goofiness | cruiser revolution

How to make BMX racing big again

29 07 2011

If you spend any time at all on the BMX racing forums you’ll notice that inevitably, before long, the subject of “How to grow BMX” will come up. Another variation of this thread is “Why isn’t racing as popular as it was in the 80s?”

People will argue that you have to one thing or another…from doing presentations at local schools to embracing the whole Supercross track phenomenon.

The trouble is, none of things is doing much to grow the sport. Yet time after time the same ideas keep getting trotted out.

The solution might be simpler than the collective BMX racing community thinks.

Get a friend hooked on BMX.

Wasn’t it Chris Moeller who said back in the early 90s that the way to make BMX grow was to build up a bike and give it to a friend? (Actually, I’m not 100% sure on this quote but the research department is out on a patio somewhere right now enjoying a pint so let’s just go with it, ok?)

Matt Shelley got Malcolm hooked on BMX

Matt Shelley, from BMXActionOnline, employs a similar strategy. He chats up folks at the track, all the while with the agenda of getting them out racing.

Check out Matt’s latest success story:

I met Malcolm at the Fresno Nationals last year. His kid races 13 challenger. We got to talking and he loves bikes, but never considered BMX until he saw us gray beards having so much fun. I dropped some science on him and figured he would do what he will with the advice.

Fast forward to the start of this season… there he is with a craigslist bike, a license, turning hot laps, and getting a ton of encouragement from his son. He admits to having a long way to go (his gates are horrid, natch), but through sheer force of early (and maximum) participation–He is currently leading the state series in 50-54 cruiser!

Nice going Matt (and Malcolm)!

Could it be that easy?

I think so.

I’ve had a few instances myself where friends and friends of friends have approaching me and inquired about getting a bike. Usually it starts with, “I see how much fun you’re having…”

So if you’re concerned about “growing the sport”…talk to your friends about BMX…and build them a bike if you have spare parts lying around.

Spread the word and get your friends out riding. Once you do that, this “growing the sport” business will take care of itself.

Comments : 9 Comments »
Tags: BMX Action, bmx racing, BMXActiononline.com, Chris Moeller, How to grow BMX, Matt Shelley, Mattyjo, Why isn't racing as popular as it was in the 80s?
Categories : goofiness, New School, Racing

Dee Snider just wanted to ride

7 06 2011

After rock stardom with Twisted Sister in the early 80s, Dee Snider had to find his kicks in other ways.

One of those ways was BMX.

Snider was a local at Coral Springs BMX in Florida in the early 90s and could be found there, week in and week out, getting his race on.

Dee Snider getting his race on

At the time, Dee was riding a Hutch cruiser but when Chris Moeller at S&M got wind of the rocker’s involvement in BMX, the two ended up collaborating on a signature frame called the Widowmaker (that I posted on recently).

Kind of crazy when you think about it.

Imagine getting up on the gate…and Dee F’n Snider (!) is lined up next to you?

Madness.

(Photo credit: Planet BMX/Color Tuffs Facebook page)

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: BMX Cruiser, Chris Moeller, colored tuffs, Coral Springs BMX, Dee Snider, Planet BMX, S&M bikes, S&M Widowmaker frame, Twisted Sister
Categories : goofiness, Old School, Racing, Trails/Jumping

Goldilocks and the three Redlines

1 06 2011

My apologies to fans of the classic tale.

One early summer morning, when the Redline engineers were away on a team-building exercise, Goldilocks wandered into the Redline bike design area after seeing an open door off to the side of Redline’s corporate offices. A bike enthusiast by nature, she decided to walk around and look at the wide array of cycling goodies in the room.

As she strolled through the bikes, she tried on some of the gear that was on display and occasionally pulled on a brake lever or two to test the brakes of the bikes (it was something she did almost instinctively when she was checking out bikes at bike shops).

Goldilocks looks for a Redline that's just right

Growing restless, she was about to leave when she saw the 20″ Redline Device in the corner. “Wow, what a nice bike” she said aloud, “but a little undersized for my tastes.”

She put the bike down and wandered down another aisle. There she spotted another Device, the 26″ version. “Hmmm,” she thought to herself, “nice, but this seems a little too big.” She leaned it back against the wall where it was standing and looking around some more.

“You know what would be ‘just right’?, she said to no one in particular, “A 24″ Device“.

Just then, the door to the room opened and the main lights were flicked on, “What’s going on here?”

(Like this story, the 24″ Redline Device is a pure fantasy…but should it be?…a 24″ Device is a bike that should be in Redline’s lineup.)

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: 24" Redline Device, 26" Redline Device, brake lever, Goldilocks, Redline bicycles, Redline Device
Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, New products, New School, shenanigans, Tomfoolery

Weigh in…can a bike be too light?

18 05 2011

Racers tend to be the the most weight-conscious in the BMX world. But these days, everyone tends to have a little “weight-weenie” in them. Have we all gone overboard?

How concerned are you about your bike’s weight?

Weigh in with your thoughts.

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: bike weight, BMX racers, BMX weight weenies, BMX World, Importance of bike weight, weight weenie
Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, Racing, shenanigans, Tomfoolery

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

I wanna rock…an S&M Widowmaker

5 05 2011

Sometime in the early 90s, a metal band lead singer (that hit the big time a decade earlier) got together with a little bike company called S&M Bikes and the S&M Widowmaker was born.

The lead singer? Dee Snider from Twister Sister.

Here’s a excerpt from the news section of the February 1993 edition of Ride Magazine with some more background.

There was an extremely short run of these made so prices commanded for these rigs has understandably gone through the roof.

Love the graphics:

Especially this one:

All in all, pretty cool.

If you want to learn more about the S&M Widowmaker, check out ryanpartridge.blogspot.com (where these pictures are taken from) or BMX Museum.

If you just want to rock out, maybe you should try to relive Dee Snider’s glory days and check out this video.

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: BMX Museum, Dee Snider, Heavy metal, I wanna rock, Ride Magazine, ryan patridge, S&M bikes, S&M Widowmaker, S&M Widowmaker cruiser, Twisted Sister
Categories : goofiness, Old School, Racing, Tomfoolery, Trails/Jumping

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

BMX racing goes to the dogs

29 04 2011

Aluminum frames, carbon fiber forks, clipless pedals…all have been adopted by the racing community in the quest for victory.

When mere equipment upgrades are not enough, some turn to intense fitness regimes and (gasp!) performance-enhancing drugs.

But it takes more to be a champion.

What it takes is heart….and perhaps four quick moving paws.

Calleigh the BMX dog demonstrates.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Aluminum frames, bmx racing, Calleigh the BMX dog, carbon fiber forks, clipless pedals, Kingston BMX, performance enhancing drugs in BMX
Categories : goofiness, Racing, shenanigans, Tomfoolery

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

Not just a pretty face

25 03 2011

If you’re on Facebook and you’re interested in some (almost) daily 24″ news and BMX-related shenanigans, you should definitely check out (and ‘like’) the Cruiser Revolution Facebook page.

In addition to links to current posts, you’ll also find reader bike photos (don’t forget to post your own), cool videos, and other assorted fun stuff.

It’s just another way to get your fix of 24″ BMX news and information.