BMX racing

levitronix

Just got the eldest into BMX racing, and now i cant see why i shoudnt buy a bike as well

anyone doing it in their 30's - 40's if so is it something new for you or did you always do it

easygoing39

There a lot of lads in that age group,and older who you will see racing in Ireland.Alot did it in the '80's,how many are new to it I don't know.

midonogh

I'm in a similar boat. My kids took it up last year and raced a few times in Ratoath and Lucan. I am thinking of getting a bike to practice on the track with them. No plans to race as yet. A lot of the adults raced in their youth, but some are like yourself. Pretty sure that Eugene Jackson who places well in the National Point Series only took it up with his kids. The whole set up is very impressive and appears to be growing very quickly. Great testament to the efforts of small number of volunteers

levitronix

thats the thing , im still very selfish when it comes to biking :eek:

Id love to be able take the bikes out with the kids and have a proper spin , help get the skills up as well on the mountain bike

midonogh

I bought a Meybo cruiser last night, picking it up at the weekend. I'm like a child before Christmas now.

CramCycle

I can't wait for my young lad to be old enough that I can head down and take part in a sport we will both have an interest in.

Inquitus

How much do you need to spend on a BMX bike to get something passable for riding out at say Ratoath?

Beasty

Got flash new ones for the kids for not much more than a couple of hundred quid each. They were adult sizes

You need to join Ratoath to use their track though (my kids were allowed a taster or 2 but I then joined them up to CI (only cost a fiver each for racing licences for them) and Ratoath ( think that was €40 each for a full year for kids) as well as Swords (which offers free membership for U 18s))

levitronix

Well im signed up member now of lucan , any excuse now to drag the little guy with me

SuperSean

Inquitus wrote: »

How much do you need to spend on a BMX bike to get something passable for riding out at say Ratoath?

I've got an Adult bmx sitting in my shed i'm looking to get rid of if you're interested ?
I'd let it go for 80e if you want it.

midonogh

Mini Rugby coaching commitments plus Ratoath being closed for a few weeks meant I did not get to practice as I had intended. Took the kids up to the National Point Series in Lisburn last weekend. I decided to take the plunge and enter myself.
Managed a few practice laps on the Saturday and a few before racing started on Sunday. Found the Lisburn track a bit more forgiving than Lucan. The starting hill is not as steep and so with less momentum the bike is a bit easier to control on the first jump. (Not that I ever jump, all wheels stay in contact with the ground for me). There are a series of small jumps in rapid succession on the back straight which always caused me a problem and forced me to scrub what speed I had.
With more than 30 riders entered in the over 30's class we were each given 3 motos (heats) with the top 8 qualifying for the A final and the next 8 in the B final. With those sort of odds there was no way I was getting more than 3 races.
Into the pens for my first race, I was felt so out of place and nervous I was concerned I might be physically sick into my full face helmet. I needed to get stuck in soon, but when I got to the top of the start hill I discovered I had misread the starting sheet and missed my first race. Stupid beginners mistake meant I had 25 more mins of nerves before I could race.
25 mins later I was on the starting gate and managed to keep my balance until the gate dropped. Boom, I lost about 10m out of the gates as I was heavy on the brakes keeping the front wheel down while the pros throw themselves out of the gates and manual (wheelie) over the initial jumps. Into the first bend and 6 of the riders are pulling away, but there is one guy just in front of me, whoopee I'm going to have a race. Stayed on his wheel on the second straight, gained a bit through the second bend, but lost ground on tight jumps on the bike straight as my lack of technique meant I had to scrub speed. Kept control of the bike as I pumped hard through the finishing straight in front of the crowds. Mission accomplished, while I finished last I still had a race and I managed to keep the bike upright.

I was a bit slow out of the gate on my second race and the other racers got away from me. Still managed to keep the bike upright and not embarrass myself.
Got a huge adrenaline buzz from racing and the camaraderie amongst the auld fellas was great. My kids thought I was a legend.

With two kids and myself racing it was a very busy afternoon. As soon as one of us finished racing there was time for a few high fives before getting the next one into the pens for their race and then run back to a vantage point to cheer them on. As someone described it on the day, BMX racing is like greyhound racing for cyclists. Its race, after race after race. Great turn out of kids with classes from U6 upwards all racing on the same track. During the interval there was a strider race for the very young with about 20 competing

Next step for me is to get across to Ratoath to try to learn to manual across the jumps without the need to scrub speed. A little bit of technique will make a big difference. I won't be winning any races but I look forward to qualifying for a B Final and racing against a field of similar ability.
The sum total of my training before racing was maybe 15 laps of Lucan and 10 of Lisburn, so, for anyone thinking of racing there is little reason not to get stuck in as soon as possible.
The scene is very volunteer/DIY based. It has been held together by a few diehards for the last number of years and is just getting off the ground again. In some ways it reminds me of the CX scene 4 or 5 years ago. There were a few guys from the Ulster CX scene who dropped down to see what it was all about.

