Racing | cruiser revolution

Redline reboots the PL-24 as a 26″

17 04 2015

Redline has let the cat out of the bag…they’re rebooting the iconic PL-24 as a 26″ cruiser. In their words, with a “modern take on the classic.”

Do you think that “modern take” extends to the geometry? We’ll have to see.

If you’re in Monterey for the Sea Otter Classic this weekend, get yourself a sneak peek at the Redline booth where it will be on display. (And if you do happen to be there…be a pal and get some more deets and photos for us, OK?)

Here’s a pic of the PL-26 that Redline has been sharing on social media.

And here’s a look at the original Redline PL-24, taken from the pages of the legendary BMX Action magazine.

Those levers, tho.

Zoot scootin’ indeed.

Update:

New photo that Redline has been circulating.

Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: BMX Action magazine, Redline bicycles, Redline PL-24, Redline PL-26, Sea Otter Classic, sneak peek
Categories : New products, Old School, Racing

Win from lane 8, double the prize money

15 04 2015

While most BMX racing rule changes are met (at least by me) with expressions of frustration…or at best, a barely suppressed yawn…the new UCI “Double Dice” rule is something that has made me sit up and take notice.

UCI BMX and Elite Trax, are adding a new spin to the Pro payout for the 2015 Supercross series:

Doubling the prize money for anybody winning from lane 8!

This has the potential to do some really interesting things to Pro main events. Race strategy/training is definitely going be thrown for a loop. For starters, we’re going to see a heck of a lot more high-low passes in the first turn!

Granted, this has little effect on the cruiser classes for now but I’m curious to see if this kind of incentive filters down to other races and categories.

In any event, Pro BMX racing just got a whole lot more interesting this year.

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Tags: Double Dice BMX racing, Elite Trax, Pro BMX racing, Supercross BMX, UCI BMX
Categories : Racing

Sneak Peek: CCH 26-inch cruiser frame

8 04 2015

Now even further evidence that 26″ cruisers are having their moment in the sun.

CCH Bicycles put out the word yesterday (which you might have seen on the CR Facebook page) that they’re doing a small run of 26″ race cruisers.

CCH is already well known for their 24″ cruisers. This is the first time they are offering a cruiser in the 26″ wheel size.

Here’s how the specs break down:

Head Angle: 73 degrees

Seat Angle: 71 degrees

Top Tube: 22.5″

Bottom Bracket: 12″

Rear Seat Stay: 16″ (center to center)

Head tube: integrated

Fabricated in Southern California out of 6061 aluminum, they are backed by a lifetime guarantee (when the frame is registered on the CCH website).

A cool-looking frame, life-time warranty and made in the USA…that’s pretty hard to beat.

Watch for these to become available in the next three weeks. Until then, hit up the CCH folks for all the particulars.

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Tags: CCH 26" cruiser frame, CCH bicycles
Categories : New products, New School, Racing

Shades of GHP

5 03 2015

While poking around the hipster haven, American Outfitters, recently (don’t judge me, I was whiling away time between appointments) I spotted this little gem.

A jersey by clothing brand, Stüssy.

And maybe it’s because I have been around BMX so long, but my internal dialogue when I saw this was…”That sure does remind me of something…wait a minute…those classic GHP jerseys!”

Have I told you I’m a BMX nerd?

It’s not so much the colors they use (they’re totally different), it’s the typeface/graphic on the front.

Check out this jersey for comparison sake.

Same vibe, no?

Or check out this version, which I believe is the original iteration, back when Greg Hill first launched GHP.

While I can’t say whether or not Stussy was influenced by GHP’s iconic jersey (my guess is “not”), it’s still pretty cool to see a jersey with this kind of old school look.

That being said, Stussy has participated in a number of cool, retro-inspired BMX collabs over the years.

Most notably (at least to the readers of this fair website) is the Stussy & W-Base How I Roll 26-inch cruiser.

I’m intrigued to see if this is the start of even more retro-inspired BMX creations from Stussy.

I’m going to keep on the lookout.

