News

As always, the school holiday BMX freestyle coaching is rolling again for the winter holidays! Check the flyer below for times and locations - and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us via the text app in the bottom right of our site.

Locations

• Mondays @ Gungahlin skatepark
• Wednesdays @ Belconnen skatepark
• Fridays @ Weston Creek skatepark

Times

• 9am - 10am: Foundation (beginner level)
• 10am - 11am: Improver (level 2)

Price

• $20 (cash payable on the day)

We also spent a bit of time creating this guide to riding BMX in Canberra. We are pretty excited to have made this video. Canberra is an amazing place to ride and everything is so close - we literally travelled all across Canberra to many of the parks in one day.

When looking for fun things to do in Canberra for kids, riding BMX has got to be up there as one of the best things to do.. it's free, it's physical activity, it's a positive community. What's not to love!?

Those who are new to BMX in Canberra wouldn't know there is so many different spots to ride, so if you love the video, please share it around.

Bonus inside knowledge: For the Youtube thumbnail, Tyson got to ride our portable box jump out the front of Parliament House, as he was helping ex-BMX Olympian Caroline Buchanan with the box jump for a photoshoot she was doing. Tyson got two jumps in on the box, to show Caroline the speed needed to clear it, before he was shut down by the Federal Police.

Turns out Caroline had strict clearance for riding out the front of Parliament House, but definitely not Tyson.. Once in a lifetime opportunity!

The YouTube thumbnail was the first jump, this no hander from Tyson was the second jump at Parliament House in Canberra, before he was shut down..

Did you know that the NSW BMX Championships hit hard on the weekend?

If you're down with BMX racing in Australia you might be aware of the state championships that happen each year.

But if you don't race BMX, then read on. You'll get the lowdown on a huge aspect of one of the most exciting styles of BMX here in Australia.

A quick overview on how the BMX State Titles work

Each year, a BMX track is chosen in each state (and territory), with riders all over Australia travelling to compete for the chance to be crowned the fastest rider for that state in their respective age groups.

A rider from any state or territory can win the title and bragging rights (thanks to a number plate donning the riders' achievement) for the year. 

 Rhysty's 40-44 men final.

Recapping the 2019 NSW BMX Titles

This year the NSW State Titles were held at Maitland BMX track just north of Newcastle. 

There was a big convoy of Canberra BMX riders in attendance at Maitland, competing across several age classes.

The Maitland BMX track had a good mix of all the elements that make a good BMX race; a powerful first straight with a long first turn that led into a fun and fast second straight with no shortage of jumps.

The third straight kept you on your toes! 

This third straight rhythm was just technical enough to keep you thinking while still being fast and not clunky. The only left berm on the track was left till last and started a tight last straight to the finish.

It was rad to see a heavy presence of the fastest and loosest crew in town, thanks to riders from Canberra and interstate wearing their Back Bone race jerseys. The Back Bone race crew was in full effect. 

11 Boys shredder and Tuggeranong BMX rider Reid Stewart. Mitch Ramm photo.

NSW BMX State Titles results

Riders were looking fast all weekend long; there was no less than 850 entries into the State Titles across the two days, which means some of the age classes were STACKED with over forty riders competing through to make an 8 rider final.

A big pat on the back goes to all riders who competed. Regardless of where you finished up, it's an impressive feat just to line up on the gate. We were, however, stoked to see a heavy presence of these Canberra BMX racers charge into the finals and grab a NSW plate.

• 9 girls: Amelia Stitchbury (1st)
• 11 boys: Reid Stewart (5th)
• 12 girls: Maddie Hayes (4th)
• 12 boys: Cooper Sellars (8th)
• 13 girls: Laura Gasperski (8th)
• 14 boys: Nathan Granatelli (5th)
• 16 boys: Luke Granatelli (7th)
• 30-34 men: Kaine McCarroll (3rd)
• 40-44 men: Rhysty! (2nd)
• 45-49 men: Craig Hewitt (7th)

Rhysty hit his final hard and although his foot unclipped down the third rhythm straight, he was still able to hold it together for a 2nd place finish. A special mention goes out to Australian vert-riding legend Matt Fairbairn, who went down hard in the same final, got up and then tried to 360 the last double into the second straight. Wild.

Rhysty heading into the first corner in the 40-44 men final. Photo: Mitch Ramm

BMX racing is tough.

It's tough to line up onto a stacked gate of 8 riders, all of you wanting to make it into the first corner in the number one position - and carry that position all the way to the finish line.

It takes concentration, guts, skill, practice and a little bit of luck to make it through any race, so if you're out on the track and giving it your all - especially at an event like the NSW BMX State Titles - we applaud you. 

Congrats to all the racers and see you next time!

Luke Granatelli is one of the fastest 16 boys in Australia right now. Photo: Mitch Ramm

Rhysty, the Steel Panther, and the aim of the game..The finish line. Photos: Tyson JP

Rhysty jumped back into BMX racing a few years ago and has been making moves across the east coast, travelling to races like the Australian titles earlier this year, as well as the recent state round at Southlake BMX track last weekend.

