I am seriously looking to get back into racing again. I'm 42, 5' 8" 150 lbs. at my heaviest. I raced constantly BITD from 1979 to 1983 throughout the Chicago area at Itasca, Lombard, Elk Grove, Funway as well as a few times indoor at the Odeum in Villa Park. Back then I rode a 79 white Kuwahara with a 44-16 gearing. The bike was stolen in 83 and I stopped racing bikes and concentrated on MX.
I acquired a Schwinn Sting and a Redline MX II about 15 years ago and built them up with parts I had. Sold the Redline after I built it, and about 4 years ago I gave the Sting to a neighborhood kid who was in love with the bike. Wish I would have kept it but it was worth it to see the joy the bike brought to him. I did race the Sting twice in 2000 at The Hill in Elgin but with work and life in general it was difficult to commit to racing again. However the itch has always been there and now I am ready to get back to the track in 2010.
Okay here is my dilemma, I want to put a bike together but I am more familiar with old school bikes and components, is that what I should stick with? Or should I get something more up to date? I know I will get some great advice from the forums.
I was very partial to my Kuwahara BITD but I also liked JMC's US made Redlines, Pre GT Robinsons. Not a fan of GT, not a bad bike but just too many of them out there. So if I could get some feedback at where I should begin I would greatly appreciate it.
What modern day race bikes are good? Is building and racing an old school bike a good idea? Should I look for something more current? I really could use some advice regarding these issues. I want to be at the opening race in Elgin in 2010 and try Rockford as well as Waukegan perhaps even get to Steel Wheels too!
Thanks,
Scott

Check out J&R they have or can get what ever you want .



http://www.jrbicycles.com/

I don't know of any bad bikes, which is to say they're all pretty good. I'd head for your local shop and find a complete you can stand and go from there.

I'd be remiss if I didn't add I'm a big Supercross fan.

Do not bother with an old school bike, they tend to run too steep and short a setup to work well on track. Plus they're worth more restored than the inevitable tear-up racing gives.

Thanks! I actually have checked out some Supercross bikes and I like them from what I have seen and read. I guess I have to try to familiarize myself with whats modern and go from there. Thanks again for your advice!



Thanks for the link! I will give it a shot!

GHP has some really nice complete bikes and they are very well priced. JR has a HUGE selection of complete race bikes, Dans has some, but not as many as JR.

www.jrbicycles.com
www.danscomp.com

I believe you can order a GHP complete straight from GHP.

Hey man thanks! I knew I could get some straight talk from the forums! I'm not that familiar with GHP. Isn't that Greg Hill's company? I'm checking out Dans too. Brandon, your a local, any decent stores in the area you know of?

I just bought a GHP cruiser from the website for $295. The cost includes shipping and no tax! The setup is actually pretty good coming out of the box. I just went on ebay last night and bought a full face helmet for $25 (New and Carbon Fiber). Now just have to wait until the indoor track opens in Indy to practice before I attempt to race.

Thanks for the info, I will have to give GHP a close look sound like very reasonable pricing considering I had over a grand in my old Kuwahara BITD!

WOW, our backgrounds are scary simular as is our stature!
I am 5'8", 140lbs. Raced early-mid 80's then got into MX.
Rode BMX again in the mid 90's for a year just for training for MX.
Now I am really wanting to start riding/racing BMX again.

Here is my current set-up:
Aluminum Frame 20.5 top tube (Late 90's powerlite)
SX UL race fork (chromoly)
48mm stem/7.25 rise bars
1.5" wheels/1.6 rear tire-1.9 front
39/14 gearing
180mm cranks

Not saying this will work for you or even be close, but I thought it might help.

The brand is personal preference as there are quite a few well made brands available.
Just look around and find something you like.
The hardest thing for me was adapting to the stiffness of an alum. frame vs. Chromo.
Now I don't like a steel frame at all but many people won't ride anything else but steel!

The most important thing....RIDE

Good Luck!

Hey thanks for your info. It definitely helps because I feel like so much has changed and has changed. I remember the Powerlite Mini's BITD. I have to say though I'm leaning towards a GHP right now but only because I'm checking out the website. Believe me I cannot wait to get riding again!!

The only store I know of in the area that sells any BMX stuff is Koslow in Lombard. Sad thing is that most of their BMX stuff is freestyle and park parts. They have a few race bikes, but nothing worth heading in there to look at. I order 90% of my parts from Dans or JR. I was gonna buy a GHP 24, but I think I might be too tall to ride it out of the box. I'm 6'2". I can't find any specs on frame length or anything so I'm going to email GHP to ask. I just haven't been able to find a complete cruiser that's long enough for me.

Be forewarned, if you're going to race cruiser at the Hill you're going to end up racing some seriously fast guys. Mike Roberts (former A pro), Moses Tillmon (former A pro) and a bunch of younger expert riders that bring cruisers out. It kind of steered me away from racing cruiser as I didn't want to jump right in with the wolves.

