The Creativity of Street riding

A lot of people think BMX bikers just ride ramps and jumps to do tricks, but the truth is there is a whole other side to BMX. Street riding makes up 50% of all BMX riding, and is common in city areas.

Creativity
This style of riding is creative because the rider sees and rides things that are hidden to most people who ride bikes. In the picture above, Tom Dugan saw this broken bench and thought it would be cool to use it as a ramp to boost over the metal framing of the tennis court. It's all about seeing, imagining, and riding what was not intended to be ridden. It turns what some would call "nothing" into something unique and fun. Sometimes just natural features on buildings are more fun then things built specifically for bikes. For me, I'm always on the lookout for spots to ride around town.

A huge transfer onto a roof. Another Dugan picture

It's quite hard to find the "perfect spot". When I say spot, I mean an area that is man made and not for riding on, but holds the potential for fun riding. Usually there will be what looks like the coolest thing to ride, but there will be a tree or a rock in the way. When you find a spot that actually works, it is super rewarding to ride it. 

I've noticed as I become a better rider, I see more and more places to ride, I think this is because as my skills get better, more things are possible on the bike, opening up more oppertunies and fun spots. Since using pegs to grind is a common part of BMX, I always carry a piece of wax to smooth things out for grinding. 

The spot above is a perfect example of a sweet spot to ride. It just happens to have a soft landing, a good run in, and everything is at the right angle. Street riding offers great oppertunities for photographers to get really unique shots of riders. To me, there's nothing cooler then going out away from town to some remote spot and getting pictures of riders riding a unique spot, and return, maybe never to come back.

here is a link to the most creative rider I have ever seen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7FGGkVxH9M

The Park

My favorite place to ride BMX in this area is the skatepark. Condon park offers a pretty large skatepark that is one of the better parks around. It offers a lot of riding due to its size.

Condon Park Skate Park

This Park has been around for a decent amount of years (6+) and in my opinion, is the best park in the (530).  This 100 by 80 foot concrete playground has been the stomping ground for many teens and adults.

BMX in the Park

Like many other skateparks, bikes aren't allowed in the park. But this, like every other rule on the park sign, is broken every day. There's always been BMX/Skater rivalry, but BMX riding in skateparks is not dying out, and won't anytime soon, so Skaters are adapting. The GVPD used to have a real problem with bikes in the park, arresting people for riding and such. 

"Dorsey, who posits himself as the spearhead of the initiative to include BMX bikes in the skatepark, has been riding there for more than a dozen years — and said he has been to jail twice for doing so."-The Union 

Another issue in the park is scooters. Skaters and BMXers have had beef with with the scooter community for a while. While Skaters don't always like bikers, they have way more respect for bike riders then scooter kids. Many kids on scooters in the park are under the age of 10, causing problems. These problems arise because younger kids aren't always aware of their surroundings and are at risk of being hit by skaters and bike riders. This causes safety problems for skaters and scooter kids. I can't tell you how many close calls I have seen with kids on scooters nearly getting plowed by skaters. The park is not an ideal place for a kid under 10, due to the safety issues, drug use, and more adult environment. I can't diss on scooters too much, because at the end of the day, both Bmxers and scooter kids aren't allowed at the park.

Park Features

The park features some unique designs that make for maximum fun, and a variety of structures for different riders.

One of the parks deeper bowls

One of the features of the park are the bowls. Bowls are deep, spherical depressions in the ground as shown above. These are created for maximum speed, flow, and carve. Some bowls are deeper then others, and others are rounder then others.  These bowls are used by BMXers to get air out of. Getting air (or airs) is when a rider travels with speed up the slope of the bowl into the air, and turns 180 degrees around and back into the bowl. 

Above; A rider airs out of a bowl in a SoCal skatepark

Airs take lots of practice, balls, and precession riding in order to be safe. Many of the riders I know of do not wear any form of protection when riding, even when doing airs as big as the one shown above. I have seen crashes from doing airs and I can tell you it's not a pleasant sight. Still, if you are an experienced rider, bowls can be a really fun feature in the park.

