Anyone Ever done BMX race?

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

So ive decided I want to Start BMX racing. Im not expecting to be a superstar,But i need to get out of the house and be social.

Can someone give me some Pointers about it?
This is the bike i got to race with its old,but i like it. :)

Have some Profile cranks and new wheels coming :)

[LJ851]

Go fast, use your elbows, don't crash.

[F34R]

Specialized made some really nice bikes. I used to ride their street frame model, I forget what one it was. But I paid around 700 for it in the early 2000s.
My buddy owned that model you have, he got it for the frame clearance to do flatland. Even though I believe its design is a cruiser. They are a very light frame being made from aluminum. He cracked his doing dirt later on.
Not sure if your model is aluminum, his was the Fatboy A1. I think the A1 stood for it being aluminum. Yours might be chromoly?

He switched to a Kink free bird and I currently ride a S&M Dirtbike. I never raced, but I blasted the track back in my day for height. It is a ton of fun and I would suggest finding local tracks to learn on.

What wheels did you order? Profile makes some amazing stuff. Make sure your wheels are sealed bearings, riding dirt tracks ruins bearings. Biggest thing it to not show up wearing elbow/knee pads. Watch your surroundings and keep out of the way of other rider's runs. Get into the mindset that you WILL crash, never hold back. Start small but try to get some speed going. And when going over a steep table or set, do not lean back. You will just pop up and land hard, or flip over depending on speed. Keep loose and keep pumping. Learn the track and what speed you need to cruise or jump over sets. Fastest way is to do a low dead sailor. Make contact with your rear wheel and use the speed on the ground to pump a few cranks then hop into the downside.

There is dirt riders and track riders. One goes for air and the other is all about speed. Depends on what you want to do. End of the day it is just for fun. Protec makes some of the best headgear.

[keeler]

If you HAVE to use that bike I'd switch out the wheels and get some with better hubs, change the sprocket to a lighter one. Your headset isn't gonna last long so look for a sealed bearing one. Your front forks are old school, you'll want some new lighter/stronger ones, probably carbon fiber. The one piece crank you have will slow you down by either breaking or destroying it's bearings so I'd switch to a 3 piece design.
I used to use Danscomp.com for all of my parts but I was primarily into street and park riding. I had some friends who raced though

[LJ851]

... and I currently ride a S&M Dirtbike.

My current weapon as well.

[F34R]

If you HAVE to use that bike I'd switch out the wheels and get some with better hubs, change the sprocket to a lighter one. Your headset isn't gonna last long so look for a sealed bearing one. Your front forks are old school, you'll want some new lighter/stronger ones, probably carbon fiber. The one piece crank you have will slow you down by either breaking or destroying it's bearings so I'd switch to a 3 piece design.
I used to use Danscomp.com for all of my parts but I was primarily into street and park riding. I had some friends who raced though

While this is sound advice, I would advise against spending a lot before even knowing how/wanting to ride. All of her parts will hold up, right now she just needs to see if she just wants to ride or really WANTS to ride. Give it a few months of riding everyday. The best riders are the ones that live on it. You will not be good in a month or a few months. So much to learn.

[Nick_S]

I raced when I was 11 for a bit, have ridden for the last 16 years and I work in the BMX industry now. I will tell you, it is the best thing I've ever done with my life. The awesome people you meet from riding from all over the country and all over the world is incredible. Your bike could certainly use some upgrades but truthfully, just start and learn from there. I could probably even help you out with some upgrades. Also, starting out in racing helps you get the basics of bike control before any thing else. There are TONS of female racers and it's becoming more common to see girls in freestyle. Check out Yeah Zine on FB, it's an all female BMX group, few of my friends are a part of it. https://www.facebook.com/YEAHZINE?fref=ts

There is nothing more fun than jumping through the trees with your friends.

[F34R]

My current weapon as well.

Been riding it for a few years now. Have not cracked it yet ;)

Kink bars, S&M Redneck XL(stem), Fit tires with red sidewalls, Sealed Primo crank, Odyssey pedals, Odyssey 41 forks, Shadow seat post. There is more I am forgetting.

SubRosa Zombie seat! When this launched it was hard getting this. Everyone was selling out.

Alien freecoaster hub abd Alein Black Sheep hoop.

[Bmr]

+1 on dirt jumping. For that bike, sealed bearing everything. Locking cassette so you have to pedal. Find a good front sprocket. I currently use a 28 tooth. For you, might be different. Oh yeah here's a pic of my all American T1

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

[Nick_S]

If you ever sell that Barcode pleaseeee let me know.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

Ive rode BMX street before. But never raced. Thats what i was asking about.

Look! :-p

http://bmxmuseum.com/user/26469/bikes

Ive also Owned a NG dirtbike around 02. XS Hubs,on Trippe wall aryra wheels.
I have a motorcycle so i already have in my mind that i will go down. I have some midschool Aryra Super 7 wheels coming.

[oliver.r]

sadly my racing glory days are behind me
redline cup west coast champion 09
California state champion 09 and a national 2 and 3rd.

I raced on a intense podium frame. it was my favorite bike.

you are going to want wide bars and a chianring for the specific track you are racing at.

what I would recommend practicing the most is starts, now aba and nbl both do random starts so reaction time is key.
feel comfortable riding with 7 other people close to you and don't be afraid to use your body.
being aggressive is the best way to succeed.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

[quote=oliver.r;3852658]sadly my racing glory days are behind me
redline cup west coast champion 09
California state champion 09 and a national 2 and 3rd.

I raced on a intense podium frame. it was my favorite bike.

you are going to want wide bars and a chianring for the specific track you are racing at.

do you mean Like 4-pc bars? I was planing on running a 44T Chainwheel.

[pantelones]

Honestly, I much prefer riding cement parks than anything else on a bike. Trails are amazing, but you really have to be there 100% every time you ride. Racing is something that I have never done, I was going to the the "race for life" (I think, right?) a few years ago, but I over slept and missed my ride to the event.

As far as a set up goes, just make sure that your bike fits your body... Don't just get a pair of slam xlt's because someone told you too. The length of your crank arms is also very important, hopefully you bought the right size. Stem length, and orientation is also crucial. And, the geometry of your frame is by far the most important. Wheels, to be honest don't matter as much as you think. The only advantage to really high $$$ (Ti spokes, profiles, crazy light rims...) wheels is if you have the skill to utilize them.

Since we are posting roasting, I will play hahaha


matt by JakeHale, on Flickr


And why I like cement soooooooo much.....




Just have fun with it, honestly there is no right or wrong way to ride and you can get inspiration from some of the most bizarre things. I hope you stick with it, you deffinetly will meet some of the most interesting, and best people through riding bikes. Welcome to our world!

[10Toes]

If this is your first time racing then the bike probably doesn't matter too much. Just do a tune up on it and ride it.

Here is my Fit S3, but I have only ridden it a couple of times in the last 5 years.