2 things you must do before the Grands

19 11 2015

Here we are.

A week before the USA BMX Grand Nationals.

There’s already been the obligatory top ten list of things to do before the Grands article on another media outlet.

Videos popping up to get people hyped.

So…what are (in my opinion) the top 2 things to do before you attend the Grands?

  1. Reconsider
  2. Head to Cleveland and ride Rays MTB* instead.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m as big a fan of BMX racing as the next guy.

But when you start to run the numbers a bit, the “bang for buck”, or more appropriately “bang per lap” does not add up.

usa bmx t-shirt

Budgeting…what is it now?…$50 per class? You’re paying a pretty hefty premium for your less than handful of  laps around the track.

Compare that with riding at a bike park like Rays*…you can ride all freaking day for under $30. Your energy will run out before your time will.

What’s that you say?

It’s about “the experience” you say.

Hmm….so you’re traveling to the Grands to see some BMX stars?

Well, friends any number of BMX stars make their way down to the bike parks…you just never know who’s going to be there. That’s not to mention the local rippers and riders that regularly make the roadtrip to shred.

Want to score some good deals on bike parts? If the selection of bike parts on the display at the bike park doesn’t satisfy you…why not order some Black Friday deals from Dans or Empire back to your hotel room? C’mon now.

Speaking of which…riding at Rays helps you score a 1/2 price room at couple of hotels in Cleveland (other bike parks have similar deals). Haven’t seen a listing on BMXHotels.com that’s as economical as that.

And the Saturday night Pro Championship?

Well, I guess you might miss out on that.

But since you’re in Cleveland, that means you can make your way out to a Cavaliars game…and while he may not have Sam W‘s winning smile, LeBron definitely knows how to get some airtime.

In the end, it’s up to you.

This is just my modest proposal.

Save some bucks and have more time/fun on your bike?

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

*Yes, there other great bike parks in other cities (check out this post for a list of most of them) …I chose Rays for simplicity’s sake)


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Categories : Racing, Tomfoolery

26″ Skyway T/A is alright for wheelies

6 11 2015

News and “sneak peek” shots of the 26″ Skyway T/A continue to show up on the various social media feeds.

Here’s a nice shot of it that I spotted earlier today (on Ed Ferri’s feed, I believe).

skyway ta 26inch prototype night

We’ve also got word on what the geometry is (at least for now, in the prototype stages).

At the moment, we’re looking at the following:

  • Top tube: 22.69″
  • Head angle: 71.5°
  • Seat angle: 70.5°
  • Chain stay: 17″
  • Bottom bracket: 11.72″

According to this video (that also just got posted in the last day or so), this geo gives it a “race-y” feel…and also apparently, makes it quite easy to wheelie.


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Categories : New products, Old School, Racing

Six Six race bar: DK goes bigger

21 10 2015

To borrow (yet again) the phraseology of a rapper I hold in high regard, Sir Mix-A-Lot, I like big bars, I cannot lie.

And as a fan of bigger/taller bars, it warms my heart to see bike companies offering, more and more, taller options.

The sub-6″ bar was the standard on race cruisers for far too long (see Traditional cruiser bars: who needs ’em?)

And while some race purists will argue that lower bars are necessary, our  in-field testing with Matty Jo Shelley showed that bigger bars offered advantages to the race gang too.

All that is just prelude to me saying that I’m stoked to see DK is now offering a taller aftermarket race bar for the cruiser rider.

DK Six Six Cruiser Bars

The DK Six Six handlebar are a 6.6″ race bar with minimal sweep.

Available in chrome or black, they are 100% 4130 Multi-butted (11 count) Chromoly with a knurled clamp area. They also feature a hourglass-tapered crossbar.

The rest of the specs:

  • 29”wide
  • 2° upsweep and 7° backsweep
  • 762 g. weight

(And for those riding a new school/freestyle 24″, there is also a 8.6″ version available as well.)


