Video: Bike Trials Like It's 1985

Jan 8, 2020 at 13:23
by Josef Dressler  

"In 1985, I was 14, had been doing bike trial for a year and was given a dream bike: a TC-50.
This TC-50 was the best bike in the world for me then, though it actually did not work properly.
And it was not this easy to make a video in these days, either. But why should not I shoot it, 34 years later, to show my contemporaries that we grinded hard indeed, and to let the young guns know that doing sports is not about the best equipment and number of likes on the social media. It is the path of trying to surpass yourself, getting over any obstacles ahead of you that is the ultimate goal. Enjoy riding your bike!"

Josef Dressler
biketrial world champion 1998, 2003

Picture from video 1985
Hoping on a front wheel was really cool back then.

Picture from video 1985.
Almost identical outfit from back in the day.

Picture from video 1985.
My everyday drill has been spent on just a pallet.

Picture from video 1985.
Strahov stadium is a synonym of that age.

Picture from video 1985.
Balance is a basic biking skill.

Picture from video 1985.
Shooting at old train-station.

Competition in 1985.
Me at the top of a podium with the bike TC50 as price for the winner in the 1985.


Author Info:
josefdressler avatar

Member since Nov 25, 2015
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99 Comments
  • 72 0
 So good to see one of my riding idols still riding like a boss. Josef, the fact that you are a decade older than me and still riding like that is the best kind of motivation! Yeow!!
  • 10 0
 He is killing it for sure and to do it on that bike after years (decades actually) of riding proper bikes is even more impressive.
  • 29 0
 Thanks for this report! :-)
  • 11 0
 :-)
  • 2 0
 Lately I've been listening to a podcast about shreding till being at one's seventies. This guy is defenitely on it. Ps. Love the fact they used their national song. I wish I see more productions using local bands' songs as soundtrack.
  • 1 0
 @Borro: Thank you!
  • 1 0
 @josefdressler: I recently said the world needs more trials videos, and this one hit the spot. Great stuff!
  • 26 0
 If you still have a bike from when you first began riding I can highly recommend you and your riding mates go out on them. I did this 7 years ago where we all took our old steeds with v-brakes or cantis to a local DH track in the mud...never laughed and had so much fun. So I agree with Josef 100%, its not the kit.

Great video with a true statement to us all.
  • 19 0
 That was fun, nice to watch something a bit different
  • 7 0
 Thank you!
  • 15 0
 This is the best thing I've seen this decade, super impressive and the new-gear-message is so important. Thumbs up!
  • 5 0
 Thank you!
  • 2 0
 Agreed. This needed a Monday or Friday lost; not a Saturday. This is gold.
  • 3 0
 agreed 100%, so rad
  • 6 0
 @josefdressler: very impressive, probably the coolest, most unique video I've seen in a long long time and great message at the end...well done sir.
  • 2 0
 Can't remember the last time a video made me smile this much.
  • 7 0
 In 85 I was 13 racing "bicicross" (BMX) on a 20in Caloicross in Brazil. This video is so cool and brings memories. Great seeing what other kids were doing in other countries and how similar we all were - except for the skills - I didn't have thoseSmile
  • 8 0
 Great video. Loved the credits too - always good to thank your parents for buying you the bike, Mrs Kampejskova for her kitchen, and the hammer!
  • 8 1
 Long, slack and it’ll fit a full size bottle. Very fun video - about the only thing on that bike that looks trails ready is the gearing!
  • 9 0
 Used to really suck when a cotter pin came loose!
  • 9 0
 Hiiii! 2 bars soaps for pedals
  • 5 0
 I was literally watching clips of RAD! just this afternoon thinking how cool the 80's were with the introduction of the BMX bike and MTB. And now I have a copy of RAD! in the mail to reminisce of the days when I was sending it on my green banana seater
  • 7 0
 Great job! Not just the skills but also attributes and atmosphere of the time in eastern Europe in mid 80's is spot on...
  • 9 0
 Krása! Smile
  • 2 0
 Díky :-)
  • 6 0
 Great video, made everything look easy. Then he is a 5 times world champion! Over to Danny and Chris.... lol
  • 6 0
 Very interesting video, thanks! The statement at the is so true
  • 2 0
 At the end
  • 6 0
 Reminds me of the statement of Sam Pilgrim - you can have a blast on every bike no matter price tag! Sweet Smile
  • 6 0
 Best video i've seen in a while. Prague is a must see.
  • 4 0
 That was awesome...the takeaway??? Rock what you got and enjoy it....cause it's probably a million times better than a TC-50!
  • 2 0
 Brings back memories of riding trials as a kid long before smartphones and social media. Not to mention memories of buying a Megamo frame from Josef at his trials shops in the Czech Republic after the World Championship event in Kutna Hora way back in 2002.
  • 2 0
 Seeing @josefdresler at a little exhibition in a mall parking lot near where I grew up about 20 years ago may have been the first tipping point that ultimately made me move halfway around the world just to ride bikes more. Thank you for bunny hopping all over us back then! Smile
  • 5 0
 Awesome video. I bet it was fun to make.
  • 4 0
 Loved the video, brought back memories of riding my GT Performer in the 80's.
  • 1 0
 awesome vid....culturally amazing too when i think my sphere of awareness in 1984 when i had my BMX was just the UK and USA. So good to see people were shredding all over and even behind the iron curtain (look it up kids ;-) )
  • 1 0
 Love this! So inspiring. Even though I didn't ride bike trials back then, I rode BMX (1982 GT Pro Series Race), but still brings back good memories of pushing myself on my bike when I was young. I recently bought a rigid 26" Dobermann Molosse DJ and mostly leave it at work for lunch rides. I work in downtown Seattle so trying to push myself a little further each time on some fun street riding. Lots of cool benches and skinnies around here to have some fun on.
  • 1 0
 Fun video with a great message at the end. We all need to be reminded of these things more often. I loved the humorous and it-is-what-you-make-of-it theme. Also, the nod to the hammer in the credits was awesome! We should all be more thankful for what we have. Respect.
  • 5 0
 Great video.
  • 2 0
 Awesome, it reminded me of all the crappy fake bmx bikes from back in the day. Those 3 pieces cranks were the bomb, literally.
  • 4 0
 What a boss! Thank to taking the time to making this!
  • 3 0
 I was so into the video I didn’t even realize I couldn’t understand the lyrics of the song
  • 2 0
 Was it the theme song from Rad in Polish?
  • 3 0
 1985...I was 10. Great throw back video. Better message to just get out and enjoy the bike. Cheers.
  • 2 0
 Noice, i rode my Bmx back those years like he did reminds me of it all, but still he is olde than me by couple years, hes so good and cool video!
  • 2 0
 Shit, Eastern European bikes were really bad in the 80's. I guess it was first world problems trying to get my hand on shimao dx pedals.
  • 1 0
 I'm a rider of that age , I had that helmet (it was more like a thin piece if plastic & polystyrene) and I'm sure the world through my eyes back then was in 4:3. Nice trawl back in time.
  • 3 0
 Love it! Good job Pepo! ♥
  • 3 0
 Best shredit of 2020. Calling it now.
  • 3 0
 Pepa and Olympic is an amazing combo Big Grin
  • 5 2
 The Rubik's cube isn't period correct. Moulded rather than stickers Razz
  • 7 1
 It might be, I had the original in the early 80's, then a bunch of copies came out right after which had stickers. Eastern Europe had the fakes before the original.
  • 6 0
 @SLBIKES: ehm, wasn't Rubik east europian?
  • 3 0
 True love. Congrats,that was great.
  • 3 0
 Kickass! That bike still looks cool today!
  • 3 0
 I was expecting Rocky to show up at some point.
  • 2 0
 Omg best video of 2020! First time ever seeing trials done on a triple crown fork. So good!
  • 2 0
 That helmet is the mtb version of a Jofa from late 80’s hockey....and I want it
  • 1 0
 Opravdu vyborne video...11/10! Dalsi prosim.

