22″ bike: could you lose a couple inches?

14 04 2010

Maybe Al Pacino’s character said it best On Any Sunday: “Life is a game of inches“.

This quote keeps coming to mind when I think about FACTION‘s 22 inch wheel bike.

It’s definitely an interesting concept. A sized up BMX bike, bigger than a standard 20 inch, smaller than a 24 inch cruiser.

Is it the future?

Hard to say…but my guess is probably not.

Is 22" the new black? Faction Zeitgeist bike

Some big-name riders have been quoted lending support to the concept. Guys like Eddie Fiola and Mat Hoffman have said they think it’s a cool, progressive concept. However, it’s interesting to note that Hoffman, despite owning a bike company, has never produced a 22 inch bike himself.

Does it make sense to come out with a new “standard” when there’s currently so much choice in 20 and 24 inch bikes? What happens if you break the forks or wreck a wheel? Seems like it would be a pain to get replacements.

What do you think?

Is a 22″ wheel  the answer for bigger guys?  Is it a good compromise between the 20 and 24 worlds? Can the BMX industry support a new wheel size?


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Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, street, Trails/Jumping

Is brakeless better?

25 03 2010

Brakeless riding is prevalent in just about every area of freestyle bmx these days….especially street riding. While definitely not as widespread in the 24″ scene, it is starting to creep in.

High-profile guys like Jim Bauer have been riding their 24s brakeless for a while now and more and more cruiser builds are showing up without brakes.

Brakeless advocates argue that going without brakes makes them better riders: smoother and more committed to making the trick rather than braking at the last minute.

Do you agree?

Is brakeless better for 24″ freestyle riding?

Is riding brakeless the secret to Jim Bauer‘s style?


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, street, Trails/Jumping

Jay Miron walks away from BMX

23 03 2010

In case you missed the big news this weekend, Jay Miron has sold Macneil Bikes and Ten Pack Distribution to his business partners, Darcy Saccucci and Jamie Macintosh. He’s also shut down the Metro Jam events. He’s walking away from BMX.

What can you say in a situation like this?

It seems too soon but you can’t knock the guy…he’s accomplished so many things and done so much for the BMX community.

Jay, thanks for the memories…and the 540 whips.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Jay Miron Macneil DVD“, posted with vodpod


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, street, Trails/Jumping

BMX superheroes at Woodward West

17 03 2010

Looks like Steve Swope is once again gathering the Superfriends (Old school BMX stars) at the Justice League (Woodward West)  to fight the forces of evil (for the Old School BMX Reunion).

The invite list features a “who’s who” of 80s BMX legends. Just check out the list of invitees for an instant Freestylin’ magazine flashback. Should be an awesome weekend…I’m really looking forward to checking out the photos and video from the event.

Former Plywood Hood, Brett Downs was there last year and clicked this sweet turndown on his Model-C to commemorate things.

Turndowns are just timeless, aren’t they?

It’s all going down Friday, April 2 – Sunday, April 4. Check out Kickstand BMX for all the details.

For more pictures from last year’s event, check out b dubbs photostream on flickr.

For the theme music I imagine them playing when they enter the building, click here.


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Categories : Freestyle, Old School, shenanigans, street, Tomfoolery, Trails/Jumping

KHE Mac 2s: light but do they last?

12 03 2010

These days it seems like everyone has a little bit of a “weight-weenie” in them.  It’s a far cry from the mid 90s when it seemed that all that mattered was strength (at least in the freestyle world), weight be damned.

For me, as long as things aren’t taken too far–like obsessively drilling out parts or sacrificing durability for a few grams–I’m all for saving weight wherever you can.  When looking to save weight, conventional wisdom says that reducing rotating weight is most important as it makes the most impact on performance…think wheels, tires, cranks, etc.

This stuff has been on my mind lately because I’ve seen a few cruiser builds recently with foldable KHE Mac 2s on them.

From what I’ve read about them they do make a big difference weight-wise: shaving a minimum of 200 grams per tire (in some cases a lot more) making a noticeable impact on how a bike rides. The tread is supposed to be nice too for park and other freestyle applications.

The downsides?

Cost for one. These babies are pricey. Depending on where you buy, they can be double the price of  a regular tire.

Another is durability. Some reviews suggest that these tires are more prone to punctures and the sidewalls don’t hold up. Other reviews say these concerns are overblown (pardon the pun) and that they hold up just fine as long as they are inflated to the recommend PSI.

Are they worth it?

I’m undecided.

But I would love to hear from anyone that has used these tires before. Are they worth the price?


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Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, street

Are you ready for this?

