Old School BMX Reunion Recap

26 04 2013

For the past 5 years, Steve Swope has been an hosting an event called the Old School BMX Reunion at Woodward West.

It’s basically a chance for old school BMX heroes and old regular BMX Joes to get together and celebrate BMX.  It went down last week and it looks like it was a super fun time.

Trent Brocker has been attending for a while now and he (along with his friend, Dennis Dowling) managed to snap a few pics from the weekend.

Check ’em out.

Trent ramp riding (pic by Dennis Dowling)

Trent Brocker Old School BMX Reunion 2013

Here’s one of flatlander James McGraw tearing things up on Trent’s Wave-C.

James McGraw on Trent Brocker's Wave-C

And another one of James McGraw.

James McGraw on Trent Brocker's 24

To get a sense of what this weekend is all about, check out DionRidesBikes to get the perspective from someone attending the event for the first time. (Let’s just say, I think Dion is going to be attending every year from now on.)

For more on the event, check out this video from DionRidesBikes.

http://vimeo.com/64426395#


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Categories : Flatlan, Freestyle, New School, Old School, shenanigans, Skatepark, Tomfoolery, Uncategorized

The secret to a good BMX name? It’s the S

24 04 2013

In an article called The 50 Greatest BMX Logos, which ran in Complex magazine a couple of years ago, Taj Mihelich said,

There is definitely some connection between lightning and BMX. You can find lightning bolts on all kinds of BMX imagery. I think that maybe the very bones of BMX, chromoly steel, can only be created by a direct lightning strike.

This connection is especially true of BMX images from the 80s but still seems to noticeable to a certain extent today.

In a similar fashion, BMX is made up of a disproportionate number of brands that start with the letter “S”.

Maybe it’s due to the sport getting it’s start with kids riding Schwinn Sting Rays but it’s a little crazy how long the list is when you start to think about it.

Superman-Images

Just off the top of my head, there is:

  • SE
  • Skyway
  • S&M
  • Standard
  • Sunday
  • Stolen
  • Supercross
  • Speed
  • Solid
  • Staats
  • Subrosa

Even in my own personal stable, I also see the effects of this trend…I have, over the past couple of years, been on  S&M, Sunday, SE, and Standard bikes.

S&M jersey with lightening bolts

I guess if you’re looking to start a BMX brand some time in the future, stack the odds in your favor with a name that starts with “S”…and maybe throw in some lightning bolts into the logo for good measure.


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Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, goofiness, Racing, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping

Wayne Keller works in his new ramp setup

15 04 2013

Wayne Keller finds a fun line to test out his new ramp setup.

wayne-keller-air-to-tap-comp

(Cool sequence shot posted this past weekend on Wayne’s blog, carrot bag.)


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, Skatepark

Mike Leonard airing out

10 04 2013

Mike Leonard has been stepping up his game lately and it’s starting to show with some cool riding pictures popping up from his homebase in the Las Vegas area.

Here’s a cool shot taken by his good friend and riding buddy, Sal Alvarado.

Airing out of the world famous Dick n Balls bowl at Pro Park, this pic has style all over it.

Mike Leonard airing out

And now receiving support from Tribute Bikes, Mike makes sure to tilt his wheel just so to highlight the Tribute STP Forks he’s running. A true professional.


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, Skatepark

Whip it good

15 03 2013

A giant-sized tailwhip worthy of his name…SE Bikes’ Big Daddy aboard the 26″ OM Flyer.

Radness.

Big Daddy Whip on 26in OM Flyer


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Skatepark, Tomfoolery

St. Patrick’s Day session at Ray’s MTB

13 03 2013

I’m heading down to Ray’s MTB in Cleveland this weekend for a St. Patrick’s Day session.

So if you’re in the area on March 17, come on out and let’s go ride!

I may or may not be busting out a green outfit for the occasion but I’m pretty confident that a Shamrock shake (or two) will be consumed over the course of the weekend.

Looking forward to a good session…Ray’s MTB is always a good time!

stPatricks

Not sure who this is but she really seems to enjoy Guinness

(Some people just can’t wait to celebrate St. Paddy’s!)


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, shenanigans, Skatepark, Trails/Jumping

Good times at the Toronto BMX Jam

6 03 2013

It’s been a couple days and I’m still riding the high from another great Toronto BMX Jam.

