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onlyBMX - what is it all about?
This is more of a fun site than anything else and started out as just a way for me to experiment with a photo rating script that I was playing with. From there I decided to add a few more things and I suppose it will turn into just a site where I can rant and rave about all things BMX related, plus a few other things. I'm way too old to mention my age, however I can go back to the late 70s when thinking about how I came to be interested in BMX. From there I went on to further education and work and it wasn't the thing to do back then. So I'm not as hardcore as some BMXers but I have always thought about getting myself another BMX one day. Well I finally did it a couple of weeks back. Still getting used to it after about 20 years away from them. I've tried road bikes and mountain bikes but find them a bit boring. Still have the full suspension mountain bike just in case I need to ride a bike with more gears than I could use in a life time...
It will probably turn into a development platform for me to try my hand at integrating numerous scripts such as the webmaster services from Amazon and eBay. That said, if you come across something that doesn't work then please let me know by going to the contact page and letting me know what the problem was. Of course you can also support me by buying a few things from the site as well. Might as well be up front about it. The prices you pay will be exactly the same as going directly to the site, it's just I will receive a commission for the referral.
BMX Articles
Best BMX grips for people with large hands - Primo Classic
I've been struggling for months with ODI Longnecks on my Fit BMX and always finished riding with sore hands. So sore infact than I would get bloodblisters underneath the callusses.* I've changed my gloves (and that's another story) and still had problems. I'd been looking at all the new school grips and they all seem so thin. Well I finally found some that are much thicker than the others. The Primo Classic grip is perfect. I'd put a link to the product page on the Primo site but they have one of those sites where you can't link to individual pages (and that's another story too).
Best I can do is show a photo of them so you can see which ones I'm talking about.
Also comes with plastic barends in case you are tight and don't like paying for the metal ones. Now all I have to do is decide what to do with the Longnecks.
* Dictionary.com meanings of callus - "A localized thickening and enlargement of the horny layer of the skin". Never new the palm of my hand was horny!
Best BMX grips for people with large hands - Primo Classic Posted 2006-05-04 23:30:21
BMX racing again after 23 years away from the track
Well I finally had my comeback race on the weekend. After reading about other people's return to the track I was a bit hesitant. Many stories of broken bones and muscle injuries. I think I can now understand why. Heading down the first straight I was surprised that I got a decent start and wasn't too far behind the leader. Hit the first step up much faster than I had ever done in practice and came off at close to a 45 degree angle. Managed to hold it together and finished my first race in second place.
As expected, the competitive urge took over and I should have slowed down a bit for the first jump. In the second race I stopped pedalling a bit earlier and was a lot more controlled over the jump. Of course now I just need to practice jumping the whole thing so I can hit it with the increased speed. Oh, and it will be a lot more fun that way as well.
What else can I say? I really enjoyed the day, no crashes and whilst it was only a small meeting with five in my class, it was fun and I can't wait for my next race meeting. If you are thinking about giving racing a go I highly recommend it.
That is me in gate 2.
BMX racing again after 23 years away from the track Posted 2006-05-02 20:50:38
Is BMX Australia hindering the growth of the sport?
As I've mentioned before, I'm getting back into racing. Thought I'd jump onto the BMX Australia website to download the forms and generally find out what was required in terms of paperwork before I turned up to race. What a disappointment. Contray to what it says on the site, it obviously is not updated weekly. The link for the licence application is for 2005 and we are now about to hit the fifth month of 2006. I kept having a further look around and a few of the links came up with page not found messages and others just linked back to the main page.
In desparation and frustration I clicked on the contact page and it lists an email address for Andrew Nolan, the National BMX Racing Coaching and Development Manager. On 6 April I sent an email asking about the licence application for 2006 and also saying that if it was easier to just do it at a track then let me know. Days passed and no reply. I sent a follow up email on 16 April asking for a reply. Today it is 28 April and I still have not received a reply.
Doesn't really do a lot for the sport when the national governing body doesn't even respond to enquiries about getting into the sport does it? What is more disappointing is that he doesn't know whether I am asking for myself or for a family that might get more young racers involved. Lucky I had a backup plan and knew that I would be able to do it at the track. Just thought I could save some time by getting the form and completing it before turning up. Just in case I needed certain types of ID or other forms.
A few days back I also sent an email to Shane at BMX Ultra just to let him know how useless BMX Australia have been. I received a reply with an hour and an offer to hook me up with a local track. Kudos to Shane and that is the type of response I would have expected from the sport's governing body.
Is BMX Australia hindering the growth of the sport? Posted 2006-04-27 23:45:08
Looks Like I'm going Racing Again
After visiting the Vintage BMX site and meeting a few other guys here in Melbourne I've decided to give racing a go again. Of course this means I need a race BMX, in addition to the new school freestyle BMX and I couldn't possibly race one of the 1980s BMXs that I'm putting together so a fourth build is happening. Managed to pick up a early 1990s S&M Dirt Bike (thanks Anthony), and whilst it is still very far from a modern BMX with its 1" head tube and long rear end, I don't think it will be the equipment that lets me down.
I've read many a story about other people, their comebacks and their injuries so fingers crossed. Will still be a few weeks off as I get all the stuff together.
I really got the bug when I had my first ride on a BMX track in 23 years. They have changed a bit and in my opinion not necessarily for the better but then I'm just an old fart I suppose.
Walked away with less skin on my knee, elbow and shoulder and a bruised palm but it wasn't done on the track. Tried a 360 out of the second berm and didn't make it all the way around. Here is the damage.
Looks Like I'm going Racing Again Posted 2006-03-14 22:44:35
Putting An Early 1980s Hutch Pro Racer Back Together
My race BMX was a Hutch Pro Racer frame and forks with other custom bits on it. Back then it seems rare for BMXs to come as complete bikes except for the cheaper varieties. Nothing like now with new models being released every year like cars. Anyway, it is taking months to accumulate all the parts that I had back then and a few that I couldn't afford and now can, such as Redline Flight cranks. They were the ultimate back then but I had to put up with one piece cro-mo cranks.
Below is a picture of a few of the things I have sourced so far. Heaps more to come and way more expensive than what I was paying back then. Why are Dia-Compe MX1000 brakes and Shimano DX pedals so damn expensive now? They were just run of the mill type equipment, albeit premium, but no where near what sort of prices they are commanding now.
So if you are looking to sell some MX1000 brakes and Shimano DX pedals contact me now!
Putting An Early 1980s Hutch Pro Racer Back Together Posted 2006-02-14 23:08:00
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