BMX vs MTB?

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Edited Date/Time 8/18/2014 2:00am
Reading the BMX forums on a few websites recently I have noticed a severe hatred towards mountain bikers. Now, most of the haters were younger riders, but there were a few older guys as well. A lot of you guys have ridden the Gunbarrel jumps, and you know (or should know) that a BMXer by the name of Matt tore down over 15 jumps. Why? Because he thought 26" wheelers destroyed the park, when all that was done was maintaining and more building. I feel that mountain bikers have a deep respect for the 20" guys, but I don't know why it doesn't go both ways. Even the recent Odd Couple vids get so many negative comments towards mountain bikers when the point of the videos is to bring the two sports together. What is going on? Are mountain bikes crowding the skate parks? Are they a threat to 20's for unknown reasons? Maybe this should be posted on some BMX forums, but whatever is going on, it's ridiculous, and we need to bring it to an end. There are enough forces working against bikers in general; we don't need to beef with our 2-wheeled relatives.
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bturman
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2/5/2010 8:35am
You don't get out much, Eason, do you? Wink

This conflict has been going on for years . . .
Simcik
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Loma, CO US
2/5/2010 8:58am
bturman wrote:
You don't get out much, Eason, do you? Wink

This conflict has been going on for years . . .
He just got out of his Mojo Wheels cage haha
2/5/2010 9:07pm
when i first started ride bmxers had the worst attitude about mtb but now seems like everyone has chilled out and realized we all love the same thing. and now i probably have more bmx riding buddys then mtb .

schredd on
bloghogs
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Olympia, WA US
2/5/2010 9:28pm
Reading the BMX forums on a few websites recently I have noticed a severe hatred towards mountain bikers. Now, most of the haters were younger riders...
Reading the BMX forums on a few websites recently I have noticed a severe hatred towards mountain bikers. Now, most of the haters were younger riders, but there were a few older guys as well. A lot of you guys have ridden the Gunbarrel jumps, and you know (or should know) that a BMXer by the name of Matt tore down over 15 jumps. Why? Because he thought 26" wheelers destroyed the park, when all that was done was maintaining and more building. I feel that mountain bikers have a deep respect for the 20" guys, but I don't know why it doesn't go both ways. Even the recent Odd Couple vids get so many negative comments towards mountain bikers when the point of the videos is to bring the two sports together. What is going on? Are mountain bikes crowding the skate parks? Are they a threat to 20's for unknown reasons? Maybe this should be posted on some BMX forums, but whatever is going on, it's ridiculous, and we need to bring it to an end. There are enough forces working against bikers in general; we don't need to beef with our 2-wheeled relatives.
The only bmx site I can think of that has frothing hate for mtb is The come up.As far as those videos,Ride bmx and Vital bmx thought they were great.
Try hanging out at plus size bmx.They have a good mix of wheel sizes.
2/6/2010 1:14am Edited Date/Time 2/8/2010 11:00pm
bturman wrote:
You don't get out much, Eason, do you? Wink

This conflict has been going on for years . . .
Simcik wrote:
He just got out of his Mojo Wheels cage haha
HAHA, you guys blow...But, seriously...I knew there was always an underlying hatred, but I have just recently seen it so vocalized. I never ran into these problems in Boulder. It was always skaters vs bikers in the parks. I'm sad...
Pwest
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Austin, TX US
2/6/2010 9:38pm
In the Texas winter season the 20in guys come down from PA where there are some of best trails in the world and everybody shreds and builds just fine together. But I think Austin, Texas is a little different
mgolland45
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Winchester, MA US
2/7/2010 9:14am
all the kids I know who ride street hate on 26 ers all the kids I kow who ride dirt are fine with mtb's. Im not saying thats the case everywhere, but it definately is around here
CrazyBacon
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Lerum SE
2/7/2010 9:57am Edited Date/Time 4/21/2016 10:18am
People need more to do on their spare time than starting to pull up stupid idés like hate towards others, No way a MTB:er is more in the way than a BMX:er is in the parks, there is no difference between em exept the fact that the wheels are different.... honestly there is no reason to complain from the beggining.


