That's a very kind thing to say. Thank you very much. I appreciate your comment and encouragement. I checked out your channel. It's pretty awesome that you've met Connor Fields and Paul Mounsey. I hope you make more BMX video again too!
So I'm going to a local track this weekend to watch a race. I'm seriously considering racing. Its only been 37 years since my last race. I should be okay. Thank you for the inspiration. You Rock!
It's been about 39 yrs for me since my last race. I'm going to the track next weekend to watch a race and more than likely doing a class the following Monday. So it's been 2 months for you. Any update? Did you race?
@@dadzilla8015 My first race is tomorrow. I didn't realize how out of shape I truly am. I practiced last weekend and almost puked after 7 runs. We will see what happens. I'll keep you posted
Cool. Thank you. I looked at your channel and it appears you have a lot of road bike experience. Since you already have a lot of knowledge about bicycles, you may already know a lot of the general advice I give, but hopefully the BMX-specific things will be helpful.
@@LearnBMXRacing our family went for the open house day this past Thursday, I rode my MTB on the track and my four year daughter rode her woom 3 pedal bike. We both had a lot of fun, but now I’m having to think about if and how we’re going to get into the sport. You know basically starting off with nothing in terms of equipment. So your videos have really helped clear some things up for me there.
Hello bro. So I have finished my first 2 race weekends. 3rd overall in the mains. I'm hooked and I owe it all to you man. My wife and daughters volunteer in the concession stand. I help with track prep and cover. It's a great community and we are having the time of our lives with it. I want to say thank you. You have been a great inspiration to me.
That's so cool! You are most welcome. Thank you for sharing that. I'm happy to hear BMX is allowing you and your family to make some great memories together. I'm honored to play a small role in that.
I had so many cheap BMX's as a kid. Constantly destroying BB's, hub, chains, etc. Snapped cranks, bent peddles. Don't get me wrong, I still absolutely loved riding them, and learned to wrench on them. But it got expensive for my Dad, and I rode around every garbage day looking for donor bikes. There was no BMX racing where I grew up, so only freestyle bikes. My local bike shop also sold used bikes, and I vividly remember getting a used Haro freestyle bike. Of course I stripped and painted it red with white checkers on the down tube. Gave it knobby tires, kept just the rear brake. No more pegs, giro, etc. I had some good times on that bike! It flew like mad, compared to what I was used to. Eventually, I became a bike mechanic. I started buying completes, mostly Redlines and a Free Agent once. The modern race bikes are exponentially better than my 80's and 90's BMX's, but those old bikes still hold a spot in my heart. I've rode MTB, road, CX, trials and more, but I keep coming back to BMX. I'd say it's my first love in bicycles. We rode them in the woods before we had MTB's (and still do!), jumped them into lakes, put screws in the tires and ice raced them, got us around the neighborhood, blitzed campgrounds and more. It's hard to think of a bike as fun or versatile as a BMX. Really enjoying your channel. Take care.
Getting my kids into BMX has been daunting! My background is in water sports and skateboarding so I am exploring uncharted water. I’m so grateful you took the time to make such a well thought out video! Love your passion man! Thank you!
You are very welcome. I know nothing about water sports, but I'm a skateboarder too. Your channel is quite charming and endearing, so I am really glad this video was helpful to you and your family.
I will be in my first ever BMX race this April. This video has helped me a lot. I'm 5'7 and 31 years old. I was going to rent a cruiser but after seeing this, I will try a pro. Thank you.
We are the same height and I find cruisers a bit bulky and awkward. But if you have the chance to ride one, check it out, just to see what you think. I definitely am more comfortable on my 20" Pro.
Dude, You missed your calling as a filmmaker. This video was so well done, you can tell you poured your heart and soul into it. BRAVO!! I am so ready to buy my 10 year old son his first racing BMX Bike.
