When it comes to BMX bikes, it doesn’t get any better than the stuff from the early days — the late 70s and early 80s. In many respects, the late 70s Patterson Racing bike shown above (and in some of the other photos, it was definitely my favorite of the show) was ahead of its time. BMX frames have come full circle to a similar design and aesthetic, yet the Patterson was built over 30 years ago and stands the test of time. Amazing.

The NW Vintage BMX show happens annually in Vancouver, WA. This is the first year I’ve been able to make it out and check out some of the bike builds, and the stuff was amazing. Freestyle, racing, cruisers… there was a little of everything. Check out some more photos after the jump, and if you’re in the area, be sure to make it out next year. Photos can be expanded to a larger view by clicking.

I drove up to the Seattle area today for a flatland BMX jam. I only shot a few photos as I spent most of the day riding, but you can see a few more shots after the jump. Above is Mark Florek, who I spent many years riding with on the east coast. Mark now lives in Seattle, and fired out plenty decade variations and combinations.

I didn't catch his name, but I know he's a Japanese student living in Vancouver, BC, and had a smooth, fast style.

Portland's Patrick Dennehy

I remember a few years ago as photographers we’d labor over strange ways and devices to get cool POV perspectives. In the last few years, GoPro and a few other manufacturers have made it incredibly easy and cheap. I’ve been itching to try some flatland stuff with it for a while, but kept forgetting. This time around, I remembered to bring it, but forgot to charge it, so I only got a few clips, but I thought it was neat. These suckers have become cliché in an “everyone’s doing it sort of way.” Nevertheless if gives a neat perspective that can be used well in moderation. Next time, with more planning and battery charging, I might try it with two of them, to splice different angles together.

Today was day two of the 2011 Old School BMX Reunion. Another full day of riding, along with an after party, complete with the Dave Nourie flatland demo that has become tradition. Some new faces showed up this year, including Fred Blood, Scotty Freeman, and Rick Allison. Bill Allen, the actor who played Cru Jones in the movie Rad, made an appearance, along with Jose Yanez, who was the first rider to do a backflip. Jose is most well known as the guy who did the backflip stunt work for Bill Allen in Rad.

Woodward West opened up its Mega Ramp for a three hour session. In theory, given the group of 40-somethings, this could have killed some people, or broken some hips, but it actually went over pretty well, and things stayed relatively safe. A few riders jumped the gap for the first time, while others focused on just the quarterpipe, and Mat Hoffman blasted a few giant airs. There were a few scary moments to watch, and honestly a lot more people played around on it than I expected, but fortunately, no old men down.

It was an incredibly diverse group this year, and once again, well worth the trip to California. If you missed day one, check out those photos here. Check out the photos from day two after the jump.

Mark "Lungmustard" Eaton.

Dylan Worsley.

Mat Hoffman, Mega Ramp.

Click through the gallery below for more day two treats.

If you missed it, be sure to check out day one here.

For the third year in a row I’ve made the trip down to Woodward West in Tehachapi, California, for what’s become my favorite event of the year: The Old School BMX Reunion.  It’s sort of like a class reunion, only with 200-some-odd BMX freestyle pioneers from all over the world… all in one place. Many of these riders pro careers date back to the late 70s and early 80s.

This year many of the riders arrived later in the day, so day one was a bit mellower than in the past. Tomorrow is expected to be a bit more packed in and should see a heavier riding session. Today was mostly people getting into town, and playing catch up. So far, BMX legends floating around Woodward include Dennis McCoy, Joe Johnson, Gary Pollak, Dave Nourie, Pete Augustin (pictured above with Jimmy LeVan), Rich Sigur, Brian Blyther, and Eddie Fiola. You can check out some more photos and a small gallery from day one after the jump. I’ll post a more diverse gallery from day two tomorrow night.

First guy on his bike, and the last guy on the ramp for the last 30 years: Dennis McCoy

Brian "Yellow" Gavagan, lookback.

Former Team Haro: Brian Blyther, Rich Sigur, Joe Johnson.

Simon Tabron, with what is to this day my favorite trick on a bicycle: the no-hander one-footer.

Click the thumbnails to view more shots in the gallery below.

Check back tomorrow night (Saturday) for the day two gallery.

