Old-school BMX racing video

Some people were looking for some old-school BMX racing videos. many are available on YouTube like the example above. Check it out! This is the way races should be conducted!

Yeti making BMX bikes?

I heard that Yeti, makers of mountain bikes have made a BMX bike. Can you believe it? The stakes in BMX must be pretty high now! That is great news indeed! And yep, it is sporting the traditional Yeti colours. I like! I would like it even more if it was made of 4130 chromoly.

How to get started in BMX racing

I have been asked this question many time in the flurry of calls and emails that I have been getting lately. Apparently some people do not know how to start. Never fear! We are here!

There are many sites that show how to get that first start in BMX and one of them is my friend from the US who was involved in the bike industry some time back. Jack Baruth or Jim Boswell (his pen name) as he is known as has an excellent website at http://www.bmxbasics.org with lots of insightful articles. One of the articles is Getting started in BMX racing. Lots of advice there but in a nutshell:

1. A long-sleeved T-shirt
2. Long pants or jeans
3. A full-face helmet
4. Shoes with flat soles
5. Gloves (not really necessary but recommended)
6. A 20" BMX in good working condition

There is another site here that also has a brief description.

So with that in mind, get your stuff together and if I have not welcomed you before, welcome to the world of BMX! Youth Olympics here we come!

New bars from Liquor Bikes

I did a post some time ago on Liquor Bikes but when I did that post, I did not have any pictures of their handlebars. When I surfed by their site today, I came across the new handlebars that I had my eye on. The specs are:

“DD’s”
8.5 tall
29 wide
12 degree backsweep
1.5 degree upsweep
black and Raw

Nice and big bars which are perfect for BMX racing. I might get myself a pair!

BMX racing, anyone?

That was the title of an article in the Sundays Times here in Singapore with regards to the Youth OLympics and as usual, the reporters (in this case Wang Meng Meng) did not do enough research before he or she wrote the article.

To those who may not know what I am referring to, The Sunday Times showed a picture of four guys on mountainbikes jumping and called that a BMX race. The bikes were not BMX bikes. Congratulations Wang Meng Meng. You have just contributed the confusion that the general public has on the sport of BMX racing. I have posted many pictures of BMXers here in the blog and this Singapore BMX blog is featured prominently in several search engines so you have no excuse whatsoever.

And another thing. I am a BMXer, a fan of all BMX disciplines but some people seem to have an agenda for riding on the Youth Olympics and BMX wave. Fine by all means but NOT at the expense of belittling the sport that has been around for almost 40 years.

I can say one thing I can expect more confusion here in Singapore as people who do not understand the sport put things in their unlearned perspectives.

BMX is the new buzzword

Judging from the tremendous amount of email and calls that I have been getting, people are starting to wake up and take notice about BMX in this tiny country of ours. Only recently, I was sent an email from a person from the Netherlands asking about BMX here. It is great to get such mails because it shows that BMX is up and coming after been stagnant for some time. When I say stagnant I am talking about the sorry state of our local BMX racing scene. But the future is full of hope and that is all that a BMX veteran like myself and a few others (who have been around since the early days) can feel. On the pic of myself above, that was taken during a race in 2002. Photo courtesy of Enoch Lam.

As we bask in the fever of the Youth Olympics

I made an interesting discovery yesterday. I was going through the bike statistics and I discovered someone from Olympic.org, the headquarters of the Olympics in Switzerland, was going through the Singapore BMX blog looking for BMX! What I mean to say is that that is the keyword that he or she was using to check out about the BMX racing aspect Singapore can deliver for the new Olympics. It is a shame really. Since 2000 we have been asking for facilities but people turned a deaf year and a blind eye. We could have built up a team to put Singapore on the BMX map! We could really have made the world sit up and take notice! But still, better late than never. We need a proper BMX track and BMX facilities! Don't just pay lip service...you guys have got to get moving!

