Tour De Wigan

Well myself and (housewives favourite) Tom Boonen competed in the Elswick Vets Road race last Sunday. Tom (aka Ged) won the A category and i held on with the pack. Apologies to the other riders for sitting at the back and not doing my share i did try and live out my tour dreams and make a break, it didnt last long. If you think bmx is aggressive then go and be heckled by roadies its terrifying. This was a real eye opener and solid training for me.

I pressed my speedo at the end and we had averaged 24.5 mph for 50+ miles not bad considering when i ride on my own i might average 18.5 !!

Arriere de peloton Mike

ps sorry theres no action shots but i was to busy trying to get my breath!!

Robbie showing them the deal


Heres a salute to Robbie Mc Ewen after winning the second stage of the tour de france in Canterbury.

Robbie's an ex BMX man! He came out of nowhere after being involved in a crash 20k from the finish..

Go on my son.

Hi all, well the launch of the Tour De France this saturday clashed with the Alexandria Park skatepark Jam near Wigan.It was a nice day for once, with all sorts of events happening in the park. Matty Andrews was there filming and as usual making things happen! I think this new park is proof that "balls to tennis" a website founded by Matty is very true as its built on an old tennis court that previously would have been used for around 4 days a year and now is full of kids learning all manner of tricks. The Kids were out in force and thanks must go to Dave Owen and Co at Wigan Leisure and culture trust for making this all possible.Lets hope the momentum continues.

I was the only person with a skateboard so for arguments sake we can call this a bmx jam! The park is small, metal and fun to ride with hips you can hit both ways and some nice tarmac to mess about on. Just remember to being a second set of eyes (in the back of your head) you will need them with all the kids flying about!

We had three age groups today 8-12s 13-16s 16 and over each group had a 30 minute session on the park. As we had no PA system it was hard to keep track of the riders but PIE BMX judges Andy G, Matty, Sam had it down. Standouts for me and kids which have come on leaps and bounds since the park was finished where, Rueben, Ryan, Martin, Squeak, Keiran. We gave out some prizes and stickers courtesy of Alansbmx.com and Vans. A good day was enjoyed by all. Heres some pictures of the day.
cheers Mike
PS if anyone found a black rucksack at the park today with some knee and shin pads inside its mine, reward for recovery cheers

The winners

360 over the hip

Rueben hanging out

Ryan getting better all the time

Sam,Andy,Matty RESERVOIR JUDGES "PIE BMX"

GETTING OLD TO GET NEW!!

Well Friday evening i was a VIP guest courtesy of DC shoes(thanks Dan Matt and Nicola) at the launch of the new PK Ripper.

Se racing has a long and rich history in bmx both freestyle and racing. Did i see PK himself standing in the corner?? The new bike was on show and looking lovely i might add. “30 Years of Radness” was a first of its kind exhibition in London which celebrates the BMX explosion onto the world stage in the 80’s, what many consider as the “golden period”, and its endurance from it.

Radbmx.co.uk members where there in force and brought there collections for all to see and drool over.

Here are some facts about bmx you may or may not know!!

BMX riding began to take shape in 1963 and seven years later in 1970 a teenage entrepreneur Scot Breithaupt started the ‘Pedal Cross’ races in London Beach, California which is what many consider to be the birth of organized BMX racing. Scot captured the first US National BMX title in 1976 and soon afterwards started SE Racing (standing for Scot Enterprise). From that initial revolution, SE Racing became one of the most significant BMX brands and has stayed that way for over 30 years.

Breithaupt and his team at SE innovated many frames, the most legendary of these being the P.K. Ripper. Named after local rider Perry Kramer, the P.K. Ripper became the most sought after BMX bike of all time. When the P.K. Ripper hit the BMX scene it forever changed the look of BMX design. It possessed a fashionable and hip aesthetic not previously seen, and set a new benchmark for SE’s competition to rise to. As a result, the industry advanced and the 80’s BMX scene was born.

check pics

Getting oldskool with the new PK Ripper

Hiya iam just back from the Pk Ripper Dc shoes bike launch in London. Check back later for pics and a report.

How to speed jump!!!

Ok for my next HOW TO i will try and explain speed jumps over small rollers. I didnt have a stunt double so i had to perform this myself. Note iam wearing Pro Tec helmet and Thor gloves, Vans shoes.(shameless plug)




Step 1: The approach, in a race you aint going to want to slow down, you want to go through every obstacle like its not there! As fast and as smooth as you can. If your learning for fun then and to improve your skill level then just slow it all down.
I tell people in sessions "sometimes you have to slow down to go faster" strange but true, knock off a rev and you will be suprised, you end up going faster! That applies most of all when your learning a trick.
Approach at a medium/fast speed a few feet before the obstacle pull back on the bars to lift the front wheel up, i lean back on the bike to help this. I also cover my rear brake to stop it looping.



Step 2: Now we are getting there, the jump is nearly on us, i use my knees to soak up the bumps and although ive got a firm grip on the bars, i keep them relaxed. Keep looking at where you want to go.




Step 3: Now you have it, your on the jump compressing your weight to keep the bike low and fast. Dont lean to far back or you will flip over, also to far forward and you could end up OTB ( just like me last week OUCH)



Step 4: Ive cleared the jump keeping the wheels pretty tight to the ground, my weight is more towards the front of the bike.


Keep practising this move till you have it smooth as then you can learn to keep pedaling over things (just like Wozza) or manual down the backside (very impressive. If your really good then you can start to nose bonk stuff on the way over. Wear your pads keep practising and whatever your age or ability you cant beat the feel of a good speed jump.

Names and faces have been changed to protect the guilty...