Freestyle | cruiser revolution

My new ride: Sunday Wave-C

11 05 2011

While complete bikes are getting better and better these days, nothing quite beats getting a new frame and building it up. In this case, it was the Sunday Wave-C.

I had been thinking about a Wave-C ever since I heard that a prototype was being tested. The fact that it was going to be offered with a 22″ top tube also got me pretty excited.

The build

When I took the frame out of the box I was stoked. This was a nice looking frame! And you can just tell it can stand up to just about anything.

But I still had to wait for a few parts to arrive before I could start building.

When the last few parts came in the mail, I went over to my friend, Mike “Carbon” Pavao’s place to put it together. While trading BMX stories, we were both impressed by how well built the frame was and the attention to detail.

Ed's Wave-C build at Casa Carbon

The only potential snag was a brake bolt that needed a little grinding down. Luckily, Gary Quill dropped by, and he just so happened to have a grinder in the back of his work van. A couple of seconds of grinding later, a few more twists of the wrench and this puppy was ready to ride!

We grabbed our bikes and took off for an old school ride through the neighbourhood, hitting things along the way and made our way downtown. We finally ended up at the 7-11 Mike and Gary used to hang out at when they were 14 year old hoodlums.

Initial impression of the frame: Wow!

Wave-C build

I took it out on the local trails today and I continue to be impressed. (For another perspective on the Wave-C, check out Jon Faure’s review.)

Shoutouts for their help with this build: Bobby Parker from Sunday/Full Factory, Tom at Empire BMX, Mike Pavao from…uh… Casa Carbon and Gary Quill for his skills with a grinder.

Parts list

Frame: Sunday Wave-C 22″
Fork: We The People
Bars: Sunday 24umph
Stem: Salt Front load
Grips: Eclat Chester Blacksmith
Barends: Eclat plugs
Headset: We The People sealed
Seatpost Clamp: Sunday
Seat/Seat Post: Macneil Fat Capital /pivotal
Cranks: Salt 175mm
Sprocket: Macneil
Chain: Shadow Conspiracy
Front Tire: Kenda K-rad 24×1.95″
Front Wheel: Alex with Salt hub
Rear Tire: Intense Microknobbie 24×1.85″
Rear Wheel: Odyssey Hazard Lite rim with Odyssey V3 Hazard hub
Pedals: Macneil Face
Brake: Tektro
Brake Cable: We The People
Brake Lever: Tektro
Pegs: None
Modifications: Spacers under the stem, Gold anodized valve caps and Cruiser Revolution stickers

Future mods planned: Switch to a top-load stem, slightly fatter tires (and maybe taller bars)

Comments : 10 Comments »
Tags: 22" top tube BMX cruiser, BMX, Gary Quill, Jon Faure, Mike Pavao, Sunday Wave-C
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, street

It’s not easy being green

8 05 2011

Thinking about dear ol’ Mom the other day, a memory came back to me about a story she told me when I was a teenager.

My mom had gotten together with a group of other moms, I think it might have been a church group or something, and they were talking about a bunch of things and the topic of cleaning products came up (stereotypical I know, but bear with me).

One mom mentioned Simple Green and was raving about it. All the moms had something to say and then my mom piped up, “Oh Simple Green, that’s what the boys use to clean the brake pads on their bikes.”

No one else had kids into BMX, so from what I understand, the reaction was essentially, “What the…..”

Still makes me smile when I think of that story.

Thanks Mom, it hasn’t always been easy. But you’ve always been there for me. Even if when it was just looking out the window and watching me clean my brake pads.

Thanks Mom.

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: BMX, BMX brake pads, Mom, Mother's Day, Simple Green
Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, Old School

How tall are your handlebars?

2 05 2011

Are traditional cruiser bars over? The recent post on that question created a lot of discussion.

Maybe it’s time we took a poll to see what everybody’s running.

(This is the first time that I’ve done one of these, so let’s hope it works.)

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: Best height for BMX cruiser handlebars, How tall are your handlebars?, I like big bars I cannot lie, The best BMX cruiser handlebars, Traditional BMX cruiser handlebars
Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, New School, Old School

Check out Jim C’s personal ride

21 04 2011

Sunday Bikes just posted a bike check of Jim Cielencki’s personal ride, the Wave-C he’s been riding since October. It has a Black Magic finish and sports red spokes to give it a cool, custom look.

Be sure to have a look at the prototype components on the front end: 7.75″ XL 24umph bars and Odyssey top load stem. (He’s also running spacers under the stem to run it even higher.)

