I'm a new guy getting back into this after a long time away. After attending 6 or 7 seven races now this fall, I've notice that the Intense Podium frame is by far the most common one at any track I've been to so far. It seems like every third or fourth bike is a Podium frame.

The only things I know about Intense or their Podium series so far is that 1) they are aluminum. 2) they have an unconventially shaped top tube. 3) they seem to be slightly more expensive than other frames. 4) they come in carbon fiber, although I've never seen one. 5) a lot of people ride them. A LOT OF PEOPLE. 6) Intense has a fairly sizeable advertising budget - and based on point no. 5 - it's effective.


So can someone explain to me why 25%+ of the bikes at my local tracks are Podiums? In my youth, a lot of people rode Mongoose or GT, because that's what the cool kids rode. Is this merely history repeating, or is there something about this frame I don't understand yet that makes it worth riding so much more than lots of other frames with simmilar/identical geometry and materials?

I'm not goofing on anyone who rides one, either. A lot of the people who've stomped me in the last two months - and that's a LOT of people - have been riding a Podium. I need to know "why".

(FWIW, I'm riding an '09 PK Ripper. Why? Cause I always wanted one when I was a little kid, but my parents couldn't afford one and I never made enough money mowing lawns to blow a summer's worth of work on a single frame. Now I can afford one, so that's what I'm going to ride. Plus, it's an homage to Scott B.)

I think it's just a design fad. It was the first frame with a thick, curved top tube like that. Some people love em, personally I think it's the ugliest frame I've ever seen. I don't see how it can give any type of advantage as the frame isn't lighter then any other frame out. Although GT followed suit and their new frame has a curved top tube too. I think it's just a trend and a lot of people jumped on them when they came out.

yep im a new rider raced alot in the 80s but getting back into it i just picked up a podium 20" and a ghp 24" yes the reason i bought the podium is because i liked the look of it thats all. rims and hubs should be in the mail so i will hopefully have it built up this week cant wait to try it as for i never rode one then again im a novice so i dont no much

Now I'm a died in the wool chromoly kind of guy, who firmly believes BMX tubes should be round, all of them, down to the forks. But I have to admit to liking the look of the podium (and the new GT). For some reason, the Podium just looks fast (the 08 silver model, specifically). However, it is not a truly lightweight frame. The new Supercross Envy beats it by almost a pound, I believe. And I don't think there have been any well-tested reasons for thinking the hydroformed tubing superior to more traditional forming methods.

For me, it's both the look and the feel of the thing that counts. If you feel your bike looks fast, maybe that translates into a smidgeon of speed, who knows. Same goes for how it feels, of course. You've got to love what you ride.

BTW, I don't think their even their 010 models are carbon fiber, though I saw a spy photo of one a while back, which, interestingly enough, had straight tubes all around.

b.

To me the Podium design looks like something you would see for sale at Wal-Mart.

I agree, the top tube reminds me of a sperm whale.

Podium anyone??

I remember the original Schwins that had curved tubing and originally had banana seats and ape hangers. My first bike was one of those... I remember being stoked when I got my first BMX bike - I think it was a Sears - and digging that all the tubes were straight tubing and no curves. Even had a big triangle single gusset at the head tube.



My cruiser is a '01 Specialized FatBoy. I confess I bought it based soley on appearance, and had to search craigslist for months to find one. It has turned out to be the stiffest bike I've ever ridden, which is very cool. But I bought it just because it looks cool. And you don't see them very often at the track. I've only seen one so far.

Different looking
Solid financial backing
Smart marketing
Sponsoring the Phantom/Ontrac team and a couple of top pros

I loved the poduims the first time I saw one. Now they're played out so bad they make me mad like hulk when I see one. But, still cool that someone made something with a little style and it sold well.

Have you ridden one? Don't knock it until you try it.
So they dare to be different.....

Love the whale analogy. For me, when I look at the Podium, I see Ridley Scott's Alien creature.


That's one of the things I like about it.

i see them too. its a numbers thing. mass quantity for the masses. back in the day companies like schwinn, DB, SE, mongoose, ect. had it going too. its different and its a fad for the fad type folks. dont be tricked. ride what you like, and like what you ride...

I agree. They are everywhere. I like them the first time I saw them in an ad. I like the design idea and the engineering. There have been several other hydro-formed frames in the past but nothing quite like this in BMX. The GT power box looked kind of clunky. The Podium is sleek. It will be interesting to see if this starts a whole new direction in frame design.

As all those curves can help to distribute stress better than straight tubes, this type of design could produce lighter, stronger frames. But I did see a Redline ad reporting that their Flight Pro frame was lighter and less expensive.

I almost bought one of their frames for my 10 year old son but settled on a Ripper Jr instead. I too wanted a PK when I was a kid but couldn't afford one. Now my son can race one.

LoL....it really does look like a sperm whale!....good catch

?

Brandon, I love to read your posts and I am not on the attack. Would you care to do a design deconstruction/ analysis/ evaluation/ critique?


Anyone else is invited to join in. I would really like to know what you guys see wrong with the above pictured frame?

And below:

H.R. Geiger is the Oscar Award winner responsible for it. Ridley Scott didn't even mention Geiger in the credits of the last movie, from what I understand.

Ridley Scott can go jump off a house.

Far out. I didn't know Giger was the artist behind all of the Alien creatures. Amazingly terrifying work. From prowling around his site, it looks like he did get credit for the movie (won an Academy Award in 1980 for it), but he got screwed over in the Comic series.

Regardless, his Alien creature tops my nightmare creature list, edging out Cthulhu (as imagined from H.P.'s story) and Freddy Krueger (who put me right off sleep for nearly a week back in the 80s).

Cheers,
b.

My son has ridden one for the last 3 years, he got it because he liked my old schwinn predetor from the 80s that was hanging in the garage..The top tube was an oval and that was the closest thing to it, now he wont get off it!

You just love to stir crap don't you? PM sent.

It's just a matter of personal opinion buddy. Nothing more, nothing less. I have never ridden a podium and I'm sure they are fine bikes, I just like the more traditional frame styles. I also enjoy being different, which is why I ride a Clayborn. I've only seen one other Clayborn at local races and have seen tons of Podiums. They just aren't my style. Nothing wrong if you like them, which is why I stated I think they are ugly, never said anything about them lacking in quality or performance though. The frame just reminds me of a 70's beach cruiser.

Fair enough.