I've been out of the game for over 20 years but I have this HUGE itch to go and buy a newer Freestyle Bike and see if I can still do a few tricks.
I'm 39 years old and to be honest I haven't even sat on a 20" bike since I sold my Ozone in '89.

I started riding when the sport was pretty much born doing balance tricks, which soon turned into hopping tricks & of course rolling combo tricks.

I don't even know what to buy for a bike?? Any thoughts....I'm 6' & weigh around 210lbs.


Who else got back into it?

A few pics from back in the day.

There was while when I was barely riding too. I always had a bike though and would get out as much as I could, but it went from riding and practicing every single day for hours to eventually just riding to the video store and back on my Haro. I got really back into it about 5 years ago and even started racing, which I have never done when I was younger. I don't know about what new bike would be good for you. It would depend on what you like, what your wanting to spend, etc. There's some cool stuff out there. I must say, I do like this one a lot:

"Pork" Too funny!! I like what looks like a Pigs nose on the front of the thing! lol!
What's up with the way the seat & seat posts are on these bikes?
You could never sit on the thing your knees would be up at your throat, plus I used to use mine to wip around the back half of the bike quite a bit.

Kinda strange...

Im now 40, and still ride, only these its on my 21" Hoffman, I sold the last couple bikes I built, but sold them as new stuff came out thru-out the years(S&M, WTP).

I now ride with my son..........

I'm a 40 year old old timer that just got back into it this year but I tell myself to quit buying anymore bmx bikes because I can't do a brakeless boomerang or Hangfive. I just gotta nice collection of bikes to relearn freestyle on. Used to freestyle 83 to 88 or so...

The 2 Hip Pork bike cost $950 at my LBS.

2 Great Modern bmx bikes for old schoolers are the Eastern Metalhead and the Mirraco Five Star Option, - because both have F & R brakes!

My 09 Metalhead modded with a Uni Seat and 4 Tree Stick pegs weighs 27.55 lbs.

The Mirraco claims to be 26.95 lbs. At $325... what a hot bike! I'm thinking about getting one but no I got 10 bmx bikes already.

i rode today.

as for a new bike, that depends on how you want/want it to ride (your personal preference).

i still ride total oldschool style (think 86 and prior) - a bit of everything. my Sunday frame with a 20" toptube suits me well for that kind of riding. very similar to the old bikes.

I am getting back into it too. Just brought out my Trick star from storage. Its in rider condition...some light rust. Im in the process of upgrading parts on it. Finding it hard to come across parts for that era. I have to use some new school parts..... I have a feeling I have to start from scratch(riding skills=gone). My era was the same as yours....before the rolling tricks got so insane.

As far as bikes go...that depends on you. These new style freestyle bike are set up SO low. I sat on one..... I can't even pedal sitting down. And im only 5'7". The technology on them is alot better, but they need to make the frames taller... like the OG ones. I was actually debating if I was gonna buy a new one to ride with and keep the Trick Star as a keepsake or trophy. But I think im gonna ride it.

I will be 36 in november, i'm focused on flatland and still ride. I rode almost all the way throughout the 90's, paused for about 1998 til 2003 because i lost the drive but then came back and made a conscious decision to ride nothing but the old bikes i always enjoyed the most. My "new school" ends at 1997, 1998 if stretched. Beyond that i haven't got much or at all interest in what's going with current bikes, tricks and whatnot. I am happy in my bubble.
I will not give instructions on what bike you should use, follow your heart. If you feel like getting back to it with an older bike or buy a modern ride please do. If you want to keep your old skills alive or even continue progressing, please do.

Thanks for the photos, they are great! I love your Ozone and especially the '88-89 styles.

I'm 35 and I started riding around 84-85 (I think). I rode pretty much everything. At the begining it was just cruising and hitting curb jumps then I moved to mostly flat. Around 88-89 I began concentrating on all street. I rode 23 hours a day right through highschool (92). Then I got tired of riding by myself (since all of my friends quit) and it faded down to a few times a week for a while. I started skating alot and got really into that. Then I picked it up full speed again around 1995. I stayed as current as possible with tricks and bikes. I was lucky enough to work in the bmx/skate industry for a bit from 2000-2003 while living in so.cal. Then I moved back to the east coast, met a girl, started a buisness, bought a house that needed lots of work ect... and the riding pretty much stopped altogether until I found this site last year.

