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cbHarping · 03-20-2008, 01:04 PM

I thought I'd try something new...last night I went to the Orange Y BMX track. My friend Rob gave me a last minute invite to come along with him, and he had a BMX cruiser I could borrow. He used to race BMX back in the day, and at this very same track.

Sorry for slightly blurry pics, it was just starting to get dark.

I had NEVER ridden a BMX bike before, not even as a kid. When I was growing up, BMX was a "boy" thing, and it was never encouraged for me to try it. I always loved bikes growing up, but BMX was something I didn't really see much of, other than the neighborhood kids pedaling them around the block. Look what I missed out on. Here at the Orange Y BMX track, I thought it was cool to see many girls of varying ages out there riding. My age being the OLDEST, for sure!

Waiting for the gate start...I don't know how to balance on the pedals at the gate yet. Look at the two little ones on the outsides!

Workin' through the whoops...

One of the many lineup times, who should end up beside me in line? Brian Lopes! He showed up toward the end of the practice session on his very clean black Ibis Mojo Carbon. Not only did we end up in line together twice, but both times I ended up starting at the gate at the same time as he did, and right alongside. Pretty funny to be at the gate waiting for the green light with Brian Lopes right beside you. I practically forgot to ride both times we took off because I was too busy watching Brian blast ahead. Pretty amazing.

Brian at the gate

Sunset shot

I had a fantastic time! And what a great workout, my heart was pounding at the end of each run! Definitely want to go back and try it again.

Wait, am I too old for this BMX stuff???

Trizz · 03-20-2008, 01:12 PM

I want to go here so bad and take some photos, bring the fisheye and sit and the botom of one of those jumps and get some great shots.

CeeDubb · 03-20-2008, 01:14 PM

You rock. You may need to be added to my hero list...

ezzyride · 03-20-2008, 01:22 PM

Wow!

You are so totally cool!!!

Hope to see at the Y sometime on a friday night.

-Elvia

surlygal · 03-20-2008, 01:29 PM

Glad you made it out there! Looks like you had a blast!

Maybe we'll see you there some evening, usually we're there on Wednesday, Friday & Sundays.

Maddie would love to ride a few laps with you.The vibe is so great, it's all around a very comfortable place to better your skills.If you don't mind the 7 year olds schooling you

those kids have the skills

cbHarping · 03-20-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surlygal

Glad you made it out there! Looks like you had a blast!

Maybe we'll see you there some evening, usually we're there on Wednesday, Friday & Sundays.

Maddie would love to ride a few laps with you.The vibe is so great, it's all around a very comfortable place to better your skills.If you don't mind the 7 year olds schooling you

those kids have the skills

Cool! I'll take you and Maddie up on that! Wednesdays are best for me right now, hoping to try some Fridays in a month or so. If you see me, please say hi, I still don't know everyone!!!

2wheel_lee · 03-20-2008, 02:28 PM

Carla, that's awesome that you went out there! Riding there regularly will improve your overall bike handling skills like nothing else.

Too old? Are you kidding? You're still considered as a youngling out there!

TooManyTacos · 03-20-2008, 02:34 PM

That is sooooo killer! Are you running two brakes?

cbHarping · 03-20-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooManyTacos

That is sooooo killer! Are you running two brakes?

Yeah, the bike I borrowed had two. I don't know what the norm is, though.

Burdman · 03-20-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Carla, that's awesome that you went out there! Riding there regularly will improve your overall bike handling skills like nothing else.

Too old? Are you kidding? You're still considered as a youngling out there!

Fo Sho!! I agree, it's great for skillz, as demostrated by Lee on the trails.

Carla - you rock!!!

that's awesome! I used to race there many, many moons ago and have always wanted to go back and ride it again, but thought....I'm WAY too old!
Now I'm inspired to try it again.....hmmm, where can i find a bike?

cbHarping · 03-20-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Carla, that's awesome that you went out there! Riding there regularly will improve your overall bike handling skills like nothing else.

Thanks! That's why I'm there - to improve my skills!

And the simple fact that it's FUN!

Myspeedbuggie · 03-20-2008, 03:15 PM

Thanks for going Carla, It was fun!
The 24" BMX bike she was ridding has front brakes becuse I use it at the beach on the boardwalk and you need to stop fast some times ... !!! plus to do tricks...
And if Lee lets me know whats up with the 4X bike , She can ride my 24'' anytime

Rob

cbHarping · 03-20-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myspeedbuggie

Thanks for going Carla, It was fun!
The 24" BMX bike she was ridding has front brakes becuse I use it at the beach on the boardwalk and you need to stop fast some times ... !!! plus to do tricks...
And if Lee lets me know whats up with the 4X bike , She can ride my 24'' anytime

Rob

Thanks to you for the invite! And for taking some pics for me...

sasquatch9billion · 03-20-2008, 03:45 PM

Do you have to ride a bmx there or can you just show up with a mtn. bike? I always thought I was too old (26) but maybe I won't feel so out of place.

Nagaredama · 03-21-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch9billion

Do you have to ride a bmx there or can you just show up with a mtn. bike? I always thought I was too old (26) but maybe I won't feel so out of place.