Next week I will continue on the subject of Skateparks, including out own GV park

Heres a link to a video of some skilled riders in the Condon Park

http://www.bmxunion.com/blog/daily/jibblets-grass-valley/

Got a new bike! (again)

In the previous few weeks, my blogs included BMX related themes. This week, I actually bought a BMX bike and am really getting into the whole BMX riding scene. These photos were taken by me.

I bought this bike, a 20inch wheeled classic BMX bike.

      My first impressions of bmx bikes was long ago, and not very good. I thought they were rigid, uncomfortable, heavy and not fun. This opinion changed a few weeks ago when I rode some friends bikes at the skate park. I knew that I needed to buy one, because these bikes no longer felt so gross, and in fact, felt super fun to ride. I sold my mountain bike, said goodbye to the type of riding I have done for over 3 years and bought a new bike, this one above. This is a huge change for me, but I think it is a positive one. My bike is now super simple, and simplifies my life in more ways than one. I have no gears, no breaks, no suspension, nothing to repair or worry about.

 
     I now ride skateparks and street spots across town. One nice thing is many cities have skateparks of somesort, and traveling to different parks in California is pretty cool. Before I changed over to BMX, I was riding the same stuff (skateparks and street spots) so this was more of a bike change then a riding place change. I'm adjusting pretty quickly to the change, and I have to say its really a nice change. Sure I wish I could be riding rocky technical dirt trails again, but for now, my main focus is on riding bmx.

Pretty stoked on this bike, picked it up from Elite bikes in Citrus Heights. The shop was super cool and the bike selection was prime. After riding a few different models, and looking at a lot of price tags, I chose this bike. I love the color and the way the bike feels, and thankfully, bmx is quite a bit cheaper then mountain bikes! And once you buy a bike, not much on it can break, even if something does break, it won't be too pricey.

 Well, I am pumped on riding this new bike and having new experiences on it as well in the future. Here's to something new.

How to play a game of B.I.K.E

One thing in the bike world I have been doing more and more often is playing games of B.I.K.E. This game is pretty simple, but it has a set of rules. If played right, you can have a blast while learning new tricks on the bike.

What is a game of B.I.K.E?

This game originated from the game "H.O.R.S.E.", played by basketball players for years. If you don't know the game "H.O.R.S.E.", its played like this. Two players or more can play, each of them ro-sham-bo to see the order of who goes first. The player who wins the ro-sham-bo gets to go first, he can try to make a shot into the hoop from anywhere on the court. If he doesn't make the shot, then its the next person try to shoot form wherever they choose. But if the first player makes the shot, all the other people playing the game have to make the same shot from the same spot, or else they get a letter. Getting a letter means they get one letter of the word "horse", the more letters you get, the worse off you are. If you get the whole word, you're out.

So as you probably are expecting, a game of B.I.K.E. goes pretty much the exact same way. instead of taking shots from specific parts of the court, you ride your bike in a specific way, doing specific tricks. If you can't do the same trick as the trick setter, you get a letter from the word "bike". There are some differences though between the two games....

Mulligans
In games of B.I.K.E, you can get a mulligan, which is a chance to retry somebody's trick. You can choose which trick you want your mulligan on as well. For example; If someone does a backflip and lands it, the trick set is a backflip. If you try a flip and don't land it, you can either choose to take a letter, or use your mulligan and try it again. If you get the trick using your mulligan, no letter will be given to you, but if you fail again, you will receive a letter. You only get one mulligan during each game.

Trick Setters
Also in games of B.I.K.E, the trick setter determines if his opponents execute the trick to their standards.

Last trick tries
When you are on your last legs and have a B.I.K. and your opponent throws down a trick that you proceed to fail on, you have a B.I.K.E, meaning you have lost. But for the last trick, you get two tries instead of one.

Most of these features of the game that make it easier make the game last longer, longer games are more fun and exciting.

Bikes and Locations
Most games of B.I.K.E. are played on jumps, or in a skatepark because the options of tricks you can do are bigger, making the game more fun. If you are more experienced, you can play in a parking lot. It won't be as fun, but it's a way to kill time.

