Am I mad? - Retro BMX thread
Discussion
When I was a little sproglet I used to race and compete quite successfully for my age on BMXs. It really was my sport as a 10 - 14 year old compared to my mates whose sports were usually tennis and football, neither of which appealed.
o give you some idea, when my middle school ran a Cycling Proficiency course, I wheelied past them in all my racing kit - come on I was 11, and I got applauded by my peers.
The truth of it was that my mom (single paremnt by this time) could only afford me a basic Raliegh BMX, which I loved and cherished, but I really wanted a Raleigh Burner with Mag wheels etc etc but my mom couldn't afford one. I never gave her a hard time about it but I pined for one so much.
So roll the clock forward 20 years and I can get one from many a distributor and not really notice the cost, but I'm 6ft 1" and ride a 21" mountain bike most of the time.
This wouldn't be to replace my Kona but it be for pootling round the pits on when the wife is racing and generally "owning " the desire of my affections for such a long time.
Am I mad?
o give you some idea, when my middle school ran a Cycling Proficiency course, I wheelied past them in all my racing kit - come on I was 11, and I got applauded by my peers.
The truth of it was that my mom (single paremnt by this time) could only afford me a basic Raliegh BMX, which I loved and cherished, but I really wanted a Raleigh Burner with Mag wheels etc etc but my mom couldn't afford one. I never gave her a hard time about it but I pined for one so much.
So roll the clock forward 20 years and I can get one from many a distributor and not really notice the cost, but I'm 6ft 1" and ride a 21" mountain bike most of the time.
This wouldn't be to replace my Kona but it be for pootling round the pits on when the wife is racing and generally "owning " the desire of my affections for such a long time.
Am I mad?
There are a couple of ace threads on here about 80's BMX rebuilds, one ET Kuw from Splodge S4 and more recently a Skyway TA from Mars.
If you want a proper modern bmx then I'd suggest for your size a Sunday Model C 24" or the equivalent WeThePeople bike.
If you want a newly restored Raleigh Mag Burner, look on Raleighburner.com or burnerworldforum.co.uk. Likewise if you want to restore an old burner to your dream spec then these forums will give you all the info you need.
If you want to find an old BMX that was better than a Burner back in the day then look on radbmx.com
Edit: Oh and to answer your question, yes your mad, it's a bit of nostalgia & reliving your youth, so who cares what anyone else thinks just enjoy yourself.
If you want a proper modern bmx then I'd suggest for your size a Sunday Model C 24" or the equivalent WeThePeople bike.
If you want a newly restored Raleigh Mag Burner, look on Raleighburner.com or burnerworldforum.co.uk. Likewise if you want to restore an old burner to your dream spec then these forums will give you all the info you need.
If you want to find an old BMX that was better than a Burner back in the day then look on radbmx.com
Edit: Oh and to answer your question, yes your mad, it's a bit of nostalgia & reliving your youth, so who cares what anyone else thinks just enjoy yourself.
Edited by OneDs on Monday 11th April 15:26
Thanks guys
That Skyway thread is great and it goes a little further than I am looking to do. I don't necessarily want an off the peg solution but something close would be great.
I htink I have seen a potential candidate for the bike I want and the only issue with it the wheels are slightly wrong, so I'll get a new set added and then checkl back to see which tyres it should have. Absolute detail isn't required but as near as I can would be great and if I go down this route I'll know when I get the bike to the "right place".
The nice thing is the wife understands why I want it and has no issues at all.
Just hope I fit on the damn thing.
That Skyway thread is great and it goes a little further than I am looking to do. I don't necessarily want an off the peg solution but something close would be great.
I htink I have seen a potential candidate for the bike I want and the only issue with it the wheels are slightly wrong, so I'll get a new set added and then checkl back to see which tyres it should have. Absolute detail isn't required but as near as I can would be great and if I go down this route I'll know when I get the bike to the "right place".
The nice thing is the wife understands why I want it and has no issues at all.
Just hope I fit on the damn thing.
I was spurred into the Skyway build by my scheming brother and his business partner. Bro-Greg has bought a PK Ripper, one of the old-school legends, whereas Rob has bought an Aero, which looks to be a (fabulous) copy of the GT pro frame. Rob has bought one complete and another frame that he intends to build-up as components become available at the prices he wants to pay.
Doing it my way (uncompromised components for one bike) is expensive but you end up with something you'll want to keep forever (or until your too old and fat to ride it - I'm close to both).
Doing it Greg's way is excellent VFM but will no doubt involve upgrades... yes, GREAT fun
... and he has a bike in the meantime too.
Doing it Rob's way falls in the middle regarding price, but you end up with two bikes (I think he's intending to give one to his son).
BMX - it's the future.
Doing it my way (uncompromised components for one bike) is expensive but you end up with something you'll want to keep forever (or until your too old and fat to ride it - I'm close to both).
Doing it Greg's way is excellent VFM but will no doubt involve upgrades... yes, GREAT fun
... and he has a bike in the meantime too.Doing it Rob's way falls in the middle regarding price, but you end up with two bikes (I think he's intending to give one to his son).
BMX - it's the future.
I have a modern-ish (v brake) generic BMX I bought cheap locally for riding when out with the kids on their (currently) single speed bikes. Bit more fun than granny gear on my commuter bike.
Reliving youth - probably break something sooner or later but hey it's fun - and little lad thinks Dad is cool.
BTW I had a half-pipe in my drive too - M&D came back from day out in summer hols and a group of us had built it in front drive - LOL.
Have been wondering if I can replace v's with older as I have a set of mag wheels & pads ready to use.
Reliving youth - probably break something sooner or later but hey it's fun - and little lad thinks Dad is cool.
BTW I had a half-pipe in my drive too - M&D came back from day out in summer hols and a group of us had built it in front drive - LOL.
Have been wondering if I can replace v's with older as I have a set of mag wheels & pads ready to use.
I'm short. 5'6".
The TA has a short top tube but some amazing geometry that allowed both the giant Andy Patterson and relatively miniture Mike Wossisname to ride them successfully. And it works fabulously. The top tube is 18.5 inches, whereas the PK is something like 21 inches (and far too long for me to wheelie).
They did do an XL of the TA frame which was an inch longer. I doubt there are many around though.
"Normal" TAs crop up on Ebay quite regularly. I've seen 5 since I started considering another one. I let 2 go, bought the third, and watched a stupendously expensive one NOT get sold and another VERY competitively one sell.
The TA has a short top tube but some amazing geometry that allowed both the giant Andy Patterson and relatively miniture Mike Wossisname to ride them successfully. And it works fabulously. The top tube is 18.5 inches, whereas the PK is something like 21 inches (and far too long for me to wheelie).
They did do an XL of the TA frame which was an inch longer. I doubt there are many around though.
"Normal" TAs crop up on Ebay quite regularly. I've seen 5 since I started considering another one. I let 2 go, bought the third, and watched a stupendously expensive one NOT get sold and another VERY competitively one sell.
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