26″ Morales flatland frame…I kid you not

2 06 2016

Well, this seems like one from left field…

A 26″ Morales flatland frame.

Yes, you read that right.

A frame just like the one Jesse Puente is riding on this 90s-era cover of Ride magazinebut in a 26″ model!

JessePuente

A BMX Museum member named GTeaser posted it up yesterday on one of the Museum’s forums.

Morales26frame side

According to GTeaser,

This frame was custom built by Craig Turner of Gary Turner BMX (GT Bicycles) and I must say, they did a flawless job. Craig is also currently constructing a 26″ Kore replica, zero offset, flatland fork to complete the frameset. I even had an ORIGINAL Morales cable hanger welded in that came from Bob’s warehouse. The frame/fork are 100% 4130 Chro-mo.

If the next thought you have after reading the above paragraph is,

“I wonder what Bob Morales thinks about this?”

Well, then my friend we are on the same wavelength.

But not to worry — at least according to GTeaser — Bob has given his blessing:

The project has had the full support of Bob Morales himself. I have been in contact with him during the entirety of the project and he expressly warranted me permission to use the Morales name. To the best of my knowledge this is the only 26″ Morales out there. This is a cruiser with cruiser geometry and is obviously not a purpose built flatland frame.

Pretty interesting.

Would love to see someone like Joe Cicman trying some modern-day flatland moves on this thing.

morales26rear

Looking forward to seeing this once it’s back from the chrome shop and all built up.

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Flatland flashback: CMC in ATX

2 10 2015

I spotted a couple mentions of 24″ flatland over on BMX Museum and it got me thinking…

Maybe it’s time to re-up this old clip of CMC busting out some flatland action — on a 24″ DK General Lee(!) — back in 2007.

This was one of the first clips of 24″ flatland I saw in the early days of Cruiser Revolution and it definitely got me stoked.

For a more recent flatland flashback, check out what Joe Cicman and Danny Sirkin have been cooking up the past few years in the TwoFourFlat series.

 





Toronto X-Jam madness

9 03 2015

It’s a rite of spring in Toronto.

The first weekend of March, the Toronto International Bicycle Show is held.

Along with it, a rowdy BMX contest that never disappoints. From the rad riding to catching up with old friends, it’s a event not to be missed.

This year was no different.

Qualifying rounds on Saturday were crazy. Drew Bezanson had already set the pace with a run that began with him dropping in from the ceiling.

The Sunday finals were going to be nuts.

In between all that were all things that make the BMX community so great. Hanging with friends, reminiscing about past exploits, poking fun at one another.

On Sunday, I caught up with Joe Cicman of TwoFourFlat fame. He was taking care of business over at the Flat comp going down at the other end of the Bicycle show building. We had a good chat before he had to compete again and I had to run off to catch the park finals. (That’s me, Ed, on the left; Joe on the right.)

Ed and JoeBack at the Park Finals, things were heating up big time. Banger after banger trick…it was pretty crazy.

Then the final heat.

Drew B. shimmies up a pole and uses a makeshift pulley to get his bike up to the ceiling. He tiptoes across a ledge by the windows at the top of the building. The ledge does not look as if it is even as wide as his shoes.

Then the unthinkable happens. As Drew goes to set up, he loses his footing and falls straight to the ground…his fall barely softened by the bottom of a ramp’s transition.

Unbelievably, he springs to his feet. Like a scene from a Rocky movie or some old Evel Knievel footage, he looks to the judges and makes a hand gesture to the judges saying, “One more.”

He climbs up again…sets up and boom!

270 drop-in from pretty much the top of the building.

So good.

Keeps your eyes peeled for the rest of the contest footage, you will not be disappointed.





Flatland Flashback…TwoFourFlat Re:Cap

9 01 2015

They say that all good things must come to an end.

Well, it looks like TwoFourFlat 6 (which dropped in December) was the end in the impressive series of big wheel flatland edits from Joe Cicman and Danny Sarkin.

TwoFourFlat6 Joe CicmanHere’s a lookback at some of the highlights leading up to the final installment.

