27' Quarter on Woodward West's Mega Ramp - Photo: Steve BlackeySometimes I feel like I’m cheating when it comes to riding Sunday’s New Wave C. The geometry makes this bike ride like a 20 but has so much more stability and forgiveness. It's so easy to ride! I really can’t understand why more people don’t make the switch to riding a 24.

I’ve have been wanting to write up a review on this bike for some time now and I’m finally getting around to it. I loved this bike since the first session I rode it and believe the seemingly small changes made by Jim Cielencki on this frame made huge improvements over the Model C.

Wallride at The Compound - Photo: Kalin LawBefore I get into the details of my review, I first want to give you a little perspective about where this opinion is coming from. I’m old! In the world of BMX, I am part of a small world of riders my age that still play on a kid’s bike. I’m now a couple months away from my 47^th birthday. I haven’t been riding that long because I started riding BMX at age 38 when my son Austin became interested in the sport. It had been 27 years since I even owned a bicycle. Freestyle BMX wasn’t even around when I was a kid.

My favorite dirt jumps - Photo: Austin FaureSo - I’m old, but not really “old school”. I’m basically a really old guy that doesn’t know any old school stuff.  My style of riding? - I love to ride fast and feel most comfortable when I leave the ground. I spend most of my time riding dirt jumps but also enjoy riding park where I can find some good transfer lines and wall rides. Any type of riding that is slow and technical, I’m horrible! I’m also really bad at crashing so I do everything I can to rarely hit the ground. Since I started, I never spent much time on a 20” because I always felt so unsafe on one. The stability I got from the 24” always gave me so much more confidence to push myself to progress. This is one of the main reasons I’ve always stayed focused on the 24. If I make a mistake, there is so much more forgiveness with the bigger wheels.

Mega Ramp at Woodward West - Photo: Austin FaureI started riding the Sunday Model C back in 2009 when I first read about what Jim C was trying to accomplish in the 24” world. I bought one before I had ever ridden or tested one. I was just excited to hear someone was putting a little more thought into a more freestyle 24-inch geometry. After riding the Model C for a little over a year, I was really excited to hear that Sunday was working on a few changes and would be releasing the “Wave C”. Not that I wasn’t enjoying my Vert Wall at Clairemont Skatepark - Photo: Kalin LawModel C, I just like change. It’s always fun to have something new to play on. The day the frames arrived at the Odyssey factory, I made the drive up to pick one up. While I was at it, I loaded the bike up with Odyssey Parts. Man, I was like a kid at Christmas time and couldn’t wait to get this bike built up and start riding it! Here’s my Bike Check if you would like all the details on what I’m running and how my bike’s set up.

The main difference between the Wave C and the Model C is it now comes with the option of getting a 22” top tube. It also has shorter chain stays. Using the Odyssey Bluebird chain that comes with a half link, I was able to run my back end a half link (roughly ¼” shorter) than I was able to run on my Model C. Even though I’m only 5’ 8”, I really like the feel of the longer top tube. For me, the combination of the longer top tube and the shorter rear end made such a difference in the way the bike handled. It gave me even more stability when leaving the ground and it kept that responsiveness that the Model C was so famous for. Along with that, you got the wave tubing, hollow drop outs and built in chain adjusters. All really cool additions! Click here for the complete specs and details: Sunday Wave C.

Wallride transfer at Woodward West - Photo: Austin FaureLastly, I would like to go into a little more detail as to why the 24” is so much easier to ride. The 24” wheel basically has more gyroscopic force than the 20”. Meaning, there is more force keeping it upright and stable. Especially when you’re leaving the ground. Nothing worse than that “dead sailor” feeling when your up in the air! If you make a mistake, the gyroscopic force makes it easier to recover. I hate crashing and want to do everything I can to stay off the ground. Problem is, I’m not having any fun unless I’m progressing and pushing my limits. This bike has given me the ability to keep having fun on a BMX bike. I’m anxious to see what my future holds and see how much longer this old man will be able to keep up with the kid in me.

- Jon Faure / jon@oldguyswhoride.com

Jim Cielencki-Up, Up & Away! from Sunday Bikes on Vimeo.

We started Project: Model-C late last year. We have been bringing a 2011 Sunday Bikes Model-C with us where ever we go. We wanted to see what riders of all types thought of the Model-C. Most everyone has been stoked on the bike including us. We are working on part 3 of the series now. Thats part 1 above and part 2 is after the jump... Stay tuned for Part 3 SOON !!!

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Joe's Bike Shop in Louisville, Colorado has a pretty cool shop ride. A 2011 Sunday Model-C EX. Everyone in the shop rides to get lunch and for quick afternoon sessions behind the shop. Every shop needs one of these...