5 03 2010

Time to gas up the car, get a bus ticket or hop on a plane because it’s going to be non-stop BMX in Toronto this weekend. The Toronto International Bicycle Show is here and it includes a flatland contest, an old school indoor BMX race and the Toronto BMX Jam.

But is it really worth going?

Just check out this clip from last year’s Toronto BMX Jam to get an indication of what  goes down at this annual event.

Or maybe check out this video of Drew Bezanson that’s being blowing up the internet for the last day or two. If this is what he does for a video clip…imagine what he’s going to throw down in the contest.

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more about “FU-Cam Episode 1: Drew Bezanson“, posted with vodpod

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Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, street

Live after death: 24s aren’t done yet

2 03 2010

“The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Mark Twain


Despite showing  love for the cruiser in recent issues, BMX Plus! seems to have now sounded the death knell for the cruiser in their April 2010 issue in an article called Cruising into Oblivion: The Death of the 24.

It’s  actually kind of amusing however when you take a look at this sensationalist article in relation to the rest of the magazine. For instance, Redline has again seen fit to place a two-page ad for a cruiser in the magazine. And this time it is their top-of-the-line Flight Pro 24!  I’m going to go out on a limb and say there must be some kind of market for 24s to justify that kind of advertising.

And in their mailbag section, a reader writes in about racing Cruiser for two years, “…One thing led to another, and now I race a 24-inch Haro…”.

Are big ads and actual reader feedback not clear enough signs for Plus! that cruisers are alive and well?

Guys like Danny Caluag, Barry Nobles and George Goodall (who is  featured prominently in the Redline ad) are also keeping excitement alive in the National race scene.

And completely ignored by the article is the explosion in popularity of modern trails/park 24s…which I don’t have to convince you of, if you’re a regular visitor to this site.

The death of the 24?

Hardly.

We’re just getting started.


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Categories : Freestyle, New School, Old School, Racing, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping

…and now for the complete picture

25 02 2010

It’s here!

Probably the most widely (and wildly) anticipated 24″ complete has hit North America’s shores.

Sunday’s Model-C frame made waves in the 24/cruiser world last year… and now that it’s available as an affordable, well-spec’d  complete…well, let’s just say these things are going to go like hotcakes!

Most of the major mail order companies are in stock, so if you’ve been looking at picking one up, here’s your chance. Just don’t wait too long…trust me on that one.

(The Sunday Model-C complete as shown at Interbike.)

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Alienation now offers 24 inch rims

4 02 2010

Alienation BMX has joined the cruiser scene with a new 24 inch version of their jump/park/street Delinquent rim. They’re available in black, blue and red.  Noticeably absent is a gold anodized version. Maybe that will come later.

Still, great to see another company recognizing the need for aftermarket components for all the 24 inch BMX bikes out there.


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Categories : Freestyle, New products, street, Trails/Jumping

Don’t look back in anger

3 01 2010

I had grand plans of posting this look back at 2009 on new year’s day..but a bunch of friends were heading down to Joyride 150 for a session so I opted to go riding instead.  I figured you would understand.

What happened in 2009?

Let’s take a look at 10 things that made an impact on the 24″ BMX scene in 2009…

10. More choice, more parts Not only are more 24s available, more companies are stepping up with more parts like wheels, tires, etc.  Being able to get decent-sized handlebars is nice too.

9. Custom frames Want to have a frame made to order? Companies like FBM and S&M made things easier and more affordable than ever this year

8. Back to the future Old school Pros showed that they still got it…look no further than icons Stu Thomsen and Greg Hill

7. Bike shops Even in era when online retailers seem to dominate, a well-stocked shop with knowledgeable owners and staff is something that just can’t be beat. If you have one nearby, consider yourself lucky.

6. Racing I started racing again in winter 08/09 (after giving it up as teenager) and I was surprised at how much fun I had. Tracks are a lot better now than back in the day and the scene more chill.

5. UK bike mags It seems like all the best mags are coming out of the UK now. The fact that Fastlane runs cruiser bike checks  is pretty cool too.

4. Video parts 2009 saw 24’s showing up more often in videos

3. Age is just a number Riders in their 40s are kicking ass on their 24s

2. Anything a 20″ can do…  Today’s 24s can handle it all… it doesn’t matter if it’s the trails, track, park or flatland…a 24 can take care of business.

1. The Sunday Model-C This bike was everywhere this year…from the updated 24″ geometry to riders on Model-Cs taking things to the next level…Sunday shook things up in a big way this year.

What does 2010 have in store? I can’t wait to find out…

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more about “Sunday Bikes Trailer-Up, Up and Away“, posted with vodpod


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Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Old School, Racing, street, Trails/Jumping

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