I always maintained a nice stash of survivors from the 80's in my parent's basement. I pulled some out and cleaned them up a bit. So far I've built up and ridden my trick star, 88 master, and a dyno detour. I quickly found out that the old school forks and stems were too weak and too valuable for my 210 lb ass to destroy. I did some research and found out how to use the 1 1/8 forks and stems on the old 1" frames and now that's pretty much all I will ride. I'd still love to go street riding but my body can't handle the abuse anymore. So now I stick with cruising and trying to pick up from where I left off with the flat riding. I got all my old tricks back pretty quickly. I'm not too consistent with them, but then again I only get to ride for an hour or so a month. We just had our first child and I can't wait until she's old enough to ride with me.

Oh and I've been working on a complete nos Trick Star since 2001. I've got it all built except for the aeroospeeds and hutch pedals. One of these days I'll kick down the cash and finish my carpet queen but for now I've got diapers to buy.

I ride, but not enough and nothing serious. I need to drop 30 lbs, and I'm not as limber as I once was...

My new school rider is a Terrible One Ruben.

I'll be 47 in November and I still ride and race. I'm riding a 20" top tube Standard with 7-1/4" Roadkill bars and it feels perfect to me. The new school dedicated flatland bikes are tiny, but there are some tall dudes riding them with no probs. Tall bars seem to be making a comeback of sorts...I guess it took a few years for people to realize that leverage helps.

" I need to drop 30 lbs, and I'm not as limber as I once was... "

Me too!

37 and still ride.
street, park and flat. only ride old school bikes (could never get used to the changing new geometries) never actually stopped riding.
just started racing also 2 years ago.

finally fulfilled a life-long dream and went to the mt baldy full pipe this summer




word of advise, before you go and buy a new bike try it out first. you will be suprised how different the geometries are compared to what you used to ride. also, bikes now-a-days have specific uses. flat, dirt, park, race... cant really use the same bike for everything anymore.

nice pics!

39, 210. I still ride my crappy old Dyno a couple times a week. Tricks are pretty much limited to the ones you see at the end of "RAD"

I think it cool that young kids go nuts for simple tricks like lawnmowers and tailwhips. Gotta pass the classics onto the next generation.



Dan

Since most new school frames have integrated headset and front loader stem, the bars are dropped WAY lower than in the 80's when bikes had cup headsets with wedgebolt stems frequently raised up.

As a result, running 8"+ rise bars, even 9", will make today's bike feel a lot more familiar to old school riders.

Check out the Odyssey 4X4 handlebar (can order from Empire):

http://www.empirebmx.com/store/comersus_vi...?idProduct=9310


4-pc is back! 8.6' rise, 28' width, 12 degree backsweep, 4 degree upsweep, 1 lb 11.9 oz lightweight 41-Thermal processed butted chromoly tubing is lifetime guaranteed against bending and breaking

SOLID Roseanne bars are a whopping 9" rise 32" wide. If you are tall and feel like your just feels too damn small and makes your lower back hurt, this makes a big difference.

http://site.solidbmx.com/bars/

Since most new school frames have integrated headset and front loader stem, the bars are dropped WAY lower than in the 80's when bikes had cup headsets with wedgebolt stems frequently raised up.

As a result, running 8"+ rise bars, even 9", will make today's bike feel a lot more familiar to old school riders.

Check out the Odyssey 4X4 handlebar (can order from Empire):

http://www.empirebmx.com/store/comersus_vi...?idProduct=9310


4-pc is back! 8.6' rise, 28' width, 12 degree backsweep, 4 degree upsweep, 1 lb 11.9 oz lightweight 41-Thermal processed butted chromoly tubing is lifetime guaranteed against bending and breaking

SOLID Roseanne bars are a whopping 9" rise 32" wide. If you are tall and feel like your just feels too damn small and makes your lower back hurt, this makes a big difference.

http://site.solidbmx.com/bars/

Man those pics rock. I still ride a 79 mongoose with tuffs and a 85 GT with pro class rims, huge powerlite pro bars and 3 foot long laid back seat post up as high as possible. I'm not near as rad as I used to be, but im close.

When I ride BMX these days, I do mostly race track, trails and single track (like mountain bikers). No more flatland for me. I don't have the patience anymore. I have two race bikes -- a 20-inch and a 24-inch cruiser. I love them both. My opinion is that new school bikes are better built and have better geometry. But I have to quailfy the better geometry part by saying that new school bikes are more purpose-specific. If you buy a race bike, it's built specifically for racing -- the geometry and the way it handles is superior, but only if you are racing. The new geometry on flatland bikes are probably perfect, but they're only good for flatland. (They're not so good for cruising through the hood on your way to you favorite flatland spot).

