BMX and Mountainbiking by Chris Donahue

About three years ago a friend of mine thought it would be a good idea to pick up a mountain bike to rip around town on and head up to the infamous "North Shore" for a trip. I was completely blown away when I first laid my eyes on it. It was basically, in my eyes, an oversized BMX cruiser / under sized mountain bike. Equipped with 24" wheels, 5" of front-end suspension, and disc brakes, this thing looked like it would blow anybody out of the water at any event! Not long after seeing this monstrous creation, I too picked up a sweet ride. Before we knew it we were tearing up the Mountains and streets like we did on our BMX bikes, but on the "do all, go anywhere" machine of many a persons dreams!

After exploring the mountain bike scene fairly closely for the next few months, I noticed that there was an element to the sport missing, come to think of it, a few actually. Here and there I saw some images of people riding the streets on their bikes, but not the way one would expect from a sport which must be nearly as old as the sport of BMX and skateboarding. Not too many tricks and obstacles were to be a source of fun on the streets with these machines. And when It came time to do some Dual Slalom racing, I saw that the jumps were built really nice, but no one was busting too many moves and getting "Rad", so to speak. The tracks looked so familiar to a BMX track, but the style was lacking a bit. I couldn't help but think the sport needed a new element, or discipline if you will. I wanted to help rid the sport of the "spandex" reputation that it has buried itself into and start showing that these bikes are incredible, and that the sport could prosper with a reputation such as BMX and skateboarding. It just so happens that around that same time, my BMX broke down and the pocket book was too short to fix it. Off to the streets I went. Exploring and hitting all the same lines as on my BMX, I realized that it was way smoother and easier on my body having larger wheels and some cush. It was amazing. I was going larger than on my small bike, but the ride was so much nicer. I had to take my prized piece of machinery to the local trails, which at this time was Seattle. Again, I was blown away, and to many others surprise as well. Mountain bikes at the trails (A.K.A - dirt jumps or rhythm section)? This can't be! It was true. All of a sudden, My level of dirt jumping went up a couple of notches instantly. I was hooked! Never to steer away! (See North Shore Extreme 3)

A few years have gone by, and the sport has blown into this humongous following of inspiring dirt jumpers and street riders alike, worldwide! Vancouver now has street sessions regularly, AND our own dirt jumping trails. Even more than people know! The bikes have even changed the way they once were, 3 years ago. At the time maybe 3 companies were building a burly hardtail. Now, every company has a little big BMX in the catalog. At one time it was the lighter the better, and in some cases still is. Now, we're looking at the merge of full on BMX parts on Mountain bikes, and DH riders helped this one out! 3-piece chromoly crank sets, beefy stems, and flat pedals all being a part of the new scene mountain bikers have created. Yet, things are seemingly, still changing. Where is the sport right now? Where is the sport going to go? What next? Well, feast your pearly white (or red) eyes on the Next Generation BMX bike!! A fully rigid, single speed, rear brake pulling monster ready to take on whatever is thrown into its path, with the exception of the North Shore! Long live BMX!