The bikes used for these games are either BMX bikes, or Dirt jumper bikes. This is because there is more opportunities for tricks when you have a smaller bike. I have played this game on mountain bikes, but look forward to trying it on a BMX.

Above, Brandon Begin and Adam LZ face off in a game of B.I.K.E.

Competition

Usually, games of B.I.K.E. are friendly and for fun. Playing these games can make you a better rider because when people force you to try tricks you don't normally do, you improve. Sometimes riders use these games to settle beef, there is a lot of talking shit on the streets, and sometimes games need to be played in order to sort things out.

Here's a link to the latest and most popular game of B.I.K.E on the web. So many people wanted these two to face off. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYrQaTJ7cGA

BMX

In recent blogs, I've discussed BMX bikes and riding, but this week I am going more in depth on the topic.

What is BMX?

The term "BMX" actually is short for "bicycle-moto-cross". This originated when BMX first started. At first, BMX was people riding small bikes on dirt tracks that resemble motocross tracks today, with jumps, bumps, and turns. Over the years people realized having smaller bikes are more controllable and better for doing tricks. This then evolved into the BMX style that is more commonly known today, which is riding them in skate parks and doing street tricks.

The Bikes

The typical BMX, shown above, has the distinct features of a BMX bike. These features include 20" wheels (which are considerably smaller then the regular 26" you see on most bikes). The simple single speed drivetrain and the butterfly handlebars also give this bike the look. These light, simple, and bombproof bikes make riding street, skateparks and jumps easier in many ways. The small wheels are lighter and make the bike more maneuverable in the air. One brake and one speed make these bikes simple an light, as well as low maintenence.

The Riding

While BMX originated out in the dirt, today it thrives in the streets and skateparks of the world. Most riders ride concrete these days, while some still race the original bicycle motocross out in the dirt. As you can see from the photo above, the smaller size of the BMX bike allows the rider to control the bike with a lot of precision and accuracy. While small bikes may look easy to do tricks on, keep in mind that launching yourself down big staircases with no suspension besides your arms and legs is not easy to do. Many riders use "pegs" which are metal bars coming from the front and rear axles to do tricks such as grinding and tapping.

Because of the BMX's maneuverability, there are many many tricks you can do, which makes BMX riding creative and gives the riders different personal styles. He

re is a video of a Canadian rider shredding an indoor park really hard. I highly recommend watching this video!

http://www.redbull.com/us/en/bike/stories/1331596248226/drew-bezanson-joyride-2013-edit

Bike check with Matteo

This week I will be doing a bike check on my latest rig.

This is my 2009 Transition Trail or Park (T.O.P)

This is my latest bike and by far my favorite. It's the most fun and simple bike I have owned ever. I will go into the specifics on how my bike is setup for my riding style.

I am running some lightweight but strong custom WTB wheels with a 2.2 inch wide tires. I have a long history of getting lots of flat tires, so my wheels are setup tubeless, meaning instead of having an inter tube, there is just sealant. I got a nail in my tire last week, and after pulling it out, I lost no air. I run around 65 PSI in my tires to keep them stiff and fast rolling on the streets.

I'm also running a custom WTB saddle that is a limited edition seat, only one was created ever like this. It's comfy and keeps away the chafing. My white frame is composed of chromoly tubing. Chromoly is heavier than aluminum, but stronger then steel, carbon, and aluminum. The frame is short, which makes the bike easier to control, especially in the air. Backflips are much easier on a bike that is shorter because the weight is centered closer to the middle, making rotation easier.

A backflip at Shendo's pond

Up front I have a Fox 36 as a suspension fork. This fork is called a 36 because the stanchions (the gold part of the fork) are 36 millimeters in diameter. It offers 100mm (4 inches) of suspension travel up front, while keeping the weight down. I have only one speed, and one brake. This keeps it simple, and the maintenance down quite a bit. The only part I have to replace often on this bike is the rear tire and the brake pads in the back. I like a simple bike so I don't have to keep spending my time and money on fixing it.

