Ryan Rebholz is a member of my local trials biking crew here in Southeastern, CT. I met him online in a mountain biking discussion forum when I had just started learning trials and was trying to find others in the area who either rode trials or knew someone else who did (finding other nearby trials riders in North America isn’t easy). Ryan told me that he used to ride trials years ago, but hadn’t ridden in years. Eventually Ryan bought an Inspired Fourplay and started joining our local group rides. Among other things, Ryan brings some streety style to our group with his manuals, bunny hops, and 180s.
Tell us a little about yourself
Ryan Rebholz, I grew up on the north shore of Long Island and moved to CT for work (mechanical engineer) in 2008.
How long have you been riding bike trials? What is your riding level?
I started riding trials as a freshman in high school (~2000) and rode trials and MTB pretty exclusively into college until I got into BMX. Then in about 2019 I heard there were some other trials riders in the area and that was enough to get me to order a new trials bike. I have been riding with the eastern CT trials crew pretty consistently since then.
How did you discover bike trials and how did you get started? What age were you when you started?
I first saw it on the TV show Pacific Blue. They were bike cops but would do trials stuff when chasing down the perps. Hans Rey was in the show as both himself and I think the person doing the stunts. After that I started trying it on my mountain bike that had terrible geometry and even worse brakes.
You used to ride trials in high school. Where did you used to ride? How many other people rode trials with you?
I was on Long Island so it was all urban stuff like schools and places like that. I had a few friends that rode trials and we would meet up most days after school and ride. One of the guys had a pretty sweet driveway set up with boxes and other obstacles that we spent a lot of time riding too.
Why’d you stop riding trials? What motivated you to get started again?
I stopped mainly because I was always riding alone and group rides are my favorite thing about biking so I got into BMX. I got motivated to start again when I found out there were riders in the area (and BMX is a young man’s game).
What type of bike trials riding do you prefer and where do you like to ride?
I like natural and street stuff but end up riding mostly natural because of the group. I like anything unique and creative as long as there is some room, not a fan of super tight areas where you can’t even roll around.
Imagine your ideal trials line. What would that look like?
Not sure I have an ideal line but anything creative that makes people question how you even thought of it is what typically gets me amped up.
What other styles of cycling do you do? How has trials helped you improve your skills in those other biking disciplines (and vice versa)?
I love mountain biking and BMX. All styles of biking help each other, anything that helps develop bike control and confidence are just another thing in the tool box to use in the other styles.
How often do you ride trials?
Hopefully once a week.
How do you manage fear when doing new/bigger moves or lines?
Visualization is the key and trusting that I can do it. Oddly enough as I get older I’m less afraid of a lot of stuff. Over time ive realized taking tons of run ups usually just messes with me so I’m better off just going for it.
What are your personal goals with respect to trials (near-term and long-term)?
Just to keep riding
Who are your bike trials ‘heroes’ and/or influences? Favorite trials video(s)?
When I was in highschool I watched the trials videos ‘Contact’ and ‘Evolve’ almost daily so anyone in those. Then one day I went to the Redbull bike battle in Boston (maybe 2003ish) and got to see all those guys ride in person. Nowadays I really like watching the casual group rides on YouTube where people are just out riding with friends and doing some stuff way harder than I could ever do.
What are your perspectives on the trials biking scene in general and in North America in particular?
It’s pretty unique and unfortunately isn’t too popular in North America, luckily our local area has a few riders so we can do group rides and comps.
What are some ways the trials community could get more people interested in trials?
I think somehow incorporating it into the bigger mountain biking groups/clubs so that some people get the itch and get more into it
Do you think it’s possible to develop some sort of trials competition based on street trials (i.e., integrating tricks and style versus just gates)? What might that look like? How would riders be scored?
I’m sure it’s possible, would probably have to be judged similar to any other street competition. I think that’s how the bike battle was done years ago.
If you could ride anywhere in the world with any other riders, where and who would you ride with?
No particular spot but riding with some of the euro guys would be awesome. A group ride with Joacim Lundgren, Ali Clarkson, Danny Macaskill etc. would be awesome.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start bike trials or has just started?
Do 15min of track stands a day
How do people find you online?
Get off social media and ride a bike
Who is the one North American bike trials rider (any skills level) that you think I should interview?
Hans Rey, Ryan Leach, Jeff Lenosky
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