BMX bike for MTB training (again)?
Hey there Lee
I am a mediumly ordinary MTb rider, who does not get out often enough. I have bought Mastering Mountain Bike Skills edition2, and it is a great book, however I really do not to get to session stuff much which would imprint skills into my old brain. And so often ” just riding” gets in the way of actual learning.
Recently a couple of pump tracks have been built where I live ( In Wellington, NZ ) and they are of course just ideal for sessioning and skills. I am just starting to ride awkwardly on them.
My question is this: might is be worthwhile getting a BMX bike for the purpose of fun and skill acquisition?
I have a peferectly excellent MTB (an Ibis Mojo) however in a way having a completely different bike would make riding a pump track an event, and I would be more likely to session it and not be tempted by the nearby MTB trails?
I do not want to build a hard tail MTB as the Mojo is just fine for all the trails, and in some ways a HT is an unbalanced beast compared with a fully rigid BMX or a fully sprung MTB ?
Your BMX book does look enticing!
cheers
Rob
Wellington, NZ
 Ian prefers the responsiveness of the little bike. |
Hey Rob,
Yes.
Get a BMX bike.
If you want a bike just for the pump track, and you want to earn your PhD in Pump, a BMX is ideal:
• Efficient. Tiny and tight with awesome angles of incidence.
• Immediate feedback. When you’re on you’re On. When you’re off …
• Cheap. You don’t need a carbon this and that race bike. Just get something that fits. See links below.
• FUN! BMX bikes are freaking fast!
If you’re an awkward bike handler, start with a 24″ cruiser. If you’re ready to start your thesis, step right to a 20″ race bike. Get knobby tires. Don’t even think about clipping in.
Treat riding your BMX bike on the pump track as a job. It’s your job — no, your duty — to master pumping technique. It’s fun on its own and …
… when you get back onto your mountain bike, everything will feel like slow motion. Which means you have to speed up!
What is the best pump track bike?
Pump track weapon: small and inexpensive
Pump the trail bike or get a 20?
Braaap!
Lee
PS: The book Pro BMX Skills has insane detail on pumping technique.
Know more. Have more fun!
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So Lee you would recommend going with a 20inch over a 26inch hard tail, like a P bike? I am currently working on getting a pump track built in my town and was looking at bikes. I thought it would be more beneficial to stay with the same size wheels and just get 26″ dialed to a science. I came from a BMX back ground and found that it took a little time to get use to the bigger bike, for jumping, bunny hopping and manualing ect. I can ride anything but now when I go back to a bmx bike I feel like a fat man in a little coat, haha, awkward!
I suggested a BMX bike to Bob because he said he doesn’t want an MTB hardail.
For most mountain bikers who want to ride a bike that feels familiar, but still has tons of braaap, a DJ hardtail is ideal.
ok thanks Lee, I just wanted to get the best bike for the job. Obviously I would love to have a 20″, 24″ and 26″ bike for that and would have a20″ had it not got stolen a year ago, oh well, some day 🙂 haha
I have a 20, 24 and 26. These days I’m mostly a mountain bike coach, so I spend pretty much all my time on the 26.
Except when I’m giving the babies Strider lessons on the 20!
BMX bikes are plain dumb fun. I mainly use mine to ride down to the shops / pub and it makes me smile every time. Plus all the standing up makes you strong…
For sure I use to ride mine to class in college, until it was taken, and loved jumping off the stairs and riding the planters- getting all the funny looks and as for standing I still get funny looks because I ride my reign like a BMX bike standing 75-80% of the time anyways! I might get a used one just to have around for when I want to feel really fast! haha