Ride the lightning

31 03 2023

Is your ride missing a little zip? Or maybe what it really needs is a little more zap.

Oh zap!

Indeed, BMX today, in general, needs more zap.

What in God’s green earth am I talking about, you say? Well, I’m talking about the veritable lightning in a bottle that the iconic Zap Pads brought to an 80s-era BMX bike.

If you were a kid in the golden years of BMX and tore out pages of the mighty BMX Action magazine to hang on your wall….well, you probably had one or two Zap Pad ads featuring a steely-eyed, all business Greg Hill staring back at you with his Zap Pad adorned GT (and later years a GHP).

Yes, you too young grommet. You could be like “The Businessman” Greg Hill and be as fast as lightning out on the track.

Or least look good trying.

Some of that Zap Pad magic…that lightning in a bottle, or should I say pad set, recently starting re-aappearing on retro-fab completes like the SE OM Flyer.

Later, the Fit CR-29, would also sport that familiar Zap Pad-esque lighting bolt as well.

Pretty flashy, huh?

So flashy you would think they would be offered as an after market padset, right?

Surprisingly, they were only sold as part of the bike…not separately.

What a letdown!

But like a bolt of lightning…..

One day I came across a post with a picture of the City Grounds X SE Bikes Collab Big Ripper.

Like the OM Flyer and Fit CR29, it too sported a Zap Pad-like pad set.

When I posted a comment saying to the effect, “Sigh, I wish these pads were offered separately”….I was shocked to see a reply moments later, saying yes, yes, these pads are actually available separately.

Hot damn!

It didn’t take long for more my order for the SE Bikes SE X CG Padset to go in!

Couldn’t be more stoked to get ahold of these.

I’ll finally be able to ride the lightning!

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Freakishly big freestyler really flies

29 09 2017

When we learned that GT was upsizing the Pro Performer to a 29″ version for 2018…we wondered (or should I say doubted) if people were ready for a such a big freestyle bike.

(It does seem freakishly big for a freestyle bike)

Yet, if my Instagram feed over the last few days is any indication, it looks like they are.

Case in point, Mark Flip of Albes BMX busting out a decade aboard the 29er earlier this week.

Then later in the week, the artist/rider Chris Piascik shows up with some 29″ radness of his own.

This Greg Hill style tuck is all sorts of good!

I guess it just goes to show that no wheel size has a monopoly on radness.

Big wheels keep on turning!





Real talk with Greg Hill & Donny Robinson

16 06 2016

Last month, BMX legend Greg Hill set off a firestorm of discussion with a Facebook message he had posted in response to the news of Derby BMX (an iconic track in its own right) closing down for the 2016 season…to build a Supercross track.

GregHill

If you missed the post, have a look below:

If I see 1 more post about a track that’s building a UCI SX track I am gonna lose it!

Why the hell are people buying into this BS?

Spending a ton of cash for a SX track that caters to 1% of the sport. Why not spend money on the 99% and grow this thing? Tracks are going bye bye, membership is on decline, National attendance is slowly declining and we’re building SX tracks, WTF

If you disagree on any of this you DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING with our sport period!

Little Johnny, the newbs and the average enthusiast are who pays the bills not the few elite.

This is stupid at the highest level, people need to speak up!

-Greg Hill on Facebook, May 12, 2016 (top line bolded by editor)

Hundreds of likes, shares and comments latter and it was obvious to see he had struck a nerve.

Mike Carruth, over at BMX News, being the intrepid reporter that he is, brought Greg Hill and fellow icon, Donny Robinson on the BMX News Announcer’s Tower podcast to discuss that post, his thoughts behind it and the grassroots of BMX, along with ways we should be changing things up to grow the sport of BMX racing.

DRThe podcast is a great listen…filled with Real Talk about BMX racing, its current challenges and opportunities, and where we need to go in the future.

If you’re into BMX racing, do yourself a favor and check out the podcast.

You can find it here:

http://www.bmxnews.com/2016/05/greg-hill-and-donny-robinson-talk-grassroots-bmx/





BMX goes back to the future

23 02 2015

It’s almost like they never went away.

