BMX racing

[busta]

I havent ridden BMX for years but I went to the new track in Norwich with a friend last sunday for a play on my MTB and there was a race on. We spent 3 hours watching the racing and now I want to join in! I kow there probably arent many BMXers on Pistonheads but I really think everyone should give it a go, or atleast go watch a race if they get a chance. Hopefully next time I'm going to take my 9 year old brothers so they can race in the kids class.

Anyway, I'm now hunting for a suitable bike. People were competing on Mountain Bikes fairly sucessfully but they were all farily heavy dirt jump bikes with gears( ) so not ideal for a BMX track. I'm wondering wether I should put my mountain bBike on a diet with some rigid forks (bidding on some Kona P2s now) and some slimmer tyres or just buy a cheap race BMX.

Here's My MTB:

Would basically make a 26inch cruiser. What do people think?

Retro BMXs seem popular to, might trawl ebay for a good 80s steed.

Busta

[beyond rational]

I tried it on a hardtail and nearly died, I think it would have been much easier on a BMX. This could just be preference though

[Selmer]

Aaaahh, BMX.
Spending hours waiting for your 'moto' and papping yourself on the approach to the wooden man-made whoops with 90degree angles!
Then there was the good bits:
Perfecting your mid-air 'tabletops' or getting your hand further up in the air during that quarterpipe session.
Then there were more bad bits:
Tending to your shins after another case of Dunlop Greenflash/bear-trap seperation.
The fitter 4th form girls wetting themselves when you show them how Z rims are supposed to work.

[vrooom]

I had BMX, and hardtail bike. i much prefer single gear hardtail for riding on bmx track. it much better.

[moleamol]

busta said:

Retro BMXs seem popular to, might trawl ebay for a good 80s steed.

Busta

If you fancy paying through the nose for a heavy bike with bits that don't work very well go for it, but you'd be much better buying a new BMX, or if you want a 26" cruiser something like an SE OM Flyer.

[busta]

moleamol said:

busta said:

Retro BMXs seem popular to, might trawl ebay for a good 80s steed.

Busta

If you fancy paying through the nose for a heavy bike with bits that don't work very well go for it, but you'd be much better buying a new BMX, or if you want a 26" cruiser something like an SE OM Flyer.

Good point, maybe retro isn't so cool. There are some decent replica frames out that use modern technology but look old skool but they are very pricey. That SE is incredibly sweet. If I'm ever looking for a new play bike then that will be in the running.

I've just won the P2s on ebay and this weekend I'm gonna strip my frame down and get it powder coated. I'm going for a complete transformation! Currently bidding on some wing-bars and a DMR frame sticker set.

Now just need to decide what tyres will be best and what colour to choose for the frame- white and black are simple but pretty popular and I like to be a bit different. Maybe Army green or turquoise. Any suggestions?

[moleamol]

busta said:

Now just need to decide what tyres will be best and what colour to choose for the frame- white and black are simple but pretty popular and I like to be a bit different. Maybe Army green or turquoise. Any suggestions?

If you are going to use it on the BMX track then most racers still use Tioga Comp III tyres, the kind of tread that every single BMX in the world used to run. The compounds are better now though, so for performance buy new, the old school ones will be expensive anyway. The only problem there is I'm not sure if they are available in 26", if they're not I'll try and recommend something else.

With regards to the colour, army green will make it look like you're trying for a replica DMR Rhythm, turquoise could look cool.

[busta]

moleamol said:

busta said:

Now just need to decide what tyres will be best and what colour to choose for the frame- white and black are simple but pretty popular and I like to be a bit different. Maybe Army green or turquoise. Any suggestions?

If you are going to use it on the BMX track then most racers still use Tioga Comp III tyres, the kind of tread that every single BMX in the world used to run. The compounds are better now though, so for performance buy new, the old school ones will be expensive anyway. The only problem there is I'm not sure if they are available in 26", if they're not I'll try and recommend something else.

With regards to the colour, army green will make it look like you're trying for a replica DMR Rhythm, turquoise could look cool.

Thanks for the info!

Busta

[gbbird]

I used to be a BMXer when i was much younger, and had a few races too. I used to love my Raleigh Reynolds 531 Rampart with all poosible upgrades done to it. Unfortunately, i lent it to a mate at Uni, who proceeded to cycle to someones house, get stoned, then forget exactly what house it was he went to, and i have never seen it again since

[matthew_h]

Here's a pic I took at my local track a few weeks ago:



The indoor track in Sheffield has also just reopened with a redesigned track for the winter so if anyone fancies some nice dry riding over the next few months then check it out.

[raceboy]

Well I've not been near a BMX race for a few years, but raced Regionally, a few Nationals and the British Champs a few times from the ages of 13-16, looking back on it I used to ride with quite a few big names, raced with Dale Holmes as he only lived a few miles away at the time, and when I packed in racing to just ride 'for fun' I used to ride with Jamie Bestwick before he made it big

My daily ride is this SE Floval Flyer which would be an ideal race bike.....




But I'm just building up a new 20" Kink Freebird



Only really ride street and park now, with a little dirt in the summer, like the sound of an indoor track in Sheffield though, the track at Doncaster is really good, with the added bonus of the spine bowls round the back.

[LamboJJ]

nice bmx raceboy, the first rider ive found on here who rides street and has an interest in cars!

[raceboy]

I've bottled it on riding brakeless since the picture
In fact it's changed quite a bit since then, Santa's alread brought me a pair of Slam Bars and a new seat.
Rode Corby Park yesterday and still ache, mainly from dragging myself out the foam pit.
Like the idea of left hand drive but when I sit on a mates bike that is LH it just looks strange looking down, I feel like I should be pedeling backwards.

[wildoliver]

What are z rims please?

[raceboy]

wildoliver said:

What are z rims please?

What were Z-Rims
They were basically a plastic rim that alegedly bounced back into shape, can't say I ever liked them, no stronger or lighter than a well laced normal rim, and compared to a current rim they wouldn't last 5 minutes.
A pair for sale

[wildoliver]

Ah right!

I always wanted a set of tuffs for mine but never bit the bullet!

[LamboJJ]

yer mines changed too i've got 4 pegs, pedals, seat n post etc, but up until recently LHD has been good because i grind on the right, but now ive got opposite grinds it's a bit pointless really! i ache like hell from a london sesh on sat, but might go out for a ride now even if it is too cold..

[vrooom]

Damn, i need to build up my bmx... all it need is a crank to get it going!!!

[g@ry]

hi chaps
i rarely venture in here due to being in the rarri forum mostly
but i raced bmx in 82-86 i used to ride robinsons and torker
i am thinking of getting a pk ripper to sit as a piece of funiture in my front rooom ,and the occasional play out
see here for old skool bmx stuff
www.alans.co.uk

[moleamol]

g@ry said:

hi chaps
i rarely venture in here due to being in the rarri forum mostly
but i raced bmx in 82-86 i used to ride robinsons and torker
i am thinking of getting a pk ripper to sit as a piece of funiture in my front rooom ,and the occasional play out
see here for old skool bmx stuff
www.alans.co.uk

I bet you raced my old boss then, Alan. As for the old school bmx stuff, keep your eye on eBay as there are some bargains to be had.