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Issue One of Case BMX Magazine
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1 Case BMX
P.A TRAILS TRIP
DELUXE UK TRAILS TRIPALEX VALENTINO INTERVIEW
SOUTHAMPTON,UK SCENE REPORT
THE ‘MARIA’ INTERVIEW+ TRAILS JAMS, RIDER PROFILES, EVENT REPORTS, WIN £100 TO SPEND AT THE SOURCE, NEW PRODUCTS, AND MUCH MUCH MORE. ALL FOR FREE!
FREE!
Issue 1 Fall 09
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4 Case BMX4 COVER: Jay Lonergan, doing what he does best, at home, on set backs. All day every day
Exclusive features
PAGES 18-25 THE ‘MARIA’ INTERVIEW
PAGES 30-35 UK CITY: SOUTHAMPTON SCENE REPORT
PAGES 36-41 THE ALEX VALENTINO INTERVIEW
PAGES 44-51 A PENNSYLVANIAN TRAIL TRIP
PAGES 54-58 DELUXE BMX IN THE UK WOODS
5 Case BMXHERE: Mark Potoczny also doing what he does best, in the Pennsylvanian woods. See page 44 for more on
that. 360 turndown in the land of the Steelers
Regular featuresSOUNDS: XX Cortez. Page 12
REGULARS: Will Herrmann, Gav Shortall, Wisley trail jam, DK Dirt Circuit. Pages 14-17
LOCAL EVENT: BBQ at the Source with U.S special guests. Pages 26-27
COMPETITION: Win £100 to spend at the Source. Page 43
QUICK TALK: Fraser Peek talks trails with Scott Malyon. Page 51
TALKING HEADS: Tom Sander’s 180’s a huge wall and answers some quick questions. Pages 52-53
PHOTO FEATURE: Ollie Reeve, Brian Yeagle AND Luc Legrand get shot, amongst others. Pages 60-67
TALKING HEADS: Tom ‘robbo’ Robinson hits the streets, the woods and answers some quick questions. Pages 68-69
PRODUCTS: 2 pages full of new stuff for 2010. Pages 70-71
REGUALRS: Two tral jams and two rider profiles. Pages 72-75
BIKE CHECK: Mark Noble and Neal Wood sit down to talk about S&M’s new WTF. Pages 76-77
REGULARS: Mark Potoczny talks about his brother Mike and Jeremy Muller shares his memories of the ‘La source’
trails jam in France. Pages 78-81
VIDEO IN PROGRESS
FRAMES / HANDLEBARS / SPROCKETS / SUPERLIGHT SEATS / SUPERLIGHT SEATCLAMPS / GRIPS / EXPERT COMPLETES / TEAM COMPLETES / DELUXEBMX.COM
deluxe dps for case1.indd 3 11/3/09 9:16:39 AM
MARK MULVILLE / MAX BIMAR / FROG / POMPOM / LOUIS MIKOLAY / DAVROS / SHANE BIFFIN FRAMES / HANDLEBARS / SPROCKETS / SUPERLIGHT SEATS / SUPERLIGHT SEATCLAMPS / GRIPS / EXPERT COMPLETES / TEAM COMPLETES / DELUXEBMX.COM
deluxe dps for case1.indd 2 11/3/09 9:16:31 AM
VIDEO IN PROGRESS
FRAMES / HANDLEBARS / SPROCKETS / SUPERLIGHT SEATS / SUPERLIGHT SEATCLAMPS / GRIPS / EXPERT COMPLETES / TEAM COMPLETES / DELUXEBMX.COM
deluxe dps for case1.indd 3 11/3/09 9:16:39 AM
MARK MULVILLE / MAX BIMAR / FROG / POMPOM / LOUIS MIKOLAY / DAVROS / SHANE BIFFIN FRAMES / HANDLEBARS / SPROCKETS / SUPERLIGHT SEATS / SUPERLIGHT SEATCLAMPS / GRIPS / EXPERT COMPLETES / TEAM COMPLETES / DELUXEBMX.COM
deluxe dps for case1.indd 2 11/3/09 9:16:31 AM
8 Case BMX
I guess ‘welcome’ to Case BMX Magazine would be a good way to start this page off. It’s been a fair while coming, but I made it. And I couldn’t be happier.
