Racing « cruiser revolution

Are you ready for this?

5 03 2010

Time to gas up the car, get a bus ticket or hop on a plane because it’s going to be non-stop BMX in Toronto this weekend. The Toronto International Bicycle Show is here and it includes a flatland contest, an old school indoor BMX race and the Toronto BMX Jam.

But is it really worth going?

Just check out this clip from last year’s Toronto BMX Jam to get an indication of what goes down at this annual event.

Or maybe check out this video of Drew Bezanson that’s being blowing up the internet for the last day or two. If this is what he does for a video clip…imagine what he’s going to throw down in the contest.

more about “FU-Cam Episode 1: Drew Bezanson“, posted with vodpod

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Tags: Drew Bezanson, Flatland contest, Indoor BMX racing, Toronto BMX Jam, Toronto International Bicycle Show
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, street

Live after death: 24s aren’t done yet

2 03 2010

“The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Mark Twain

Despite showing love for the cruiser in recent issues, BMX Plus! seems to have now sounded the death knell for the cruiser in their April 2010 issue in an article called Cruising into Oblivion: The Death of the 24.

It’s actually kind of amusing however when you take a look at this sensationalist article in relation to the rest of the magazine. For instance, Redline has again seen fit to place a two-page ad for a cruiser in the magazine. And this time it is their top-of-the-line Flight Pro 24! I’m going to go out on a limb and say there must be some kind of market for 24s to justify that kind of advertising.

And in their mailbag section, a reader writes in about racing Cruiser for two years, “…One thing led to another, and now I race a 24-inch Haro…”.

Are big ads and actual reader feedback not clear enough signs for Plus! that cruisers are alive and well?

Guys like Danny Caluag, Barry Nobles and George Goodall (who is featured prominently in the Redline ad) are also keeping excitement alive in the National race scene.

And completely ignored by the article is the explosion in popularity of modern trails/park 24s…which I don’t have to convince you of, if you’re a regular visitor to this site.

The death of the 24?

Hardly.

We’re just getting started.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: 24-inch Haro cruiser, Barry Nobles, BMX Plus!, Danny Caluag, George Goodall, Iron Maiden Live after Death, Mark Twain, Redline bicycles, Redline BMX cruiser, Redline Flight Pro 24, trails park 24s
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, Trails, Trails/Jumping, street

BMX racers vs. ballerinas: Who’s radder?

24 02 2010

Let’s find out!

1) Ballerinas: wear ballet shoes for competition

BMX racers: wear “ballet shoes” (with clipless pedals) for competition

2) Ballerinas: wear tights

BMX racers: wear tights*

*Say what?

Yes, my friends it looks like the end is near. GT’s Joey Bradford rocked a pair of tights (!) to a Pro Cruiser win at the Gator Nationals on the weekend.

To some this might be called progression…to me, it’s another sign of the moto (or is it the mojo?) being sucked out of bicycle motocross.

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: ballerinas, ballet shoes, bicycle motocross, bmx racing, clipless pedals, GT BMX, Joey Bradford, mojo, Pro Cruiser, Who's radder?
Categories : New School, Racing, Tomfoolery

Old school indoor BMX racing in Toronto

22 02 2010

If you were a BMX kid in the 80s you probably remember the old school style of indoor racing with concrete floors, wooden jumps and smooth stadium tires.

Nowadays if you’re lucky enough to have an indoor track to race at, you’re racing in dirt. Vintage BMX actually featured a thread on this topic recently and it seems that a lot of people remember the old school races and are hankering for them again. It certainly brought back memories for me…my first race was an old school indoor race like that.

But those days are long gone, right?

Maybe not!

Turns out Brent Smith, the guy behind the super fun Orangeville race series, does an annual race at the Toronto International Bicycle show. This year the organizers asked if he could do it again but this time without dirt. So Brent reached into his bag of tricks and decided to go way back and kick it old school! Flat turns, concrete floors and wooden jumps…this is going to be a total blast from the past. Clips aren’t going to help you here!

If you’re within driving distance of Toronto (March 5-7) you should make a point of making it out anyway ..not only is there wall-to-wall bicycle vendors but there’s a freestyle contest and flatland contest going on as well.

For more details on the race, check out the Facebook group, Toronto Bike Show MTB and BMX race and jump comps.

Legends Tinker Juarez and Jeff Kosmala tearing up an indoor track back in the day.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Brent Smith, Flatland contest, Indoor BMX racing, Jeff Kosmala, old school indoor BMX racing, Orangeville BMX race series, Tinker Juarez, Toronto, Toronto BMX Jam, Toronto International Bicycle Show, Vintage BMX, wooden jumps
Categories : Freestyle, Old School, Racing, Trails/Jumping

Another cruiser convert…

30 01 2010

Spotted a great thread on VintageBMX.com yesterday called I rode a cruiser tonight at the track…and it was fun! written by a guy that usually rides only a 20″.

Sounds like he’s seen the light:

I rode my friend’s cruiser just to get some laps in. Well I ended up riding it all night. I absolutely loved every second of it. Jumps smooth, manuals soooo easy. I was just totally in love.

