Race Report: Jessie Smith & Michael Bias Take Wins at Pump Track World Championships - Cambridge, NZ

20 Comments

DGWW (Mar 17, 2020 at 10:40)

This seems to just be BMX Light. Here is the big boy/girl version which already exists...and for some reason isn't sponsored by redbull...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHWjYPRcy4Y

nzchucka FL (Mar 17, 2020 at 0:18)

Somehow mashed 2 stories into 1 here

Ron-C (Mar 17, 2020 at 0:19)

unsettling

onemanarmy FL (Mar 17, 2020 at 11:48)

The fact that BAS could hang with the BMX guys at all speaks volumes on his speed.

sofamac (Mar 17, 2020 at 0:55)

These tiny bicycles with these narrow road tires are sooo ugly...

vhdh666 (Mar 17, 2020 at 11:04)

these were the heydays of bmx
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCx33c0OGDk
and the tyres were sturdy back then

DarrellW (Mar 17, 2020 at 11:06)

What tyres would you want them to run? This is a race, and as such, the riders will probably use whatever is fastest.

jbravo (Mar 17, 2020 at 9:48)

This event wasn't cancelled? Are you kidding?

nzchucka FL (Mar 17, 2020 at 10:34)

Only gatherings of over 500 banned in nz so far

PhillipJ (Mar 17, 2020 at 10:40)

There were 5 cases over the entire country when this event was held. Still no cases in the area.

glasvagas FL (Mar 17, 2020 at 9:23)

Are the riders with a shorter fork offset at a disadvantage?

DGWW (Mar 17, 2020 at 10:41)

riders with a suspension fork are at a disadvantage

vhdh666 (Mar 17, 2020 at 11:10)

@DGWW: 29 inch would've been an advantage but nobody knows because nobody tried

DGWW (Mar 17, 2020 at 13:32)

@vhdh666: that only works for bumpy stuff I think

Drawn (Mar 17, 2020 at 18:43)

@DGWW: the rotating mass will make a difference but to gain that in the first place is the harder part along with any potential losses caused by other components that move (ie suspension).
For the BMXs a 24 would have more rotating mass which helps for pump races, but those kiwis in question are some of the best in the world so best of sticking to their normal 20s.
If in doubt go check out Michael Bias' videos, is awesome to watch, and even crazier if you have seen the gaps in person.

aljoburr FL (Mar 18, 2020 at 1:57)

@vhdh666: 29er accelerate slower, so NO!

DGWW (Mar 18, 2020 at 13:32)

@Drawn: This is a smooth asphalt track. I call BS on this wheel size = speed debate. The design of the BMX bike, wheels, frame, bars, everything is what makes it faster for this. Not to mention the riders are mucho skilled.

Drawn (Mar 18, 2020 at 18:09)

@DGWW: not saying wheel size always means more speed, but the bigger wheelscan hold more rotating mass to maintain said speed.
Easier to accelerate the smaller lighter set ups but easier to keep the bigger ones spinning (negating friction and drag). That is true for the everyday person, not forgetting in most cases a mtb even a dirt jumper will have losses from the suspension.

I say this from experience in the bmx world. 20s are faster for starts vs a 24 (cruiser), but for the majority the 24 is easier to keep it flowing as it takes less efforts due to the effects of the wheels being like a bigger flywheel.

Just have to remember guys like Michael are at the absolute pinnacle of their sport. And after seeing him ride, knows exactly what to do to be ahead.

DGWW (Mar 19, 2020 at 5:38)

@Drawn: the number of times that these wheels accelerate , not to mention the mass of the rider and bike , as they pump and jump, is probably in the hundreds Throughout the course of the race. I’m still not buying it. Not to mention the redirection as you head into berms etc. Less bike means the rider can do more, I’m really not buying that a larger bike is faster in this circumstance. There is no way that extra mass on your bike is an advantage here .

yerbikesux (Mar 17, 2020 at 16:30)

Huh huh pump track