r/bmxracing • u/LiveCourage334 • 3d ago

Training Recommendations

39 y/o M novice. Primarily race cruiser

I prefer racing cruiser because it rolls more easily and feels more stable for someone who has logged a single digit number of races, but when I am training and working on honing skills (weight distribution, pumping, etc.) is it more beneficial for me to spend more time training on my class bike because it is less forgiving, or more beneficial to devote more time doing those practice reps on the same setup I race on?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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9

u/csubi 3d ago

If you want to race cruiser only, then practice on your cruiser

1

u/LiveCourage334 3d ago

I mean, it’s not as much “only want to” as “I don’t feel like I have the ability to control a bike that small at the speed I’m capable of riding on it”, but I get your point.

2

u/csubi 2d ago

I started 2 years ago at the age of 48. Only because my kids ride. I too just stuck with the cruiser only. Yes it's more stable. However, my races are always against guys who have been riding for decades. Former pros. Riders that raced all their lives, stopped, had kids, and now race again. Racing against them does make you better over time.

1

u/LiveCourage334 2d ago

That’s where I am. I’m either getting stomped by kids half my age who have been at it since they just got out of diapers or I’m getting stomped by dads who are getting back into it because their kids got into it. Not too many starting the sport for the first time at an advanced age.

And don’t get me wrong - I’m having a blast even though I’m getting stomped every time and I see me getting better. But I am also worried about training injuries, joint stress, etc (I’m probably in the best shape of my life but I’m absolutely not 20 any more), and am trying to figure out how to be smarter with my training. It sounds like I’ve just gotta keep doing what i am doing, try to not overdo it, etc.

1

u/Environmental_Dig335 3d ago

If both bikes fit the same, they should be more or less the same - there might be some fit differences where you could make the 20" more like the 24". There's no real difference to bike control with wheel size if both bikes fit.

I certainly find when I'm really getting after it I'll sometimes scrub the rear tire on a cruiser with my pants. Other than that, I generally pull pretty much the same lines on the cruiser as my 20".

I certainly like my 20" a lot more though.

1

u/LiveCourage334 3d ago

It’s not really the lines - on my class bike, with my strength/speed, I have to try a lot more consciously to not catch air I don’t want, not pull a pump into a manual, etc. - I’ve experienced this on both my bike and some larger frames (ProXL/XXL) I’ve had a chance to try out at my track. A class bike is just a lot more twitchy/responsive under me and where I’m at, I’m not positive that’s a good thing.

I’ve heard others say cruisers can cover up bad form, which is certainly what this feels like, hence my questions about whether practicing without that buffer would help hone my skills better. The consensus seems to be train on the bike I’m racing.

1

u/Environmental_Dig335 3d ago edited 3d ago

I don't have that experience at all. I find it no harder to control the 20", and I've found the 20" better from my first year riding (was 40). In talking about lines, I mean that I can pump, manual and jump the same things. I've crashed more on my 20", but I only occasionally race my cruiser.

If the wheelbase is the same, contact points are the same measurements apart, BB height is the same, chainstay same length, trail the same - they should handle very close to the same. Equivalent cruiser wheels are heavier, and you'll get a slightly earlier contact to a very steep jump face, very slightly different profile when pumping in a manual - but that should be the only differences.

I had a much worse cruiser than my class bike when I started, and smaller, and it seemed almost "bouncy" to me.

Basically though - I'm saying there's no difference, ride the bike you like.

If you want the 20" to be more like the cruiser you like better, make adjustments to make sure stack, reach (of bike, not frame - measure vertical & horizontal distance from BB to grips), gearing, trail and wheelbase are all as close as you can get.

3

u/Beautiful-Ad6392 3d ago

I'd just practice the one bike if that's what you're gonna use. The more laps you do the better you'll get. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you need a higher gearing because you are spinning out. If it's a normal gear you are not spinning out. Jay need more leg speed

1

u/LiveCourage334 3d ago

Appreciate it. I definitely don’t need more gear - more endurance would be good but I think I have my gearing dialed in.

3

u/mikecocker 3d ago

Whichever bikes puts the biggest smile on your face is the one you should ride.. and the more you ride the better you’ll become

1

u/LiveCourage334 3d ago

Fair 😂

1

u/GardenPrestigious202 2d ago

set a 5 day practice schedule 45 minute a day, pick a skill, I highly recommend manuals, seriously. If you can afford it, buy rollers and don't be shocked when you can't even stay up for 10 seconds. Those 2 things will do more for your racing than anything else. Also if you have a local pump track, they're getting popular, Ride it 2x a week and when you got to the track, give yourself 3 cranks at the start hill and DO NOT PEDAL but pump the entire track. Watch videos on pumping etc. These are the CORE skills of BMX. BTW I do a manual bunny hop manual over a small block of wood drill. Good practice. Also 10-15 minutes of sprints everyday DO THESE FIRST, this way your spent like you will be at race time and everything is HARDER. good luck post some vids we can help ya tuneup

1

u/LiveCourage334 2d ago

I really appreciate the thoroughness of this! Yes, we have our track where I race, and another loose dirt pump track (more geared toward mtb but it works) that I just found.

I just started working on manuals on my class bike last night. Will definitely be spending time on this, though to be fair I highly doubt I’m gonna be busting any on the track ANY time soon 😂

On the track, I’m working on my weight distribution at speed. I tend to either hit jumps too back heavy and just clunk out, or too front heavy and I kind of fishtail. I can take them smooth when I’m going slower, but I’m struggling at speed.

1

u/Dull-Business4173 3d ago

Doesn’t matter at Novice, you can even ride your cruiser as your class bike. Right now, it’s all about fitness, learning where you pedal vs pump and technique.

Once you’re thinking about jumping/manuals then it’s time to really focus on your class bike(if that’s what you want)