New BMX racing rules prohibit getting air?
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LBKA (formerly punkncat)
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New BMX racing rules prohibit getting air?
A friend and I were out riding the other day and came across a BMX race here at the local track. I was impressed by the turnout, so we decided to stop and watch.
I noted right off that not one single rider in any class actually "jumped" anything, and that the berms were paved. I was actually unpleasantly surprised at the lack of effort being put forth by any but the smallest tykes.
Is there some rule prohibiting jumping and contact now?
I noted right off that not one single rider in any class actually "jumped" anything, and that the berms were paved. I was actually unpleasantly surprised at the lack of effort being put forth by any but the smallest tykes.
Is there some rule prohibiting jumping and contact now?
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A lot of jumps are faster to manual through --- just depends on the track and the jump layouts. A bit of incidental contact may still happen, but in a 35-40 second race, its not something you want to make a habit out of- a bit of sparring and jostling with another rider may give someone else entirely that fraction of a second they need to close the door on you and motor past - causing you both to lose
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A lot of jumps are faster to manual through --- just depends on the track and the jump layouts. A bit of incidental contact may still happen, but in a 35-40 second race, its not something you want to make a habit out of- a bit of sparring and jostling with another rider may give someone else entirely that fraction of a second they need to close the door on you and motor past - causing you both to lose
Nevermind. I was hung up on the jumping thing and missed the question about contact.
Last edited by dave42; 02-04-15 at 05:25 PM.
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My comment on contact was not if it was allowed, but whether it benefitted you or not , and many times it doesnt --- but if it isnt blatant takeout maneuvering, there arent any specific ABA rules against a bit of contact that i know of -- there are just more efficient ways to ride ---- but when 8 guys are sprinting as hard as they can for a spot at the first turn that is 2 feet wide, stuff happens
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Far from it --- at my local track there is at times a lot of contact regardless of whether anyone jumps or not --- I was just saying that a person should take a stopwatch to the track on a day when he /she has the track to themselves, - then see what is faster, -- jumping everything or manualling through
My comment on contact was not if it was allowed, but whether it benefitted you or not , and many times it doesnt --- but if it isnt blatant takeout maneuvering, there arent any specific ABA rules against a bit of contact that i know of -- there are just more efficient ways to ride ---- but when 8 guys are sprinting as hard as they can for a spot at the first turn that is 2 feet wide, stuff happens
My comment on contact was not if it was allowed, but whether it benefitted you or not , and many times it doesnt --- but if it isnt blatant takeout maneuvering, there arent any specific ABA rules against a bit of contact that i know of -- there are just more efficient ways to ride ---- but when 8 guys are sprinting as hard as they can for a spot at the first turn that is 2 feet wide, stuff happens
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Like many of the "kids" my age, BMX was HOT and I raced for a few years including on this very track. I agree that staying on the ground AND pedalling across doubles and whatnot can be faster....but this was a matter of not even trying. It was sad, honestly.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
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Like many of the "kids" my age, BMX was HOT and I raced for a few years including on this very track. I agree that staying on the ground AND pedalling across doubles and whatnot can be faster....but this was a matter of not even trying. It was sad, honestly.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
How long did you stay? My first thought was you might have caught the beginner classes or something --- but i dunno --- that does sound like a weird scene though --- most of the hyper little kids around here looove to jump
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Like many of the "kids" my age, BMX was HOT and I raced for a few years including on this very track. I agree that staying on the ground AND pedalling across doubles and whatnot can be faster....but this was a matter of not even trying. It was sad, honestly.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
The gate went down and these kids would pedal halfway down the hill. By the first moguls most of them didn't pedal again until they had to to keep moving. At most I saw two kids a race maybe try and beat each other to the first turn and then coast the other three. Not one single jump all day outside a kid under 8.
I always recall that if you weren't going to win the race (which was often just this side of a fist fight on wheels we were so competitive) that you should at least look good doing it.
From what I see, there is just as much contact and jumping going on as there ever was. But it's racing, and above all else, winning is the focus. The jumping and showing off happens at practice or on the trails during the week.
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