Anyway, I think in the end you have to decide what kind of riding you want to do. If you want to concentrate on flatland and street, you might really like the new bikes built for that purpose. If you want to stick to old school stuff, you might just like riding one of your old bikes.

www.flatlandfuel.com

http://www.flatlandfuel.com/index.asp?Page...Custom&ID=2

they have somthing for you im sure.

Just turned 37 here, 6 ft tall and weigh 212-215. I ride as much as I can, even if it's just for a 20 minute cruise down the back road in the evening on my bling bling race bike, which I don't race, LOL. ('86 Redline 600CXL.) I don't get that much of a chance to freestyle during the week, but I'll still spend a couple evenings a week out in the street messin' around, then try to put in some more serious time in on the weekends. It's hard to stay consistent though.

My old school rides are an '87 GT Pro Performer (mine since new) which I was out on the other night, and an '87 Dyno D-Tour which is like my carpet queen. I am currently building another carpet queen, an '86 Pro Performer.

My daily beater/freestyle machine is a 2008 GT Compe, which I love. It's a tank, but strong and like.. indestructible. It also feels a lot like my old school bikes, just a bit "shorter" in height, due to the lower bars and seat.

So yeah, I'm old and ride. Dude, just go for it. There is no form of exercise out there that is more fun, challenging or rewarding. Plus, you'll start getting obsessed with bikes and freestyle all over again, like when you were 14-15, LOL.

Rad pics as well. Life is too short to not ride!

Next month i will be 43. This pic was taken last sturday.

I hate you...

nice pic kelly! how you been doin brutha?

Hi again,
These are my three main rides.


Whenever i go to my local basketball court to practise & keep up my skills it all happens on the Street Beat, typically atleast once a week. The frame & fork set was purchased new in 1992. And as you can see, it consists of variety of different parts and components from the era i'm stuck at.


This is my ride to work, a 1992 PK Ripper. Gets me around the town fast and effectively.


And this is my new pride and joy for those laid back sunday rides. A vintage 1967-1969 23" Jupiter with i finished restoring about a month ago.

kelly pwns. Love it when he posts photos.

Im only 31 but Ive been away from the bicycle scene for almost 9 years. Last bike I purchased was a 1999 Redline RL444 24" Cruiser that I had customized with forklifter handlebars and beartrap pedals. Sold it to pay a debt and Im still kicking my rear. I just bought a 2005 Redline MX24 that has a Redline Proline crank, VP Component beartrap style pedals (cheap) and Redline Proline wheels. I figure this is my way of getting back down to rider size and then my reward will be to buy another bike. Im getting my sons into racing so looks like Im back to the track as well. I bought a 2002 Redline Single X for my 10 year old and currently trying to teach him bunny hops. The frames are way different than what I remember. I like them alot. Im really diggin the dirtjumper bikes. Redline has a dirtjumper bike coming out in 2010 called the D26 that has me drooling. Yep been back in it for 2 months and Im already hooked like Im a teenager. Can ya tell?

Wow thanks guys this has been VERY helpful!!
I'm going to visit a few bike shops this weekend and see what they have, talk to few of the guys & of course ride a few.
I really like something like this. (Thanks SEQuad for the site)
http://www.flatlandfuel.com/ProductImages/...ProComplete.jpg

But I need to ride it and see how I like it.

Unfortunatly I sold off all my bikes you see in all those pics, so it looks like I may have to go new school on the ride....hell from the searching around on the net I've been doing they seem far better set up for Flatland anyway. But the seat post is going way up and it will have front & rear brakes that's for sure.

How's the new Haro bikes? I've always loved them and owned many old school Masters in the past......even though the greatest bike I've ever owned was my Ozone!!!




DAMN!!!!

I'm 42 and ride all the time. I just did a cherry picker on an 87 Haro. I ride parks/flat/street/vert. Your pictures show you had skills so I am sure you can get back in the mix easily.

I'm 42 and traveling around the world with my 2008 FlyBikes Campillo and very little else because of luggage constraints. Back into it about 5 years ago and love it just as much for the companionship as for the riding.

If I had any advice it would be to ease back into it. Two broken collar bones in five months convinced me to slow down. Admittedly that was racing and with other guys on the gate I had no control over my adrenaline and just wanted to keep up with them. I don't race any more.