Rhys recently dialled in his latest race rig, an S&M Steel Panther, so we thought it was a good chance to show what gets him snapping out of the gate and across the finish line.

RHYS WILLIAMS (RHYSTY) S&M STEEL PANTHER BIKE CHECK

• Frame: S&M Steel Panther frame, 21.75" Black
• Forks: S&M Race forks
• Stem: S&M Credence Turtleneck
• Headset: Back Bone
• Bars: Back Bone Kicked Out bars
• Grips: ODI Ruffian grips
• Cranks: Profile Elite, 177.5mm
• Sprocket: Profile Elite chainring, 46t
• Pedals: Crank Brothers Stamp 7 pedals
• Chain: Shadow Conspiracy Interlock chain, 3/32"
• Seat: Tioga D-Spyder Pivotal
• Seat Post: DRS Pivotal
• Seat Clamp:Salsa quick release
• Hub (front): Profile Elite
• Hub (rear): Profile Elite Cassette hub, 17t cog
• Rims: Sun Envy rims
• Tire (front): Tioga Powerblock, 1.95"
• Tire (rear): right now, a Tioga Powerblock, 1.75"
• Brakes:  Promax P1
• Brake Lever: Promax P1
• Brake Cable: Promax

Give me a bit of a rundown of your race bike:

This bike compared to the 38 Special feels a lot more stiff. The Steel Panther frame is sleeker and I'm loving the in-built chain tensioners. I went for a longer length for a bit more stability at high speed. I guess I just really like CRMO bikes so I can bike rack a few doubles and not have to worry about it too much [laughter].

Plus I'm just trying to hold onto my roots as much as possible. I've got nothing against the dudes running alloy and carbon frames - it just makes my bike look even better [laughter].

I have another bike for riding the trails and skatepark, but lately I've had some really good sessions at the skatepark on my race bike, which might just become more of a thing for me in the future. With the setup I've got the only thing that you'd have to change is the tires.

While I'd love to run a 44/16 gearing, I quite like the 46/17 combo with the rear tire I'm running now. I'm not the most powerful dude to the first jump but that gearing is a good in between for me.

I have always run Profile products. No doubt there's lighter products and hubs with quicker engagement, but personally Profile hasn't ever let me down.

I also love Sun rims, I've run them forever and I'm just sticking with stuff that I know is quality gear. I'm too old to have a part fail on me at high speed.

When I was younger I snapped the head tube off some alloy frames. While I'm sure alloy frames are made a lot stronger now, I don't want to risk it.

I bolted on a set of the (just about to be released) Back Bone handlebars which have a traditional sweep compared to a lot of the flatter bars that racers run. I just like a good feeling set of bars that feel good to jump, rather than get a slightly better gate with flat bars that feel horrible to me. 

I run a slightly wider front tire than most on the track, I just like the way it feels and I don't think it makes too much of a difference for rolling resistance.

I never thought I'd get back into BMX racing like I have. All I really want to do is ride the trails full time, but now that my two boys race, racing has taken on a different meaning for me. I get share the experience of travelling to BMX event with them, and cheer them on. I'm less worried about my results and the competition has become more about doing the best that I can, rather than what position I ended up in.

I want to say a big thanks to Chris Moeller and Scott Shepherd for helping me out with this badass bike, Andrew Mapstone at Vans for keeping my feet fresh and BentSpoke for keeping me hydrated after the race.

Rhysty stylin' at Castle Hill BMX track. Photo: Mitch Ramm

Back Bone co-owner Rhys Williams AKA Rhysty was full of moves at the BMXNSW BMXtreme carnival at Castle Hill BMX track a couple of weekends back!  

Rhys raced his 40-44 age group against a tough field on a fun track for the pre-NSW titles and well, you'll just have to watch the video to get a glimpse of what went down. Rhysty is in lane three. 

Rhysty has been on riding BMX since he was 6 years old, but used to race AA Pro back in his early 20s, but as is the story with many BMXers of the late 90s, Rhys' urge to ride trails and 'freestyle' overtook the need to race and Rhys gave BMX racing a break.

Fast forward to 2015. Even though Rhys has been riding trails and skateparks non-stop, he jumped back on the BMX track to make some moves once again.

We have been expanding our range of BMX racing bikes and parts over the years since, but the latest thing we're stoked on that is certainly more than welcome at the track is our 'Always Loose' long sleeve we released yesterday.. We're pretty certain that the video above is a testament to the slogan on the back.

Always Loose!

The pre-order for our first ever custom race jersey is nearly closed so if you are wanting to slip one of these on in a few weeks, get your order in before midnight on the 24th of September (AEST)!

Camo/Black Jersey Pre-Order here

Black/Black Jersey Pre-Order here

Here's a few more shots of the jersey in action below. Photos by Jack Gruber.