GT puts the CRU in their new cruiser

27 10 2021

The nostalgia wave celebrating the movie RAD is in overdrive these days. Everyone from Etnies to Mongoose to Flite to you-name-it seems to have a marketing tie-in. And why not? RAD is a classic and something even the most hard-core of BMXers has a soft spot for.

The latest company to get on the Helltrack train is GT.

GT appears to have decided to really put the CRU in cruiser for this new bike and they showcased it this past weekend at the 3-day Classic BMX Festival the Frogtown Classic in Angel Camp, California.

With “RAD SERIES GT” on the the downtube , “CRU” in that iconic typeface on the fork and the CRU Jones-inspired pad set you know they’re really trying to pull on your heart strings for your favorite cheesy BMX movie.

Along with the classic touches, GT added some modern touches to this throwback cruiser. Peep the disc brake and comfy saddle to keep things safe and comfortable for rad dads flaunting their ride as they cruise the neighborhood.

Word on the street that these bikes are supposed to become available some time in December. I’m not sure how ambitious that is with supply chains being what they are but hey, just like in RAD, sometimes the hometown boy (or new bike buyer) has his day.


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Categories : New products, Old School, Rad, Uncategorized

Daniel Tosh calls out Cru Jones

22 10 2014

Comedian Daniel Tosh called out Cru Jones recently.

According to Tosh, “Cru Jones did not deserve to race Helltrack.”

Could one of BMX’s most beloved icons be…gasp… a cheat?

Tosh


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Categories : goofiness, Old School, Racing

This is what BMX racing needs

5 11 2013

BMX racing needs a breath of fresh air and I think events like the upcoming Helltrack event being held at The Lumberyard bike park might be just the way to do that.

What is the Helltrack event you ask?

Well, according to the Helltrack website, it’s:

…a multi-lap obstacle race with 7 riders going head to head that combines indoor and outdoor features, a cereal bowl, pallets, bikes, beer, jumps, UCI Bro Barriers, Carnage, good times, and …race classes for everyone and for all types of bikes.

Sounds pretty freaking awesome to me!

Helltrack at The Lumberyard OR

A welcome departure from the standard, far-to-serious-for-its-own-good atmosphere that most big races have.

And unlike a UCI event, you probably wouldn’t be looked down if you raced in jeans (See:  Cru Jones: the UCI doesn’t like your type).

Now, we just need to get an event at all the big indoor bike parks (like Ray’s MTB, Joyride 150, etc.) so more people can take part in the tomfoolery.

Can’t wait to see the video highlights of this event.


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Categories : New School, Old School, Racing, Rad, Skatepark, Tomfoolery, Trails/Jumping

Cru Jones: the UCI doesn’t like your type

24 10 2013

The movie Rad, a cult classic for BMXers of all stripes, was way ahead of it’s time in some ways.

(Watching the story of the small-town kid with dreams of racing in the big race is a rite of passage for most riders.)

Sure, the racing depicted was a bit wack but that sorta added to the movie’s charm.

Now looking back, it’s interesting to see how prophetic it was.

The giant start hill of Helltrack looks like it might have been the inspiration for the big starting hills of today’s SX tracks.

hell track and CRU

Mongoose bikes were “going to be in every department store across the nation” (can’t remember the exact line)….which seemed ridiculous at the time but now ,of course, you can visit any Wal-Mart and pick up a Mongoose bicycle.

And the way the big corporate interests would try to stamp down the energetic upstart/hometown kid, Cru Jones, from making a go of it.

Who could forget, Cru, the rider in the hockey helmet and jeans (before the big final, when he finally gets some proper racing duds)  practicing and then racing against the “factory hot-shots”.

Now it seems like the UCI is ready to pull a similar move on riders that have the audacity to show up for a race in jeans.

According to the new UCI rule book:

The following items are not permitted for BMX pants:
– One piece skin suits
– Tight fitted pants that needs to be stretched in order to cover
the legs
– Lycra pants
– Track and Field pants /jogging pants
– Road/Track cycling pants
– Denim / Jeans

It just seems like a step too far.

Jeans have been part of the “first race day” uniform of just about every BMX racer (minus the hockey helmet) since the sport began.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

sad cru jones


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Categories : New School, Old School, Racing, Tomfoolery

This video is…ahh….Rad?

11 12 2011

This year, with the RAD movie celebrating its 25th anniversary, complete with a big event in Cochrane, Alberta and word of a behind-the-scenes documentary in the works, it looks like the affection BMXers have for this movie is as strong as ever.

Now to add another log to the Helltrack fire, NYC dance group Holy Ghost is featuring a new interpretation of the infamous “bicycle boogie” scene in their video, “I wanted to tell her” (a remake of the Ministry song of the same name).

Check it out.


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Categories : Flatland, Freestyle, goofiness, Old School, Rad

Would Cru make the same choice today?

10 08 2011

In a key plot point in the movie Rad, Cru Jones makes the life-changing decision to postpone taking his SATs to take part in the big race at Helltrack. He does it because he thinks he’s got a chance at winning against all the “factory hot shots”.

Did he make the right choice?

It seemed like the right idea at the time. Factory BMX racers seemed to have it all back in the 80s. Driving Porsches, international travel, BMX Action magazine covers…you name it. They were living the high life.

Winning the big race would be Cru’s ticket to living the dream.

But today? I’m not so sure skipping the SATs would’ve been the right choice.

Check out the check that Denzel Stein, Redline factory hotshot, is holding for a recent win…$1400.

Compare this with the check that Team Kachinsky (Brian Kachinsky, Corey Martinez, Sean Sexton and Will Stroud) is holding after a win at the recent Nike 6.0 contest…$14,000. (Sure it’s split 4 ways…but c’mon that’s a much sweeter payday.)

Today, he probably would’ve been wise to skip the race altogether and focus on perfecting his bicycle boogie skills.



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

Barry Nobles backflips in Pro Cruiser main

1 12 2009

The ABA grand nationals went down this past weekend.  Billed as the “greatest race on earth”, it has a lot of hype to live up to. Titles are on the line and the pressure to perform is at an all-time high.  In these situations, you never know what might happen.

You expect upsets, people channeling their inner psych and taking their skills to the next level. But if you’re like Barry Nobles…you channel your inner Cru Jones and backflip the pro section in the Pro Cruiser main!

Unfortunately for Barry,  this wasn’t Helltrack so instead of the win he would have to settle for a broken collarbone and the infamy that comes with throwing caution to the wind during a big race.  Nice work Barry! As they say, pain is temporary, but glory is forever.  Thanks for mixing things up and keeping the event interesting.

Does this look like a guy that would go for a backflip in a big race?

GO211 didn’t get the flip on video (so I don’t have it to show you).  Hopefully we’ll see it somewhere in the next few days. Someone, somewhere must have had a camera rolling during that main!


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Categories : goofiness, Racing, Rad, shenanigans, Tomfoolery, Trails/Jumping