From a simple challenge to a new way of riding
What started as a joke—or maybe a dare—turned into something much bigger.
An old BMX friend threw out the idea: “You should ride a century on a BMX.”
At the time, it sounded equal parts ridiculous and intriguing. BMX bikes aren’t built for distance. They’re built for explosiveness, control, and short bursts of power—not 100 miles of open road.
But that was exactly the point.
From Challenge to Obsession
I took the challenge seriously—and quickly realized this wasn’t going to be about just surviving a ride. If I was going to do this, I wanted to do it right.
That meant building a bike that could actually handle endurance riding while staying true to BMX at its core.
What followed was a series of evolutions.
Version after version, ride after ride, the bike changed:
- Geometry refinements
- Drivetrain redesigns
- Component upgrades to improve efficiency and comfort
- Small changes that made big differences over long distances
This wasn’t a one-time setup. It’s been an ongoing process of real-world testing and iteration.
And now—it works.
Engineering a BMX Bike for Endurance
One of the biggest breakthroughs came in solving the drivetrain.
Traditional BMX setups are single-speed, which simply isn’t practical for endurance riding across varied terrain. To overcome that, I developed a 2x2 gearing system—a simple but highly effective solution that balances power and climbing ability.
The current setup:
- 58/12 “power gear” for flats and sustained speed
- 39/26 “climbing gear” for elevation and endurance efforts
Smaller wheels fundamentally change how power is delivered, so dialing in these ratios—and making them work reliably—was critical.
It’s a constant balancing act:
Too much gearing, and climbs become brutal.
Too little, and you spin out on flats and descents.
This system allows the bike to hold speed, manage cadence, and still climb effectively—something a traditional BMX was never designed to do.
Proving It on the Road
This project isn’t theoretical—it’s been tested where it matters.
- A self-supported century at over 15 mph
- Completion of the 2026 Blossom Trail Ride Metric
- A 108-mile finish at the Cell Hill Challenge, placing mid-pack against traditional road cyclists
That last one proved something important:
This bike—and this approach—can hold its own.
A Head-Turner by Design
There’s another reality to all of this:
When I show up to the start line on a BMX bike, people notice.
Before the ride even begins, there’s curiosity. Questions. Conversations.
During the ride, riders check in. At the finish, they want to know how it went.
It’s not just a ride—it’s a story unfolding in real time.
And that kind of attention is rare.
What’s Next
The progression continues.
Upcoming goals include:
- Tollhouse Century (June)
- A self-supported double century (200 miles)
- A sanctioned double century event (Davis Double)
- And looking further ahead—Climb to Kaiser
Each step pushes both the rider and the platform into new territory.
The Bigger Vision
This isn’t just about completing hard rides.
It’s about exploring a different kind of cycling—one that blends BMX DNA with endurance capability.
The long-term goal is to take what’s been learned through this process and develop it into a production-ready bicycle platform—something that offers an alternative to traditional road and gravel bikes.
Simple. Strong. Capable. Different.
An Opportunity for the Right Partners
This project sits at the intersection of:
- Performance
- Innovation
- Storytelling
- Community
It’s visible, it’s different, and it’s growing.
I’m currently seeking sponsorship partners to support the next phase of endurance efforts and continued development of this platform.
For the right brands, this is an opportunity to align with something that:
- Naturally attracts attention
- Generates authentic engagement
- Connects with real riders in real environments
- Has the potential to grow into something much bigger
Let’s Build Something Different
This started as a challenge.
It’s becoming something more.
If you’re interested in being part of it—whether through sponsorship, collaboration, or support—I’d love to connect.
📩 ETRBicycles@gmail.com
📞 559-455-3653
🌐 ETRbicycles.com
