ABA BMX Grand National

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I've been meaning to get a conversation started as we get ready for the ABA Grand Nationals, The Grands, in Tulsa over Thanksgiving Weekend.

So here's the deal, if you have a tip, leave a tip, and if you have a question, this would be the place to ask. I'll start:

The most important tip is this: Bring a lock and cable and use it. Bikes are stolen every year at Grands, and in at least one case last year a pro's bike was stolen as he left it alone "for just a minute" while he went into the team trailer for his gloves! About the only place I don't lock my bike is if I'm in a vendor's area, and then I put the bike where I can keep an eye on it the entire time. Also note that with all the excitement and activity going on, "_______ is watching my bike" can lead to heartbreak as _______ might get distracted. Be sure to talk to your kids about this.

There will be a fencing around the bleachers and it's easy enough to lock your bike to that (and popular, it can get crowded). The ABA will also set up some cables in the upstairs vendor/pits area which bikes may be locked to.

Vendors will have locks and cables for sale on site, but it'll be cheaper if you remember to bring one from the house. I use a cable lock from the hardware store 'cause it has big numbers and is easy for me to see with my glasses off, and I don't have to worry about keeping up with a key.

Finally on this point: DO NOT LOCK YOUR BIKE TO A DOOR. Every year, every one, somebody locks their bike(s) to one of the little-used doors around the building, and every year, every one, there's some big blow up as security takes a cable cutter to the offender's lock. Don't be that guy.

It's a big building, but it has a big BMX track in it, with hundreds upon hundreds of motos running on it. It'll be dusty, early. Something to help moisten the ol' sinuses is a joy. The lack of same is a horror. Saline spray is the second thing I pack after a lock.

- Cushions/entertainment

While we're working on getting a "Bonzai BMX" area up in the pits (more on this later, watch this newsgroup for updates) either way you cut it, you'll spend a fair amount of time sitting in the bleachers. Something softer than aluminum to sit upon will make this a much more positive experience. Also note that in the "hundreds and hundreds" of motos, there's some down time before your moto comes up. A book to read, some music, whatever, but some form of entertainment will help the time pass. (You'll also want to spend some time walking/looking around. You'll get to meet a ton of pros, see the new stuff coming out from the manufacturers, look for deals on new/used stuff for sale, see some old friends and make some new ones.)

Make it a point to watch the Pro motos. You have no idea how fast somebody can go on one of these little bikes until you see one. The ABA has a Spectacular event on - I think it's - Friday night, $5 a ticket as I recall, where the top ams and the top pros race. This is a good one to see, even though it means rushing through the after-race Friday clean up.

Bring some, and bring some water. There's vendors there, but they ain't cheap and this is a four-day event.

Hotels: It depends on the hotel. Most will let you bring the bikes into the room. The Crown Plaza has, I believe, a lock-up area dedicated to bikes complete with rags and what-not for wiping down the bikes, as well as a maintenance area. The Crown Plaza came up with this plan because for reasons I never quite understand, there always seems to be those kids who get all excited and start riding in the halls - no, I'm serious. I've heard of hotels mid-national creating bikes rules to address this. The good news is Tulsa's used to the Grands and the hoteliers have a pretty good idea of what to expect, so hotels don't have a problem with the bikes going into the room. I'll probably leave mine in the van, but will lock them all together with an obvious cable to make them a less attractive target. I would NOT leave them in the back of a pickup truck topper or on a bike rack, however, regardless of lock. It's got to be behind a locked door and at least safety glass for me to leave them outside. WE NEVER LEAVE bike in car or trailer. ALWAYS goes in motel room!!!

Note to trailer owners: It's a good idea for y'all to lock your bikes together as well, even though they're inside the trailer. Thieves have been known to cut open the tops of a trailer to get bikes out.)

When I am bringing them in, I always try to get a ground floor room to make the bikes in/out thing quicker. The problem with that plan is there always seems to be one group of hyper-charged children running around the hotel, and if you're on the ground floor you'll get to hear the pitter-patter of their sugar-fueled feet, at times well into the evening. Hence some people prefer a top floor. Bikes fit on elevators, it's just a hassle.

- Presign: Right after you get there you'll see some sheets (pink sheets, I think) put up not far from the sign-up trailer which will have the pre-signed riders. You and your guys names, ABA numbers & etc will be listed on those sheets. IF YOU SIGNED UP ON LINE AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RECEIPT BACK By EMAIL YOU ARE NOT PRESIGNED, CALL THE ABA TO GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT. The line for sign-up on site is really long, really really long, the longest ever. The people at ABA HQ are really nice and helpful and will work to keep you from standing in that line.

If you're presigned you'll see your names on the moto sheet when they're posted. Staging is done where they have people in line about 10 motos ahead of time, but you want to be down there earlier than that, if for no other reason than to get through the pile of people who're standing around staging. They'll call your name, your gate, and tell you what lane to line up in with the rest of your moto. There's also someone standing behind the gate to help if you forget your gate while waiting who has the motosheets with them. With all the waiting between rounds you'll want to come downstairs and stretch and ride around a bit before your moto (and lean on your bike and look cool). By the time you get through practice you'll know how all this is set up.

Now that you've presigned. Here are a few tips on what to do when you arrive at the race.

Check the national presign list posted at the ABA Truck.
Verify your class information and plate numbers are correct
If you see an error or are missing from the presign list head over to the Gold Card window
at the ABA Truck (an expired license being the most common reason for being missing from the list).
Good luck at the races!

A note on practice: Practice is done by age group. Every year someone tries to get into practice outside their age group and is ejected from competition for the weekend as an example to everyone. Don't be that guy - practice in your age group. The crowds are big, three or four gate during a practice session is about the most you can hope for, but it's the same schedule everyone else is on and part of the Grands experience.

- Tools: You can bring them in if you are so moved, but really unless you're one of those guys who change gears between every round I wouldn't worry about it. The parking lot is very accessible from the building, so if you need to tweak something it would probably be just as easy to wheel out to the car (i.e.. brake adjustment), or wait 'til that night to deal with it at the hotel (i.e.. gear change). Plus the vendors will have shops set up and can do most whatever work you need done. You'll even see people getting new bikes built or frames swapped out or even wheels built on site with these vendors. I'm a big ol' keep the tools handy guy and I don't bring 'em inside. I don't even bring my tire pump inside. Some families do bring the tools in, however, and lock up the box to the same cable being used to secure the bikes.

Somebody else add something.........

Pillows and blankets for the kids to rest between motos is another good one to remember. There is usually 2-2.5 hours between rounds. I have a little one that does not race and there isn't really anywhere for her to nap. So keep that in mind if you have small ones.

Lanita, Ryan, and Raven

PRACTICE SCHEDULE