You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
First up this is purely theoretical.
I have never owned a BMX (at least I don't think so). But I do wonder if one would be good at the skatepark.
I am perfectly happy messing about before the kids get there on my dirt jumper. But I can't help wondering if a BMX might be better.
If I were to buy a BMX, which I won't, but let's just pretend. What would I be looking for? Given I am much too old for a BMX and now have disposable cash to buy more or less any BMX I might happen to want. What sort of frame type, wheels etc?
No thanks in advance, because of course this is only theoretical.
Try one first because you might hate it. I rode one for years but now when I get on one I hate how my hands are right in front of my knees and my chin is way over the front axle.
Also, what do you want to achieve? Are you doing bar spins and tailwhips? Because if not then I don't think a tiny bike would be better than a slightly larger DJ bike.
But...since you ask I'd have an S&M Credence or a BSD Sureshot in the longest size.
Personally I bought a 24” wheel cruiser bmx - and it wants to kill me. It’s fun though - very different to a dirt jump bike - it goes so fast round a pump track. No-way I’d be getting a 20” wheel one having never bmx’ dim my youth.
I’d try and get one with as long a top tube as possible for a little bit less tendency to want to attempt to kill / maim / hurl you to the floor.
In terms of make / spec if it’s an exploratory way into using a bmx I wouldn’t spend loads of cash. I picked up my Haro 124 for £50 or £70 in a bit of a state. Changed the bb / changed out the seized seatpost / added a back brake that actually works (as long as it’s dry) / new chain / new tyres. I believe the frame is high tensile steel and the whole thing weighs about 27kgs. I don’t really think unless you’re racing the weight thing is a big issue.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/134fjx7C/FD450153-1C4B-48A8-9A8E-A402C17F3D38.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/134fjx7C/FD450153-1C4B-48A8-9A8E-A402C17F3D38.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
I just thought... Wethepeople Audio.
Just just buy one of those and come back and tell us about it.
Do it.
Advice from someone who builds BMX's is ignore the "in" super short and steep geometry, it's only useful if your a pro hitting tech tricks back to back in a skatepark setting. Instead focus on something a bit more stable and longer.
I'll just throw 22" wheels in the mix to further confuse you.
22" that new to me. Only seen those on wheelchairs before. Which sounds appropriate!
Alternatively, what about a street trials bike? They're a bit like a BMX but with all the good bits of mountain bikes* Fit all your favourite bling cranks, pedals, brakes, if bling's your thing. There's 24" or 26" flavours. Inspired, Extension, Crewkerz. If it's not got a seat it's a pure trials bike - less useful at skatepark.
*except gears, dropper posts**, suspension.
** saddle is below your knees so no need 😉
I've had trials bikes in the past and they were very similar to my current DJ. It's the smaller wheels and more flickability that intrigues
If you were to have a midlife crisis and buy a BMX you might get something like this GT BK Team. And the kids at the skatepark might admire it. And indeed you might occasionally do a tiny trick on it that's not doing the bike justice at all. But that doesn't matter, because this is all theoretical, and no one is having a midlife crisis. Just fun.
Op's post made me laugh.
I've just bought the hypothetical jump bike I promised myself would remain a thought experiment only.
It’s the smaller wheels and more flickability that intrigues
Fair enough. Know what you mean, a BMX is one of several n+1 for me, and i used to rude one as a kid a lot, hence I always look in these threads..... And then suggest a street trials bike 😆 because that's what I have now.
I got myself a Sunday Primer to ride at the skatepark when i took the kids .....which quickly turned into me going by myself in the week when they were at school . Once i could get in and out the bowl ok i could easily spend a couple of hours just riding the bowl and be knackered after it , its a really good workout .
Unfortunately after moving we don't have any indoor wooden ramps near us and i just cant get my head round riding ramps on concrete, but it still gets used at the pump track which is good fun .
That Fit bike is nice.... Fortunately it's nearly 300 miles away so no risk of accidently buying it!
This is fun isn't it?!
Been a BMX'er for 35+ years now and have friends who still ride in their 50's and near 60's
Riding a bmx as you get older is hard on the body, they are small, have no give in them and they take quite a while to get used to coming from an mtb (even takes me a little while to adjust my riding style to suit the bmx)
A dirt jump bmx would prob be best, can be used for skateparks too but will have better geo for a more relaxed ride
22in is an option, they have been around for a while, ive got a 20in S&M WTF and also a BlkMrkt Contradband which is basically a 24in bmx/jump bike with disc brake and a dropper which makes it better for riding to and from riding spots
I would second escrs above. I still ride weekly (early-ish 40s) and know some real good riders who are in their 50s but even for them it's hard. Bmx is fun though and some guy at our local started riding at 49 (now 50) and has a great time.
There was some guy who had a good idea with a bike company called "common ground" that never gain d traction, it was basically a good 24" BMX as all the BMX cruisers are a bit shit. That would have suited well.
A 22" BMX or 24" jump bike will give a lot of the extra flicability.
