When I was growing up I didn’t have huge rock n’ roll competitions like the X Games or big-time professional BMX riders like Dave Mirra and Vanilla Ice to look up to. We also didn’t have sweet-ass music blogs to show us the way to good music. I was just a young, starry-eyed rider with a Mongoose, Walkman, Kenny Loggins tape and a dream.

As I pursued a fruitful career of BMX riding, one movie inspired me above all others. A movie that showed me the true potential of a bicycle - in a vacant lot, on the racetrack, and on the dance floor. Especially on a dance floor. Rad was the movie that set the standard for all other 80’s BMX movies. It didn’t win any awards and, come to think of it, I don’t think there were any other BMX movies other than BMX Bandits which featured Nicole Kidman.

Well I’ve got news for you. Nicole Kidman can’t ride a BMX bike worth shit. Rad featured that lady that dated John Stamos on Full House, and although she didn’t have the acting career Kidman had, she sure could ride a bicycle. Still can I’d imagine.

If this intro video doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. Once I decide between a GT and a Redline, I’m sprinting to the nearest bike shop to pick up a BMX with front and rear pegs. I’ll remove the kickstand asap. I don’t even think the song has a chorus, but check out those nasty tricks - bunny hops, endos, table tops…there’s also a solid rat tail on the back of one riders head. Pay close attention.

Here’s the main actor guy owning his high school dance with that chick from Full House. He’s trying to woo her with his bicycle dance to John Farnham’s “Send Me An Angel,” but something tells me he won’t have any trouble pulling wool after this performance. I don’t know how they can ride their bikes in slow motion and not tip over, but that’s the beauty of this movie. So mysterious.

Take special note of Bart Taylor, the evil blond BMX villain. I thought it was Johnny from the Karate Kid, but later found out that it was legendary gymnast, Bart Conner.

Don’t go over to Amazon and try to buy this movie. It’s not there. I already tried searching for it and Thrashin’ shows up as the top search results.