I love the progression of Freestyle. It absolutely amazes me where these guys have taken the sport. Why is that a helmet is such a bad thing? Is the "brain bucket" style helmets so distracting or is it back to the "hardcore" attitude that grew in the late 80s as the sport got more and more commerical? I get it. Freestyle is HARDCORE bike riding. Wearing a helmet in this type of riding will do one simple thing for you, allow you to keep riding your bike HARDCORE.
Regret sucks. Wear a helmet to avoid this...or worse, being incapatitated or dead. Brian is lucky to get a second chance here. He also is speaking clearly, which is not common when your skull is fractured. Come on guys. Wear a helmet.
Everybody loves a crash. Most of us love them as long as the person doesn't get too hurt. In this clip an old school BMX dude was trying to show his kids and some young locals how to jump a huge dirt pile the local DPW had left for something. He was full on at it a few times. By the time I made my way over with a camera he was still at it, and still crashing it. He was fine and smiled throughout each crash. This took place at a skatepark in Fitchburg, MA. If you are this dude, let me know your name.
Seriously! I love this mountain bike, but this front wheel and fork bent so easily I am a little stunned. In 30 years of BMX riding, I have NEVER bent a wheel anywhere near this bad. Gotta love BMX bikes.
How did this happen?
Riding along a fire road I have never been on before, I see a boulder in the road being excavated and it looks like I can ride off it and land easily down the hill on the other side...just assumed the "other side" would be the same incline as the rest of the hill. Well it was more like a little pit with very unattractive options to land on...realizing this mid air unfortunately. I stuck the front wheel in the backside of the hole and did the old tuck and roll. Fortunes in my favor apparently now, I landed back first on a hay bail so cleverly positioned next to the hole. Nice! I jump up with no scratches or bruises and look over at the bike and see that the front wheel has somewhat of an "L" shape. My first thought was "shit it's like 4 miles to walk back and these bugs are eating me up like a ^#^#*(@)@$%%.
I spit the dirt out of my mouth and do a quick inventory of myself, no damage. What would Lance Do? He would rip that wheel off and start beating the *(^* out of it to get it back on the bike. Wheels comes off and I start beating it senseless to get it somewhat straight to at least ride instead of walk home. W
Success! I am riding through the trails with the wheel as you see it in the video and along Route 62 down what normally would be about a 40 mile an hour rocket ride down the hill. I went slow of course. :)
Worst part of the whole thing, other than riding up my hill with this wheel flopping around, was the repair bill I swallowed today...$650! Forks, front wheel and chain are toast...and of course while this is all going on I needed new tires and a tune up.
All I wanted was a quick 10 mile spin around town, but the allure of flying through some trails ("shortcut") were too much. I had to jump off the road. I did get to keep the wheel as a souvenir...and it didn't even get a flat tire. Weird!
Two "old" friends of mine and I went to a local skatepark to cruise around and have some fun. It's been 20 or so years since the three of us rode together on any ramps...and it was bound to get competitive. Tons of fun at Subliminal Skatepark, but a few too many bumps, bruises and maybe even a few scars.