Thank you very much. I actually have worked on a lot of independent films and crewed on a couple of Hollywood movies. Glad you enjoyed it and don't forget to get a bike for yourself too, so you and your son can ride together!
The last 3 minutes of this video is worth a whole separate video itself! Wow, thanks for sharing your passion on biking and the magical feeling we can have on it. Thanks for sharing, I learned a ton in this video.
Great presentation! If you find a great local bike shop, stick w/ them - loyalty pays off. I live in mountain bike country, & for decades 'Mountain City Cycle' has catered to my BMX needs. Loyalty pays off.
Yeah, in fact, Metropolis Bikes barely had any BMX stuff, but I still loved that shop because their attitude and aptitude was great. And anytime I needed a new 20" innertube, they'd usually spot me one for free!
@@LearnBMXRacing Thank you for making the video! I try to comment on great videos (like this one), because the more comments, likes, views, etc, the more people will see it.
Awesome video! I love your description of your race bike at the end 😂 my class bike is a 21 year old Mosh and my cruiser is a Kastan turning 30 years old this year. I think I’m finally ready to upgrade my cruiser but my Mosh just holds a special place in my heart and when I think of upgrading it it just breaks my heart in two 😂 can’t do it.
@@LearnBMXRacing 😂 darn right! Except my wife might have something to say about the girlfriend part but at least she never questions or complains about my need for more guns & bikes. I’m trying to decide between a Pure and a Rift cruiser frame, I really like the Rift and the colors you can get it in but I can only find one for sale and I’m not a fan of the color of that particular one and as far as the Pure goes it’s only available in two colors and I don’t mind the gray but not my first choice. I’ll probably give it a couple more months and see if I can find a Rift preferably in the red and black but if not I’ll probably settle on the the Pure.
The GT VFR costs 349 where I am in NY. Its sold in a popular Sporting Goods store. Hopefully the stem is extra long. Allthough i'm only 5'10, I have Very long legs. As far as 20 inchers, currently I've been riding around this lil Kent that I got for Free, from my manager. The seat stem isn't much length, so I strapped on this thick lil couch-cushion pillow thing, onto the Big Fat cruiser seat that I installed on the lil 20 incher. But yeah, It's a BCA Kent bike, and actually sufficient for doing my sprints on this specific tucked away area roadway. That GT looks like it'd be a Great lil Upgrade though. At 52, I've just recently took a sudden dramatic interest in riding Smaller bicycles, after Many years of riding standard mountain bikes, as well as cruisers and roadie type bullhorn handlebar bikes.
Dudeeee your vids are awesome . I have no idea how to start in this bmx world for my kids but now I m getting ready with your vids and suggestions … 👍 thanks 🙏
my first bmx race was in azusa canyons way back in early 80s my friends wanted to watch the race so we ride our bikes from La puente ca to azusa canyons ca i liked it ,so for all of the 80s we practiced there then late 80s early 90s i started riding freestyle....
Used to race, gave up bmx in 200, just got back in the sport recently. I fell off concerning knowledge as technology changed in almost a quarter century, got back into freestyle. Hadn’t seen a new gt in a store since high school, ani I just did the research before buying…got a GT kachinsky team signature model, because it was full chromoly and sealed bearing EVERYTHING. Another reason I got this bike (other than the nostalgia of owning gt’s forever) was Brian kachinsky is 5’8, and I’m only an inch and a half taller than he is…perfect fit. He is a street rider, and my intent was to ride street and park…again I had no idea who BK was because of being gone so long, but a little research got me a good quality bike missing nothing but pegs for 750$ Canadian brand new out of a store. However if I didn’t do my research and just assumed that the newer performer was comparable to the old ones I would have been terribly disappointed, and ended up with a high tensile steel, loose ball bearing mistake…I just spent a few hundred on a better complete bike and I likely saved at LEAST double that extra on having to upgrade an inferior bike. Good video, In my opinion the only thing missing would have been the aspect of buying a professional signature frame set, and doing the research to find out the rider’s dimensions and riding style. Building anything from a frame up ALWAYS costs the most
Man. Great video. Had several high quality bike. A couple custom built and spent about 2300 plus on each. And that was back in 2001 and 2004. . . Crazy how much both has and hasnt changed at all. Same brands are the best pretty much. Most of the deisgns are the exact same. But still great looking bike.