At my local track (Bellflower) a mountain bike is fine. All the races I've done they group you in with the cruisers.

As a kid I always wanted to race BMX but my dad thought I was too tall, which he was right. I went for the first time to the track at the age of 28 and have a blast everytime I go.

If you're pedaling hard through each run you'll be breathing hard and sore the next day.

denmother · 03-21-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch9billion

Do you have to ride a bmx there or can you just show up with a mtn. bike? I always thought I was too old (26) but maybe I won't feel so out of place.

Too old??? I'm 51 and I frequent the Perris BMX track on Monday nights.

sdyeti · 03-21-2008, 04:04 PM

To put a little OMR spin on it:

"Grasshopper Carla, 'age' is a number but 'old' is a state of mind!"

Way to go for getting out there on the track! I used to go to Kearny BMX but crashed hard a couple years ago and haven't been back out since. Maybe I should?

By the way, lining up next to Lopes would've made my week!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbharping

Wait, am I too old for this BMX stuff???

TooManyTacos · 03-21-2008, 04:16 PM

I've been riding around on my BMX bike and would definitely like to try out the track, so if any of you are going and wouldn't mind some company, please post here on STR and I'll try to make it! Thanks!

03-20-2008, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trizz I'm a Machine	I want to go here so bad and take some photos, bring the fisheye and sit and the botom of one of those jumps and get some great shots. __________________ “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Benjamin Franklin A Woman told Winston Churchill you're a drunk his reply was "well your ugly and i'll be sober tommorow"

03-20-2008, 01:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
CeeDubb 9.8m/sec² - It's the law	You rock. You may need to be added to my hero list... __________________

03-20-2008, 01:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
ezzyride STR Veteran	Wow! You are so totally cool!!! Hope to see at the Y sometime on a friday night. -Elvia __________________ *Ezzyride*

03-20-2008, 01:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
surlygal Yep......................	Glad you made it out there! Looks like you had a blast! Maybe we'll see you there some evening, usually we're there on Wednesday, Friday & Sundays. Maddie would love to ride a few laps with you.The vibe is so great, it's all around a very comfortable place to better your skills.If you don't mind the 7 year olds schooling you those kids have the skills __________________ ~ STR Dirty Girl ~ Wrecker: "Although six inches is fine with me, it'll have to be white. "

03-20-2008, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
cbHarping	First time at the Orange Y BMX I thought I'd try something new...last night I went to the Orange Y BMX track. My friend Rob gave me a last minute invite to come along with him, and he had a BMX cruiser I could borrow. He used to race BMX back in the day, and at this very same track. Sorry for slightly blurry pics, it was just starting to get dark. I had NEVER ridden a BMX bike before, not even as a kid. When I was growing up, BMX was a "boy" thing, and it was never encouraged for me to try it. I always loved bikes growing up, but BMX was something I didn't really see much of, other than the neighborhood kids pedaling them around the block. Look what I missed out on. Here at the Orange Y BMX track, I thought it was cool to see many girls of varying ages out there riding. My age being the OLDEST, for sure! Waiting for the gate start...I don't know how to balance on the pedals at the gate yet. Look at the two little ones on the outsides! Workin' through the whoops... One of the many lineup times, who should end up beside me in line? Brian Lopes! He showed up toward the end of the practice session on his very clean black Ibis Mojo Carbon. Not only did we end up in line together twice, but both times I ended up starting at the gate at the same time as he did, and right alongside. Pretty funny to be at the gate waiting for the green light with Brian Lopes right beside you. I practically forgot to ride both times we took off because I was too busy watching Brian blast ahead. Pretty amazing. Brian at the gate Sunset shot I had a fantastic time! And what a great workout, my heart was pounding at the end of each run! Definitely want to go back and try it again. Wait, am I too old for this BMX stuff??? __________________ My MTB Blog My Harp Blog The Path Blog The Path Bike Shop in Tustin

03-20-2008, 02:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
2wheel_lee	Carla, that's awesome that you went out there! Riding there regularly will improve your overall bike handling skills like nothing else. Too old? Are you kidding? You're still considered as a youngling out there! __________________ Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you. May the air be filled with tires!

03-20-2008, 02:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
TooManyTacos Or Not Enough	That is sooooo killer! Are you running two brakes?

03-20-2008, 03:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
Myspeedbuggie Junior Member	Thanks for going Carla, It was fun! The 24" BMX bike she was ridding has front brakes becuse I use it at the beach on the boardwalk and you need to stop fast some times ... !!! plus to do tricks... And if Lee lets me know whats up with the 4X bike , She can ride my 24'' anytime Rob

03-20-2008, 03:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
sasquatch9billion Senior Member	Do you have to ride a bmx there or can you just show up with a mtn. bike? I always thought I was too old (26) but maybe I won't feel so out of place.

03-21-2008, 04:16 PM	#18 (permalink)
TooManyTacos Or Not Enough	I've been riding around on my BMX bike and would definitely like to try out the track, so if any of you are going and wouldn't mind some company, please post here on STR and I'll try to make it! Thanks!

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