I have the bike setup with lots of purple parts. The wheels, chain, and cranks are anodized purple, I really like this look and will continue to buy purple parts to keep the color scheme going strong. 

Now the cockpit of the bike; I have Vans grips (yes like the vans shoe), with 28 inch wide handlebars. These aren't too wide, but not too skinny, the perfect in-between. My brake cable is extra long so I can spin my handle bars in the air for tricks. As you can see in the photo below, The cable is wrapped a few times, but the cable is not too taught. The stem (the part attaching the handlebars to the bike) is extra short for more control over the bike. The more direct the handlebars are, the more general control you will have over the bike.

Dirt Jumping

One style of mountain bike riding is dirt jumping. This style requires specific trails and bikes.

The trails
Dirt jumping trails are very specific trails. Usually located on flat areas, These trails encorperate jumps, berms, and flowy sections. The dirt is filtered usually, meaning that it can be compacted into smooth, hard shapes.

The trails pictured above are in New Zealand. Trails like this require lots of dirt, water, compacting, hard work, and skill. Shaping dirt is an art form, and it takes many weeks to get the dirt to feel like concrete. With good dirt, its possible to make pretty crazy trails. Most places have a "no dig no ride" policy meaning if you do not help build the trails, you can't ride them. This makes sense because there is so much time and effort put in to making the dirt nice.

The berm above looks freshly packed and ready to ride.

The bikes

For ultimate flow and maneuverabiltiy, the bikes used for these dirt jumps are small, light, and stiff. Smooth tires are used and inflated anywhere from 50-95 PSI, making them very stiff and smooth. The bikes are usually simple and strong, which is helpful when you are riding hard and need a solid bike for a budget. You can pick one of these bikes for anywhere from 600 to 2000 bucks

This bike is small, stiff, and maneuverable

Because these jumps are so large and smooth, it allows the rider lots of air time and to do tricks. There are a lot of tricks a rider can do, from backflips to 360's, the options and combos possible seem limitless. Some riders choose to ride the jumps without brakes so they can spin their handlebars without the cables tangling. Some ride with multiple gears while others ride with a single speed. 

A rider does a corked 720 on some local trails in Aptos CA

Brakes

In the world of bikes, brakes are one of the most  needed part to ride well. There are many different types of brakes for different riding styles and bikes.

Clamp brakes
The most common brakes seen on bikes are clamp brakes, these brakes are attatched to the frame and clamp down on the side of the rim of the wheel, thus causing your wheel to stop. When you pull on the brake, it pulls a cable that clenches two arms, bringing the brake pads in to touch the rim. There are different arm configurations, but this one is the most common-

Mechanical Disc brakes

These brakes are becoming more and more common on bikes and are replacing clamp brakes. This brake technology works a little better then clamp brakes. When you pull the brake, it pulls a cable causing two pads to clench on a rotor, which is attached to the middle of your wheel. When the rotor stops, the wheel stops. This technology is better then clamp brakes because it preforms better in wet conditions, and has less problems. If your wheel is not in true, then it can mess up your allignment on clamp brakes, but this problem does not occur with disc brakes.

Hydraulic Disc brakes

Hydraulic disc brakes are the same as mechanical disc brakes except for one thing. Instead of using a wire to  move the brake pads, hydraulic brakes use a cable housing with brake fluid inside. when pulling the brake, the pressure pushes hydraulic fluid against the brake pistons, causing the pads to move in, stopping the bike.

Coaster brakes

Commonly found on cruiser bikes and BMX bikes, Coaster brakes are the most simple of brakes. Technology is built into the rear hub so that when you pedal in the reverse motion, it stops the rear tire. You can only have one coaster brake, in the back. For people who have never ridden a coaster, it can be a weird expiereince. 

Hydraulic Clamp brakes

These are more uncommon brakes, but they are around. These brakes are basically regular clamp brakes with a hydraulic function. Its basically a more powerful clamp brake. Since road bikes dont use disc brakes, this is an option for people who want really powerful brakes on the road. They are found on road bikes, trials bikes, and street bikes.

