cruiser revolution

It’s a rite of spring in Toronto.

The first weekend of March, the Toronto International Bicycle Show is held.

Along with it, a rowdy BMX contest that never disappoints. From the rad riding to catching up with old friends, it’s a event not to be missed.

This year was no different.

Qualifying rounds on Saturday were crazy. Drew Bezanson had already set the pace with a run that began with him dropping in from the ceiling.

The Sunday finals were going to be nuts.

In between all that were all things that make the BMX community so great. Hanging with friends, reminiscing about past exploits, poking fun at one another.

On Sunday, I caught up with Joe Cicman of TwoFourFlat fame. He was taking care of business over at the Flat comp going down at the other end of the Bicycle show building. We had a good chat before he had to compete again and I had to run off to catch the park finals. (That’s me, Ed, on the left; Joe on the right.)

Back at the Park Finals, things were heating up big time. Banger after banger trick…it was pretty crazy.

Then the final heat.

Drew B. shimmies up a pole and uses a makeshift pulley to get his bike up to the ceiling. He tiptoes across a ledge by the windows at the top of the building. The ledge does not look as if it is even as wide as his shoes.

Then the unthinkable happens. As Drew goes to set up, he loses his footing and falls straight to the ground…his fall barely softened by the bottom of a ramp’s transition.

Unbelievably, he springs to his feet. Like a scene from a Rocky movie or some old Evel Knievel footage, he looks to the judges and makes a hand gesture to the judges saying, “One more.”

He climbs up again…sets up and boom!

270 drop-in from pretty much the top of the building.

So good.

Keeps your eyes peeled for the rest of the contest footage, you will not be disappointed.