Thanks for the tip Brandon. I'm 5' 8" and I feel more comfortable on a 20" so I don't think I will be going for a cruiser anytime soon. It's going to be hard enough on a 20" for me I'm sure as I'm so not conditioned for racing. It's a shame Sundance isn't around anymore. BTW I'm heading up to Rockford this weekend to shoot some pics and just see for myself what people are running these days. I'm sure it will only burn me to get a bike asap! The GHP is looking better every minute. Although I kinda would like to build something up but I'm so ignorant of the current components I should probably just get something race ready and go from there. Thanks for all your advice! See you at the track!

I raced this past weekend for the first time in many many years. I picked a used 20 with intent on racing it, but ended up racing the cruiser class on my 26. There are more guys that race in the 36+ cruiser class here than the 20. I really did not want to get in a class with a bunch of young guys and just be going into the first turn as they all cross the finish line. So instead I am going into the second turn on my cruiser while they all cross the line.

You will have fun I wish I would have started earlier in the summer.

I have a ton of parts in the garage if you're looking to build something up cheap. I think I have at least three complete bikes out there in parts (only thing I'm missing is spare wheels). So if you're looking to toss something together just to get riding let me know. All the frames I have are 20.5" top tube pro sized frames, one DK Legend, a Hyper Boxster and a Redline Proline. I also have DK chopstick cranks, misc bars and some other stuff.

I definitely miss Jim and Sundance, that's for sure. When I showed up at Elgin this year it seemed so different without him. The new Track Operators are cool guys though.

I should be at Rockford this Sunday too. It's the final weekend for racing there so I want to get that last run in. Hopefully I won't crash this time!!!

I have a Directlink 24", it is a nice ride. I believe Tim is having at sale at present time, the frames are $200 and made in the USA.

www.directlinkbmx.com

Add me to the list!

Just take it slow and don't force getting back in to racing to quick, lots of track time will make for a smooth transition back to the sport. To many old guys coming back and pushing the envelope has ended up being a quick ride to the emergency room, good luck and be careful out there!

Paul is right, I wouldn't even consider racing until you fell comfortable. Today's tracks are more technical and tricky, you can go over the bars lots easier. Keep increasing speed till you can handle it safely. I did what you are talking about roughly 4 years ago and it was a blast. I raced and competed very good in my class 28+,I was 42 at that time. I worked my way up with no major injuries, broke a rib but that wasnt too bad

Don't listen to these guys, I came back and raced after only a few days messing around at the track. At Elgin it's not an overly competitive environment. The guys that are good are going to help you before they try to make you look silly. Get a bike, go out to the track a few times on Sunday and then sign up and race. I could have ridden the track 200 times, but nothing clicked until I actually got on the gate and started racing again. About four weekends of racing and then all of a sudden in clicked and I'm back.

lotsa good advice here.... i went with a lil bit of old school flavor..
i am not too keen on the Aluminum bikes,,, thats just my hang up....

I got an FBM Bit(h!n Camaro...

New Redline Flights.
New Fred,z bars....

i like it.. will race it eventually...

You can't go wrong with FBM, S&M, Fit or Standard for Chromo frames... All are high quality and the weight is comparable to most aluminum frames on the market. I'm actually thinking of scrapping my Clayborn for a Standard 125R to switch back to chromo.

If you're 42... you might want to listen to these guys. I don't know your gig but if you have kids and a job you don't want to be laid out.

I just raced last week for the first time since '84. The problem us older guys have (me anyways) is that we still get good speed but the jumps are more aggressive and we just don't jump like we used to. With practice, I'll get better but I can't see me flying through the air like I did when I was 15. I kept up well until I hit a jump and no matter how hard I tried to stay down the speed sent me up. There was two in particular that had a lip on the front side that was there to send you up. I had a tough time with them.

I'm also 5' 8", around 160. I have my old Hutch Pro Racer so that's what I use. It's awesome how many people want to talk about it. I enjoy the reminiscing almost as much as the racing.

I noticed a lot of older riders on Intense bikes. They seem pretty good... you might want to look into one. I love the old school bikes though.

Good luck!

I went to the track and rode with my son on my 20 and the 26 many times this summer before I decided to actually race. Just go at your own pace.

wow! I am VERY APPRECIATIVE of all this good advice! I realize I will have to make a slow transition back. As far as jumping until about 5 years ago I had some decent jumps in my backyard which showed me my limitations. I'm not a 14 year old anymore I realized.
Anyways thanks to all of you for your advice and all. I love this site for many reasons but I especially like how the enthusiasm is shared by all the members! Thanks!

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a GHP. Seems like it might be a good starting point. But the gearhead in me says build! So I may be interested in some of what you may have. I'll keep an eye out for you up at Rockford I just hope the weather can cooperate sounds like it might be cold which is fine just keep the rain away.

I'm actually thinking of ordering a complete GHP cruiser. Especially after finding out the hubs and bottom bracket are sealed. It sounds like a great starting point to eventually upgrade on.