Also, what do you want to achieve? Are you doing bar spins and tailwhips? Because if not then I don’t think a tiny bike would be better than a slightly larger DJ bike
Yes and no. If it's your usual counsel skatepark which have horrible over tight transitions and small ramps being on a bmx works better*.
*Still pretty horrible but I do hate most local concrete parks.
The only issue with 24" jump bikes is they have all but disappeared.
The only issue with 24″ jump bikes is they have all but disappeared.
Yep, its a shame, i was lucky to pick up my Blkmrkt Contraband frame on Facebook, came with a United Supreme crank and chainring all for £40!
You know when people say 'this bike has 10mm shorter chainstays than the norm so it handles just like a BMX' well they have clearly never ridden a BMX because they handle like nothing else. At the right place they are streets better than anything else, but that comes at a cost -for the first few weeks you will be convinced it is trying to kill you, then after that they slowly start to make more sense.
Having said that, I'm currently selling mine as I just don't have the time to drive to my nearest skatepark and have no decent dj's near me and I was never a street rider.
If I were you and I had the opportunity for somewhere to ride I'd give it a go, but don't expect it to feel comfortable straight away.
Given I am much too old for a BMX and now have disposable cash to buy more or less any BMX I might happen to want.
Forgot to add, step this way sir to my ad on pb...
https://m.pinkbike.com/buysell/3590757/
Only joking, not the right bike for skatepark although it's perfectly capable it needs to feel the dirt beneath it's wheels.
^ that is a proper trail warriors machine. Love the 36t chainring. What's the ratio? 36x11?
36/13. What size dj's are you hitting with 36/11 😀
That Standard brings back memories. I had an STA500 and a Lengthy. Always wanted a Trails 250 but found someone who wanted to swap my Lengthy for a T1 Progression so I did that instead.
My last proper BMX was an S&M Stricker then I stopped riding and could never get back into it.
My son is getting to grips with his balance bike and we have loads of local spots so I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for something with 22" wheels so I can 'supervise' him at the parks and jumps.
I actually have 36/11 (due to it being a spares bin build) on my dirt BMX, but in true BMX form it only gets about one crank in before rolling in.
Trying to find a jump bike that doesn't look stolen or like you're going to get mugged on collection is my current hurdle.
I'm just after something cheap to bash round the pump track with the boy but a BMX if far too small for my old man needs.
I used to ride a 20" BMX years ago with the longest top tube you could get at the time.
Just before the first lock down I bought a 22" fit and this year made an effort to ride the local park more.
For me it's great, but I'm a tall rider, the bar height it actually not far off the full suss mtb (I actually had to lower the bars on the BMX as didn't get on with them at supplies height).
Modern bmx's have really short rears so a 20" would always be trying to kill me.
Fwiw this year there have been older guys on new bmx's jump bikes (26" & 24") cruisers.
The skate park scene has changed totally for the better in the past 20yrs for the better (well my local indoor parkis different to the ones we travel to in 00's)
This prompted me to pop out on my bmx last night for an ad hoc blast round the pump track that’s 5 mins from my house - it was a dry and sunny evening so perfect.
Was feeling really comfortable on it last night - having a good go at some rollers and tables etc. I’m not the best at jumping but it was fun anyway
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/BnnKVpzr/IMG-1749.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/BnnKVpzr/IMG-1749.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/wj4m8J87/IMG-1742.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/wj4m8J87/IMG-1742.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
It looks exceptionally cool.
I'm just starting a rebuild on a PoS BMX with the boy... it's somewhat challenged and need a new rear wheel/freehub/rebuild.. But the rest of it we can make work. It was given free to us... and was just about worth what we paid 😀
Yeah mine was either £50 or £70 off gumtree or fb classifieds. Was in a right state with a seized seatpost (too high for me so had to sort that), covered in speckles of white paint like someone had emulsioned a ceiling above it, ripped saddle, nearly seized chain / bb and a loose headset. Plus manky cracked tyres and grips.
Had a spare saddle and grips - and picked up the tyres in a sale. Worked out bmx bb’s enough to pick up a cheapie new one and bmx chains are cheap as chips. Cut out the seatpost (emotional) and got it up and running.
Maybe owes me £150-£200 now and doubt it’s worth that if I sold it but it’s great to pop out for 30-60 mins in for a blast.
I don’t know much about bmx hubs - mine wasn’t spinning nicely at the back but I found it was cup and cone so just cleaned it up and regreased and it’s running pretty well now. Tango’d the single wall rear rim on my second ride so now it’s got a double wall thing I picked up cheap from CRC with straight gauge spokes. The bmx wheel was really easy to build straight / true and nicely tensioned.
I don’t know much about bmx hubs – mine wasn’t spinning nicely at the back but I found it was cup and cone so just cleaned it up and regreased and it’s running pretty well now. Tango’d the single wall rear rim on my second ride so now it’s got a double wall thing I picked up cheap from CRC with straight gauge spokes. The bmx wheel was really easy to build straight / true and nicely tensioned.