Brakeless

Finally, some people ride brakeless, This causes people to learn how to control their speed without the aid of something stopping them. Its simple and carefree. For most of us though, brakes are a must on the bike.

No brakes? no problem

Redbull Rampage

Every year, Redbull hosts a mountain bike comptetition in the hills of Virgin Utah. Virgin holds some of the most gnarly, steep, and rough terrain there is to ride on a bike. Every year bikes get destoryed and so do the riders, from broken bones to the 100+ degree temperature, Rampage is one of the gnarliest bike comps there is.

The Rules
The rules of the competition are pretty simple. 30 or so selected riders show up to Virgin Utah and build their own trails down the sides of the cliffs, each with a unique trail route down the mountain. Some riders choose to share trail sections, others don't. 4 or so judges watch the riders and judge them on style, fluidity on the bike, how technical the trail they ride is, and how much air time they can get off the jumps. The riders have to build their trails, practice, and compete in the finals within a matter of a week. Seems like a long time but in reality it's very hard to build a whole trail in a few days in the blazing hot dessert conditions. You can run into problems such as breaking your bike, yourself, or dealing with inconsistent weather.

Brett Rheeder backflips off of a canyon jump in practice.

The bikes
The bikes that are used for this competition have to be built for extreme abuse and big hits. Such bikes have 8 inches of suspension travel, in the front, and in the back. As tough as these bikes may be, Many bikes are destroyed in the process of riding. Broken wheels are among the most common.

Cam Zink's bike

The finalsThe finals are when things get really extreme. Riders push the limits of what can be done on a bike to try and achieve the top spot. A lot of riders crash in the process of pushing themselves, but few reach their goals and prevail. Every year, the jumps get bigger, the trails get gnarlier, and the level of progression boosts as riders improve and push the sport.

Tom Vansteenbergen Attempts a front flip on the canyon gap

The sport has been elevated a lot because of Redbull rampage, and every year people push the limits of what can be ridden on a bike. Can't wait to see what comes up next year.

Mendocino Mobbin'

Last week I took a trip to Mendocino to enjoy the ocean, kayak, hike, ride bikes, and be around my buddies/classmates. This trip was mega rad and one of the more enjoyable trips I have had.

Day 1.

The first day started out with a flat tire on the van. and with 4 more hours to go on the road, a flat tire didn't help. After fixing the flat and grabbing some In-n-out, we were back on the road. Finally we arrived in Fort Bragg and camped close to the beach in a State park. The beach was great the first night and the sunset was pretty amazing. We cooked up some pasta and garlic bread and kicked back to a fire with S'mores and Jiffy Pop.

Shendo puts on the donut

Enjoying the sunset

Day 2.

On day two we had a few activities planned, kayaking and some hiking near the waters edge. The kayak rentals were right near a cove that was connected to the ocean. Some picked single kayaks, and some chose 6 person skiffs. We kayaked down the river for a few miles and turned back. The water was green and blue and really beautiful. Most people got some decent amount of sun and looked pretty red.

Midway down the river

After the Kayaking we returned to the campsite and relaxed. Shendo and I went riding by the beach for a little bit before we went on a beach hike.

 Shendo getting some tricks on the bike

After dinner in downtown Mendocino most of us were exhausted and chilled by the fire before retiring to our tents (or the van)

Day 3.

When I woke up on Thursday morning, it was apparent that we had received some rain in the night.

Most of our clothes were pretty wet, so a trip to the laundrymat was needed. After a few ours of waiting in a coffee shop, our clothes were fresh and dry. Those of us who went into town returned to the campsite. Dave, Shendo and I went riding on an amazing trail called "Manly Gulch" the terrain resembled a rain forrest. It was some of the best riding I have experienced. After the 3 of us returned to the camp, all of us went to ride horses on the beach. I hadn't ridden a horse in years, but I enjoyed it. after an hour of horsin' around, we headed back for the last night at camp.

Riding on the beach

Day 4.

We packed up in the morning pretty quickly and were back on the road home in no time. The trip was a super good experience for me and I am stoked for next year. 