Pamatuju ze kazdy nosil ty stejne modre teplakove soupravy v 80's. :-)

Mam rodinu jeste na Becve a tesim se na mtb v Cechach.
  • 1 0
 Ahoj! A kde bydlíš teď? Na Bečvě jsem trénoval taky s kamarádama z Příboru.
  • 1 0
 @josefdressler: New Mexico...uz jsem tady hodne dlouho. Come visit!
  • 2 0
 i miss my old ibis trials comp with the 24 front 20 rear. mullet bikes back in the 80s when mullets were cool.
  • 1 0
 Wonder why this died? have a project to put 24" front wheel & bmx bars on 20" Onza
  • 1 0
 podíval jsem se pokaždý, když se tohle video někde objevilo, pěkná práce
  • 3 0
 Brilliant, loved it
  • 2 0
 Oops - “Hampejskova” - my apologies to the lady herself...
  • 2 0
 Fantastic video. Great work.
  • 3 0
 that was gold
  • 2 0
 What a great piece of fun!
  • 2 0
 Wonderful. Thanks for making and posting this video!:-)
  • 2 0
 I can’t give this video enough thumbs up.
  • 2 0
 That is a handsome man. 3
  • 3 0
 Commie nostalgia Wink
  • 2 0
 will be video of the decade in about a decade!
  • 2 0
 That was cool as hell! Cudos to the rider
  • 2 0
 How can I tell if I’m progressing if my follower count isn’t going up?
  • 2 0
 Thanks for the inspiration. :-0
  • 2 0
 Awesome, definite inspiration right there, Thanks Josef
  • 1 0
 Absolute OG! From one aging rider to another- you inspire me, May I rip as you do...
  • 1 0
 You are a King my friend! I have your age and know how difficult things were back in those days... Keep doing this!
  • 1 0
 So true.... but you forgot to mention the importance of riding wearing a wig. Absolutely essential !!!
  • 2 0
 Wait, toast technology hasn't changed since 1985?????
  • 2 0
 Great Riding, Filming and Message. Keep it up!
  • 1 0
 Thank you!
  • 1 0
 What a brilliant video - great concept, great riding and great message. seriously.
  • 2 0
 Amazing and true.
  • 4 3
 That Color Bike Just Rocks
  • 2 0
 Rad
  • 1 0
 Thank you. Just what we needed right now. Best of 2020 so far.
  • 1 0
 A really positive message
  • 1 0
 So awesome!!! Plus that green looks real good
  • 1 0
 That video makes me want to have a trial bike so bad!
  • 1 0
 Modern day reach numbers there.
  • 1 0
 1970s called & want motorcycle brake levers back!
  • 1 0
 that was like watching the opening credits to RAD. thanks for that!
  • 1 0
 Mazec!
  • 1 0
 Good message!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Well said
  • 1 0
 Great video!







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