I had a similar experience…after riding a 20″ for most of my BMX “career”, I visited a BMX track while staying with my girlfriend’s family and was lent a Haro 24 to take a couple laps. It felt amazing and couldn’t believe what I had been missing…it’s been cruisers for me ever since.

If you’re reading this site you’re probably already a convert but it’s still nice to see people showing some love to cruisers on other sites too. The VintageBMX.com thread is currently up to 3 pages, so check it out and join the conversation. Spread the word…Cruisers rock!

One of the people participating in the thread, BS, also posted a picture of himself taking care of business as part of the discussion. Love it because it reminds of lazy summer afternoon trails sessions…nice!

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: BMX Cruiser, BMX cruiser converts, BMX track, Haro 24, Trails, trails on a cruiser, vintagebmx.com
Categories : Racing, Trails/Jumping

School is always in session

28 01 2010

Old school. New school.

Do those distinctions even matter for a guy like Stu Thomsen..still kicking ass after all these years?

Nope.

For Stompin’ Stu, school is always in session.

This shot says it all: catching air and going fast.

Some things never change.

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: BMX Cruiser, new school bmx, Old school BMX, Stompin' Stu, Stu Thomsen
Categories : New School, Old School, Racing, Trails/Jumping

Redline runs 2-page Proline 24 ad

13 01 2010

Flipping through the latest edition of BMX Plus! recently, I was pleasantly surprised to find a two-page ad for the Redline Proline 24.

So many companies give short shrift to 24s in their ads, it’s nice to see Redline step up and recognize that cruiser riders want to see “their” bikes in the BMX mags too. For Redline to do so in a two-page spread makes me respect them even more.

What’s more, I love that they chose the Proline 24 over the Flight 24 for the ad. While the Flight 24 is certainly a sought after bike for the hardcore race crowd (with factory Answer Scythe forks, etc.) the Proline 24 is a simple, well-spec’d bike that works: Chromo forks, Redline Flight cranks…everything you need to win races or ride trails…nothing too fancy, but nothing that needs replacing either.

Even though I’m kind of surprised it wasn’t offered in red, or that cool bronze-y gold of last year, I find that this blue version is growing on me. Great job, Redline.

Respect.

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: 24" BMX cruiser, Answer Scythe, BMX Plus!, BMX races, Redline bicycles, Redline Flight 24, Redline Flight Cranks, Redline Proline 24
Categories : New School, New products, Racing, Trails

Too young, too soon

6 01 2010

37-year old racer Bryan Oblad passed away from an apparent heart attack this past weekend following his 36-40 cruiser main event at Rad Canyon BMX in Utah.

I didn’t know Bryan personally but reading about him today made me wish I did. A fixture in his local BMX scene, he was a family man with daughters who raced, a strong competitor and a big fan of SE bikes and vintage BMX. The outpouring of support and prayers on forums like VintageBMX.com show how much of an impact he made on his friends, family and fellow riders. Steve Spencer’s write-up about Bryan is especially touching.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Oblad family.

R.I.P. Bryan

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Tags: Bryan Oblad, Red Canyon BMX, SE Bikes, Steve Spencer, Vintage BMX
Categories : Old School, Racing

Don’t look back in anger

3 01 2010

I had grand plans of posting this look back at 2009 on new year’s day..but a bunch of friends were heading down to Joyride 150 for a session so I opted to go riding instead. I figured you would understand.

What happened in 2009?

Let’s take a look at 10 things that made an impact on the 24″ BMX scene in 2009…

10. More choice, more parts Not only are more 24s available, more companies are stepping up with more parts like wheels, tires, etc. Being able to get decent-sized handlebars is nice too.

9. Custom frames Want to have a frame made to order? Companies like FBM and S&M made things easier and more affordable than ever this year

8. Back to the future Old school Pros showed that they still got it…look no further than icons Stu Thomsen and Greg Hill

7. Bike shops Even in era when online retailers seem to dominate, a well-stocked shop with knowledgeable owners and staff is something that just can’t be beat. If you have one nearby, consider yourself lucky.

6. Racing I started racing again in winter 08/09 (after giving it up as teenager) and I was surprised at how much fun I had. Tracks are a lot better now than back in the day and the scene more chill.

5. UK bike mags It seems like all the best mags are coming out of the UK now. The fact that Fastlane runs cruiser bike checks is pretty cool too.

4. Video parts 2009 saw 24’s showing up more often in videos

3. Age is just a number Riders in their 40s are kicking ass on their 24s

2. Anything a 20″ can do… Today’s 24s can handle it all… it doesn’t matter if it’s the trails, track, park or flatland…a 24 can take care of business.

1. The Sunday Model-C This bike was everywhere this year…from the updated 24″ geometry to riders on Model-Cs taking things to the next level…Sunday shook things up in a big way this year.

What does 2010 have in store? I can’t wait to find out…

more about “Sunday Bikes Trailer-Up, Up and Away“, posted with vodpod