BMX cruiser racing | cruiser revolution

Hometown Heroes

12 09 2016

The big USA BMX/BMX Canada show came to town this weekend in the form of the Maple Leaf Nationals, hosted by my home track, Milton BMX.

Weather threatened to derail the show earlier in the day on Saturday (due to some heavy rain) but thanks to some good tarping the night before and a hard-working volunteer crew the weekend went off with only a tiny rain delay.

My good friend Steve Di Monte was also there photographing the proceedings. Steve’s no slouch on the cruiser either, so he’s got a good eye for BMX Action (peep this pic of him breathing down my neck in race a few years back).

A lot of Milton locals were in the mix in the big wheel classes which it made it extra fun for the crowd.

So for your viewing pleasure I thought I would share some of the cruiser action that Steve captured from the weekend.

First up 41-45 cruiser.

Hometown hero Mike Galivan leading into the first turn. Mike and Race Inc.’s Dan Hurley had some good races this weekend which made this a fun moto to watch.

Next up, 46-50 cruiser.

Paul “T-Bone” Schiavone told me between motos he had slimmed down a bit and it had really helped his racing. The proof was in the pudding because Paul was near the front today (that’s him in second in the Stay Strong colors). Nice work T-Bone.

Andy Caswell, another local fast cat, is in the mix too and sporting an ever-so-stylish Haro mouthguard. Extra style points for Andy.

In 36-40 cruiser, Julio Rodriguez and Ryan Haydar were battling every moto.

This one in particular was one for the ages.

Julio barely escapes going over the berm and threads the needle to continue the battle down the second straight.

To cap things off, local boy Gary Quill got the nod for the official event sticker.

Granted, he’s not on a cruiser but it’s still a pretty cool honor for a swell guy I have the good fortune to ride with on a regular basis.

It also gave us plenty of ammunition to razz him with.

All in all, a good weekend of BMX.

Hats off to Milton BMX, BMX Canada and all the racers.

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Tags: BMX cruiser racing, BMX Nationals, bmx racing, Change Your Life Photography, Race Inc., Steve Di Monte
Categories : goofiness, New School, Racing

The RRS frame that revolutionized racing

7 04 2016

Given that it’s “throwback thursday”, it’s fitting to take a lookback at the frame that revolutionized the cruiser class in the early days of BMX racing.

Back in an era when the cruiser class was made up of 26-inchers, the owner of RRS bikes (Craig Kundig) put one of his fast amateur riders (Joe Claveau) on a 24″ bike. That rider proceeded to dominate the cruiser class and a new cruiser size standard was born.

When that same rider, Joe Claveau, would then go on to pilot that 24″ RRS frame to the ABA National Cruiser rider title in 1981…which cemented the 24″ cruiser standard for the decades that followed.

Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: ABA cruiser title, BMX cruiser racing, Craig Kundig, John Claveau, RRS bikes, RRS cruiser
Categories : Old School, Racing

It ain’t over ’til it’s over

1 04 2016

I’ve shared this video before…but after seeing it pop up in Ryan Fraser‘s Facebook feed this week…I just knew I had to share it again.

This final of the 40-44 cruiser class in Orleans is just non-stop action/entertainment…right from the gate drop, all the way to the finish line.

Good racing!

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Tags: BMX cruiser racing, Racing
Categories : Racing, shenanigans

Curtis Bikes’ unconventional 24 in action

24 02 2016

Last month, we had the good fortune of checking out the unconventional custom cruiser that Curtis Bikes had built for one of their clients.

As you’ll recall, it featured a 22″ top tube, 14.9-15.3″ chain stays and 10 x 135 mm* dropouts set up to run a Hope hub and Tech 3 disc brake.

*Spacing typically seen on MTBs

It was definitely a tricked out frame.

The blue finish was pretty slick too.

I was looking forward to seeing what it would look like all built up.

Well, as luck would have it…I popped over to the Curtis Bikes Facebook page and found a pic of the owner, Graham Stanley, putting it through its paces at the Manchester indoor track.

Looking speedy!

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: BMX cruiser racing, Curtis Bikes, Custom BMX cruiser frame
Categories : New products, New School, Racing

Ain’t it Grand(s)?

26 11 2015

You might think, based on my previous post 2 things you must do before the Grands; that this weekend’s big race in Oklahoma isn’t something that I’m that big on.

In one way, that’s kinda true…I think your “biking dollar” could go a lot further with just about any other kind of biking trip.

But on the other hand?

The Grands has been such an important part of BMX…for so long…that’s it’s hard not to be at least kinda into it.

Beyond the obvious attention-grabbing classes…the Pros and the older am classes…what I’m really interested in in seeing (via video) is the “older” Cruiser classes.

As most of you know, if you’re racking up in something like 41-45 Cruiser…you’re in the jungle baby…and there’s a real chance you’re gonna die*…if you’re not at the top of your game and laying down some serious horsepower.

(And speaking of “in the jungle”…apparently there’s a water jump this year!)

So a tip of the visor to all those riders competing this weekend.

Good luck and good gates!

*not really dying, obviously.

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: BMX Cruiser, BMX cruiser racing, BMX Water Jump, USA BMX Grand Nationals, USA BMX Grands, You're in the jungle
Categories : New School, Racing

Old Guy Mains from the Canadian Grands

7 10 2015

The Canadian Grands — the big show in Canadian BMX racing — went down this weekend in Chilliwack, BC.

If you missed the live feed, you’re in luck…BMX Fan filmed some of the older cruiser classes and posted the main event action.

Check it out in the video below.

Pretty stoked on the 61 and over class…Still given’r in their 60s!

Finer role models I have never seen.

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: BMX Canada, BMX cruiser racing, Canadian Grands
Categories : Racing

Are you ready for the Truth?

21 08 2015

I got the heads up recently about a small rider-owned company called Truth BMX Products.

Based out of Maryland, the company has been around for just under a year and is run by two brothers, Eric and Tony Spears.

In addition to a pretty wide assortment of components, the company has some pretty cool 24″ race frames in their product lineup (with 26″ versions planned in the coming months).

The specs for the PRO 24 Main Event frame are:

Top tube: 21.5″
Chainstay: 15.35″
Head Angle: 73.5 degrees
Seat Angle: 70 degrees

A Pro XL 24 frame is also available with a 22″ top tube (all other specs the same as above).

All the frames are made out of 6061-T6 Aluminum.

Watch for these to become available in the next few weeks.

Check out truthbmxproducts.com for more details about frame colors, their parts lineup and a bunch of other race-y stuff.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: 24" BMX cruiser, BMX cruiser racing, Eric Spears, Tony Spears, Truth BMX Products
Categories : New products, New School, Racing

Brandon Brown brings it in this race edit

28 03 2013

Ever since the Gundar Osis hot lap race edit came out, I’ve been hoping to see more 24″ racers take up the cause and put out some quality race edits.

Thankfully it looks like Brandon Brown has the same idea with this little gem called Cruisers can Ride Too.

Granted, it starts a little slow, but 30 seconds in, you’ve got some smooth race style happening.

Check it.

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Tags: BMX cruiser racing, BMX racing edit, Brandon Brown, Cruisers can ride too
Categories : New School, Racing, Trails/Jumping

Gundars Osis takes a hot lap

9 11 2012

Good race edits are few and far between…especially ones that feature 24″ riders.

However, that might be starting to change if this Gundars Osis edit is any indication.

Filmed at a fairly technical track in Latvia by Kaspars Garda, it’s tightly edited and does what any good video should do…makes you want to go ride. (In this case, at a race track!)

Hope to see more clips like this.