I met Jim at my first bike trials competition in October 2017. Not long after that competition, I began joining Jim and some of the trials riders in the area for weekly group rides, which eventually became weekly features of my YouTube channel. Jim has become both a friend and an inspiration. He has a great sense of humor that shines through in this interview. Enjoy!
Tell us a little about yourself
Jim Cochrane, grew up in PA, plus 2 years in OR where I graduated high school. After high school I moved back to PA when I joined the Navy and ended up in CT on a submarine. Met my wife here and stayed. I still work on the same type of equipment I did in the Navy as a contractor, doing electronics technician and some engineering work on receiving systems and signal processing equipment.
How long have you been riding bike trials? What is your riding level?
Just about 10 years, intermediate.
How did you discover bike trials and how did you get started? What age were you when you started?
I was 55, and it’s all Tony’s fault. He started a couple years earlier to improve his mountain biking skills, liked trials for its own sake, and wanted someone to ride with. He picks me because I’m the easiest to talk into something stupid.
How would you define/describe “bike trials” in your own words to someone who never heard of it?
I usually say it’s mostly balance-y stuff, playing on rocks and logs, trying to do things you’re not supposed to be able to do on a bike. If they need more I tell them like a baby version of Danny MacAskill or Hans Rey, depending on how old they are.
What type of bike trials riding do you prefer and where do you like to ride?
I prefer natural stuff, looking around in the woods, and thinking, that looks stupid enough to try. With our little group it’s a lot of fun because we all have our preferences so we can all mostly get our chance to punish each other with random lines or obstacles.
Why do you ride bike trials and what keeps you motivated to keep riding?
I like the challenge.
What other styles of cycling do you do? How has trials helped you improve your skills in those other biking disciplines (and vice versa)?
Mountain bike. I’ve always liked mountain biking for the technical challenge, so of course they play off each other. I didn’t start mountain biking until my late 30s even; up until then I didn’t know such a thing existed. My older son got me into it. I started mountain biking in earnest about 20 years ago.
How often do you ride trials? What sort of routine do you have for practice versus riding for fun?
I ride once a week, no practicing except for the ride. I really should practice, but I don’t.
You’re in your mid sixties, yet you’re still crushing it on the trials bike (and mountain bike!). What’s your secret to being able to keep riding trials and avoid injuries?
Not sure what my secret is. Maybe the fact that I’m scared of my own shadow keeps me from injury. Lucky with genes, but really not doing things I’m not comfortable (enough) with. Tony and I always called it baby steps. I can usually talk myself into doing something scary if I know the consequences won’t put me in the hospital. If I get seriously injured I’m done. I played soccer for years, so I know how to fall and it’s kept me nimble enough. That has transferred to mountain biking and trials pretty well.
What’s the bike trials scene like near you? How many other riders are there? Do you have regular group rides? Comps?
It’s a small group now, from one to maybe an occasional 5 or 6 people. Just the Thursday group rides. We’ve had comps here, even hosted a NATC once. I don’t see anything on the radar right now though.
You’ve been riding with the Northeast Bike Trials crew for quite a while, including group rides and competitions. How did you meet other trials riders (like Tony) and become part of NEBT? What’s the “secret sauce” for the local trials crew?
I met Tony mountain biking, and he was the catalyst for getting our local trials group together. I’m a great helper, but not a catalyst. Don’t have that personality. It helps that we have some really good spots in the local area, and we don’t get kicked out like a lot of other places, Western CT for example.
How do you manage fear when doing new/bigger moves or lines?
That goblin? I don’t.
What are your personal goals with respect to trials?
I guess I’ll try to improve as much as I can before the old age downslope gets too steep.
If you could travel anywhere to do some trials riding, where would you want to go?
Europe would be really cool. I would need to get a passport for that. You had told me that Debi Studer posted about looking for people to join her in traveling around Europe riding trials. I think that would be the awesomest thing.
Who are your bike trials ‘heroes’ and/or influences? Favorite trials video(s)?
Tony got me started watching the UCIs in Europe back in 2016. Especially before COVID the videos were pretty consistent with being posted, I always looked forward to each month in the summer with the trials world cups. It’s a lot harder to find airing of the comps, ShinDig is is trying very hard to fill that gap. But watching the European riders is a lot of fun for me. Also of course Danny Mac, and I watch a lot of Ali Clarkson. They both have a sense of humor and fun that I like. And of course our own Connecticut hero, Mike Steidley. It’s fun to ride with someone at his level now and again and I enjoy getting to know him better.
What would you like to see happening in North America with respect to bike trials?
Um, more?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start bike trials or has just started?
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t become an expert right away. It’s not like downhill. Practice the basics, balance, pivoting, two-wheel moves, get that down before you start pogoing. Especially as an adult, it takes time for those skills to develop.
What have I forgotten to ask you related to trials that we should discuss in the interview?
Beer.
How do people find you online?
Only through your videos, on ThisIsBikeTrials!.
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