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Categories : New products, Old School, Racing

Stompin’ Stu Thomsen slays the trails

3 03 2015

Stu Thomsen cause a bit of a sensation recently when he returned to the race scene–in old school SE colors, no less–at a USA BMX national in Phoenix.

Stu took home the win in his cruiser class, showing that he still has the horsepower to whup his fellow racers.

But perhaps even cooler than his still awesome racing skills, is his versatility and ability to ride at a high level in so many different types of bike riding.

He was one of the first guys to get coverage riding skateparks in the early days of BMX….and he’s certainly no slouch on a road or mountain bike either.

That’s why I got a little stoked to see a picture surface, right after the Phoenix race, of Stu gettin’ trails-y at the Oakley pumptrack.

With so much of the BMX scene broken down into subgroups these days: trails riders, racers, street riders…it’s nice to see someone like Stu showing people the simple truth…it’s all just riding.

It’s a notion that seems to have been lost over the years…run whatcha brung and have a damn good time doing it.

(Photo credit: SE Bikes)

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: It's all just riding, Oakley pumptrack, SE Racing, Stompin' Stu Thomsen, Stu Thomsen
Categories : Old School, Racing, Trails, Trails/Jumping

BMX goes back to the future

23 02 2015

It’s almost like they never went away.

Stu Thomsen, Greg Hill and Harry Leary all showed up at the USA BMX Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona (this past weekend) ready to race.

It’s not often that a single race would see all three of these BMX legends suit up, ready to snap gates and bang elbows.

Which made this weekend pretty special.

Stu Thomsen even took a first in cruiser!

Now, if we can get just guys like Pete Loncarevich, Eric Rupe and Turnell Henry in the gate with them for an epic cruiser showdown…

Well, then I think we could have the battle of the BMX ages.

(Photo credits: @probmxer1, MJT & SE Bikes)

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: bmx racing, Eric Rupe, Greg Hill, Harry Leary, Pete Loncarevich, Stu Thomsen, Turnell Henry
Categories : Old School, Racing

Carbon footprint in cruisers gets bigger

11 02 2015

The move to carbon frames has been very pronounced lately, specifically in the 20″ versions of high-end race bikes.

Cruisers have been a bit of an afterthought (if that) with the exception of the Prophecy Scud 24.

Maybe that’s beginning to change.

EpiK Carbon Products dropped the news the other day that they are going to be releasing a limited run of 24″ cruiser rims in March.

Sounds pretty interesting.

If anyone picks up a pair, I would love to hear how they perform.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Carbon cruiser wheels, EpiK Carbon Products, Prophecy Scud 24
Categories : New products, New School, Racing

Huge indoor park opening in Vegas

12 11 2014

While there have been rumblings about an indoor park opening in Las Vegas before, it now looks likes it’s finally happening.

SK8XTC, what the new park is called, will cater to skateboarders, BMX riders and inline types. The features and amenities include dirt riding areas, concrete bowls, a BMX SX track and a whole lot more. There’s even a sushi restaurant planned!

Seems pretty over the top…but then again, where else but Vegas could something like this fly?

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Indoor bike park, Las Vegas, SK8XTC
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Racing, Skatepark, street, Trails/Jumping

Sisters are doing it for themselves

28 10 2014

In a bold move, the Elite Women racing the upcoming USABMX Grand Nationals are crowdsourcing a pro purse payout equal to the men’s class.

The Elite Women are raising these funds by selling t-shirts representing all the big names that make up the class: Post, Walsh, Pajon…the list goes on.

If you have been following BMX racing for any length of time you know that the women’s class has historically seen smaller payouts than the men.

Many reasons have been given to explain this: a smaller pool of riders, women’s racing being “less exciting”, etc.

All explanations that reflect a bit of circular reasoning…Could the fact that the pro purses are so much smaller be the reason that less women pursue a pro BMX career? Would bigger payouts make the racing more exciting…garnering more participants and closer, more intense racing?

I think we’re about to find out.

The Elite Women are really onto something here. Their goal is to sell 600 shirts…and I think they may just do it.