Also, definitely try out the new bikes for more than a roll around the street. Borrow a mate's if you can and give it a couple of hours. As others said, they are completely different to ride and whilst it's purely a my personal opinion, new bikes are better than the old ones. Easier to get parts for as well.

Taken a couple of weeks back in Sydney.

To be honet. The first time I jumped this I was pretty much scared sh@*%^less.

Brian P that is a sick jump man. that would scare the hell out of me. I had my 81 GT out today for a ride, about 20 blocks. It kicked my ass. I was riding down to the local shop to show the owner my old school ride as he used to race back in the day. He wasn't even there. Bummer. hopefully my pick will show here.

I'm 38 and I RIDE. I started riding again at the age of 34 after a 20 year hiatus. I ride street/park. No cruising around
I suck at it but I love it and that's all that counts for me. as far as bikes go, the 70's era is definitely my favorite

I just quit riding. I got a car now.

Oh wait I should have said that when I was 17.

Damn you are old Pete! You should get a seniors discount at the sk8park for sure. For the record, Im 38 and still going at it.

jesse d
20" Sunday 1st Wave

First off GREAT pics. I love ozones and have been trying to get my hands on one that is hanging in a garage in my town right now... 4 years and still no luck. yet.

I don't think you would like a "new" school bike that much. Most have such short frames it messes you up. If I were going to get a new bike, I would get Kevin jones new one, I haven't ridden one but I would bet it would feel right for you. Hoffman strowler, the 09's are on sale at ff right now.

I did the whole build up a custom a few years back, and it was alright, but never felt like my old dyno pro compe custom from back in the day. Although everything worked much better today, tighter better brakes, lighter.

Here are some pics bitd

hop hops


nothing


bunnyhop 05


My custom finished 08, boomerang


thinkin


"lard"yard



Its a lot of fun, if you have the time.

Just turned 43 and still ride flatland although not alot. Still have my old bikes, an 85 Haro Master and an 87 GT performer and i love 'em! Pretty much just do wheelies, rockwalks, tailwhips, front wheels hops, framestands, squeakers, and the occasional cherrypicker. Old tricks, but kids seem to love it when they see me do them! Luckily I'm a kinda small guy 5 10 and 170 lbs so these bikes fit me perfectly. I'm nowhere near as good as I used be though!

44 and still wanting more. Two weeks ago at Bakers Acres, Caroline Center, NY

Nice pic Towne!
I'm 43 and still ride... mostly dirt, and parks if I have to.

I made a serious effort to lose weight so I could ride better. I'm 37 and went from 224 pounds to 182 pounds over the winter. Built up a new flatland bike and I take it down to the neighborhood basketball court. Great way to meet the neighbors. I wouldn't call myself a good rider anymore that's for sure. But it is fun.

Awesome bud good for you.
I'm going to head to the bike shop over the weekend and check out a few bikes.

Gotta say it again, mad skills for an old man. Always impressive

Same goes for Towne.

I'll probably be saying the same as I type from my walker 10-25 years from now

yeah some of us old timers still ride...

http://vimeo.com/5120077

I turned 41 in July, I still try to get out a few times a year. I've been riding since '83. This front wheel carve photo was taken a couple of months ago...

36 and overweight, almost 290 but get out maybe twice a month. I go to skate parks with my son and roll around a lot and get my carve on. Im not getting air, Im not jumping but i am having fun. And that is what is all about afterall....

Also, if you do go to the skate parks, i usually go early between 7-10am. Its a good time before all the little punks come around, so their empty or have other fathers with their kids getting their flow on (usually skaters)...

When I was 32 I was 205 lbs at 5' 4" tall - obese! I lost the weight by road biking 5030 miles to go down to 139 lbs in 2 years. Kept the weight off for the next 5 years then I got tired of road biking and decided to do freestyle and weightlifting to control my weight. Gained 10 lbs instead. So now I'm at 154.4 lbs and I gotta lose 9 lbs.

My friend Eric Vasquez who hung out with the Curb Dogs is obese too and has to lose the weight!

At least I'm still fit and slim enough now at 40 years old! It keeps me looking like a 20 year old!

Wow man,
Major Props! You are carving.... OVER VERT.

Incredible pic!


---

I also like the cluster of stickers in the upper right. you can tell that was someone's afternoon goal... see how high they could go (most likely on a skateboard) - and make their mark.

Last saturday. (Philly Ride 2009)


Last June on Alvin Mullins' Ramp - on Brian P's GT


1989 - Woodward


1991-92


July 2008


November 2008 - Woodward Weekend Trip