cruiser revolution

Messing around in Texas

6 05 2013

By the time you read this, I’ll probably be somewhere between San Antonio and Austin, Texas (Have to see the Alamo after all).

I’m spending a week in Austin for a little R&R and to see the sights.

So if you happen across a guy (that resembles the dude in the photo below) asking for directions to 9th street, House Park or Empire BMX…that’s probably me.

If you have the inside line on some good BBQ, a good band playing or whatever…help a brother out and let me know in the comments below.

Any Austin recommendations are welcome.

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: 9th street, Austin Texas, Don't mess with Texas, Empire BMX, House Park, Messing around in Texas
Categories : goofiness, shenanigans, Skatepark, Tomfoolery, Trails/Jumping

22 & 24″ S&M ATF frames on the way

3 05 2013

S&M Bikes have been dropping hints recently about their latest prototypes: 22 and 24 inch versions of the popular ATF frame.

There’s some talk that the 22″ version may have a slacker head angle than the current 22″ Holmes frame and a longer top tube to make it more of a trails-y style frame.

No word yet on the specs of the 24″ model but I’m very interesting to see how it compares to the 24″ Dirt Bike.

Here’s a pic of the 22″ ATF prototype all built up:

Looking forward to hearing more about these two frames (especially the 24)!

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: 22" S&M ATF Frame, 22" S&M Holmes, 24" S&M ATF Frame, 24" S&M Dirt Bike, S&M Bikes prototype frame
Categories : Freestyle, New products, New School, Skatepark, street, Trails, Trails/Jumping

The Deadly Nightshades bike gang

1 05 2013

In a city with a mayor that is infamous for his anti-cycling stance, is it any wonder that some Toronto bicycle riders would start to feel like outlaws?

It’s been said that if biking were outlawed only outlaws would ride.

What’s a cyclist to do in this type of environment?

Well, a group of bike-loving Toronto girls have joined together and started a gang.

There’s nothing more outlaw than a gang, right?

But this is no ordinary gang.

This gang uses its notoriety and snazzy matching jackets to promote the group’s…uh…I mean gang’s artistic endeavors, which more often than not, have a biking-influenced flavor to them.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Deadly Nightshades.

http://vimeo.com/64448331

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: bicycle outlaws, The Deadly Nightshades, Toronto’s all-girl bike gang
Categories : shenanigans, Tomfoolery

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)

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

And another one of James McGraw.

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#

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Dennis Dowling, Dionridesbikes, James McGraw, Old School BMX reunion, Steve Swope, Trent Brocker, Wave-C, Woodward West
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.

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.

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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Tags: BMX brands, BMX brands that start with S, BMX logos, Complex Magazine, It's the S, lightning, lightning bolts, S&M bikes, Schwinn Sting Ray, SE Racing, Standard Bykes, Sunday bikes, Taj Mihelich
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.

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

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Air to tail tap, Ramp riding on 24" BMX, Wayne Keller
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.

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.

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: Dick n Balls bowl, Mike Leonard, Pro Park Las Vegas, Sal Alvarado, Tribute bikes, Tribute STP Forks
Categories : Freestyle, New School, Skatepark

Traveling Florida by cruiser

9 04 2013

Steve, a guy in the PlanetBMX shipping department, and Von (a good friend and fellow Floridian) left today for a couple hundred mile ride across the state of Florida on their cruisers.

Steve’s rolling on a Floval Flyer complete with Skyways and Von’s piloting a tricked-out S&M.

The plan is to make the epic ride, have some fun along the way and arrive at the 5th Annual Spring Fling in St Petersburg, Florida next Saturday.

You can follow their progress over on the PlanetBMX Facebook page.

Pretty cool stuff.

Good luck guys!

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: 5th Annual Spring Fling BMX show, BMX Cruiser, Planet BMX, S&M BMX cruiser, SE Floval Flyer, Skyway tuff wheels, Steve, Traveling Florida by cruiser, Von
Categories : New School, Old School, shenanigans, Tomfoolery

Get busy living or get busy dying

4 04 2013

Spotted this video on one my favorite diversions, Drunkcyclist.com.

Written by Brendan Leonard and Fitz Cahall, the video looks at the fact that each year we get a little older but how we choose to celebrate that time passing (and how we live life along the way) makes a world of difference.

Tip of the hat to the Drunkcyclist for sharing, and kudos to Brendan and Fitz for reminding us to make this day, this life, the best it can be.