It was through riding BMX that Joseph Moody discovered that he had cancer…and it was by riding BMX that he was able to beat it.
Moody pedalled the whole way through
22 01 2013Comments : 9 Comments »
Tags: Beating cancer by riding BMX, Joseph Moody, San Francisco
Categories : Freestyle, New School, street
Enjoy the great indoors this winter
19 01 2013Dealing with old man winter can really bring you down.
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in one of the sunshine states, have an indoor skatepark nearby (that allows bikes) or are down with practicing flatland maneuvers in parking garages, winter tends to force even the most rabid of bikers into a bit of forced hibernation.
And even if you have an indoor skatepark nearby, they’re often overrun by scooter kids, fruit booters and the like.
Thankfully in recent years, the indoor bike park concept has begun to take off. Usually with a “MTB” in the name, these parks have a little something for everyone…BMXers especially.
Let’s take a look at what some of these parks have going on.
Ray’s MTB
The original indoor bike park, Ray’s MTB is the one that all other bike parks are compared to….it’s basically the one that started it all. Created by Ray Petro as a way for him and his MTB buddies to escape Ohio’s cold winters it has grown to be an international destination for bikers from across the world. Tucked away in an old industrial building, it doesn’t look like much from the outside…but wow, is it ever fun inside. (Two locations: Cleveland & Milwaukee)
Joyride 150
Inspired at least partially by Ray’s MTB, some Canadian MTBers decided to put their own spin on the indoor bike concept and bring it over the border to a suburb just outside of Toronto, Ontario (Canada). Joyride 150 is also loads of fun and happens to be the closest one to Cruiser Revolution HQ so it’s also the one I happen to visit most often. Drew Bezanson filmed one of the craziest videos of 2012 here (and tends to hit the park on a semi-regular basis too) so you know this park has some fun stuff to ride.
http://vimeo.com/33575654#at=0
Cranx
Located in Syracuse, NY, Cranx is another good bike park. A pumptrack, jumpline, and a recently completed wooden bowl are just some of the highlights. It hasn’t been open that long but things are constantly being updated and refined. You can read more about Cranx in the recent post Cranx: shreddin’ in Syracuse. Definitely a great place to check out.
The Lumberyard
The Lumberyard brings the indoor bike park concept to Portland, Oregon. Haven’t been to this one yet but I definitely like what I see. Jump lines, pump tracks, and skatepark-style stuff make this another good one to put on your list of parks to check out. An interesting thing that the Lumberyard has is a full-service restaurant. Being able to get some BBQ and a beer or two after a good session seems pretty awesome.
What’s your favorite bike park?
Anybody planning a trip to one of these places?
Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: BMXers beating old man winter, Cranx Bike Park, Drew Bezanson at Joyride 150, indoor bike parks, joyride 150, Jump lines, pumptracks, Ray's MTB, The Lumberyard MTB
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, shenanigans, Skatepark, street, Trails/Jumping
4130 Subway Series hits the 3-year mark
12 01 2013Three years already…Wow.
The world famous 4130 Subway Series ride celebrates its 3-year anniversary tonight.
The 4130 Subway Series is pure BMX and that’s been the secret of its success. Looking back at a CR post talking about it in 2010, nothing’s changed:
….cruising the neighborhood with friends.
Nothing quite replaces the joy of roaming the streets, hitting spots and feeling free as you roll along on your bike.
The 4130 Club has captured all those things in their monthly rides.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a street rider, a racer, old school or new school…all are welcome and the positive vibe is contagious.
(Randy Franklin and me (Ed) all smiles at the 4130 Sin City Ride).
That being said, I’m kicking myself for not being down there with the 4130 Chromies for what I’m sure will be an epic ride.
I’m sure even while I’m typing this, people are already doing the final checks on their bikes and making their way down to the meet-up spot in Hollywood.
The main man behind the 4130 ride,The Mayor of Hollywood will be rolling on his sweet twin top tube Tribute 24, complete with a custom 3-year anniversary plate from Crit. (As you can see, Morty the guard dog will ensure no one messes with it before the ride begins.)
So if you’re riding tonight, be safe and have fun.
If you’re not riding, start thinking about when you can attend a 4130 ride in the future. This a must-do for any BMXer!
For more on the 4130 Subway Series, check out 4130 Subway Series is pure BMX and 4130subwayseries.com.
Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: 4130 Chromies, 4130 Subway Series, 4130 Subway Series Las Vegas, 4130 Subway Series ride, Morty, Randy Franklin, The Mayor of Hollywood, Tribute bikes
Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, shenanigans, Skatepark, street, Tomfoolery, Trails, Trails/Jumping
Something new from Subrosa
9 01 2013So this is what Wayne Keller‘s been so coy about.
Looks like he’s been rolling on a pre-production double-top tube Subrosa 24″ frame and Villicus fork.
Here’s a side-view pic of it in his shop:
And an advance look at some promotional material for it:
No word yet on geometry, specs or availability.