Definitely let me know, shoot me a PM or something if you're heading up to Rockford. Either that or head up to Elgin Saturday. It's track champion awards day so I'm sure the moto count will be higher then usual. I will be there for sure. Weather says rain on Sunday so Rockford may be out of the question.

Didnt read all the replys but my advice would be to not be afraid to overdo it on the safety gear. Wish i had a chest protector on BEFORE i cracked the sternum!

Just an update on some of the things I have learned. First off this site is a great place for info and inspiration, secondly I have decided to go and get myself a Redline Proline Pro XL. I was considering a GHP Jackal but I have been shopping around and I am so much more familiar with Redline. I have figured what I would like to build from scratch when the time comes. I am smitten with Standard and think they have some of the best bike frame and fork combo's out there. I would start with a 125r frame Answer forks and bars as well as a set of the alumalite wheel sets. Haven't determined a stem, cranks & bb or seat and post but this is in the future anyhow. Going to get myself padded up fairly well, take it easy and ease myself up to speed. I don't want to injure myself or others by any means.
Brandon002 has been very helpful and earlier in the thread wrote of some frames he had lying around. I seriously considered buying the Redline he has but when I looked into what it would cost for me to build the bike up I figured I would be better off getting a Proline complete to start with. A big THANK YOU to Brandon!
I am wondering about what class I should start in. I want to go Intermediate but wonder if I should start out as a Novice and work my way up as I get more comfortable with the bike and tracks. I last raced as a Novice about 30 years ago. I went to Elgin back in 2000 and raced a couple of times in open class. Food for thought.

I have just read through these posts and so much good advice. I also am getting geared up to race BMX again last raced in 1986 in 14 expert class. I have been downhill mountainbiking since then but haven't ridden a BMX bike in 20 plus years. For the last two months I have been going to the new BMX track here in Hawaii with my kids. It has been awesome to see my seven year old son do lap after lap with a smile on his face. My wife and daughter have also got on the track and have enjoyed it. This past week I decided to get a BMX bike, both a 24 and a 20 inch. I am going with a local shop to kinda support the economy here. I look forward to racing once we get the gate installed. I will say the most fun is just being around like minded people who remember the old days as fondly as I do.

I raced in the early 80's myself for only a couple of years at our local track until it closed. In my ealry 20's a friend of mine got me into road bike riding and I raced it on and off as well as mountian bikes. In my mid 20's I busted my left wrist and I thought I would never return to BMX racing. My wrist is almost completely fused, no movement in it at all. I took my daughter and son to the local track and the daughter said she wanted to race. Ths was this past Jan. I followed by getting an 07 GT cruiser and started racing with her.

Keep in my mind my legs were way better than my BMX skills and I busted up my right shoulder. No surgery but I do have trouble with it. I have since gone down on my left shoulder but not nearly as bad as the right shoulder. I have the body armor coming in the mail. I have also busted my ribs in a bad crash. All though the first crash was my fault the other two were crashes I had no control over. It doesn't help that my mind thinks I'm 16 again but my body is 42.

Had I known the cruiser class was full of old pros here in FL I would have started on a 20. All though racing at the local track is great with average dads racing which makes for a great time. I will now be racing on a 20 and a cruiser this year.

My 5 year old son raced for a short spell but had a bad crash with a bigger kid during practice and it kind of spooked him. Hope to get him back out on the track soon. The wife has even had thoughts about giving it a try.

I love the sport and get a kick out of all of us old guys making a come back. As for the bike I mentioned it's an 07 GT cruiser with DXR cranks and I slapped on a set of Answer Ti wheels and love them. I had a small issue with the wheel set and Answer took care of it right away.

I've always been a GT guy myself and I hardly see any GT's, a lot of intense bikes. I'm waiting for the new Speed Series GT frame sets to come out. It has a shorter chain stay length and should make manualing easier which I suck at but I'm working on it.


Good luck and ride safe.

I'm 39 and have been racing cruiser for a year. I have never been comfortable with the size and thought I could re-learn to manual and jump on a 20.

After test riding a few 20's over the year, I bought a Staats 20" last Friday and won my first novice race Saturday. Then Sunday, I slipped a chain and went over the bars.

Now I have some screws and a plate for a right collar bone. I plan to get back on the track but now realize the risk I'm taking.

My goal was to race Disney with my boys but got to watch instead. I wish you luck.

Way cool man! Sounds like my story I raced my JMC for the last time in bakersfield in 1980 and this year decided to give it another try. Its been a big learning curve but i built up a 24" se racing floval flyer and I love it currently 69 points out of 1st in nv02 cruiser points.
good luck
Kevin Griffitts

Cranks - profile
Stem - S&M Race XLT
Bars - S&M Race XLT

All lightweight, superstrong and reasonably priced. I would stear away from Carbon forks if you haven't raced in a while. I know I cased a lot with the front wheel while manualing jumping when I first started and don't know how Carbon forks would have taken that. S&M Race XLT forks are only 3 oz heavier then Answer Scythes so the strenth/weight ratio makes them a far better option.