Bellflower BMX Monday Night! 7/14

[2wheel_lee]

I guess by research I meant trying out different bikes. Mike at Fullerton Bikes will be a big help as well.

Yes, a 24" - and even more a 20" - feels very strange compared to a mountain bike. That's actually true for all of us as we go from mtbs to 24" cruisers. And once again as we go to 20s. Last Friday was my third time on a track on a 20" in 20+ years. I'm far from comfortable yet, but it's a lot of fun, and I know I'm improving at it.

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

The Podium Pro is the smallest bike that uses "normal" sized 20" wheels, and it's a half inch shorter than mine and Ricky's 20s. Try to talk with some of the other parents out there to see if Julia can ride some of their kids' bikes.

This is the bike CB is considering. She tried an Expert XL, and didn't like it. She also doesn't want to run the skinnier tires usually found on the Expert size bikes. Unfortunately, Intense BMX seems to be out of stock on almost all their frames until August.

On an only somewhat related topic, if you're just getting into BMX, I'd suggest checking out the following DVD:

http://www.joekidonastingray.com/

Tons of great footage of BMX racing from its inception. CB and I have a copy, maybe we should organize a DVD party. Anyone have a big TV and large room? Our place is just tiny.

Further brainstorm. How about a BMX/4x forum on STR? All gated racing, all the time.

[Rockinthecasbah]

if you swap rims you can run 1.5's on an expert xl no problem I know a few girls at the Y run expert frames with non skinnie tires

Botox huh??? I bet I could do a great poker face with some of that

Originally Posted by ezzyride

Well Ricky,

If you ever are in need of a heart catheter for an ablation please come to me. Also I know a little about Botox if you ever need advice on this toxin.

Ricky if you have interest in learning about "Regulatory Affairs" let me know. We can talk about it at the track.

Thanks for helping Julia out with bike advice and teaching her to ride the track.

-Elvia

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

On an only somewhat related topic, if you're just getting into BMX, I'd suggest checking out the following DVD:

http://www.joekidonastingray.com/

Tons of great footage of BMX racing from its inception. CB and I have a copy, maybe we should organize a DVD party. Anyone have a big TV and large room? Our place is just tiny.

Further brainstorm. How about a BMX/4x forum on STR? All gated racing, all the time.

That's such a cool video! Ironically, I bought that video while I was in Japan (the English version - they actually have a Japanese version). The TV in my hotel wasn't working well, and I needed something cool to watch in the evenings. Unfortunately, my place is also kind of small (and limited parking).

A BMX/4X/Dual Slalom forum would be great!

[Rockinthecasbah]

yeah lets do it !!!! it could be a sub-forum of the racing forum too keep the clutter down

[2wheel_lee]

Carla, how's your knee? You were down and up faster than I could say "what just happened?"

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Carla, how's your knee? You were down and up faster than I could say "what just happened?"

I am guessing she its ok, they rode quite a few laps after the race. Funny part is a lot of us got what felt like our fastest laps after races

I couldn't remember if you where still there so i figured I would mention it.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by mfoga

I am guessing she its ok, they rode quite a few laps after the race. Funny part is a lot of us got what felt like our fastest laps after races

I couldn't remember if you where still there so i figured I would mention it.

Thanks. No, I wasn't there; I had to leave right after the races were over.

What you say makes sense, because racing pushes to a higher level!

[mtnbikerfred]

I rode much better after the races than during...

Like Lee says: you've got to go slow to go fast. If I try to push it, I'm just wasting my energy and it shows....

[mfoga]

I think part of it for me is that every single lap I find something to help get some more speed. Plus the last moto I tried a different gear and it felt like I could get going faster.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by mfoga

I think part of it for me is that every single lap I find something to help get some more speed. Plus the last moto I tried a different gear and it felt like I could get going faster.

Mark what gear are you running (in teeth)?

[Bryguy17]

for some reason I'm always faster after the races (or at least I feel a lot faster), even though I never race. I'm guessing that it is just a culmination of all the things I've learned over the course of the day. Perhaps its the cooler weather.

I can feel super sketchy before the races, and just feel amazingly confident after. it's weird.

Of course, I think it's because i tend to focus more on technique than speed during the pre-race laps, and more on the speed afterwords. Sure, I race hugh and fred and a people occasionally, but for the most part I'm jumping and manualing and dodging groms.

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Mark what gear are you running (in teeth)?

Its 36 up front and I was using the 13 or 15. I think i went to 17 later on and found it better.

[Dino Brown]

MFOGA/Julia-
Do not under-estimate the value in using a lighter tire/tube combo!

The Old
Kenda 2.35 K-Rad... 810g
Maxxis Holy Roller... 810g
Standard Tubes- 200g

The New
Kenda Small Block (2.1/2.3)... 524g/705g
Intense Micro Knobby (2.2)... 700g
Maxxis Larsen TT (2.0)... 520g
Lightweight Tubes... 120g

As you can see, you could shave POUNDS off your "bikes" (not to mention decreasing rolling resistance) without spending much money. Just a thought...

MFOGA/Julia- I have a brand new 2.1" Mythos (rear tire) I would be more than willing to let you experiment with for a few weeks. May *NOT* be the best BMX tire in the world. It *IS* fast and it is light (515g)...

[Rockinthecasbah]

its more then the weight 26" wheels are alot to spool up on a bmx track where there is no gravity to help you along

[mfoga]

Yeah I know, and guess what my tires are 865g, and I have a set of Small Block 8 2.1s on order. I already have lightweight tubes.

[Rockinthecasbah]

you have to watch the SB8's at fontana if you run them on the lower psi they get side wall tears easily a little too easily ask Mudman

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

you have to watch the SB8's at fontana if you run them on the lower psi they get side wall tears easily a little too easily ask Mudman

I will go back to the Negeval in front and Larsen TT in rear for Fontana, I prefer something with more bite there since that track seemed to be really lose well at least it was last time.