Subrosa has had some other 24s in their lineup in the past…like the Letum 24 and the Salvador. The Salvador was a bit of a disappointment to many…given its high-ten frame construction (check out For real, too much steel for more on this).
Has Subrosa stepped up their game this time? We’ll have to see.
What are thoughts on this new ride?
Comments : 13 Comments »
Tags: Double top tube Subrosa 24" frame, Subrosa Letum 24, Subrosa Salvador, Subrosa Villicus fork, Wayne Keller
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Old School, Skatepark, street, Trails/Jumping
What’s Wayne Keller on these days?
7 01 2013Wayne Keller dropped me a line this weekend to say he’s riding a new prototype frame that he’s pretty excited about.
The thing is, he’s being pretty coy about the details.
Here’s the first picture he sent me.
Hmm, not a lot to go on there.
In the mean time over at BMXMuseum, a friend of Wayne’s was suggesting that it was going to have a Redline RL-20II-ish vibe. This got my attention because the RL-20II was one my favorite frames back in the day.
Then a new spy photo of the frame’s top tube appears on Wayne’s blog . It certainly has top tube reminiscent of the RL-20II.
The plot thickens.
Wayne’s put out some great riding shots and video in the past, so I’m looking forward to seeing some pictures and video of him riding it.
The photo above is part of his backyard setup.
Fingers crossed we’ll see some action photos soon.
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: 24" BMX on half pipe, BMX Museum, prototype 24" frame, Redline RL-20II, Wayne Keller
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Old School, Skatepark, street
Top ten of 2012
31 12 2012Well, here we are.
Another year gone by.
Before we all head out to celebrate New Year’s Eve, let’s take a look at the top ten things that went down in 2012.
10. Skyway started off the year with news that they were releasing a 24″ version of their classic T/A frame and fork…but only in limited quantities. The frame & fork sold out in record time. Although there was some delay in getting it into customers hands, most will agree it was worth the wait.
9. The 22″ wheel movement took an interesting turn in February with the news that S&M was testing a prototype frame and tires. When this prototype turned into a bona fide offering from S&M later in the year, the 22″ option really started to take on some serious momentum.
8. The Gunslinger adjustable frame. This smaller company caught our attention this year with an innovative frame design that featured 3-position adjustable rear dropouts. Riders can tune the frame head angle and bottom bracket height to match their riding style.
7. Chromoly made a comeback to the race scene. More race companies started offering chromoly forks that were stiffer and lighter than the more expensive carbon fiber forks on the market. SSquared also put out a limited run of cro-mo frames.
6. Prophecy kept things interesting with news that they would be bringing a 24″ carbon frame to the market. (Perhaps more surprising was that Redline didn’t leverage what they had learned from Project 79 to make a 24″ version.)
6. DK parts at Wal-Mart. On a roadtrip to Ray’s MTB , I stopped in at a Walmart along the way and I was shocked to stumble on an aisle endcap stocked with DK parts and accessories. A little strange, but cool, that you can walk into a Walmart (in the U.S.) and pick up a DK Random Wrench.
5. After much anticipation, S&M unveiled its new Speedwagon race frame. Dropping the mono stay and putting the dropouts “on a diet.” They also got rid of the cable split cable stops and went with three guides. While sticking with the tried and true 38 Special geometry, they also introduced a 22″ top tube option, along with a sexy Trans Red finish.
4. MTB companies blurred the lines between MTB and BMX cruisers with offerings like the Transition Klunker and the DMR wrath. Will there be more convergence between the two disciplines in the future? My guess is yes but we’ll have to wait and see if the future bears that out.
3. Jim Cielencki put in work this year promoting 24 inch riding. Whether it was a shot of him riding a tight setup on his Sunday Wave-C or talking about it in an interview, Jim was out there spreading the word.
2. There was more choice than ever this year to find a bike to match your build and riding style. Whether you wanted to step up from a 20″ to a 22″, ride a dialed 24″ complete, build a custom 26″, or even bust out on a 29″ Big Ripper. There were options to help you make that happen.
1. Video really brought to the forefront how cruiser riders are pushing the envelope these days. Whether it was Joe Cicman and Danny Sirkin tearing things up with a 26″ Sledgehammer or doing deathtrucks on a 24″ Wave-C, Jon Faure taking on the MegaRamp (technically 2011 but discussed in 2012), Buddy Sardenga dirt jumping, or Gundar Osis and Kaspars Garda putting out one of the best race edits..ever.. In 2012, there was a video made to capture the action, whatever the type of riding you’re into.
http://vimeo.com/52034273
What will we see in 2013?
I dunno, but I can’t wait to find out.
Happy New Year!
Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: 24" Skyway TA, BMX Cruiser, Buddy Sardenga, Danny Sirkin, DK BMX parts at Walmart, DK Random Wrench, DMR Wrath, Gundar Osis, Gunslinger BMX, Jim C., Jim Cielencki, Joe Cicman, Jon Faure, Kaspars Garda, Prophecy carbon cruiser frame, S&M 22" BMX, S&M Speedwagon frame, SSquared chromoly frame, Sunday Wave-C, Top ten of 2012, Transition Klunker, Volume Sledgehammer
Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, New products, New School, Old School, Racing, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping
Are you wearing the right helmet?
18 12 2012With head injuries making the news so often these days, both with big-name riders and everyday joes, wearing a helmet when you ride just makes a whole lot of sense.
But not all helmets are created the same.
Aaron Cooke from the Athlete Recovery Fund (ARF), along with Mike “Hucker” Clark, Chad Kerley and Brandon Dosch, recently went to a test facility and got a quick answer to the question, “how does a non-certified helmet hold up under an impact?”
The answer? Not well.
Wearing a CPSC-certified helmet could mean the difference between walking away from a crash and a very severe injury (maybe even death).
Check your head. Then check your helmet. If it’s not CPSC-certified, maybe it’s time to get a new lid.
Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: Aaron Cooke, ARF, Athlete Recovery Fund, Brandon Dosch, Chad Kerley, check your head, CPSC BMX helmets, helmet safety, Mike Hucker Clark
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping
A ride with the Firemans Holiday Cruze
29 11 2012Stumbled across this video and thought I would share.
It’s a cool look at the 2010 Firemans Holiday Cruze, hosted by Firemans Texas Cruzer.
Austin has a healthy cruiser scene and this video shows its residents know that you don’t have to be busting out crazy moves to have a good time on your bike.
Fireman’s Cruze from EggMasterDuke on Vimeo.
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Austin, BMX Cruiser, Firemans Holiday Cruze, Firemans Texas Cruzer, Texas
Categories : Old School, street, Tomfoolery
Cranx: shreddin’ in Syracuse
22 11 2012Had a chance to ride Cranx Bike Park in Syracuse, New York a week and a half ago and came away smiling.
Built in the spirit of other indoor bike parks like Ray’s MTB and Joyride 150, it has a little something for everyone. From a pumptrack, to jump lines to skatepark/street setups to the newly opened bowl…you can amuse yourself for hours.
Which I did.
Showing up on an unseasonably warm day, the park wasn’t as busy as I suspected it might be at this time of year. But that didn’t take away from the fun of the session. Upon getting the usual paperwork handled (waivers, etc.) by Dale, I was told that Matt, one of the guys on staff there, would give me a tour and show me around.
Definitely a pleasant surprise….and definitely something more bike parks should do.
Matt was laid back and a great tour guide…giving tips on lines, pointing out “escape routes” (if you had to get out of harm’s way) and making sure I had a good feel for the park and what it had to offer.
This run in the bottom left of this group of photos was probably my favorite line in the place. Starting at an elevated part of the park it sent you down into a banked turn and than into another banked turn in the opposite direction with a couple small jumps thrown in for good measure. Once you get used to it and hit with a little speed it becomes superfun.
The wooden bowl was definitely a good time too.
Tons of stuff to ride for sure with many updates and refinements already in the planning stages. (An outdoor dirt jump area has already been roughed for example.)
In the event that you break a bike part or need something for your bike, there’s also a satellite store for local shop, Advance Cyclery (you can see a bit in the left side of the top photo) to help you out.
All in all, definitely a cool place to check out if you’re in the area.
Bonus tip: when you’re done riding and have built up a healthy appetite, check out Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in town. Billed as a “honky tonk rib joint” it is a must-see/stop if you’re into bar-b-que….sooo good!
Photo credit: all pics (except the top one) from Turndown’s photo album on the Cranx Facebook page
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: BMX jump lines, Cranx Bike Park, Indoor bike park, joyride 150, Ray's MTB, skatepark riding, Syracuse, Wooden bowl for bike riding
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Skatepark, street, Trails/Jumping, Uncategorized
Jim C’s been putting in work
16 11 2012Never a slouch in the riding department, Sunday Bike’s Jim Cielencki has busted out a couple of really good pics in the past few weeks.
The first one that caught my attention is one taken at the Fun, Fun, Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.
According to the caption that ran with the photo (taken by Sandy Carson) on the ESPN site, “This was one of the first flairs he has done on a 24″ bike in a few years, but he got it done with ease.”
No kidding.
The second is this carve on what looks like an almost impossible tranny (complete with skate stoppers at the bottom!).
Jim gets it done.
Great pics all around.
Not only do they show the high level that Jim’s riding at but also the versatility (and durability!) of the Wave C he’s doing these tricks on.
Hope to see more pics* like this.
*(and video…hint, hint)
Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: 24" BMX, Austin Texas, BMX Cruiser, ESPN, Fun, Fun Fest, Jim C., Jim Cielencki, Sandy Carson, Sunday bikes, Sunday Wave-C
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Skatepark, street
cruiser revolution 