Thank you so much for this very insightful information, I'm looking for a fast light bike that can go on all terrain but I know if I get light it also makes it weak.
Don't get to obsessed with weight. If you're a professional racer, 3 or 4 pounds is a big deal. If you're riding for fun, those weight differences don't matter.
My first race bike was an 83 GT Pro. It was a chrome frame and fork with anodized blue components. It sadly got stolen at the movie theater. The theif left my friend's Powerlite.
Sorry to hear that. One of my bikes got stolen once too. An early Haro Supra. Totally my fault. I left it in my unlocked car. Very stupid of me to leave the bike in there and even more stupid to leave the car unlocked. Live and learn.
Yeah, once you get away from coaster brakes, you can't go back. I bought a beach cruiser with coaster brakes a decade ago, and I kept on accidentally skidding, because I forgot I couldn't pedal backward. I replaced it with hand brakes right away. 😄
Wish they would make this BMX Racing DNA but in a hybrid adult frame. I remember ripping the streets as a teenager with my Specialized Fatboy Hemi now I just want that crazy take off and fast speed but in a more comfortable frame.
So, what's the 1981 PK Ripper of 2022? I've been out of BMX since early 1980's and seems like the jump bikes are pretty similar to the Eric Rupe Mongoose... I might try to track down one of those, I never even knew about the Eric Rupe Mongooses until last night... but what are the top 3 complete race bikes and how much difference does a slightly lighter bike mean in a top end BMX race in 2022 when it's mostly coasting down from a huge start ramp?
In the 3 years I've been doing this project, you're the first person to ask that. No, I don't have stickers. But, it would be pretty easy to make some merchandise and add a page to the website. Definitely something I will think about. Thanks for asking!
Any advice on some beginner bike for a 5”6, 38 year old? Just found I have a track 4 minutes away from my place. Also, do I need any kind of special protection besides a full face helmet?
For the bike, I don't have much advice beyond what you already see in this video. You actually don't need a full-face helmet. 99% of riders use a full-face, but a normal bike helmet is allowed too. The best advice I can give is to go to that local track and speak to the track operator. They will be able to help you with all the specifics you need to know about getting started at their track. Good luck and have fun!
The Haro Blackout is their top-of-the-line complete. I didn't realize they sold a standalone Blackout frame. But, yeah, that's a very nice aluminum frame.
Do you have any comments about the elephant at the race track: BMX race bike sizing assumes all adults are over 5'6", which is definitely not the case.
Novices on 24" cruisers may race against 20" novices. But that is the only time 24" and 20" bikes race each other. Otherwise, 24" bikes only race other 24" bikes.
if your looking for a race bike for a low price say 400 redline has a summer sale going on the mx is like 400 with tax and they got bikes starting at 270 but thats lower end bike think its a roam
@@LearnBMXRacing i mean for the price its a great race bike my cousin had one i raced it once or twice and i liked it but any bike u buy your gonna upgrade and change parts
I traded a ps2 for a Free Agent Race BMX that was so light and awesome. It was eventually stolen. It was the best bike i ever had and now they’re all too expensive to justify.
Bikes have gotten much more affordable. A $350 bike back in 1987 is equal to a $930 bike today. And you can get tons of good bikes today for under $600.
GT sells a bike called the "Kid's Berm Bike" at Dick's Sporting Goods for $250. At that pricepoint, it's obviously a hi-ten steel frame. That kind of bike is fine for a child under the age of 13. For someone 13 or older, it may not be strong enough for racing.