IT's a cup and cone too the same, but is slightly siezed on one of the nuts on the spindle... so i've left with Rotec Cycles to sort that... If not, we'll get a cheapo wheel off Ebay/somewhere. It's running a 9 tooth rear and a certain type of hub that apparently means we need that style, not the other (whatever that is).
The cranks spin OK, the headset is OK and we've rebuilt and sorted the front wheel.
It'll need a new brake cable and a 25.4 seatpost and saddle.. but i'm not ordering those until we have a wheel to play with.
I just bought a cheapo post off eBay - it really isn’t important as the saddle is just slammed most of the time anyway. If I’m pedalling it somewhere a bit further away I do put the post up but they’re really not designed for pedalling!
Pedal wise I bought some cheapie flat things off Amazon, branded ‘scud good’ of all things. £17 and they’re actually pretty grippy - composite body with metal pins.
Can’t help on wheel advice on bmx - I think mine have 14mm axles with big nuts on - I bought some chain tensioners as well just to help get the wheel setup alright. I think my chain is currently too tight - need to have a play with it at some point.
My gearing is 39 / 16 I think - so completely different to yours!
@JoeBristol - where’s that? I’m looking for more places for my kids to ride on in the Bristol area.
I got a BMX last year mainly to go out with my son on his balance bike. I love it, even though I'm rubbish.
It was an ex-display one from the Tall Order BMX ebay store. It's got a 21" frame and has 20" wheels, and weighs roughly 10kg.
It's great fun on the pump track and it's quite fun trying to survive riding it down some local trails. I've only done a bit at skate parks and have learned that coming off on concrete hurts a lot more than mud or gravel MTB trails. I find it really useful for taking my son out on his balance bike though, as he's getting quite fast now and can leave you for dust if on foot. Plus, it's reassuring when out at parks or pump tracks, as there is less fear of getting it stolen over my other bikes if I have to put it down while attending to my son (if he has a crash, or needs a wee etc.).
In hindsight, I should probably have got a dirt jumper with suspension fork to help ease the pressure on my wrists. I'd probably jump it more.
Well this thread has encouraged me to pump up the tyres on my old BMX. Shame our nearest park is rubbish and the next one is full of weed smoking yoof, but I'm sure I'll find something.
Bristol is practically overloaded with pump tracks now - it’s ace - and they keep building new ones. It’s like a pump track Mecca
@JoeBristol - that looks like it’s been resurfaced since I was last there (about 5 years ago), I haven’t been back because it was too tight and steep for the kids when they were on balance bikes.
Our local used to be Little Stoke which is really good for small or big kids.
And you’re right about Bristol being a pumpTrack Mecca. And I’m
Liking how friendly and inclusive they all are. Never had a problem with anyone when rocking up with the twins on their balance bikes or Frog/Early Riders (thanks Hope Academy) as long as I remind them to stick to the 1 way etiquette. Everyone has been stoked that the kids are flying down the start ramp and catching air off the first hump. Lol.
I keep meaning to take them over to Hillfields but never get around to it (is it easy to park there?) and Cumberland Basin is the wrong side of Bristol for us so not made it there either.
@Droplinked - I have the same problem now both mine are pedalling, but my 29er AM HT is a bit fast (and cumbersome on a pump track) so thinking of getting a 24 or 26 jump bike as I can’t bring myself to go back to a BMX now I’m in my 40s.
Plenty of cheap 24 and 16ers on FB around Bristol (or maybe resurrect the old Kona Howler as a single speed and just pump up the shock)
I got a 20 incher, just couldn't figure it out- it was too different to every other bike I've ridden and that stuff's apparently so hardwired now that the little one just felt absolutely crap. Maybe I'd have got used to that but i didn't want to.
I nearly got a 24 incher just recently, then got obsessed with proper bigwheels- CRC had some great prices on PKs, I nearly got an Omduro just because it's so glorious. But then I got an old 26er Soul and I'm putting 2.5 slicks on it, it'll not be anything like an actual BMX but hopefully it'll be enough like a mountain bike that I can just ride it
Hillfields park is just in the middle of a slightly dodgy residential area so loads of street parking. I used to live a few roads over for it and never had an issue there.
As well as a small tight pump lap there’s a slightly downhill pump track with some nice berms and rollers and an optional double thing at the bottom. They’ve just built a whole new tarmac pump bowl next to it that looks fun too. I swung by for a quick look whilst out on a road ride and it looks excellent.
Longwell Green used to have 3 big tarmac corners but the straights were all quite worn gravel stuff and a bit crap. They’ve essentially left the original corners and reshaped and tarmaced the straights. It‘a much better than it was.
There’s a track at lyde green too - but that one is crap - half of it is uphill 🤯
Yeah, I’ve taken the kids to Lyde Green a few times but the little bugger sleep getting distracted by the playground. Ungrateful brats 😜
Not surprised though - that track is dire - hate the pedal back up - don’t know what they were thinking when they built it like that!