Simple Session

Simple session is a competition and bike jam that goes down every spring. This competition takes place in a huge warehouse thats been converted into a BMX course featuring ramps, ledges, rails, banks, and many more features.

 

 The 2015 Simple Session Finalists

Many pro and semi-pro level riders are invited to compete in this competition, and after many riders are eliminated, the last 20 riders battle it out for the top spot. The Elimination goes like this: each rider has a 45 seconds on the clock to preform a run using the whole indoor park. After receiving a score, riders are either eliminated or move on to the next heat. Riders are judged on many things, and a perfect run uses the whole park, while combining different tricks and creative lines throughout the 45 seconds.

Chad Kerley Flairs a quarter pipe

The fun thing about Simple session is that all the riders have different styles and backgrounds, so all of the runs are unique and special in their own ways. Some riders use big air time to bust out tricks while others use more of the street features such as stairsets, rails, and ledges. 

Drew Bezanson has won more simple sessions then anyone else, for his massive style and runs full of tricks and technical skills. He rides so many indoor parks he is at home every year at simple session.

Drew Bezanson flipping off of a boat

Another thing with simple session is its popularity. This comp gives young, new riders on the scene to make a name for themselves if they get good results. There are a lot of spectators and publicity with media and sponsors.

Simple Session is also a skateboarding competition, using the same indoor course. 

Rider Pofile: Tom dugan

Tom Dugan is freestyle BMX rider known for going huge and pushing whats possible on a bike. He's probably my favorite rider for his unique style of riding, dressing, and viewing the world.

BIO
Tom grew up in a small suburban town, where one day stumbled upon a little bike jump in someones yard a few blocks from his house, after riding this little jump on an old crappy bike, he was hooked and from there he proggressed to pro level and picked up some of the largest sponsors in the BMX world such as Etnies, Rockstar Energy drink, and FIT bike co.

HOME
Dugan currently resides in Austin Texas, as the riding there is very good when it's not too hot. He has one of the coolest backyards a BMX enthusiast could ask for. He has constructed huge quarter pipes, jumps and drops off of his own roof. It's a really unique setup and his favorite place to ride. A lot of pro level riders live in Austin, so large group sessions between Tom and local shredders will go down in his backyard.

Big ramps and quarters make the backyard a quick way to progress

ACHIVEMENTS

Tom is known for his massive airs, which is when the rider jumps out of a quarter pipe or skatepark bowl and then turning in the air to land back in the bowl or quarter. Not only has he set the record on the mega ramp at 26 feet from coping, but he has won many competetions for highest air, such as X games. Keep in mind 26 feet is the measurement from coping, the coping is 28 feet from the bottom of the transition, so he is actually 54 feet off of the ground. 

Dugan continues to ride and push the limits of riding and the creativity that is vital to BMX riding. 

Handlebars!

Your handlebars are some of the most basic and vital parts on a bike, This will cover the different types of BMX handlebars and their differences.

2 Piece Bars

 2 piece bars are as they sound, handlebars made of two pieces, a crossbar strengthening the main bar bent into the shape. These bars are also called butterfly bars because they resemble a butterfly. These bars are the most common bars on BMX bikes and are the most simple type of handlebar for BMX.

4 Piece Bars

4 piece bars, again are as they sound, with 4 bars that make up the handlebars. This design is very similar to 2 piece bars, except they have a cross bar on the bottom connecting the two side bars. This design is merely a different design and is not any stronger then 2 piece bars. It's a person preference of looks. 4 piece bars are becoming more and more popular these days. In my opinion these 4 piecers look pretty gross, but many people like the look.

Rise

The main difference in handlebars is the rise. Rise is how tall the cross bar is from where the bar attatches to the bike. Depending on how you like your bike, you might want a taller or shorter rise on your bike.

Tall riders usually choose taller rise, such as 9- 10 inches tall, 10's are the tallest rise you can get, and while they make your bike feel tall, some people such as myself find that feeling perfect.

Tom Dugan tries some comical 20 inch rise bars

Other riders who are shorter or ride different styles prefer using a shorter rise of handlebar. There are also different upsweep and backsweep specifications can be made to handlebars depending on your liking.

Width is also an option depending on how broad your shoulders are and what feels right to you. There are so many different options and measurements for handlebars that can make your bike feel great.

BMX detanglers

Detanglers (also called gyros) are a contraption on BMX bikes that allow you to spin the bars as many times as you want without tangling up your brake cables.

 

Many freestyle BMX riders don't use brakes at all, but many riders do use a brake for different reasons.

. Brakes allow you to control your speed on jumps, for some riders who ride dirt jumps, controlling speed and having safety in stopping, a brake is a necessity. 

. Brakes allow some more advanced tricks that require the rear wheel to be completely stopped. 

A lot of tricks involve spinning the handlebars around 360 degrees, at least once, sometimes up to 5 times depending on how much time you have in the air. Other tricks include kicking the bike around 360 degrees, while holding on to the handle bars. Another reason why detanglers are nice to have is because when trying a trick in which the bars move, you don't have to untangle them every time you try the trick, which can take MANY tries. 

How does it work?

 

Well it's pretty confusing, but I'll break it down for you in a more basic way. There are two plates connected to the front of the bike. When you pull on the brake lever, the top plate moves up, but the bottom plate is connected to the top plate with grooves that allow the bars to move around freely, but still pulls the bottom plate, moving the brake and causing you to stop.

 

You can get a kit like this for around $20 to $30 depending on the brand.

I myself have never ridden with a gyro, but I plan on getting one in the near future to make barspins easier, while holding the capabilities to brake.