easygoing39

Fair play to you,great race report and great to see you enjoyed yourself and your kids too.

levitronix

midonogh wrote: »

Mini Rugby coaching commitments plus Ratoath being closed for a few weeks meant I did not get to practice as I had intended. Took the kids up to the National Point Series in Lisburn last weekend. I decided to take the plunge and enter myself.
Managed a few practice laps on the Saturday and a few before racing started on Sunday. Found the Lisburn track a bit more forgiving than Lucan. The starting hill is not as steep and so with less momentum the bike is a bit easier to control on the first jump. (Not that I ever jump, all wheels stay in contact with the ground for me). There are a series of small jumps in rapid succession on the back straight which always caused me a problem and forced me to scrub what speed I had.
With more than 30 riders entered in the over 30's class we were each given 3 motos (heats) with the top 8 qualifying for the A final and the next 8 in the B final. With those sort of odds there was no way I was getting more than 3 races.
Into the pens for my first race, I was felt so out of place and nervous I was concerned I might be physically sick into my full face helmet. I needed to get stuck in soon, but when I got to the top of the start hill I discovered I had misread the starting sheet and missed my first race. Stupid beginners mistake meant I had 25 more mins of nerves before I could race.
25 mins later I was on the starting gate and managed to keep my balance until the gate dropped. Boom, I lost about 10m out of the gates as I was heavy on the brakes keeping the front wheel down while the pros throw themselves out of the gates and manual (wheelie) over the initial jumps. Into the first bend and 6 of the riders are pulling away, but there is one guy just in front of me, whoopee I'm going to have a race. Stayed on his wheel on the second straight, gained a bit through the second bend, but lost ground on tight jumps on the bike straight as my lack of technique meant I had to scrub speed. Kept control of the bike as I pumped hard through the finishing straight in front of the crowds. Mission accomplished, while I finished last I still had a race and I managed to keep the bike upright.

I was a bit slow out of the gate on my second race and the other racers got away from me. Still managed to keep the bike upright and not embarrass myself.
Got a huge adrenaline buzz from racing and the camaraderie amongst the auld fellas was great. My kids thought I was a legend.

With two kids and myself racing it was a very busy afternoon. As soon as one of us finished racing there was time for a few high fives before getting the next one into the pens for their race and then run back to a vantage point to cheer them on. As someone described it on the day, BMX racing is like greyhound racing for cyclists. Its race, after race after race. Great turn out of kids with classes from U6 upwards all racing on the same track. During the interval there was a strider race for the very young with about 20 competing

Next step for me is to get across to Ratoath to try to learn to manual across the jumps without the need to scrub speed. A little bit of technique will make a big difference. I won't be winning any races but I look forward to qualifying for a B Final and racing against a field of similar ability.
The sum total of my training before racing was maybe 15 laps of Lucan and 10 of Lisburn, so, for anyone thinking of racing there is little reason not to get stuck in as soon as possible.
The scene is very volunteer/DIY based. It has been held together by a few diehards for the last number of years and is just getting off the ground again. In some ways it reminds me of the CX scene 4 or 5 years ago. There were a few guys from the Ulster CX scene who dropped down to see what it was all about.

Add your reply here.nice one, i raced the first race at lucan with only 3 weeks on the bike, missed lisburn even though i signed up for it.
My little guy is kinda nervous and doesnt want to race yet, i ll cant push him into it, so i dont think i ll get to do as many races as id like.
As for learning the manual its hard been practicing twice a week at lucan and i usually only manage 2-3 full proper manuals per sessions, but im able to get round kinda quick and think i fast enough now to finish mid pack from racing the kids sometimes into the fist bend lol

levitronix

nice one, i raced the first race at lucan with only 3 weeks on the bike, missed lisburn even though i signed up for it.
My little guy is kinda nervous and doesnt want to race yet, i ll cant push him into it, so i dont think i ll get to do as many races as id like.
As for learning the manual its hard been practicing twice a week at lucan and i usually only manage 2-3 full proper manuals per sessions, but im able to get round kinda quick and think i fast enough now to finish mid pack from racing the kids sometimes into the fist bend lol

Lumen

Have any of you converted roadies crashed yet on track?

I did, once. It hurt a lot. Way way more than all the road crashes I've had, all added together.

Lumen

Have any of you converted roadies crashed yet on track?

I did, once. It hurt a lot. Way way more than all the road crashes I've had, all added together.

levitronix

no i ve been on the mtb a lot so bike handling has got better, but as im getting better i feel a crash is coming