[Trevor Swan]

I can't find a post about the 'merger' so I am starting one.

So a merger? It makes sense. Especially for me - since I have a mix of tracks I like to visit.

My opinions are not meant to invoke anger. There are real issues facing our sport. Keep in mind, all of us are entitled to our opinions and I'll fight with my last breath the make sure all of us are 'entitled' to have our opinions!

I think the problems we face are bigger than NBL or ABA. Call it progression or whatever you want. Today's BMX racing is more Supercross or Super Moto than Moto Cross. I know the clip, semi slick tires, black top soil tac guys will say evolution of the sport etc. I say - where is the MX - where is the roost, the dirt, the drifting?

Progression - So what? Are you going to tell me that a HiBoy or a 23 T Bucket with a blown smallblock or a real flathead loaded with Vic Edelbrock parts is boring? I don't think so.


Lets get the MX back in BMX!

[mattyjo]

someone else said it... but it's worth stealing:

the only 3 letters that count are "BMX."

a lot of discussion before the merger was announced... we just might see some "independents" starting their own leagues, own rules, own tracks.

if you can secure the insurance, anything is possible!!

[Trevor Swan]

Yes in the end BMX is what counts. I personally look forward to having just one membership that can be used anywhere like I can use my Visa card. It makes sense and is long overdue; especially given our current economic climate of high gas, high unemployment and tough times all over. We have to keep in mind that even though it is our passion BMX is a disposable income thing. The few fortunate to make a living out of it know that they have a buy before date otherwise they are expired.

I see this as a time for opportunity to create a new league that gets back to the roots of our sport. Bring on the dirt, the roost, Flat Pedals, Drifts and 45 or 90 degree turns and lets get Sidehacks back out there!

My biggest issue, I do not have the resources for a new league, but will contribute any way possible.

I know I am the 1/10th of 1% but sometimes that's all it takes to get something going! Anyone else tired of BSX ?

[Bill Hayden]

A few notable things here, this, the NBL Plan was laid out quickly without a ton of thought. THe sanction was bleeding money. There are people that are upset, they say got robbed. That is incorrect, the ABA saved them from further losses. But Trevor, I agree the problems are deeper and need to be addressed. I have been contacted already by a track, because they know I have the other thing in the works. The problem with any existing track going a new direction other than the ABA, is that the riders are used to the current model of BMX< even if the ABA is different, is has some of the same qualities. Once I have the trademark paperwork done, I will unviel what I have been up too.

[Red Baron]

There are many subjects and directions within this topic. The merger, the way the 'organizations' run races, tracks/track surfaces and, far from the least of all, the future of BMX.

There is definitely not an easy answer to any of this. I don't know enough about the 'merger' but I do remember that back in the 70s we had multiple organizations who ran things their own ways. My home track used the transfer system, a 1st place in the motos to transfer out. The NBA used the 3 motos points system to transfer out. I liked the idea of a change. (I probably like the concept of different challenges better now, as an adult, that I did then) :)

Tracks and track surfaces...I can understand the use of pavement in corners in areas of the country where the weather causes erosion to the point where maintanance is a problem. It's a shame that they can't get enough help to rebuild and maintain their tracks. I understand but I don't agree it is best for the sport.

As for the tracks design, that too is a difficult subject. What we have now is the result of the evolution of our sport. When we got old enough to ride our bikes with some kind of control, it seemed that it was natural to mimic what the older guys were doing on motorcycles. It the 70s it was outdoor motocross and guys like Roger DeCoster and the other European racers. Our tracks were more wide open and flowing. Big jumps with flat landings, every kind of flat turn, banked berm and everything in between.

Then supercross came into vogue. Purpose built tracks in more confined spaces. The jumps got bigger, then they turned into doubles, triples, quads and rythm sections. Do you see where I am going with this? We have continued to mimic our Motocross bretherin.

My concern with these 'new school' tracks is that the injuries these days are far more dramatic than what we dealt with BITD. The bigger jumps with most of them bieng lined up as doubles or rythm sections means that if you make a mistake you usually impact the face of the next one. Those impacts can cause serious damage to ones body.

I don't want to continue rambling here. I have more to say but I just can't sit and type this much in one setting. I don't have 'the' answer for the future of BMX, but it seems that there are people who are concerned and that is a start. Let the discussion continue...

This post has been edited by Dennis Dain: 18 May 2011 - 03:19 AM

[Bill Hayden]

Dennis, I completely agree about the direction. I have seen more riders go out with injuries, even though we have less riders in general. I think the current track style killed a huge protion of the sports ridership. Think of this, when a track directior says they want a national caliber track. for whom are they building that for?? Not the new kid coming in, he doesn't even know what a national is. What they are doing is building something for the 10-20% of the riders who hit all the nationals they can. But the new riders are stuck on something above their level.

[Bill Hayden]

The really sad part, there was enough riders to support both at one time.

[Brett Middaugh]

If someone starts designing and building tracks to garner a big local following, like some suggest, now is the perfect time to do it...

[Mike Jolly]

Dennis Dain, on 18 May 2011 - 03:16 AM, said:

My concern with these 'new school' tracks is that the injuries these days are far more dramatic than what we dealt with BITD. The bigger jumps with most of them bieng lined up as doubles or rythm sections means that if you make a mistake you usually impact the face of the next one. Those impacts can cause serious damage to ones body.