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Categories : New products, New School, Racing

First look: DK’s 2016 race cruisers

15 10 2015

DK Bikes unveiled their 2016 race cruisers recently, so it’s only fitting we take a look and see what’s up for the new year.

In terms of colorways, these 24s are looking on point.

Especially the Elite Cruiser.

The Elite sports a super cool nickel finish (It’s a silver over black base, so you get a dark silver look).

Copyright DK Bicycles 2015

In terms of components, DK has retained much of the winning elements of the 2015 version but made a couple of tweaks to dial it in for 2016.  Most notable of those tweaks is the new 20mm BOX rear hub (it was a DK hub last year).

The “wallet-friendly” Sprinter cruiser also gets an update to its colorway. It’s now available in a bright flo (neon) green.

Copyright DK Bicycles 2015

The components also got an updating…in two important areas.

The tires get an upgrade to the more modern Arisun XLR8 tires (24 x 1.75) and the rear hub is now cassette.

I’m liking the looks of these two.

Frame Geometry (Elite)

Head Angle 73°

Seat Tube 72°

Top tube: 22”

Chain stay 15.25″

Bottom Bracket: 5mm over axle line, stock it sits around 12.1”

Frame Geometry (Sprinter)

Head Angle: 73°

Seat Tube: 72°

Top tube: 21.75″

Chain stay: 15.25”

Bottom Bracket: 5mm over axle line, stock it sits around 11.8”

Full Specs

Elite

Sprinter


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Categories : New products, New School, Racing

Lifer: Alfred “Big Al” Freeman

9 10 2015

If you haven’t checked out the LIFERS video series put out by Hippie Josh yet…you’re missing out.

It’s billed as a video series “featuring riders whose desire and dedication is unrivaled. The Hardest of the Hardcore… Lifers who bleed BMX”.

It definitely lives up to that billing.

One episode that caught my eye recently is the one that showcased Alfred “Big Al” Freeman. An Austin OG, Big Al has a passion for BMX…and racing in particular.

It’s cool to hear about his start in the sport (at a relatively later age than most riders) and how much of riding is mental.

You can really see how much fun he’s having…and how that has influenced his longevity in the sport.

Can’t help but smile after seeing this.


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Categories : Racing, Trails/Jumping

Old Guy Mains from the Canadian Grands

7 10 2015

The Canadian Grands — the big show in Canadian BMX racing — went down this weekend in Chilliwack, BC.

If you missed the live feed, you’re in luck…BMX Fan filmed some of the older cruiser classes and posted the main event action.

Check it out in the video below.

Pretty stoked on the 61 and over class…Still given’r in their 60s!

Finer role models I have never seen.


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BMX Race cruisers at Interbike

24 09 2015

While not as big a showing as previous years, Interbike did have its share of BMX race cruisers on display this year.

Probably the most eye-catching was the Free Agent Limo. Featuring a bright colorway (compared to more recent years) and a new fork (I think) this is FA’s flagship race cruiser and it looks every bit the part.

Free Agent Limo 24 Interbike

Over at Redline, the workhouse of the race lineup, the Redline Proline 24 was on display. Solid, bang-for-your-buck race machinery right there.

Redline Proline 24 Interbike

At Hyper, it looks like the oil-slick colorway lives on (I kinda think it might be past its due date tho) with a 24″ kitted out with Snafu components.

Hyper 24 Interbike

At GT, the entry-level 24″ Mach One was on display. I was kinda hoping to see the Speed Series Pro 24 in the booth…but alas, they only had the 20″ version. I do dig that copper on white colorway on the Speed Series Pro 24.

GT Mach One 24 Interbike


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The not so usual suspects

23 09 2015

There were a couple of noteworthy things I spotted on the periphery of my “cruiser-oriented lens” at Interbike this year.

One was The Dash from Bombtrack Bicycle Company (an outfit connected with We The People).