Singapore to host the Youth Olympics 2010

Well, we did it! I am very proud to say that my country will be hosting the Youth Olympics 2010. Now. We need to get down to brass tacks. We have TWO years to start breeding and training BMX riders to compete in the youth Olympics. That means a world class BMX track needs to be built. Are you guys from the SSC and MCYS hearing this? It has been TEN years since we asked for facilities but you guys did not listen. Well, now that we have the Olympics, we have to move, and move fast! I am sure that I speak on behalf of all the BMXers here in Singapore that we will do all we can to realise that dream but you guys will have to come down to our level and for once, listen! So come on! Let us do it!

Today is the day of the Youth Olympics 2010 decision

The day has finally arrived. Today at about 1900hrs local time, the decision as to who will host the games will be announced. The two cities are Singapore and Moscow. With this in mind, they showed some highlights of Singapore's bid for the Youth Olympics on ChannelNewsAsia this morning and they happened to mentioned BMX as one of the events. But guess what they showed...flatland instead of BMX racing. I have nothing against flatland BMX but it will serve to confuse people as to which aspect of BMX is in the Youth Olympics. Check out the two pictures above. The picture above is flatland, which involves doing acrobatic stunts on a BMX bike. Flatland is not in the YouthOlympics but I wish it was. The picture below is BMX racing which is in the Youth Olympics. Hopefully this will help explain which is which. Sometimes, you cannot always believe what the media shows because they do not know or do not do enough research before reporting.

More bicycle parking facilities at MRT stations, bus interchanges

News from The Straits Times

TO make it easier for people to take public transport, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will provide more and better bicycle parking facilities around MRT stations and bus interchanges in the housing estates.

This initiative will be progressively implemented, starting with towns where demand for bicycle parking facilities outstrips supply.

LTA will carry out a one-year pilot in 2009 in Pasir Ris, Tampines and Yishun, to gather feedback and better understand the needs of the cyclists, before extending it to other MRT stations and bus interchanges.

Also, from next month, cyclists will be allowed to carry their foldable bicycles on-board our buses and trains on a trial basis during off-peak periods. LTA will impose size restrictions and other conditions to ensure that the safety and comfort of other commuters are not compromised.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim gave these details in a written answer on Friday to a question from Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng who had asked for plans to integrate the use of bicycles into urban transport planning as part of the land transport policy review.

Mr Lim agreed that there is a growing interest in cycling, with more people cycling for recreation, or to get around the neighbourhood.

As such, cycling was very much a part of the Land Transport Review, he said.

'In the review, we recognise that cycling is a transport option that can link commuters to major transport nodes such as our train stations and bus interchanges, making it easier for people to take public transport,' he said.

Given Singapore's land constraints, Mr Lim said the government will not be able to provide a comprehensive network of dedicated cycling tracks. Instead, it will leverage on NParks' nation-wide Park Connectors Network to bring cyclists to transport nodes. Where there are short gaps between the park connectors and transport nodes, LTA will work with the other agencies to close these gaps, he added.

He said in May last year, the Traffic Police and LTA, together with the Tampines Grassroot Organisations, started a one-year trial to allow cycling on pedestrian footways in Tampines. The outcome of the trial and the feedback gathered will also help his ministry determine how best to meet the needs of cyclists and pedestrians within our land constraints.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Singapore/STIStory_207741.html

Duo tires and grips

There is a new tire and grip company out there. Right now they are only making grips and tires. Chris Doyle has a signature grip, as has Scot Cranmer. You can check out the Duobrand site or the news site at DuoDaily.com

The Youth Olympic Games - 5 days more to go

On the 21st of February 2008, the announcement over who will host the Youth Olympic Games 2010 will be announced. There are only two cities left namely Moscow and Singapore. The pitch has worked itself up to almost a feverish level and as I type, people all around me here in Singapore are getting poised. BMX is going to make a big head way here because BMX attracts youths and that is what the Youth Olympic Games is all about.

But sad to say, we are far from having a decent track. Emails and calls to the various bodies have come to a naught. Maybe they are adopting a wait and see attitude (like they ALWAYS do) or they are merely indifferent. I went down to the track today to have a look at it and it was in worse shape that I can imagine. There were rocks jutting out all over the place and the grass was like growing wild all over the place. Hopefully we will ave better facilities if Singapore wins the pitch but I cannot help but feel sad that it takes the Youth Olympics to shake up some ignoramuses in our civil service. Well, the consolation I feel is that if Singapore wins it, they will have two years to re-do the track. That should be more than enough time.

