What BMX for an old(ish) man? « Singletrack Forum

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What BMX for an old(ish) man?

40 posts & 24 voices | Started 4 months ago by singletracksurfer | Latest reply from mamadirt

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singletracksurfer - Member

well not that old. 35. Just got my boy a BMX for his birthday and am going to the bmx tracks with him, so thought I'd hurt myself on one too maybe.

Heard about a bigger (24"?) wheeled version which I was thinking might be better suited to me (especially as I regularly ride a 29'er!!! mtb)

Anyone have any experience or advice?

Thanks.

p.s. yes I am expecting some to say don't even go there, but my mind thinks it's younger than my body, plus I've never had a bmx in my life and I can't die that way (although I may die when I do finally get one).

Posted 4 months ago #
singletracksurfer - Member

do I take the lack of replies as a 'don't do it'?

Posted 4 months ago #
deanfbm - Member

What's your budget?

If you go the 24" route, there are race ones that don't really ride all that great and like a BMX, but you can get some at the cheaper end of the market.

If you want a 242 and something that actually rides like a bmx look at this-

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sunday/model-c-2012-bmx-bike-ec032447?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Or on the 20" side of thins, you want something stable like this-

http://deluxebmx.com/product/2012-pro2-complete/

Posted 4 months ago #
binners - Member

I had a similar urge at about the same age. I bought myself a

GT Power Series 24"

Think I paid £150 off fleabay in immaculate nick. They're bloody great fun for blatting about on. Though absolutely nackering! If you get a 20", you'll die!

Posted 4 months ago #
Markie - Member

Whichever one you lusted after as a kid. Provided its not one of the ones that now goes for crazy money.

Posted 4 months ago #
binners - Member

Markie - I always fancied a GT when I was a kid. I know they're not the same any more but I couldn't resist. All the original old school BMX's now go for absolutely crazy money. Wish I'd never got rid of mine. Wilson Reynolds 501 frame, Landing Gear, Pro Class wheels etc

Posted 4 months ago #
Pezzers - Member

I am 38 and bought one last year for the same reason.

I found a GT interceptor 20in in a secondhand bike shop for £75 it was mint even with the original tyres.

Haven't fallen of yet but be careful those little wheels aren't as stable as you think!

Posted 4 months ago #
reggiegasket - Member

go for a 24 for sure. I've got a Haro 24 and it's great fun.

there's one on ebay at the moment with the same F&F (not mine btw)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HARO-24-CRUISER-BMX-BIKE-/180792178321?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a180db691

Posted 4 months ago #
binners - Member

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo - lookee what I've found

Drool

Posted 4 months ago #
kayak23 - Member

35? thought you said old?....
I'm 38 and have a Stolen Sinner.

You really don't need some halfway house between a bmx and a MTB, just go for it, ride it and you'll be used to it within 7 minutes...
Great fun, hard on the knees. Whats more, all the teenage bmx'er kids will really respect you when you turn up to 'get rad' along with them. At least, I THINK thats what they are saying when they point at me..

Posted 4 months ago #
prezet - Member

24", or cruisers as they're more commonly known as do tend to suit older riders better (bad backs, knackered knees etc :P). I'm 33 and ride 20"... feels odd to begin with, but you quickly get used to it. Been riding bmx for a couple of years now.

I see plenty of dads down our local track on cruisers with their kids. Its a great way to learn skills to add to your mtb riding like manuals, pumping etc.

Posted 4 months ago #
singletracksurfer - Member

I feel old

Thanks people. A few people think 24" wheels are a good choice then, great, thats what I was hoping for (I'm 6ft2" as well and really wan't sure how I'd handle a 20" wheel). Kayak - are you saying keep it real with 20"?

Posted 4 months ago #
mark_b - Member

I brought a 26" Maxmax as an alternative to riding a bmx - mainly due to my height as i thought the 20" wheeled bike would be too small for a 6' 7" rider, but also as i'd won some nice Dmr wheels in a competition.

I'm 38 and love riding it at the local bmx and pump tracks, and sometimes i even take my kids along too

Posted 4 months ago #
steezysix - Member

Maybe have a look at a 4X/Dirt Jump style bike (DMR, Identiti, Specialized P, etc) - should be fun on the BMX track but would be good for use on trails too. Plus, it would have less of the "mid life crisis" look about it!

Posted 4 months ago #
reggiegasket - Member

24s are still quick steering - much quicker than a MTB feels.

Posted 4 months ago #
_tom_ - Member

Spesh and giant bmxes actually seem to be some of the best value on completes - seem to be the few that actually come with full 4130 frames and 21" top tubes without spending loads of money.