"Impacting the face of the next one" is exactly what happened to me last year, my momentum didnt stop until multiple broken bones and lung damage slowed me down.....Deceleration Trauma.....

Bring back dirt and flat turns please

I still love the sport and enjoy racing with my buds and the many new friends I have made, but sure miss the old days of WOT tracks when you actually had to pedal

[mattyjo]

a return of some honest downhill tracks and perhaps a waterhole or two wouldn't be so bad either...
;)

OK, OK... back to USABMX- i hope going forward one of the things they will standardize are the classes- novice, intermediate, expert.

i hope they standardize the age brackets.

finally- for the adult cruisers they really need to incorporate the rookie class from the NBL- this has gotten more dads on the track in my area, and they are stoked to not be getting completely dusted!

they are rather amusing to watch too!
:blink: :blink: :blink:

[Trevor Swan]

mattyjo, on 18 May 2011 - 02:30 PM, said:

a return of some honest downhill tracks and perhaps a waterhole or two wouldn't be so bad either...
;)

OK, OK... back to USABMX- i hope going forward one of the things they will standardize are the classes- novice, intermediate, expert.

i hope they standardize the age brackets.

finally- for the adult cruisers they really need to incorporate the rookie class from the NBL- this has gotten more dads on the track in my area, and they are stoked to not be getting completely dusted!

they are rather amusing to watch too!
:blink: :blink: :blink:

I love the idea of an Expert cruiser class, then everyone else. At 42 I'll never make expert and its crazy to be out there with them. All I do is cause interference in the first 100 feet! Always slipping the clutch to long and bogging down when the secondaries open up, then I hit the Nitrous and end up spinning out - LOL

[mattyjo]

here we had a lot of dad's that practiced, but never raced. now they are gating up and having even more fun! and their kids are stoked too.

it was a good idea to give them a class to feel comfortable in.

[Mike Jolly]

mattyjo, on 19 May 2011 - 09:01 AM, said:

here we had a lot of dad's that practiced, but never raced. now they are gating up and having even more fun! and their kids are stoked too.

it was a good idea to give them a class to feel comfortable in.

I agree 110%...it was long time coming for that class.

The past few years too many local dads jumpin in and having fun only to sign up for a big race and get their rear ends handed to them, ultimatley get discouraged and quiting. Now these same dads can race the bigger easier to ride Bikes in class and feel comfortable.

[sleeper]

I love bmx in every way, shape, and form, but I would sure like to see a little athstetic variety in some of todays tracks. Bitd that was one of the things to excite you about going to a new track, you never knew what it was going to look like. Today unfortunately you already know the layout before you even leave the house. I know its progression and Ive got nothing against that, just saying a little variety would go a long way.

[stephen stickel]

BMX is too small for 2 competing bodies. For those who were lucky enough to have 2 tracks nearby were often required to fork out extra dough because one was ABA and the other NBL. Once we get BMX back to 1980 levels, we can think about harming it again with 2 sanctions.

And ban clipless pedals. The pedals dictated erosion-prone berms, which need asphalt. The shoes and pedals are expensive and don't wear well when worn around town, with friends, while being a normal kid. Rhythm sections are fine, keep 'em. And consider some sort of BMX/Pump Track hybrid sport, 2-4 riders at a time on open-to-the-public pump tracks. We need to put the populism back into the sport.

[Trevor Swan]

Clips came first and blacktop hi bank turns came second. Getting back to flat dirt turns will reduce the efficiency of current clip systems over the length of a track.

Making tracks with more flat dirt turns will reduce the cost of a track. Hmmm - lets add a few rain ruts and some mud - and make some real BMX. After all BMX was never meant to be a sanitary sport!

[sleeper]

I dont see any flat turns in the futue, but I would love to see something besides the standard 3 turn, 4 straight set up we run now.

[mattyjo]

unfortunately, i thing 3 turns / 4 straights will never go away.

a lot of it simply has to do with space... years ago many tracks could meander because they were on extremely large lots in wide open spaces. most of them took advantage of terrain features that already existed.

now, development had put land at a premium. many tracks are squeezed into smaller spaces within public parks. and let's face it, the diamonds and soccer fields will dominate because their share of users is much larger.

the last interesting modern track i saw was crazy ronnie's out near dixon. it was at the argyll racing complex, where there was already a MX track and a short track oval. he took the prevailing wind into account, so long straights had the wind at your back, and VERY short straights went into the wind. it kind of zig-zagged away from the start hill and the finish was far away, with the tower roughly in the middle to cover the action.

you actually got a nice cool down ride heading back to the hill...

[Trevor Swan]

Taking advantage of 'natural terrain'. Hmmm sounds like MX to me! We need more of this. The old Supertrack in Phoenixville, PA and Poplar Neck in Reading PA took excellent advantage of hills, ruts, etc. I need to build a track. Its on my to do list. I am so sick of the current situation. If only I was in the position to act.

[mattyjo]

you need to hit up bill hayden... you guys might be on the same page.

he's got some ideas and they sound like good ones!