Humans every wher on our planet is allergic to new things or different things. People should only open up their minds a bit and get a wider perspective. Its not a one way road!
mxnate
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Sarnia CA
2/7/2010 2:17pm
My personal obervation on the subject is that most of the hatred is taught and not learned. I grew up riding and racing 20" bikes and so I have a built in love and appreciation for them. When I made the switch to 26" wheels I did it with an open mind, taking with me what I knew from my 20" days. A kid or even an adult that has always ridden 20" bikes and has only been emersed in that 20" wheel culture is never going accept 26" wheels at his local trails. He hasn't learned what its like to ride 26, he hasnt been exposed to the 26" culture. Now if he were to buddy up with somenone on a 26 and was able to Learn more about it he would naturally become more tolerent, he may not go buy a P1 but he'll at least have more respect for the guy that does. Its basic ignorance 101, I would never do what you do so your wrong and Im right.

"Can't we all just get along?" Rodney King.
FCTRY
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Denver, CO US
2/9/2010 1:34pm
I will supply two alternative explanations...

1. A great number of bmxer's are simple minded tools who have taken one too many cracks to the brain pan, and as a group have a very high level of self hatred and grumpiness, which they would like to share with the world.

2. Mountain bikes in skateparks suck, buy a 20.
GLUeman
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Salt Lake City, UT US
2/9/2010 3:09pm Edited Date/Time 10/4/2011 5:10pm
Being a guy that raced BMX for years and has ridden BMX street for a good 20 years (yes, I'm that old) I think the issue is with BMXers not knowing anything about 26" culture and the fact that BMXers resent other sports (26" riding, FMX) "stealing" BMX tricks.

BMXers invented most dirt and street tricks so they claim possesion of them. So when "the new guy" shows up they aren't happy to see him. Unfortunately I think it's all based on prejuduce, and that's an ugly problem that breed ugly results.

We should all remember we are all bike riders and to that we are all brothers. If you wanna hate somebody, hate the jackass security guard that runs you off from your favorite spot or the hillbilly that honks his horn and yells at you when your riding your bike.

Now go ride your bike in peace! ... Go on, git!

big bear
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CA
2/9/2010 4:02pm Edited Date/Time 2/9/2010 4:03pm
MOUNTAIN BIKE. the words say it all.
Shop Mechanic
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San Luis Obispo, CA US
2/9/2010 5:36pm
The reason why bmxers don't like mtbers is as old as the hills and goes straight to the human nature to be afraid of new things that are a little different, it's just that simple... and kids tend to have big mouths.

That said, I'm still scratching my head as to why the bike manufacturers aren't smart enough to go to their top sponsored bmx kid and say, "We are going to give you matching funds for any mtb contests you win along with a signature bike if you win 3 major ones... and if you don't enter any mtb contests this year, you can forget about riding for us next year." or something to that effect that offers a carrot, a stick, or a combination of both.

Can you imagine how huge that could be for a bike manufacturer? All of a sudden every kid needs a 20" and a 26"!! There is such a gigantic missed opportunity here that it is ridiculous that it has gone on now for a decade now. The great side benefit of going with such a plan is that I think it will go a long way toward getting bmxers to be a little more accepting if not outright embracing their mountain bike brothers.
PiranHa
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CR
2/9/2010 7:03pm
when i first started ride bmxers had the worst attitude about mtb but now seems like everyone has chilled out and realized we all love the...
when i first started ride bmxers had the worst attitude about mtb but now seems like everyone has chilled out and realized we all love the same thing. and now i probably have more bmx riding buddys then mtb .

schredd on
Yes, thats totally true. Now my best friends are bmx guys
PiranHa
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CR
2/9/2010 7:13pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2016 10:18am
Mountain bike should not be a copy of BMX with bigger weels. We should have our own riding style. Red Bull Rampage and Crankworx are examples of where the sport should go. This events are totally diferent to FMX and BMX. We have bigger wheels and double suspension bikes and motorbikes cant do 360´s and tail wips, BMX & FMX guys will never be able to do such kind of events.
303mtb
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Littleton, CO US
2/9/2010 10:10pm
i have no problem with 20s at the parks i ride. bmxers have help me out in parks and stuff. we all are part of the team. all the bikers i know get along fine with eachother but it will come to fist with skaters.
2/9/2010 10:52pm
@ Shop Mechanic:

