aren’t really many existing riders near me. For non-local coaching we don’t have much of an option other than having riders send videos for us to review and respond to with tips and instructional videos.
I have found that the trials crowd is very long. There are people who have been riding for decades, and their knowledge and understanding of the sport is important; however, many of them are no longer riding at their peak level, and are not necessarily pushing the sport forward with higher levels of riding and competing. I have found that in a short amount of time I grew quickly and my students are progressing quickly. Kids learn quicker, they are going to grasp this. If we don’t reach kids, the trials scene isn’t going to go anywhere. We have to build the future of trials and that is going to be done through kids. Anyone who’s going to get out there and ride is great, but kids is where it’s at. I am seeing it in NICA mountain bike racing; there are thousands of kids riding, and it has exponentially grown in the last 10 years. I believe trials can do the same; it just needs a new approach to promote this growth.
Describe the trials training area used for coaching. Where is it located? What is the setup like, and what kinds of obstacles and equipment do you have?
Currently coaching is done at our small farm in Layton Utah (we sell popcorn). It is mostly done on a cement pad with a new configuration of obstacles each time. Mainly just wooden obstacles like railroad ties, boxes, spools etc. Bigger stuff is also available for more advanced riders, tires, cement tubes etc. Basically, I have collected tons of different obstacles, I have had a lot of great construction sites and people donate things and me and my dad go pick it up. If you are wondering how I got some of this, well I have literally walked to construction sites after school and talked to the workers, then gone home and gotten our big farm truck to haul them to our farm where we unload them with our forklift and tractor.
What is your vision for The Trials Line, both near-term and longer-term?
Short term
We’d like to have a steadier turnaround for bike sales, meaning we would like to be able to sell the bikes we have in stock so we can replenish and have more continuous rotation and variety. We are doing some local trials shows to generate excitement for the sport. Also working on providing online content to reach a broader audience. We are working to get more bikes and brands in stock as we make more sales. And of course, continue to increase the number of riders we are coaching.
Long term
We will get a property or warehouse of sorts to base the business out of. Hoping to have an indoor course and shop area, along with an outdoor trials park. Also working towards having several locations with coaches at each location and/or doing traveling camps/coaching where we travel to different areas hosting trials coaching, so we can have a larger reach. Additionally, partnering with local cities to make public trials parks, and trials camps. More people are likely to get involved if it is not a huge cost.
Will you have a booth at any bike festivals this year?
Yes! We are so excited, we will have a booth at the Bentonville Bike Fest right across from the trials area. So come say hello! We will be bringing some bikes and merchandise to sell (if there is a specific bike you want, let us know and we may be able to bring it for you) and be there to talk trials! We will have a few bikes for demo as well, so for those wanting to give trials a try come over and I believe Farrar’s will have some as well.
What did I forget to ask you?
You didn’t specifically bring this up, but a lot of people ask how effective the coaching is. It has taken me 7 years to get to where I am and as I am teaching kids they are progressing much faster than I did. So I am hoping that I can help them get to the level I am at in faster time. It takes time to get good at anything and I am not trying to bypass work, but I think that with coaching and support, riders can learn efficiently.
How can people get more information and/or do business with you?
You can find our website at thetrialsline.com and Instagram @thetrialsline. We also have a small (hopefully temporary) shop area behind our house next to our wood shop in Layton Utah, just north of Salt Lake City. It is a small shop and under 300 sq ft to appease the city, but it works. If you are near this area or visiting let us know, we’d love to have you come stop by!
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