The kids are alright in Boston

21 07 2019

A recent Boston Globe article’s headline says it all,

Since I got my bike, I’ve stopped playing Fortnite“.

Kids are rediscovering how fun bikes can be, cruising with their friends and popping wheelies…and they’re doing it all on cruisers.

As the Boston Globe article sees it,

It is their vehicle, their tool for youthful freedom, the glittery thing that for whatever reason kids have latched onto. If they don’t have one, they pine for it, falling asleep at night dreaming of the glorious day they, too, will be able to go cruising.

Not only that, the allure of a youthful freedom machine has them putting away the Fortnite and motivating them to get out and hustle to get their rides. The article describes the effort two brothers went to to get their riders:

….hustling for more than a year to get the bikes. They saved the money they got for birthdays and communions. They spent four days painting a porch. Nathan [one of the brothers] got straight A’s on his report card.

It almost brings a tear to your eye….kids getting stoked on bikes and getting them motivated to work for what they want.

If that’s not impressive enough on its own (which it is, really)…the article also mentions that kids are hanging out at the bike shop shopping for new grips and tires because “no one wants to run stock”.

Could this new wave of kids getting stoked on bikes bring back BMX parts back to the local bike shop? If so, they’ve upped the ante on their “alrightness” to another level….

 

Pic: Boston Globe

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BikeLife wheelies into Bicycling magazine

7 11 2018

Will wheelies save us?

Or more specifically…will they save bike riding?

Bicycling magazine seems to think so:

Forget all our arguing over how to take back the streets from cars. These kids just do it. Their wheelies—all wheelies—command authority. Their wheelies halt traffic and stop pedestrians. Their wheelies celebrate their place in the city, proclaiming that they own the pavement they’re rolling down. Cars deal with it.

In a 6-page article titled Bikelife: The Revolution That’s Taking Back the Streets, Bicycling magazine’s October/November issue takes a look at wheelies and the #BikeLife culture that has breathed new life into this classic biking move (is “trick” the right word here?).

And not only that….how the BikeLife culture is serving as a positive outlet for kids and creating a community that’s all about fun.

The article’s author, a former road racer, seemed a little wistful/jealous of the the BikeLife kids:

These kids had everything I wanted from cycling: Not a contract or designer bike, but friends, unregulated fun, and a small, perfect slice of freedom.

In the end, he succumbs to his more primal cycling urges and gives in to popping some wheelies of his own….because, who doesn’t want to be part of the fun?

Of course, Bicycling is not the only mainstream media outlet to notice the BikeLife movement and give it coverage.

The Wall Street Journal (of all places!) covered it in a 2017 article called, “The BMX Bikes Getting Teens Back on Two Wheels — or One”.  I bet more than a few people were surprised — and stoked — to see the Wall Street Journal write a piece on wheelies.

Closer to home, we saw what the BikeLife movement was capable of back in 2016 when we saw the righteousness of the Philly rideout.

What we found after checking out the rideout footage?

      Big crews, big wheelies and even bigger fun.

The mainstream outlets are catching on now…but you and I both know…it’s always been about that.

 

(Pictures: Bicycling Magazine)





Wall Street Journal writes piece on wheelies

5 05 2017

If you’ve keep up on your social media these past few days, you’ve probably already seen it…the Wall Street Journal wrote an article covering BMX, “Bike Life” and Wheelies in a piece called, “The BMX Bikes Getting Teens Back on Two Wheels — or One”.

SE Big Rippers and rrdblocks get a lot of play, as well as some commentary from Todd Lyons.

Apparently SE Bikes  (and BMX bikes in general) are seeing a sales spike over the last couple years.

That’s definitely good news! I don’t know if it’s “go-go 80s good” but it bodes well for our little piece of the cycling universe.

In other, semi-related news this week, SE also dropped some sneak peeks of the 3(!) colorways of the new 2018 So Cal Flyer.

I gotta say, I’m kinda digging the middle one…it has that Mike Buff/BMX Action trick team vibe that really takes me down memory lane.

I’m not so sure about the Killer Bees/Stryper colorway…but yellow and gold ano are definitely retro-fabulous, so I’m sure they will still get a segment of the old school heads with that version.

The blue one? Classic. Hard to go wrong there.

All in all, a good week for SE and “mainstream” coverage of BMX in general.

Hopefully, we’ll see more of this.





Spring Fling Sneak Peeks

3 04 2017

The annual “Spring Fling” happened down in Florida this past weekend and from all indications it looked like it was off the hook (Do people still say that?).

In addition to bringing together a bunch of rowdy BMXers, it was also where quite a few 2018 sneak peeks went down.

SE bikesTodd Lyons brought a bunch of cruisers from their yet-to-be-released lineup and he wasn’t shy about showing them off.

Some bikes have changed in size for 2018, like the Mike Buff Looptail…which now rolls out with 29″ wheels…

…and the Stu Thomsen STR…which is now in a available in a 26″ version.

The Cycle Squad Maniacs were on hand showcasing the new eye-popping SE Factory Squad threads. (You’re not going to miss this race kit!)

Todd Lyons and rrdblocks also showcased the wheelie proficiency of the new Big Flyers (available in two different colorways).

I think I’m most stoked on the STR-26…or maybe it’s just that picture of Stompin’ Stu roosting on it!





The righteousness of the Philly rideout

14 07 2016

Todd Lyons hit up Philly to find out what all the hype was about regarding the “Bike Life” movement and the Philly rideout in particular.

What he found?

Philly rideout

Big crews, big wheelies and even bigger fun.

We need more of this.

Check it.





BMX in the polar vortex

23 01 2014

If you’re not in one of the sunshine states right now, you’re probably dealing with the record low temps of this unbelievably cold winter.

It’s what weather forecaster types call the polar vortex.

It’s enough to drive a BMX enthusiast crazy.

Sure, there are a few options to cope.

If you’re near an indoor bike park, you’re just a short drive a way from your much needed riding fix. This is probably the best of the cold weather options…if you live in the right area.

Another option is finding an enclosed parking garage..this limits the type of riding you can do…think flatland, sprints, maybe some low-key street…but it’s still riding, right?

Or maybe it’s time to look old man winter in the eye and say to hell with it…suit up in some cold weather gear and pop some wheelies in the snow! Like rrdblocks does in this pic that originally ran on the SE Bikes FB page.  Sometimes you have to take a stand.

snow wheelie





Watch this video: Know Your Roots

24 02 2012

Following on the heels of his more widely known BMX documentaries, Joe Kid on a Stingray and Stompin’ Stu: The Story of BMX Legend Stu Thomsen, Mark Eaton’s new documentary, Know Your Roots: The History of Mongoose has just come out.

Lots of great stuff in here, spanning Mongoose’s colorful 40-year history, everything from the origins of the Motomag, their early race team, the scooter phenomenon and McGoo’s tenure as the team manager/marketing manager (and the reasons behind his abrupt departure). I was especially stoked to see a segment on Jeff Kosmala and his signature KOS Kruiser–which Mongoose re-issued last year–and their collective impact on the cruiser class of that era.

Another great documentary from Mark Eaton. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Bonus info: Have you seen Mark Eaton’s section in Wheelies? It’s a perfect mix of flat and street. I must have watched that section a thousand times when that video was released. Check it out here.





Free to do what you want to do

3 09 2010

Hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is already here.

Time to make the most of it.

Hope you can find some free time this weekend to do what you want to do.

To ride.

And have a good time.

(This clip always makes me think of Kevin Jones in the classic Wheelies video.)