Author Topic: Inspired to get back on the track.... Skyway TA 24 XL (Read 1398 times)

Tidelander · « **on:** October 28, 2012, 06:18 PM »

I was content rebuilding and restoring the old bikes of my day and riding a mountain bike but then they went and made this excellent Skyway frame and it has inspired me to race after 25 years away from a BMX. So I built her to go on a track... new school race parts all the way - will be running her in Veterans in 2013.... after some considerable practice!

Controls: Chris King Headset. Profile Acoustic stem. Greg Hill Cruiser Star Bars. ODI Troy Lee Designs lock-on grips.
Wheels: Odyssey Hazard Lite, Profile Totem Hubs (with 16T sprocket) laced up with Sapim CX Ray blade spokes
Drivetrain: Profile GHD Spline Cranks and Spider. Profile Outboard BB. Tangent 38T Chain wheel. DMR Vault Pedals.
Brakes: LDC lever. Odyssey Race Lite Cables and Speedline Alloy V Brake
Seat: Odyssey Convertible seat post with Total BMX Union Jack pivotal seat
Tyres: Kenda Konversions

Betty · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:24 PM »

Pull the bars back so they're in line with the forks and loose the seat

Nice to see one with cruiser bars and decent wheels

Dark Diggler · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:32 PM »

I agree, bars back (it will help you manual if you are gonna race it), not a fan of them seats but I must commend you on the rest of the parts, all good choices, especially the wheels, what size tyre is the front? there seems to be alot of daylight between it and the forks.

Looks good mate

pickle · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:34 PM »

Looks ace mate! Some right nice parts on that

Love the look of those vault peds

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:41 PM »

like the lever

Julian347 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:50 PM »

Looking good.

GavinDavis · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:55 PM »

That looks awesome!! Well done. I agree that the seat needs changing but apart from that its a thumbs up from me

How much does it weigh?

BMX1973 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:59 PM »

First Class build there

Pooch · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:06 PM »

Really nice.. As said, nice brake set

Badbaldie · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:13 PM »

very tidy build

Darren KAP · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:22 PM »

Love it , looks the bolloxs

Bob_Acid · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:39 PM »

Nice one!

Tidelander · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:45 PM »

Cheers. It is really light. Scales not completely accurate but it comes in just under 9kg. Wheels are super-light - the CX Ray spokes are nothing short of stunning, there's nothing to them but rigid as hell

That seat divides 'em!

Makes me smile - sorry dudes, keepin' it

Will try the bars back a bit - had them further back but didnt feel natural and I always had bars slightly over the vertical BITD as I liked a bit more leverage - but will have a go

Wanted to go all out on a rockin' bike to do a couple of years on the track with before get too old and knackered and this ticked all the boxes: a nod to the old school but chock full of the newest school tech. Mid life crisis = no doubt

Tidelander · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:46 PM »

Dirk - Wheels are 24 x 1.75

hooga1975 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:18 PM »

I really like how you have built yours, it looks great.

How do you find the gearing? I'm running 39/16 on mine and it feels really spinney. I have that gearing on my other two crusiers and it feels fine, but I feel I need a higher gearing on the skyway. I am thinking about going up tp 42/16

martin46 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:20 PM »

Sweet! Looks RAD and ready to race

Tidelander · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:49 PM »

Quote from: hooga75 on October 28, 2012, 08:18 PM

I really like how you have built yours, it looks great.

How do you find the gearing? I'm running 39/16 on mine and it feels really spinney. I have that gearing on my other two crusiers and it feels fine, but I feel I need a higher gearing on the skyway. I am thinking about going up tp 42/16

Thanks Hooga. I am not sure you'd get a 42 on it - already very close to the frame as it is!

I went for a 38/16 ratio as on 24" wheels that gives a gearing of 57 which is about the same as I used to run when I raced back on the day on 20" wheels (I used 46/16 ratio then which is about a 56 gearing). From what I have tried so far it feels pretty good, but time will tell. Gonna get used to it first

Here's a link to a gearing chart which I found useful

Tidelander · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:50 PM »

This time with the link
http://bmxultra.com/downloads/flash/gearchart.htm

Dark Diggler · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2012, 09:05 PM »

Quote from: hooga75 on October 28, 2012, 08:18 PM

How do you find the gearing? I'm running 39/16 on mine and it feels really spinney. I have that gearing on my other two crusiers and it feels fine, but I feel I need a higher gearing on the skyway. I am thinking about going up tp 42/16

42/16 on a cruiser = 63" gearing

good luck getting out of the gate

Not bad for cruising though

kungfunky · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2012, 09:17 PM »

Really starting to like these 24's big time, great looking build that

Devilock · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2012, 09:27 PM »

If Paul Weller owned a TA 24...

Pleasing...

Devilock · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2012, 09:29 PM »

Not the Weller part!

hooga1975 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2012, 08:00 AM »

Quote from: Dark Diggler on October 28, 2012, 09:05 PM

Quote from: hooga75 on October 28, 2012, 08:18 PM
How do you find the gearing? I'm running 39/16 on mine and it feels really spinney. I have that gearing on my other two crusiers and it feels fine, but I feel I need a higher gearing on the skyway. I am thinking about going up tp 42/16

42/16 on a cruiser = 63" gearing good luck getting out of the gate

Not bad for cruising though

My Skyway is purely a cruising machine. The geometry does not fill as dialled in as my S&M or GT so I doubt very much it will see any track action.

Tidelander · « **Reply #23 on:** October 29, 2012, 02:20 PM »

Took the morning off to go a couple of times around a local track..... un-f-believable! Just awesome. A couple of things:
1) OK, OK bars back are much better / more control - I hear ya
2) 24 x 1.75 tyres on the front are just too damn skinny for this size bike IMO - fine for the rear tyre but it needs a bit more stability up front. Swapping out

Otherwise it plain just rocks

Devilock · « **Reply #24 on:** October 29, 2012, 02:33 PM »

Cool...wouldn't mind a go myself!

Author Topic: Inspired to get back on the track.... Skyway TA 24 XL (Read 1398 times)

Tidelander

Tidelander

Tidelander

hooga1975

Tidelander

Tidelander

hooga1975

Tidelander