An annual tradition for me (and many other riders), it’s become amongst other things: a chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, shop for deals on parts (it’s partnered with the Toronto International Bicycle Show) and….oh yeah…check out some awesome riding.

Despite local favorite, Drew Bezanson, being unable to ride due to injury sustained earlier in the week riding Joyride 150, there was still a whole field of riders just killing it all week long (as you can see from the video).

Joe Cicman of TwoFourFlat fame was also in the house riding in the flatland comp (on his 20″). We had a chance to chat briefly and it sounds like the next installment of the TwoFourFlat series is going to be one worth waiting for! Can’t wait.

And even though weather was freezing over the weekend, the Toronto BMX Jam also means that spring is just around the corner and that always seems to be the icing on the cake. The weather forecast is already calling for warmer temps by the end of the week.

Good times.


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Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, New products, New School, Skatepark, street

There’s a BMX storm brewing

28 02 2013

This winter has been unrelenting in terms of storms, cold temps and all around crappy conditions.

BMXers in the northeast have been hit particularly hard by this nasty weather and are collectively just about ready to say good riddance to old man winter.

Thankfully, this weekend brings two big events that will put a spring in the step of BMXers of just about every stripe in the northeast.

The first is the annual Toronto BMX Jam.  The unofficial kickoff to the contest season and an excuse for BMXers to get a bit of a BMX party going on, the Toronto BMX Jam is a contest that gets people’s stoke factor to go off the charts. Set up as part of the Toronto International Bicycle show (kind of like a mini-Interbike), it features the Toronto BMX Jam, a flatland contest, indoor racing (mostly MTB these days) and a jumping competition.

The riding is unbelievable, the crowd is loud and chances are that you’ll run into riding buddies you haven’t seen for ages.  So much fun. I’ll be there Saturday and Sunday and if you have the chance I hope you will too…this is one of the most fun BMX events of the year.

drew-bezanson-toronto-jam1

Did I mention the riding is unbelievable? Check out this clip from the finals last year.

The second big event is at Ray’s MTB Cleveland.

This coming weekend they will be hosting 3 (really) big names in BMX: Rick Moliterno, Harry Leary and Stu Thomsen.

Rays HOTS_Slide_Thomsen_Leary_Moliterno

That’s almost BMX royalty right there!

If you’re a BMX nerd like me, you know those guys have some stories to tell. Much respect for those dudes.

So if winter has got you down, these events might be the cure for what ails you. Check ’em out if you get a chance.


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Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, Skatepark, street, Tomfoolery

2B or not 2B: the return of Leigh & Hal B

20 02 2013

If you rode in the 90s, chances are you probably wore a 2B Homecooked, Play or Useless t-shirt.

And a some point, you  probably sported a Play clothing sticker on your bike.

And if you went to contests, you probably made it out to at least one Play contest.

In my case, I’m guilty of all three.

2B Play

Play (and its predecessor 2B Homecooked) along with Useless, represented a more carefree time in BMX…before all the Dew Tours and X-Games madness took hold.

When Hal Brindley and Leigh Ramsdell decided to pursue other things, a little bit of that era went with them.

Check them out back in the 1998 in this classic ad for Props:

A couple of goofballs to be sure, but it was so fun you couldn’t help but be stoked on it.

Now,  it looks like Hal and Leigh are “getting the band back together”  to start printing some of those iconic t-shirts again.

They’re setting up shop under the oldscool banner but it looks like all the old favorites are coming back.

Looking forward to replacing my long-gone, but dearly missed, “I love sweet corn” tee.

For more information on what Hal and Leigh are up to, check out oldscoolbmx.com


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Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, New products, Old School, shenanigans, Skatepark, street, Tomfoolery, Trails, Trails/Jumping

Subrosa DTT torture-testing continues

29 01 2013

Wayne Keller continues to put his Subrosa DTT prototype through its paces.  This past weekend he sent over this cool tabletop shot taken at his backyard ramp (photo credit: Ed Rusch).

wayne keller table dtt

Obviously, he knows I have a weakness for a good tabletop shot.

And, in the spirit of celebrating classic moves from begone eras, Wayne has also been spotted busting out a move that doesn’t get the respect it deserves…the infamous Grizz Air. Josh White would be proud.

subrosa-dtt-cruiser-griz-24-double-top-tube-wayne-keller

Still no word yet on final specs of the DTT but rest assured once they’re released, we’ll have them here.


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Categories : Freestyle, goofiness, New products, New School, Old School, Skatepark

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