Friday, September 16, 2005

Titanium!

Perhaps I am the most hypocritical with regard to titanium. If I had to write a policy or position paper on the matter, I would be against it. There is no way that the kids need it. It costs maybe ten times as much for a ti axle as a chromoly one. And anybody who is learning their way around a BMX needs to run the strongest, most economical parts. BMX is already too expensive, and the cost is too prohibitive for all but middle-class kids (that is, the kids that come from middle-class homes but pose as lower class kids). Titanium amplifies this problem. A decent complete bike with three piece cranks and a brake that works (chrome rim) is about $600 CDN. The most expensive BMX would be over $5000. The most expensive skateboard is probably $200CDN. You can get a dope skateboard and $400 worth of posing clothes for the same as a cheap BMX!
So I shouldn't run any titanium, right? Heck no. I'm 34 years old, with a destroyed body from BMXing for 23 years. I don't fall off anymore, because I've aquired a bit of a skill set, and I don't push myself. Plus, a lighter bike makes my back feel better when I'm climbing up stairs while carrying it. So my new bike will have all the titanium I can get.
So it's wrong, but right for me.
And although I can get free parts from many companies, the titanium versions don't get flowed. I even had to buy my ti MacNeil pegs. So that is wrong too.
I'll just sell my old bike and use the money to buy titanium parts for my new one! (Kinda like getting flowed ti parts?)

...but you kids don't need it.