I have a hell of a lot of people to thank, which I’ll come to shortly.
I think now would be a fairly good time also to let you all know of my plans with the magazine.
My main goal is to make things simpler, more grown up, a lot more informative and to showcase the rawer and truest sides of the sport – something that I feel
that other magazines on the market have lost over the past few years. I believe that the current state of BMX magazines are worse off than they have been in a
long time. I believe that a fresh approach to content, with some intellectual words and
some amazing photography is what will keep magazines thriving and will keep things separate from the ever-looming presence of the Internet. For however good the Internet may be for your daily fixes of what’s happening and your
‘who’s who’ in BMX, I still firmly believe, as do many others that I have spoken to, that there is an un-denying appreciation and love for well thought and well
delivered articles.I’ll wind this paragraph up before yet again getting into the whole print versus
web debate…
As you probably all know (because you are reading this), Case magazine is to be free of charge. You may ask why. Well let me explain; magazine sales are down, that’s a fact, and I believe, as do many others, that a free publication is the best way to reach out to everybody in the BMX community without having
to use a computer. It also doesn’t take a genius to realize that photographs look a lot better in print. It really is as simple as that.
No cover price, good quality content, well thought-out and designed articles and a good form of distribution resulting in a wide circulation. Basically reaching
out to the masses with a good quality magazine, that’s what Case is about.
Mike Netley, editor
Where we’re headed. And hello
9 Case BMX
www.profileeurope.co.ukSend £2.00 for a Sticker Pack to: Profile Racing Europe, PO Box 257, Sarisbury, England, S031 4WE Tel: +44 (0) 23 8045 8328 / 07887 651734 Email: [email protected]
JEFF KLUGIEWICZ
Profile Race Crank Kits now with Gun Drilled Hollow spindles (28.5 oz). The new standard.
Available in multiplecolors & lengths
10
EDITOR Mike Netley
PHOTOGRAPHYGeorge Marshall, Vincent Perraud, Dave ‘Davros’ Douglas, Hadrien Picard, Keith Romanowski, Frog, Mark Noble, Graeme Bateman, Gareth Howell, Fraser Peek, Robin Pearson, Mike Netley
WRITINGGeorge Marshall, Hadrien Picard, Mike Carni, Gareth Howell, Dave ‘Davros’ Douglas, Jeremy Muller, Fraser Peek, Mark Potoczny, Mike Netley
ART WORK/DESIGNJon Edwards, George Marshall, Dave ‘Davros’ Douglas, Will Herrmann, Andrew Aldridge, Kelvin Dutton, Mike Netley
DISTRIBUTIONProfile Racing Europe
AD SALESMike Netley - [email protected] Reeve - [email protected]
Published by Mike Netley
Mike Miller and Gavin Shortall, 180 x2 on an overcast and not so ‘beach-like’ day in Bournemouth. Look out for more of Mike (pictured on the left), in the second
issue due out sometime in Feb.
THANKSThis magazine would not of been possible with out the hard work, the help, and on going beliefs that this project could work from the following people:Mark Noble, Sam and Steve Stobart at Profile Racing Europe, Dave Douglas, my parents, Duncan Harris, Andrew Aldridge, the contributuing photographers, writers, artists and designers and all the advertisers involved within.
Pijin BMX, The Source, Crucial BMX shop, Brighton BMX Co, BMX Box, Stay Strong Apparel, Profile Racing, Deluxe, 4down distribution - FIT bike Co, S&M Bikes, United, and Bicycle Union
This project means a great deal to me and I am forever greatful.
Ne
tley
www.profileeurope.co.ukSend £2.00 for a Sticker Pack to: Profile Racing Europe, PO Box 257, Sarisbury, England, S031 4WE Tel: +44 (0) 23 8045 8328 / 07887 651734 Email: [email protected]
JEFF KLUGIEWICZ
Profile Race Crank Kits now with Gun Drilled Hollow spindles (28.5 oz). The new standard.
