[ Trials Explained - Everything Else - Spools]

Spools present an interesting challenge. Depending on the size and orientation, these can be quite tricky to get up onto and off of. For example, when placed on their side (round side up, the front one in the picture) they are quite narrow and very "tippy", that is, there is very little room for your bike to rest on, and you usually end up with both wheels hanging off. In their normal position (see the one in the rear of the picture) they are good platforms to get up onto and drop off of. Most people don't have these laying around, but you will often see them at competitions. If you want one of your own, the place to check would be your local utility or electric company. They might have a few old ones they'de be willing to part with.