Thursday. I can hardly wait. But I wonder. If we do not win it, will the local authorities pledge any help to build up the BMX scene here? Food for thought indeed.

Profile Racing ups the ante with new products

Things like a paint-spattered stem may not be your cup of tea (it sure as hell ain't mine) but if you are Profile Racing, you gotta keep ahead of the pack. These are the Confetti 40 stems and I must say that they will colour up your bike a mite. And also check out their new purple cranks above! Profile Racing looks like they are giving their parts some new looks! You can check out the Profile Racing website for more details.

FBM releases Maneater frame

Daryl Hall and John Oates released a song called Maneater in the early 80s, my guess 1982. That is the name that FBM have chosen to name their new frame. According to the FBM website:

Here are the specs-
Colors Signal Green, Ferarri red
Top Tube Length 20-1/2", 20-3/4", 21"
Rear End Length 13-5/8" (slammed)
Bottom Bracket Height 11-1/2"
Head Tube Angle 74.5 degrees
Seat Tube Angle 71 degrees
Weight 5 pounds 1 ounces (20-3/4"tt)
Headtube Integrated Externally Machined, tapped for gyro tabs
Dropouts Roasted (heat treated) 3/16" thick for 14mm axles
Bottom Bracket Mid
Brake Options Seatstay 990's, Brakeless


Bridges Curved round tube for chain and seat stays
Capped Stays
Standover Height 8 1/2"
TUBING SPECS all 4130 Chromoly
Top Tube 1-3/8 ” O.D.; .Double Butted
Down Tube 1-1/2 ” O.D.; Double Butted
Seat Stays 3/4” O.D.; .035 WALL
Chain Stays 3/4” O.D.; .049 WALL

They are available with seat-stay brakemounts or none if you chose brakeless. I must say, the frame looks nice!

A Kuwahara search

Looks like lots of people are doing a search for Kuwahara on the Internet and even a few have written to me about it. I am not the best Kuwahara expert out there but I do know a thing or two. So for all those who are searching this website, click the link on the right -->

The Kuwahara Site is right there

Post Chinese New Year weight gain

Go on, admit it. I think many of us are feeling kind of bloated after consuming all those Chinese New Year goodies. Maybe some time on the bike will help to lose those extra pounds gained. I know I did. Went for some long rides during the day sometimes with a 42-pound Haro Backtrail X24 cruiser that did lots to to reduce the bloated-ness. Good weight training I say. the BMX bike is probably one of the best bikes to use to lose weight. By nature of the sport, it is a singlespeeder. That means only one gear. Ride that bike everyday for some distance and I guarantee that you will lose some inches around the waist. For me, singlespeed all the way!

Happy Chinese New Year

Like to wish all BMXers, in fact everyone here, a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year, the Year Of The Rat.

Reckless cyclist hits mother while she is carrying her baby daughter

I do not normally read The New Paper but someone brought this to my attention. I could not read it online so after some searching, I came across the same story in Stomp. After reading it, I started feeling sad and angry at the same time....sad for the parents who got knocked down by that bastard and angry at the bastard that did a hit and run and gave all of us cyclists a bad name. In the Stomp article, the guy Abdul Halil said that it was a Bangladeshi or Indian that knocked his wife and their baby daughter down but the New Paper failed to mention that. Automatically, all cyclists will be labelled as reckless, and that I cannot take lying down.

To all you cyclists out there. Be careful when riding on the pavement, if you must ride there. Always give way to pedestrians and if you do knock someone down, accidentally or otherwise, do the right thing and say sorry and give them all the assistance they need. The last thing we want to be a is a nation that looks down at cyclists in general.

I hope that bastard that did that cowardly thing gets his just desserts.

Corey Martinez just rules

I'll let the video do the talking. Awesome!

Bomshell cranks

Came upon this in BMX Mania. As the competition gets tighter, the want for lighter components steps up. I do not know how these compare against the Shimano DXRs or Profile cranks price-wise or performance-wise. Seems that they offer them in square-taper or ISIS. I wonder which other manufacturer is going to jump on the crank bandwagon?