So much good stuff in here.

 





TwoFourFlat 6 drops on TwoFourTuesday

16 12 2014

I think every #TwoFourTuesday is special but when Joe Cicman drops another installment of TwoFourFlat it is even more so!

Always stoked to see this type of 24″ flatland wizardry.

So much radness.

TwoFourFlat6 Joe Cicman





Friday Flatland Flashback

21 11 2014

This video deserves another watch.

Joe Cicman and Danny Sirkin, rolling on Sunday Wave-Cs, just killing it with some super dialed flatland riding.

So rad!

 

 





TwoFourFlat 5: ya better sit down for this

25 11 2013

TwoFourFlat 5 dropped over the weekend, and even though it’s been almost a year since #4, it has definitely been worth the wait!

The TwoFourFlat videos, perennial favorites around here, are produced by Joe Cicman and Danny Sirkin  and showcase super dialed flatland riding on 24″ (and sometimes bigger) wheeled bikes.

danny sarkin twofourflat5

This time they’re rolling on Sunday Wave-Cs and have made what I think is their best video to date. Tightly edited, with awesome flatland riding and a perfect background track to tie it all together, this edit is a definite “must-see”.

And, as a bit of bonus, Joe and Danny round the video off with clips of solid riding by some friends and a good outtakes section as well.

Check it.





TwoFourFlat 5 set to drop soon

18 11 2013

Flatland fiends rejoice!

Joe Cicman sent a note about a week ago with news that another installment of the video series, TwoFourFlat was being filmed and would be released very soon.

TwoFourFlat Joe Cicman

Joe  teams up with Danny Sirkin again in this fifth installment, for what promises to be another must-see video.

Looking forward to this!

(Check out the trailer below.)





Volume Hessian 26: coming this summer

29 05 2013

Ever since my Walnut Creek session aboard Buddy Sardenga’s old Volume Sledgehammer, I’ve been thinking about 26″ cruisers.

Following that session, I noticed Stephen Browning mentioned something about the new Volume Hessian 26 on the CR Facebook page, and my interest was piqued.

What does Volume have planned?

Word on the street is that Volume is retiring the much beloved Sledgehammer from its lineup and replacing it with the Hessian 26 (some time this summer).

Volume Hessian 26

No details yet on specs but it’s said to be similar in handling to the Sledgehammer but at a lower price point.  The Volume site does say that it has “a shorter and wider rear end, allowing room for the fat 2.3” street tires”, so that’s a good sign.

In terms of parts, Volume has indicated that aftermarket parts, such as the Volume Staple top load stem, Demolition Trooper Nylon pedals, and the Odyssey Springfield brake system are all standard but has been tight-lipped about the rest of the parts assortment.

With big-wheel aficionados, like Trent Brocker, Buddy Sardenga and the TwoFourFlat crew of Joe Cicman and Danny Sirkin, all riding a 26″ Volume  recently (and tearing things up in their own unique way on it) you know that this Volume will probably be a bike worth checking out.

I, for one, will be keeping my eyes peeled for its release.





Good times at the Toronto BMX Jam

6 03 2013

It’s been a couple days and I’m still riding the high from another great Toronto BMX Jam.

An annual tradition for me (and many other riders), it’s become amongst other things: a chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, shop for deals on parts (it’s partnered with the Toronto International Bicycle Show) and….oh yeah…check out some awesome riding.

Despite local favorite, Drew Bezanson, being unable to ride due to injury sustained earlier in the week riding Joyride 150, there was still a whole field of riders just killing it all week long (as you can see from the video).

Joe Cicman of TwoFourFlat fame was also in the house riding in the flatland comp (on his 20″). We had a chance to chat briefly and it sounds like the next installment of the TwoFourFlat series is going to be one worth waiting for! Can’t wait.

And even though weather was freezing over the weekend, the Toronto BMX Jam also means that spring is just around the corner and that always seems to be the icing on the cake. The weather forecast is already calling for warmer temps by the end of the week.

Good times.