Here's a link to the video I made from the trip; http://www.pinkbike.com/video/379770/

Bike Swag

There are many different fashion statements you can make while on a bicycle. This post will go over some of the many styles you can achieve, on or off the trail.

Road Bicyclists
To look like you're a serious road rider, you need to achieve this look. First, shave your whole body, even your head. Wear spandex shorts and shirt, preferably with beer logos on them. Ductape electrolyte packets to your bike and be sure to wear clip in shoes. Yell at mountain bikers and drink coffee nonstop. If you don't own an expresso machine you're a fake.

BMX
If you wanna look like you tear up the skate park and look real hood, you must follow these steps. Don't wear a helmet, wear a beanie or a trucker hat. Wear the tightest skinny jeans possible, and gauge your ears as big as you can. Wear skate shoes and baggy t shirts. Ride in front of cars and piss people off.

Mountain Bikers
Lastly, if you want to be the coolest of bike riders, you must dress like a mountain biker. Flannel shirts are a must. Goggles and a helmet with a long visor are also needed. Designer shorts that cost $200 and socks with beer logos on them. Wear gloves and a camelbak.

Choose your fashion wisely, you want to fit in the scene. These fashion statements can be costly, painful, and sometimes you might look like You're in a Halloween costume.

Why UCI sucks

UCI (Union cyclists international) has made bike racing so much less cooler. They have put their restricting,lame, and un-rad hands all over bicyclists.

Let's start out with where UCI comes in. In order for any race to be official in any way, UCI has to approve the race, and the race vendors have to pay loads to make their race official. A UCI official must come to the race and oversee the whole event. This costs money and is a hassle.

Not only must you get UCI involved to make your race official, but you must obey "official sanctioned UCI rules". For example in California, the UCI rules state your tires cannot leave the ground during cross country practice. How restricting is that? Not only is it bad for vendors,but if racers want to race in most races they must have a UCI license, which can cost 70 bucks a year. That doesn't seem like much, but for the average rider, it can add up. The more professional you are, the more you have to pay.

Basically UCI is a mega corporate company that is out to steal every racers money and make stuff complicated. Their moto is "cycling is our passion", if they actually were passionate maybe they wouldn't be such Nazis about the basic fun of riding/racing your bike.

The best races are local,non official races where there are no limits on how fun you can make your race. UCI races doesn't involve alcohol, nudity, or huge parties on the track. And that's part of the bike scene, sanctioned or not.

Helmet Cameras

In this day and age, you can relive pretty much anything by capturing it on camera, so why not relive riding your bike? Thankfully a few companies have created just the thing, cameras that fit on your helmet, chest, or bike, so you can record your ride.

GoPros
The most popular POV (point of view) camera on the market is the GoPro. I have owned two GoPros and I have to say its the most versitile camera out there.

This is the GoPro Hero 3, It captures full HD video and even 4K resolutions, it can take 30 high quality photos in one second. 

What I like about the GoPro is the wide variety of angles you can get from it, my favorites are the chest mount, and the unicorn mount, The chest mount gets your handlebars, your arms, part of the bike and the trail ahead. It captures it all. The unicorn mount is a pole that extends from your helmet and faces you. This angle can get really cool because it can capture everything you do.

                                   This is an picture taken from my unicorn mount ^

      This was taken from a helmet on the gopro

I also have many videos from the GoPro that I really like, heres a link to one of my favorites 

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/371226/   This was taken at northstar with a buddy of mine.

The Dirty Sanchez Enduro

The Dirty Sanchez Enduro (TDS) is a local Grass Valley bike race. This race is located on an old mine, so the terrain is steep and rocky. 40 men and 10 women raced this event this year, and many spectators came and were supportive of the racers. This year was the 3rd annual race, and this year was the best by far! Enduro mountain bike racing has stages, each stage involves riding down the course as fast as you can, and then riding back up to the top for the next stage. Only the downhill is timed, but climbing up really wears you out, so your downhill times will be slower. TDS has 12 stages that take place over 2 days, The riders did 7 stages on the first day and 5 on the second.

