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Would the Ramrodder bike work for flatland BMX?

• I just recently starting going to the BMX park with my friend, but I spend most my time over in the parking lot trying to perfect my fork glide... I have thus decided I fit more with a flatland riding style then any other. I already own the ramrodder bike and I hope to not have to spend anymore money on a new flatland specific frame. Here are the spec's as givin by the store I bought from. ( http://www.bmxtransition.com/ ) Eastern Ramrodder - Matte Black/Blue SKU#:C12-EB-RMROD-10 Top Tube Length: 20.5' Frame: Hi-tensile strength 1020 steel frame Seat Clamp: Nitrous Locker forged alloy clamp Fork: Hi-tensile strength 1020 steel Handlebar: 8.25'x 28.5' , 1 degree upsweep, 12 degree backsweep Stem: Forged alloy frontload Grips: Eastern Fuquay Flyer Headset: 1-1/8' Aheadset Rear Brake: Forged alloy U-brake Brake Lever: Forged alloy, designed for U-brakes Brake Cable: 1 into 2 upper cable, dual lower cables Gearing: 25/9 Cranks: Eastern Shaft 175mm, tubular chromoly heat-treated 3pc. cranks with 8 spline spindle Bottom Bracket: Sealed bearing mid Sprocket: Eastern Phorcycs 25T steel Pedals: Eastern Crown pedals Chain: KMC Z510 Front Hub: 3/8' loose ball bearing Front Rim: Double wall alloy, 36 Hole Front Tire: Eastern Fuquay Flyer 20' x 2.3' OEM Rear Hub: KT/Quando semi-sealed 36H cassette hub. 1-piece 9-tooth chromoly driver, hollow 14mm chromoly axle Rear Rim: Double wall alloy, 36 Hole Rear Tire: Eastern Fuquay Flyer 20' x 2.3' OEM Seat: Nitrous logo one-piece seat and alloy post combo Seat Post: Alloy post included with seat Pegs: 2 pegs Weight: 26.3lb I've added 2 pegs, a new seat with a longer post and a front brake. What else should I mod? Will this bike work for flatland (entry level right now)? Thank you, in advance.

• Answer:

  It's no flatland-specific bike but it'll work for flatland if you can't afford or don't want to purchase any new parts. The one thing I would suggest looking at getting however is a freecoaster rear hub. It will allow you to roll your bike backwards without the cranks turning, which is pretty handy for a lot of flatland tricks. But most tricks you learn in the first few months won't nequire a freecoaster so you'll be ok without it for now. The only other thing that will hold you back a liitle, or make things harder than you need is the weight of the bike and the length of the top tube. Flatland bikes should be somewhat lighter than street bikes, and slightly shorter. I wouldn't suggest a top tube over 20" for flatland. I run a 19.2" top tube on my Quamen. Minimum back sweep on handlebars feels more natural to me for flat, too. WHen you can, look at some forks with minimal(10mm) offset, or even zero. It makes steering and spinning on the spot (like getting into a forkglide) a lot quicker and easier. Anyway, there's just some suggestions for the near future to mod ur bike to a flatland bike. Damn, a friend of mine was just selling a complete Colony Apprentice for $400..!! Woulda been perfect for u. Get onto the www.flatlandfuel.com website and check out the dvd section. Mat Wilhelm's 'Ground Rules' is the dvd u wanna get. 56 flatland tricks all explained in great detail on screen. Perfect for the beginners. Here are some pics of my bikes, check out the bits 'n pieces to give u ideas on what u can do with yours... http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm74/Canaussies/3-4.jpg http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm74/Canaussies/NewBikepic-1.jpg http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm74/Canaussies/Bike4.jpg http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm74/Canaussies/andrew_in_melbourne.jpg And a video I made recently of my flatland crew :) http://vimeo.com/26137447 Email me if you have any more questions.