jwhit75

just curios i am 32 and i have riden on a bike since i was 4 but i have never done it in competition. So today i call the local race track and ask if they got a spot for a 32 year old non competing rider to race. and im so happy he told me i could because he did and all i have to do is get a 24" bike. So im pretty stoked that at my age im going to get a chance to do some thing i have always wanted to do,and was just curios if there are any other older bmx racers here that might have any advise for a newbie...??? by the way the 24" i am looking at is a dk fury or general lee? any body race any of those?

FitRider 921

English?

East Hill

Just get and enjoy! My advice no matter what. See if it appeals to you, and if it does, practice.

East Hill

wds178

comevitaley?
I race, but I'm the furthest thing from competitive OR comevitave.
You can race what ever bike you want. 20" OR 24" don't matter. But, at my age (37), I've found MOST older guys tend to gravitate towards the cruiser class. I've race in 20", but not a lot of older guys do. Thus at the smaller local races you get stuck racing 17-18 experts and such. Last year, I decided I'd rather be racing guys my age, so I went to the cruiser class.
So get a bike - don't matter what kind & hit the track!
-Bill

jwhit75

that sounds like some good advise. whats the worst that can happen? i wreck,done that. i loose,done that. i think its going to be fun.

East Hill

The idea is to have fun--anything else on top of that is simply gravy .

Enjoy!

East Hill

jwhit75

i think your cool.thanks for the posotive encouragement.

hhuffman

Hey Guys,

35 years old, always been on a bike, but not a BMX for 20 years or so. I have just gotten a 20" and can't wait to begin racing this spring.

Can I clear up a misconception that is really ticking me off? I am 6'3 and over 200 lbs and I fit on a long 20" bike with no problem. I also have lower back problems but not on a bike.

Why is the knee jerk for older people to get on a larger wheel? As long as you get a longer top tube frame the geometry is the same as a 24.

Enjoy and rip it up.

jwhit75

as for myself i wanted to ride 20" because thats what i own, but the only track near me says that for my age group the Only class i can compete in is open wheel and its on cruisers. now i love my 20" and really wanted to race that but maybe at a state meet after i whip em local....

wds178

That's BS. There are no rules in the ABA or NBL regarding what size bike you HAVE to ride. You can totally race 20". You'll just most likely be racing against 18-20 experts.

The main reason most old guys seem to gravitate toward the 24" bikes is the stability of them. I hear so many older guys say they just can't deal with the handling of a 20" - too "twitchy" and such. As a rider who ride a lot of skateparks, I have NO problems with my 20", I feel more confident on it than the 24", but I race the 24" because that's where the racing is at around here.
-Bill

jwhit75

If i could travel around to other states and chase tracks i would be on my 20" racing in my competition class(age group, my speed ,whatever),but the fact is that this is the only affiliated race track in like 75 miles to maybe 100 miles of me.As ive stated time and again,this will be all brand new for me and it will be fun. i researched the entire racing in my city stuff and the only track i have says that the only competition that a starter,novice,rookie,whatever i would be considered is in the open wheel races. i didnt just make this up, i had just gotten off of the phone with the track owner! he also competes in this class himself. So i see it like this ,its his track,his rules,but they are NBL points and if i want to get them so i can get in at a bigger meet where i can get on that 20" with some other 30 year olds then im just going to have to comply with whats going on! plus ive never had a 24" bmx so it gives me an excuse to get another bike and who doesnt love that? its all gravy,baby!

jonly

I'm old, I race, and I do it on what used to be a 2007 24" DK Fury:



do I win?

DirtMO*SHette

i raced for a couple of years, we had a 50+ class and i met a guy who raced and he was 64, blew my mind, racing is great and lots of fun, but once you get out of your track and start doing races all over, it gets a little too competitive and a little less fun.

jwhit75

how old is old and do you win?

jonly

I'm 35, I race people in my age bracket, probably 4-7 per race., we trade off 2nd place, one guy always wins them though.
When I asked if I won, I meant the thread - I met all the requirements for the O.P.

castanagajt

I say go for it! A DK Fury is very affordable for you and they will always find a moto for you to do so in turn you have nothing to lose

live4muzic2

man im young and id love to have your bike. (i really like the apple stem.)

RideCA

There may be not rules about age class restriction but maybe they do not have any men in that age group to race 20"

RJBTrek

I saw the post back in Jan and was looking to see if you got out there and raced? I saw the comments on 20' and restrictions. I started racing at 41 and am now 47. I started in crusier but then also started to race 20' since it was not a matter of age but skill that provide the competitiveness. The 20' class gives you 3 levels and you would be in the beginner group. The crusier class has the 3 levels together as one group.

Tjonathan

NBL or ABA?
some advice, Practice pracice practice & get involved in your local track.

§ Λ Μ

Good cause I was looking at a 20 instead of the 24 ..... and I'm the same height

RJBTrek

The reason I see people suggesting 24" for older riders is that the normal race categories (ABA non-national races) have a younger upper limit. Hence, people tend to suggest to race in your own age group. This kicks in above 26 in normal races and 36 for nationals (check the rules in case I'm off on the age). I don't agree with this thought. I started to race 24" since I was told that at 41, I would be better off to be in the same age group. However, the 20" bike offers Beginner, Intermediate and Expert classes by age groups. I started to race 20" one year year after I bought my 24" bike and had more fun even though I was regularly racing against guys 15 years younger. It was more fun since they had similar skills and I was in the mix more often. This was very true in the national races. In the national races, I was in the finals with the 20" but would not be with my 24".

Good luck with your racing!

Ophidian

jonly, I like the Radical Rick avatar. I still got a few BMX Plus with the cartoon in it. Thats old school.