4130 vs. 6061 vs. 7005 vs. carbon fiber vs. magnesium; racing vs. street vs. trails vs. flatland vs. vert; 20" vs. 24"; full face vs. open face vs. brain damage. To be honest, I really, REALLY don't give a crap. I am so sick and tired or riders who bag on others because they don't ride the same thing. Who cares? As long as you're on two wheels and you're having fun, is there really a debate? The only time you need to debate anything is when YOU have to make a choice.

Yes, I race and I ride an aluminum frame. Why? Because I want to. And believe me, I get the dirt jumpers telling me that I need to get off my tin-can frame. My response? "You have to be smooth to ride aluminum, so stick to your chromo." When in reality, there ain't a jump I can't case and the 'ol Dingo laughs at the abuse I put it through. The fact of the matter is that I don't give a damn what they hell they ride, just as long as they're having fun doing it.

Clips, however, is an issue I'd like to address. I'm the first to admit that they offer an advantage for racing if (and that's a huge if) you know how to use them. I truly believe that 90 percent of people who race with clips shouldn't. Snap, crackle, pop! I hear that more often then I hear the gate cadence nowadays. IMPORTANT: If you can't balance on the gate, then you shouldn't be in clips!! And all these younger riders, like 6-year-olds who wear them, their parents say it keeps their feet on the pedals. Well, that's great, but are they really learning how to ride a bike properly? Maybe, but I'm not sure. When I was 6 and riding a bike, I was on flats and my feet never came off the pedals. If you're slipping pedals all the time, then you need to practice more. Period. Please do me the following favor: if you race clips, make sure that's the only time you ride them. When you're riding trails or doing sprints, take the clips off. Trust me. But like I said, if you know how to use them, then go for it. It won't bother me any.

But let's get back to all the "issues." Why do we ride our bikes? Because we love to. (That's why I ride and I can only assume that it's why you ride too.) Back in the 80s, if you rode BMX, it meant you pretty much did everything: race and freestyle (which wasn't at that time broken down into categories such as vert, flatland, street, etc., it was just freestyle). And I think the better riders are the ones who do it all today. Those who just race, or those who just hit the trails, or those who just ride street, etc., are missing out, and their riding suffers for it. But what they are truly missing out on is the fun that BMX offers in all aspects of different forms of riding.

The only time I don't enjoy riding is when I'm training. I really wish I could do without all the sprints. But I work through it because what is fun to me is winning, and I'll never win unless I train. And I get the weirdest looks from my neighbors who watch me go all out for 40 yards, slow down, then sprint again, over and over and over. They must think I'm insane! Big deal. To me, it's all about the holeshot and keeping it.

Now I suck at street, and those who have seen my try it will agree with my proclamation. But I ride it anyway (not often, but I do). Why? Because I'm on my bike and I'm having fun with it. I don't care if I can't grind a hand rail or do a 180 off a curb. But I'm out there trying and having a blast.

Moral of the story? There is none. Just go outside and play. If you see others riding, let them join in on the fun (unless they're annoying). It's BMX. Nothing more, nothing less.

--Grant Hansen

Copyright 1999. All rights reserved.