Stu Thomsen, Greg Hill and Harry Leary all showed up at the USA BMX Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona (this past weekend) ready to race.

Stu Greg Harry

It’s not often that a single race would see all three of these BMX legends suit up, ready to snap gates and bang elbows.

Which made this weekend pretty special.

Stu Thomsen even took a first in cruiser!

Stu Thomsen on SE FlovalNow, if we can get just guys like Pete Loncarevich, Eric Rupe and Turnell Henry in the gate with them for an epic cruiser showdown…

Well, then I think we could have the battle of the BMX ages.

 

(Photo credits: @probmxer1, MJT & SE Bikes)





Skyway 24″ Tuff Wheels are back

23 06 2011

After  25 years, Skyway is once again rolling out 24″ Tuff Wheels from their Redding, California factory.

The catch is that it’s a limited run of just 100 sets.

They will be available in black, white, red and blue (25 sets of each color) and feature original NOS alloy flange hubs that have been locked away at Skyway for 25 years.

Personally, I find the black mag/skinwall tire look totally badass. If I had the room in my stable for an old school 24″ cruiser, I’d be all over these.  Take a look at this vintage BMX Action pic of Richie Anderson battling Greg Hill…those wheels just look mean.

For more details on these wheels and information on how to order them, contact planetbmx.com.





The ride’s the thing

5 07 2010

Two fun group rides are happening  in sunny California this weekend.

On Saturday, the July 4130 Subway Series event goes down in SoCal. Probably the biggest group ride of its kind in the U.S., it has attracted some big numbers during past outings, including heavy hitters like Todd Lyons, Greg Hill and Stu Thomsen.

Not sure what the route is, but I believe it starts in Hollywood somewhere. They’re raffling off a Liquid Feedback frame, so that’s a pretty good incentive to go.

On Sunday, Trent B., who goes by goride09 on this site, is hosting a ride in San Francisco.  It starts by the Clock Tower/ferry building and includes a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge as part of the route. He’s raffling off some BMX swag too, so if you’re in the area you should check it out. For more details, drop him an e-mail at chfrcka@yahoo.com






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…

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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





The story of Stompin’ Stu Thomsen

6 11 2009

“He was like a god.”

former Pro BMX racer Ronnie Anderson

Finally had a chance to see Stompin’ Stu, The Story of BMX Legend Stu Thomsen DVD last night and I have to say I’m stoked. I got into BMX back in ’80s when the the rivalry between Stu and Greg Hill was at its peak. BMX racing was huge at the time and Stu was larger than life.

But he was more than an awesome racer…he was a great dirt jumper that also rode skatepark sections that intimidated people like Bob Haro.

The DVD lets you relive some of the epic battles he had on the track and also see how he battled and overcame prostate cancer. This is guy that can still turn up at the NBL Grand Nationals and kick ass in the 50-54 cruiser class. And this is not some low-to-the ground racer, Stu still likes to jump!

Stompin Stu NBL Grands

 

You should totally check out this DVD.

The extras with Linn Kastan (founder of Redline Bicycles) talking about how parts were developed are the icing on the cake.





Greg Hill has still got it…

16 11 2008

greg-hill

Back in the day, Greg Hill was the man in Pro BMX Racing. #1 plates, magazine covers, sports cars he lived the BMX dream. Outspoken, fast as the lightening on his lightening zap pads, he was the guy me and thousands of other BMX kids looked up to. He seemed larger than life at the time. Through the years, he left racing and got more involved in the industry side of things. In 1993, Greg and Harry Leary (another old school Pro) had a controversial interview in Ride magazine that basically called out the industry, and Chris Moeller (of S&M bikes) in particular, which made them look out-of-touch and a bit like crotchety old men. Despite this, Greg Hill has (and continues to) do a lot for the sport. He’s still an icon. That’s why I was kinda of stoked to stumble across this little gem on youtube…Greg Hill doing it for GHP and just smoking the 41-45 cruiser class.

And for all you young whippersnappers without any roots, maybe you should read this.