Crewe and Cheshire old school BMX

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

Old school BMX bike fans converged on Crewe on Saturday 26th May 2018 for a social ride in and around the town.

Over eighty people gathered at Crewe railway station in the morning for the annual ‘Chesh-Air’ event, organised by the ‘Crewe and Cheshire old school BMX’ group.

They rode from the station to Ye Olde Manor on Nantwich Road for breakfast, onto The Woodside in Wistaston for liquid refreshment, and then took a tree-lined route along the Wonderful Wistaston path to The Rising Sun Inn on Middlewich Road.

Participants then followed the Crewe-Nantwich Greenway cycleway to the Platform 1 skatepark and the Shanaze Reade BMX track at Tipkinder Park, where they showed off their impressive BMX skills. The ride finished in the afternoon with a raffle with BMX-themed prizes and a free buffet meal at The Hop Hole on Wistaston Road in Crewe.

They rode racing and freestyle vintage BMX bikes from the 1980s as well as modern BMX bikes. BMX brands represented included Diamond Back, Dyno, GT, Haro, Hutch, KHS, Kuwahara, Mongoose, Peugeot, Piranha, Puch, Raleigh, Redline, Robinson, Schwinn, SE Racing, Skyway and Vortex. Size of bikes ranged from a child’s 16-inch wheeler to a 28-inch wheel cruiser. A Raleigh Chopper and a Sinclair C5 also made an appearance.

There were 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize trophies and caps for the best bikes.

Gary Mcbride designed a commemorative sticker containing a grinning Cheshire Cat. Andrew Turton designed a logo containing the words ‘Crewe Old Skool BMX’ in a graffiti-style, which Stacey Long made into a keyring. The stickers and keyrings were given to each BMXer.

The event was open to all and bikers ranged in age from children to adults. There were participants from Crewe along with visitors from further afield including Cambridge, Leighton Buzzard, Ripley, Madeley, Manchester, Telford and Plymouth. Brothers Jake and David Brough even travelled down from Lossiemouth in Scotland!

'Chesh-Air’ was once again organised by John Collins from Crewe, who this year rode a black & chrome Mongoose California 1983 BMX bike. John said, “We had a fantastic turnout again for this year’s event. It was great see such a wide range of BMX bikes. I hope everyone enjoyed the ride and chat. We are always looking for new members, so please get in touch and join us on our next ride."

For further information relating to the ‘Crewe and Cheshire old school BMX’ group please search Crewe and Cheshire old school BMX on Facebook.

Old school BMX rides take place throughout the United Kingdom and around the world. For further information relating to the UK old school BMX scene please visit: http://www.radbmx.co.uk/