Life of Bikes

New School Old School - A Helmet?

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.

 

Old School Freestyle Tricks Never Die

About a year ago I recorded some really old school ramp tricks.  These are the backbone of the sport and are still a ton of fun today.  I love the high flying acrobatics of today's riding, but a good clean run with some technical tricks mixed in is still a pleasure to watch...or do. 

I did not invent these tricks, but love them.  Riders like Dennis Langlais, Jeff Larson, Mike Dominguez and Brian Blyther deserve the credit.  Thank you!

Treadmill Tricks on a BMX Bike...People are Still Watching it

When I opened my YouTube account a few years back I had a video that seemed kind of funny and maybe even a little unique.   I was bored and was eager to get back on my bikes, but the New England Winter was still lingering on.  I had heard it could be done, but didn't know anyone that had tried.  I learned how to ride and do a few old freestyle tricks.  This is the last of the three videos.  Enjoy it, comment that I need to get a life and tell me whatever.  I have heard the whole range of comments, but more than 50,000 people have watched it.

I See Lines - Doing it Right Then?

In any type of competitive bike riding, you see lines.  The fast line through a trail.  The hot line through a streat course.  The flat-tire-free line through the potholes.  You have to see lines.

The line through this road is pretty obvious, at least it is to me.  Seeing the lines is similar to how a baseball player sees the ball as it leaves the pitchers hand.  It's hard to explain unless you can do it. 

You can learn to see lines, but some people just have it instinctively.  Those that do just fly and look free.  There isn't much hesitation and there is a simple flow to how they ride.  Again, the great hitters in baseball make it look effortless.  Bike riders just make it look like it flows.  I see some lines, but still get those flat tires when I don't. 

Riders that see the lines finish first.  Baseball players that see the ball, crush homeruns.  Basketball players that see the arch, rack up titles.  If you can see the line in what your doing, you doing it right. 

 

Photo credit:  Auntjojo via Flickr

Why I am Riding the PMC in 2011 - We Can't Turn Back Time

I recall a few words my cousin said to me at the wake of her brother after passing from a second bout with Leukemia.  She said, "don't you wish it was like it was when we were kids".  She was referring to how simple life was when we were all younger.  What she really meant was, don't you wish Joey was here.  We were looking at him, but he lost the fight despite the incredible fight he put up, the tremendous support and the wonderful medical care. 

 

I signed up for the PMC this year feeling like it was my chance to do something about how devastating cancer is in our lives.  It takes people away and it puts people through a journey that is beyond the comprehension of folks that haven't experienced it.  As every mile rolls by on my ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown I will be thinking of my cousin, my family that lost him and the many friends and colleagues of mine that have experienced the worrisome nights during the journey to fight it and the unimaginable loss when fighting just isn't enough. 

 

192 miles is a long way to go and a huge commitment, both physically and financially.  I didn't have any doubts because either way the result is the same, money and hope will be headed to Dana-Farber for the fighters. 

 

I hope you will join me this year to raise money for these fighters and to learn more about preventing it.  Livestrong! 

 

http://www.pmc.org/profile/SM0384

We all Dumb Stuff on Bikes - Part 3

Bike riding and alchohol are never a good cocktail.  This just goes to show how poorly they mix.  Not only is he completely trashed apparently, he also has no bike handling skills. HE GRABBED THE FRONT BRAKES GOING DOWN STAIRS? 

 

 

We all Dumb Stuff on Bikes - Part 2

This is pretty insane.  I am really impressed more by how clean he lands it more than the height of the drop, although this amazingly big.  Still, it is one the dumb things we all do on bikes - we push the limits further and further for ourselves and for the collective advancement of bike riding. 

We All Do Dumb Stuff on Bikes Part 1

We all do dumb stuff on bikes.  Some people try tricks that should not be done...at least by them.  Some people ride beyond their limits...and pay the price.  Some people are just idiots...and show us on video for some reason.  I am going to collect as many of these as possible.  I like the dumb stuff on bikes that we all do.  I do plenty myslef.

Here goes...

This is a great example of not knowing at all what you are doing.  Lifting your front wheel even a tiny bit here may make this work...at least until he lands.  Kudos and credit to him for trying.