@ OP, I got back into BMX at 45, after a 10 year absence, when both my kids said they’d like to try it out. Hopefully sharing some of my own experience will help.
My aim was to find a versatile bike to ride skateparks, pump tracks and BMX tracks with my kids.
1st bike, a modern 24″ complete with scaled up 20″ bike geometry. Good fun at pump tracks and casual rolling around BMX tracks. But no fun at all in skateparks. Conclusion: ditch the 24″ and get a proper 20″ BMX.
2nd bike, went for a decent complete with modern geometry (a short backend). Initially found the bike good fun, but realised I missed the stability of longer back end (truth be said my older, slower brain and body couldn’t keep up the twitchy ride) and I needed the more room a longer top tube would give.
3rd bike; Bought a trails frame (21.5″ TT – 14″ CS) plus 9.25″ rise bars (great for the old back). So far the bike is is faultless. Great fun around skateparks, riding transitions, jump boxes, mellow trails, pump and BMX tracks. Nice and stable, longer back end makes manuals less likely to loop out.
I feel I’m in the autumn of my BMX life. So far it’s been the most enjoyable BMX/ bike riding chapter. Travelling to riding spots and riding as a family is amazing. Watching and helping my kids learn to ride BMX is so rewarding. It’s rejuvenating to ride solely for fun, none of the BS associated with modern day MTB or road riding. I will look back at this time in mine and my kids’ life with great fondness.
Ride for yourself, don’t be put off by younger riders pulling crazy game console style, mega tech tricks.
Take baby steps in building up your skills and confidence.
Get up early, skateparks are pretty much empty. No scooter kids = a more relaxed ride.
Damp concrete = going down like a sack of ####
Fellow older (and younger) riders are very welcoming.
It’s all about fun.
Check out facebook.com/groups/RideOnBMX A group for older BMX riders
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing” George Bernard Shaw