It’s billed as a “fixed freestyle street weapon” but can be converted into an “urban 26″ single-speed machine”.

In other words, a cruiser then?

This is a real nice-looking machine.

Bombtrack Dash Interbike

Full cro-mo frame, fork and bars with a liberal sprinkling of Salt components. The tan tires, remininscent of the new, limited edition tan Stolen Joint tires are the icing on the cake.

You can definitely see the BMX influence on this bike and it might be an option to consider if you swap out the fixed driver with a cassette (I think it comes with a removable brakes, even though they’re not on the display).

On the smaller end of things, GT had a race bike built up with then new OS20 wheels they’ve been experimenting with for some time (see this previous Mike Day post for more details).

GT OS20 Interbike

While it seems a bit odd that the racing side of things can’t fully embrace the current wave of enthusiasm for 22″ bikes (in the freestyle/trails side of BMX) due to an arbritary…and dare I say it…archaic mandatory wheel size standard. It was definitely cool to see this bike built up with the new wheel size just skirting 22″.

On a side note, I have heard that you might be able to get the OS20 wheels to work on some of the mid school-era trails frames — with the longer dropouts —  so I’m curious to see if people might start experimenting with these new wheels on old frames sitting around. It would be a neat thing to try out.

So, a couple things outside of the “cruiser mileu”…but two things that definitely have some cross-over elements into this part of riding.


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Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Racing

Scoping out the GT Speed Series Pro 24

9 09 2015

GT  really stepped up the looks of their high-end race cruiser, the Speed Series Pro 24, for 2016.

Starting out with a classic white frame, it’s set off by a nice mix of copper ano components…a nice modern touch we’ve seen more recently on the Redline Asset 24.

That being said, the frame is classic in color only. There’s a lot going on beneath that white colorway.

2016 GT Speed Series

We’re talking alloy hydro-formed and butted tubes, internal quick release seat clamp wedge, a CNC/forged quick change dropout system, BB30, and a tapered 1-1/8″-1-1/2″ integrated head tube. Paired with a set of tapered GT Pro Race Forks, this is a nice starting point for a tricked out speed machine.

Geometry-wise, the Speed Series Pro 24 lines up as follows:

  • Top Tube: 21.8″
  • Head Angle: 73 degrees
  • Seat Angle: 70 degrees
  • Bottom Bracket: 11.7″

Kitted out with a mix of GT, ProMax and Alienation components this bike is ready for battle.

The cool colorway, white & copper, initially caught my eye but this bike has a lot more going for it than its good looks…GT has really put some innovative thinking into this bike (especially the frame) and it’s definitely worth a second look.


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Scott Towne’s sorta bike check

31 08 2015

You might remember a post from a while back where we learned that Scott Towne was rollin’ on a Stolen 24.

Well, Scott’s been visiting the race track as of late, so he’s gone out and got himself a proper race rig.

His choice?

DK’s top-of-the-line Elite Cruiser (by way of Matt Bischoff).

scott towne race rig

A great bike, ready to race, “right out of the box”…as the bike industry is apt to say.

What caught my eye though, were the modifications he made to it.

Otherwise a stock bike, Scott says

[He] had to make a couple tweaks (daddy doesn’t do carbon forks) and of course, taller bars…

A man after my own heart!

Traditional cruiser bars: who needs ’em?

And not “doing carbon forks”?

I’ve mused before over whether BMX should or should not reduce its carbon footprint. I have considered using carbon in the past but in the end have always stuck with chromoly.

Good old fashioned chromoly forks.

(Don’t call it a comeback…they’ve been serving us well for years).

Scott definitely has a sweet a ride with mods that I can only say are “cruiser revolution-approved.” (For further, evidence peep my race ride here, to see a similar set up…DK frame, cro-mo forks and big bars….we’re birds of a feather apparently…)

For more on Scott, check out his Tumbler and Instagram accounts for daily updates on his biking-related exploits/riding adventures.


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Categories : New School, Racing

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