And for all the hockey fans out there…you can probably guess what team Jim is rooting for in the playoffs…Go Sabres!

For more on Jim C’s Wave-C, check out the complete bike check on the Sunday Bikes website.

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: Black magic finish, Black Magic Wave-C, Buffalo Sabres, Jim Cielencki, Odyssey top load stem, Sunday bikes, Sunday Wave-C bike check, XL 24umph handlebars
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School

Sunday 24″ forks with 990 mounts: first look

19 04 2011

It’s been a long time coming, but they’re finally here!

Pictures of the production version of Sunday’s 24″ forks with 990 mounts (remember the spy photo last year?)

Check it out:

side view

front view

back view

side view

On the fence about whether or not to go with front brakes?

Check out this post to see what you might be missing.

Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: Front brakes for BMX cruisers, Prototype Sunday Model-C forks with front brakes, Sunday 24" forks with 990 mounts, Sunday Front Brake fork, Sunday Model-C front brake forks
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Skatepark, street

Empire state of mind

15 04 2011

Are all mail-order BMX companies the same?

I was beginning to think so.

Sure, the company names change but in the end they all start to seem kind of similar.

That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when I checked out Empire BMX‘s site.

I was chuckling to myself the whole time I was searching for parts for my new Sunday Wave-C build. With the funny write-ups and inside BMX references, like the Paul Buchanan mention in the Canadian shipping information, this is no ordinary mail-order site.

When I emailed a couple of questions, Tom (from Empire) was always quick with a response. The whole vibe seems to be that they don’t take themselves too seriously but they are serious about their business.

They are also well stocked on 24″ stuff: Odyssey 24″ Hazard Lites, Sunday Wave-C, S&M 24″ Dirt Bike and 38 Special frames, just to name a few things.

In the end, I found what I needed and at a great price.

You should definitely check ’em out.

(For a taste of the “Empire experience”, check out this video Vital BMX did a couple of years back.)

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Comments : 11 Comments »
Tags: BMX mailorder, Empire BMX, Odyssey 24" Hazard Lites, S&M 24" Dirt Bike, S&M 38 Special, Sunday Wave-C
Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, New products, New School, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping

Very nice: Vapor Blue Wave-C

13 04 2011

Vapor Blue Wave-C frames have hit the Sunday Bikes warehouse.

They match the Vapor Blue forks that you saw here first in March.

Looking fresh.

And like the Black Magic version, it’s available in 21.25″ and 22″ top tube lengths.

For more on the color blue, click here for a special word from Will Ferrell.

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: Black Magic Sunday Wave-C, Sunday bikes, Vapor blue Sunday forks, Vapor Blue Wave-C frame, Will Ferrell, You're my boy blue
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School

The sons of Slam

5 04 2011

If you’re ready to ditch your traditional cruiser bars for something a little taller, S&M has got you covered with some smaller versions of their classic Slam Bars.

I like to call them the sons of Slam.

There’s a 7.25″ rise version that’s 28″ wide….right in the neighborhood of the Sunday 24umph bar, dimension-wise.

Another option is the Small Slam: 7.5″ rise X 26.25″ wide…perfect if you want a smidge more height and slightly narrower bars.

Erik Dabrowski is rocking Small Slams on his new 24" Dirt Bike build .

And, if you’re especially finicky about bars, you can always check out S&M’s new custom handlebar program.

(For a pic of Erik D’s complete Dirt Bike build, visit the Cruiser Revolution Facebook page…it’s a beauty!)

Comments : 7 Comments »
Tags: Cruiser Revolution facebook page, S&M 24" Dirt Bike, S&M Bikes custom handlebar program, S&M Slam Bars, S&M Small Slams, Sunday 24umph handlebars
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping

WTP: Where’s The Promotion?

31 03 2011

We The People (WTP) has been consistently producing high-quality 24″ completes for years.

From their frames to their components they haven’t compromised.

Sure, here and there a part may need to be replaced or upgraded. But compared to some of the completes other companies are offering, they are hard to beat.

This bike deserves a web clip

What I find surprising, given WTP’s relatively long tenure in the 24″ game, is their lack of promotion. Year after year, WTP puts out great bikes with nary a web clip or cool riding shot to be seen.

Would it be so hard to film a clip of Chester Blacksmith cruising around the city — on a cruiser — for instance?

We The People, show us some love! Let’s see some web clips!