One thing that makes this race cool is the trails. The owner of the land has spent hundreds of hours building and sculpting berms, jums, drops and wooden features. The courses are really  fun to ride, and its cool to see proffesional racers shred trails that I ride every weekend.

Marco Osbourne rides the wooden feature

All the riders were personally invited from all around California, including some local riders as well. Some of the riders are famous who ride TDS. Practice was on Friday, and the race was held on Saturday and Sunday. There was also two afterparties on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, where riders and spectators could relax, have a drink, and enjoy a beautiful view of the sierras.

Women's Shuttle

All in all the weekend was such a great time, with cool people, trails, and lots of high fives. I will return for next year for sure

The World of Wheels

When we see bikes on the street or on the trail,  It seems like they all have the same size wheels. Truth is there are many different wheel sizes that fit certain bikes and riding styles. 

26 Inch wheels.

This wheel size is most common, and most bikes have this wheel size. This size has been proven to be the perfect size for most riding, whether it be on the street or on the mountain. Most riders prefer 26 inch wheels over the other size wheels.

29 Inch wheels

This wheel size started a few years ago and has really caught on since. Also known as "Niners" or "Wagon Wheels", these wheels get more traction on the trail and more power output per pedal stroke. A lot of riders hoping to ride uphill fast ride 29ers. This may seem like a win-win for riders but it has its pitfalls as well. The bigger the wheel is, the stronger it has to be, and the size makes it heavier then a 26 inch wheel. Also weaving through tight trails or through the urban jungle is more difficult with big wheels. Some people are die hard 29 people, while others hate on them.

27.5 Inch wheels

The newest inovation in the world of wheels is 27.5 inch wheels. These wheels are more commonly known as "650b" wheels, because the rims are measured in millimeters, and in this case, 27.5 inch rims are 650 millimeters. The idea behind these wheels are to mix the bennefits of 26 and 29 inch wheels into one wheel. The traction and torque of a 29er with the weight and maneuverabitly of a 26 inch wheel. 

here we see 26, 27.5, and 29 inch wheels

700cc Wheels

These wheels are built for road bikes and street bikes, and have thin rims for slick, fast rolling tires. 700cc wheels are not actually one strict size, and these wheels usually have a little number after the "cc" that describes the size of the wheel. These wheels can range anywhere from 26.5-29 inches. The main reason 700cc isn't called 650b or 29er is because they are made for road bikes and not mountain bikes.

20 Inch wheels

Twenty inch wheels are made for kids bikes, and BMX bikes. Kids bikes are for small children to ride, and kids bikes wheels can range from 18inches to 24inches in size. BMX bikes have 20inch wheels because these bikes are built for tricks and stylish riding. A smaller bike is needed for riding stylish and doing lots of tricks, so the wheels have to be smaller as well. 

I have ridden all of these wheels sizes and I think I'm gonna stick with my 26 inch wheels. While I like 27.5, I think the originals are the best.

Sea Otter Classic

Over the spring break I traveled to Monterey to go to the biggest bike event/race in America. After a long drive down to the coast, we arrived at the campsite. Everyone there had a bike of some sort, everyone was stoked and happy to be there. Its pretty unreal to ride with strangers from all parts of the world and have a great time. The vibe there was like no other place, everyone was connected by the love of bikes. The bike show was pretty awesome, a lot of the pros were there and bike parts were on sale. I spent 175 bucks on new parts and I don't regret it. The actual race part of it was cool as well. Although I did not race myself, I watched a lot of the racing and events. I plan on racing next year for sure. It felt like this was the mekka of the bike community all in one place.

Another aspect of Sea Otter was the crowd, so many people were super rowdy, cheering, blowing airhorns, waving flags while screaming, downing beers at lightning speeds, and doing whatever they could to be crazy. Sleep in the campsites was pretty much impossible because of the noise of surrounding parties, but after a long day of riding the second day, and some melatonin, sleep was a lot easier. There were random bands of people running through the campsites at night screaming and waving flags, there was for sure some patriotism

involved over the weekend.

I made a video from the weekend of my experience. watch it below....


http://www.pinkbike.com/video/358725/