Posted 4 months ago #
mark_b - Member

24s are still quick steering - much quicker than a MTB feels.

Aren't 4x/dirt jump frames built with steepish head angles to give them a quicker steering feel, to try and replicate bmx agility?

Posted 4 months ago #
reggiegasket - Member

To some extent but the Pro24 has a 73.3deg head angle

A 4X would be, what, 69deg?

That's quite a big jump. First time I rode my 24 I couldn't believe how quick it steered.

Posted 4 months ago #
kudos100 - Member

I started off with a 24" dj bike. I've recently moved on to a 20" and am loving it. Probably could have jumped straight on a 20" as I had no trouble adjusting to either.

As you are a wagon wheel rider, I'd probably go with a 24"

75 degree head angle and 20" wheels are not very forgiving.

Posted 4 months ago #
monksie - Member

If anybody is looking for one, I have a 20" wheel BMX for sale. £125. email in profile
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-bmx-complete-bike#post-3357008

Posted 4 months ago #
unovolo - Member

The only one I'd consider would be from "SE Bikes" makers of the PK ripper.
24" Floval Flyer
http://www.sebikes.com/2012_flovalflyer.php

Or maybe a 26" or 29" jobby
http://www.sebikes.com/retroseries.php

Posted 4 months ago #
mamadirt - Member

Hardly BMX but Winstanleys have an ex-display/demo SE 29er on sale at the mo' - http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/46799/SE_Racing_Big_Ripper_29Inch_Bike_2011_Ex_Display . . . bet it's not as much fun as a 20"er

Listed as scratched and needing a new starnut but not much of a reduction. I keep an eye on their ex-display pages - some of their prices are waay off but earlier last year I picked up a new Subrosa Salvador BMX listed as scratched with missing pegs (like that's gonna be a problem for me ) for £100. Scratches were easily retouched and damaged decals removed and I stripped it and sold it in parts on eBay - probably the only sales I've ever managed to make on.

Posted 4 months ago #
jeb - Member

DONT do it.

34 years old. Bought a GT bmx.

Practised 1 week.

Thought i was matt Hoffmann.

Did a lame trick, knocked my front tooth out.

Sold it. Never touched a bmx since.

They are lethal.

Posted 4 months ago #
singletracksurfer - Member

I don't think I'll be attempting (m)any tricks.

Posted 4 months ago #
thomthumb - Member

has anyone mentioned size? bmxs come in sizes (surprising to some) measured by toptube. if you are a full height adult you're probably in the 20.5"-21.5" region. PROBABLY.

i've been browsing bmxs for a while. i think it might be time to buy soon...

Posted 4 months ago #
theflatboy - Member

get a set of these:

edit - i see they have been mentioned already.

Posted 4 months ago #
singletracksurfer - Member

thanks everyone. am going to the shops (armed with some knowledge now) this weekend

Posted 4 months ago #
Random - Member

+1 support for the OP. In a similar position - BMX for my 40th or once I can manual, whichever comes first!

Posted 4 months ago #
samuri - Member

Childs bike in your late 30's?

Go for it!

Posted 4 months ago #
PJM1974 - Member

'Spect to all of you here.

I'll leave the launch-piloting to the kids.

Posted 4 months ago #
rusty trowel - Member

35 isn't even close to old. 42 soon and ride this.

[img][/img]
Brew Pro XL with 21.25" tt (i'm 5'10" with long arms)

At 6'2" you're gonna need some room up front, so at least 21" tt, preferably longer, whether it's a cruiser or a 20".

Posted 4 months ago #
hummerlicious - Member

DSC06495 by http://www.sussex-mtb.com, on Flickr

I'm 43 and I race these......

Posted 4 months ago #
Random - Member

http://www.bikeguide.org/ - Best geeky guide to BMX geometry I've found.

Posted 4 months ago #
rusty trowel - Member

...at least big bars are back 'in' at the moment, as it won't feel quite as weird swapping over like a few years ago when they were all 4" narrower.

Slammed seats are a bit odd though, especially if you only ride xc usually and are used to having something between your legs.

Don't bother with pegs, gyros or any of that nonsense. Front brake is debatable, no one really bothers having one (unless they do a lot of front wheel tricks) but it might be worth keeping it on for a little while if you haven't ridden without before in case of panic/emergency grabs.

If it's just gonna be used at a track then get a race bike (alu or 4130) but if you think you might do some dirt jumping or street/park stuff then a long'ish trail/park frame will be stronger, if slightly heavier.

p.s. where are you based and where are you riding?

Posted 4 months ago #
_tom_ - Member

Don't bother with pegs

Why not? Long fast feeble grinds on low ledges are a staple part of bmxing for me

Posted 4 months ago #