First up: plasti-dipping the frame. Who knew you could spray paint rubberized coating on a frame in any color you choose? Apparently, this material is often used on vehicles. Our son then saved up for blue-colored parts and accessories, found a discounted seat in a LBS seat bin, and had to have Maxis tires. He kept the original front chainring and cassette combo, using a derailleur for tensioner then later got an appropriate tensioner from his friend. His bike is modeled after Santa Cruz's Jackal.
The bicycle has served as an urban assault machine. He loves hopping curbs, rides stairs, jumps off rock walls, and rides the bowls at our waterfront skate park. A few times he had fun at a city park dirt jumping course and once spent an afternoon riding, meeting, and learning from the local Beastcoasters group. To his credit, it's been a positive learning and team building experience.
Until last weekend.
I came home from a cycling trip in Canada to discover his bike in 2 pieces, the frame broken where the 2 tubes meet the headset. The fracture was jagged. With my heart in my throat and one vehicle missing from our driveway, and not knowing when the accident had happened, I eventually caught up with my husband and son and found out all was well. Our son had been returning from a sports practice and the frame had broken under low speeds and he'd suffered only minor scrapes.
In the end, our son is undeterred. He has a new dirt jumping-specific frame in mind, one that is designed to handle stress, and then he plans to transfer all parts from his existing bike.
Not that a helmet can prevent all injuries, but this mom is glad he's invested in and wears protective headwear.
I regard mountain biking and dirt jumping in particular as very alarming when I see them so I am glad that your son is wearing a helmet. My aluminium bike cracked too so I sympathise with his accident.
ReplyDeleteMy son has learned the hard way that a mountain bike frame cannot take the stress of stunts. I'm proud of him though, of his creativity and perseverance. It's also good to see how much he uses the bike toolkit that we gave him for his birthday.
DeleteA 16 year-old boy fascinated with stunts and speed? Who could imagine? Glad he's okay!
ReplyDelete+1 on the glad he is ok!
ReplyDeleteWorrying at the time but there's a lot of all round learning there. I love watching them perform their stunts and really I'm in awe of their skills and sense of balance.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad after putting all that work into it. Glad he wasn't hurt or deterred from building another.
ReplyDeleteAnd I see that broken frame every time I wheel my bike into the garage. He didn't want me photographing the pieces, so I haven't, out of respect.
DeleteA mountain bike frame made of steel will take a beating, almost as much as a steel bmx frame. But aluminum is a weak and harsh riding material for rough activity.
ReplyDeleteOlder Trek frames (especially red ones) make great dirt jumpers:)
I admire your sons creativity, keep us posted on his next project.
Chris, I had that same thought. If only he had used steel then the accident wouldn't have happened. But two aluminium frames were the only ones available to him. He also tends to turn up his nose to steel frames. If I had to guess, it's because he believes steel is old school - it's what his parents ride.
DeleteNo way is my son getting my beloved Trek!
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