"Missed Opportunity"...That is the PERFECT way of putting it. Ride your BMX when you can shred harder on it, and do the same with your MTB. I can't do all these spinny-doos, so I rarely ride my BMX unless I am working on my smoothness. Each has its own perks, and for my style and the terrain I ride, the 26" is almost always my gun of choice. Ahhh..this reminds me of all of the hatred towards Intense's 29" DH bike. Don't knock it until you have tried it...the thing is sexy as hell, and I can think of a million places I would love to have the extra traction and monster-truckin' ability. I guess some of us are even resistant to change.
2/10/2010 7:31pm
I don't see it much between 26'' and the 20''. The only people that I have found care at all about bikes in skateparks are the skaters. I guess if one would wanna hate on bmxers, the bmx lifestyle is sometimes seen as the more rebelious type, similar to the skate and destroy kinda idea in skateboarding. I think as long as there is a difference in the type of bikes at all, there will always be that thought of the other being a different kinda person for what they ride
MmmBones
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Eugene, OR US
2/11/2010 12:49am
I let Mike Hoder ride my ol' Haro Werks slalom rig at the Greenlake jumps back in 2002. He was stoked. basically said it felt familiar to his 20''. Don't see much hatin' i guess.
MmmBones
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2/11/2010 1:34am
the smile he had on his face was golden, before all the bling.
k.shiz
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Los Angeles, CA US
2/11/2010 8:59am
This pot needs stirring.

How about this: many bmx riders are poor grumpy dudes that like to live in crap hole rentals and drink cheap beer and toss the empties in the pile in the corner and are proud of their simple work-hard-play-hard lifestyle. Basically blue collar dooders that like to snub anyone not just like them.

Mountain bikers are financially stable middle management yuppies living in the suburbs that like to drive suburus and audi wagons and stop by a locally owned coffee shop on their way to the skate park with their hardtail where they present themselves as socially retarded though amiable swell guy types just trying to get along with everyone at the party.

That's about as vague of a generality as I can make but as far as general perceptions of both crews, it's why we don't really get along all the time. But it's not like the hard working blue collar dude vs yuppie cubicle white collar dude rivalry is limited to bmx vs mountain bikers. That bit of culture clash exists well beyond the boundaries of cycling and probably always will.
2/11/2010 7:47pm
{ THIS POT NEED'S STIRRING } I THINK EVERYONE NEED TO HAVE A GROUP HUG AND GET ON THEIR,THERE,THAYER, THEY'RE OR THERE BIKES AND JUST RIDE ..
AHAHAHHHHAHAHHAHAH
Shop Mechanic
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San Luis Obispo, CA US
2/11/2010 11:20pm
I think k.shiz makes a solid point. This goes much deeper than bikes. It is representative of the generation gap, class warfare, loaded cultural icons, and questions of cultural authenticity just to name a few. When put in those terms you begin to realize that about all we have in common with bmxers is that we both ride bikes.

Sorry for the academic speak there guys. Grad school will MESS YOU UP!
2/12/2010 12:21am
K. Shiz., BONE DETH (click) perfectly represents the stereotypical BMXer that you speak of ...However, this also makes me think that socioeconomic statuses PARTLY determine the bikes in which we ride (26 or 20). It costs nothing the shred some street on a 20, but taking a trip to the resorts to hit up some DH will definitely thin you wallet. Cheap beer (PBR) is as much of a part of gravity riding as BMX, though I do prefer taster varieties when not on the bike.
bturman
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Durango, CO US
2/13/2010 7:05am Edited Date/Time 4/21/2016 10:18am
Regardles of the supposed "generation gap, class warfare, loaded cultural icons, and questions of cultural authenticity," I'm always blown away by what the 20" scene can do, and therefore have a TON of respect for them. For instance:








Keep it real. Don't get too high brow on us.
2/27/2010 12:43am
I ride both 20" and 26" and i gotta say personally i prefer 26, way easier on the knees and manuals so much easier for me. but here in michigan respect goes both ways, alot of the 26" riders used to ride 20 and have respect for what they did on the little bikes and alot people here believe that the bigger the bike, the bigger you can go, i mean a 540 can be difficult to pull off on a 26 compared to a 20 but yeah.
joelalamo45
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Idaho Springs, CO US
3/1/2010 10:08am
I ride a 22" bmx... not top tube length, wheel size. I also ride 26'es. I catch all the hell Smile
3/1/2010 3:44pm
I ride a 22" bmx... not top tube length, wheel size. I also ride 26'es. I catch all the hell Smile
22"?? what kind of bike?
3/1/2010 11:05pm
Joel, you have a Faction, or what?..Just checked them out. I can definitely see the 22" taking over the BMX world if people open their minds. Looks like a hell of a lot of fun to shred, and much better looking for the larger riders (adults).

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