Today was my last day of a quick “vacation” trip to Phoenix. It was Super Bowl Sunday, so we went to a BBQ at Parker’s cousin’s house. It was a typical Super Bowl BBQ, only we brought along John’s quarterpipe / box jump set up John uses for shows. We set it up in the street for a bit of fun to the delight of the neighborhood BMX kids and other confused neighbors. Instead of watching the football game, most of the neighborhood watched John, Tom Stober (above), and Joe Tecca ride the ramps. Check out a few more shots after the jump. And yes, those are definitely chem trails in the background.

John Parker

John Parker

Joe Tecca

I started toying with BMX Freestyle sometime around 1983. In August of 1985 I went to the AFA (American Freestyle Association) Masters contest in Fitchburg, MA, the first contest I entered (13 and under open). From that point on never really thought about much else, much to the chagrin of unreceptive grade school teachers, who knew for sure that those kids bikes would get me nowhere. I guess they didn’t. I mean, I’m still riding them, and taking pictures of them, so in the grand scheme of things I haven’t really “gone” anywhere.  The photo above is from 1986, a year or so after the Fitchburg AFA Masters. From the looks of my outfit I was destined for Portland, and some sort of hipster pioneer. My mother dug up some old photos, most of which I’d consider the “middle school era” of BMX Freestyle. The 1986 shot above is a bit more old school, but most of them are a bit later.

Trophies from the King of the Flatland series. 1986 or 1987 I think.

This was some sort of ghetto, reconfigurable street set up I'd built. Rock Walk drop in. 1989.

Smith decade. Or a "Pegade" as they were called in New England. 1989.

Halflash. 1989.

An overview of the King of the Flatland competition in Manchester, NH. 1989.

This was my backyard halfpipe in 1990 or so, Sharon, MA.

A real-life superhero popped into the studio today. A gladiator. Superheroes perform on another level, a level where anything is possible… Mat Hoffman is on that level. The sport of BMX freestyle is where it is today because of Mat.Technically, if you consider that many years ago he played a mythical superhero on film (Aggroman), that’s two superheros in one. Mat came to town for a screening of The Birth of Big Air, a film directed by former Go Magazine art director Jeff Tremaine, and produced by Freestylin’ Magazine alumni Mark Lewman and Spike Jonze. If you haven’t seen it, it’s available for download on iTunes, and pops up occassionally on ESPN. Mat swung by on his way from the airport to the screening, and I took the opportunity to grab a quick portrait. Check out the trailer for the film here.

Brian Tunney over at ESPN put together an interview with Dennis McCoy regarding his 25th year as a Professional BMX rider. When I was a kid starting out in the early ’80s, Dennis was already one of the best amateurs, and had just gotten picked up by Haro — a full-factory sponsorship. A factory sponsorship for kid for the midwest, at the time, was a pretty big deal. All the big name pros lived in California. Shortly thereafter, Dennis turned pro, and has been on top of his game since. Whether it’s flatland, street, or ramps, Dennis has been on top at some point in his career. The guy has never slowed down. He’s ridden the X Games since they started, he was a pioneer in street riding, he’s ridden shows at county fairs for months on end during the lean years, and he once won a car as the rider of the year during the height of freestyle’s popularity in the ’80s.

There are a bunch of my photos in the gallery over on ESPN, including the one above, from the 2005 Gravity Games at Woodward Camp. Dennis got 2nd place at that contest. Check out the gallery and interview here.

Here’s one for the flatland folks. Rich Upjohn is something of a New England flatland BMX legend. If you rode BMX in the late 80s and 90s you’ve probably seen or or heard of Rich. You might have seen him in Freestylin’ magazine, or Kieran Chapman’s Wire ‘zine and video series. Rich has a fast style, with original tricks, many of which can only be done by a tall rider like himself (the cross-footed undertaker above is a good example). In the late ’80s, Rich, along with his mother, did wonders for the New England BMX scene by organizing an indoor riding spot during the winter months at a National Guard armory (they held some contests there as well). What’s really interesting about Rich is how he runs his bike… He’s always run it his way, and doesn’t follow the trends. He STILL runs an SR Spintech stem and rotor system from the 80s. In these photos you can see it. It’s 13 years later, and from what I’ve seen he’s still running it, and still killing the cross-footed undertaker. That’s awesome. In these shots he’s still riding a General RL Osborne frame, about 10 years after it’s release. Shortly thereafter he upgraded to a Powerlite frame, which he still rides today. These photos, like the photos of Sean Maher in the previous post, are from the unreleased Nine-Ninety issue 2. Check out the photos above, as well as another photo, larger after the jump. Note: that’s an authentic, straight out of 1998, on-camera flash vignette on those photos.