Available in multiplecolors & lengths
11
12 Case BMX12
Words and photos by Mike Netley
XX Cortez have only been around for a short while, well, at least the current line up has, but already they’ve made a huge impact on the local punk scene here on the south coast of England.The band consists of Jim Jefferies (who founded the band years ago), along with new recruits, Jake, Andy (one of our artists) and Metal bikes’ Rob Castle.They’ve been playing together for about a year now, but only really doing the whole live show shenanigans since the summer of 09, yet already have supported such 77-79 era legends like The Vibrators, 999 and The Slits with even bigger bands in the pipe line as well as a US tour in March. And someone said punk’s dead??!?!Jim actually started the band way
back in 99, although with a fairly different sound. More rockabilly stuff if I’m not mistaken… It wasn’t until he met Rob in a local pub that he thought about playing more punk stuff, which suited Rob down to the ground and the rest as they say, is history.There’s plenty more shows coming up, check out their myspace music page at myspace.com/xxcortez77 for more information.There are even a few songs up on there if you fancied a pre listen.
The images on these 2 pages are from a gig at Hamptons bar in Southampton back in the early part of September. Mark Mulville even flew all the way over the pond from Pittsburgh to see what all the fuss was about! Punk ain’t dead!
13 Case BMX 13
14 Case BMX
3 best trail spots you’ve been toCatty/Posh
Brighouse Eastside
3 best countries you’ve visitedGermany,
USA Scotland
3 favorite people to ride withJoeChrisMerlinSimonGeorgeWill......
MattyTreebellJoeKennyBen.kMikey......PipeDazLimaPollLocalAidenChaz........
3 favorite companies in BMXUndertone
ProfileCredence/TheMake
3 favorite places to liveChicagoPortugal
Berlin
3 reasons to be at universityGetting in the mix
The AppleBombing Park St
3 things that keep you smilingPedalling fast
Trains and PlanesFriends
3 people you could do with seeing less ofPedal Heads
DoctorDry Guys
Worst 3 cities traveled toIts all
pretty fun with the lads
3 things you dislike about Englandun-
decisiveweather
Best 3 road tripsUndertone TripBen and North AmericaUp to Brighouse BBQ
3 pet peeves about BMXnot knowing what seek and destroy isnot saying yo at the train stationbeing into nothing else
3 things to do before you dieRide to BerlinLive with Joe boy and ChrisLearn another language
3 good things about living in Bristoldigmorethe appleboony weekends
3 bad things about living in Bristolpedalling up hillsyndicatetesco north street
3’s with Will Herrmann
Tweaked Xup at Bar End. Photo by Netley
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iListen to.
gavinshortall.
Pedal rock and roll at ‘ that amazing school thats been in a ton of video’s. Photo by Netley
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The day progressed much like any other day at the trails really, with such a relaxed atmosphere no one was trying to comp anyone else out and it was nice to see everyone just flowing around, putting in the odd trick here and there. In the end a fair chunk of this years lease money was raised, so many thanks to everyone that showed up, less thanks to those that couldn’t be bothered, and yet more thanks to Mark at Deluxe and the Profile boys who sent a box of rad stuff, aka ‘prizes’. See you all there next year hopefully!
Wisley Jam2009
n September 13th a fundraising Jam was held at Wisley trails. I suppose the first thing you might want to know is why these funds are needed to be raised in the first place…
Well, Wisley has a slightly different situation to that of most trails spots. A few years ago the local authorities decided that the trails had become too much of a risk to them, what with the whole no win-no fee suing culture that was gaining momentum at the time.
Originally they wanted to simply bring in the bull-dozers and flatten everything, however after a lot of protesting, boring meetings and a fair amount of red tape an agreement was reached whereby the trails could stay. Unfortunately this agreement also involved paying said authorities an annual fee for lease of the land, one which although probably no where near in line with what you would expect to pay for an area of land that size, is still enough to be a problem for a bunch of skint trails riders to come up with every year.
O
The Wisley Jam had actually been an annual occur-rence for maybe 3 or 4 years before these problems began. It was always a sweet session, with a good vibe and varied mix of people. Small wheels, big wheels, locals and out of towners, everyone was welcome. The only thing that changed when some bright spark had the idea of making it a ‘fundraiser’ was that people were now asked to donate a few quid towards the cause, which all seemed to think was fair enough. This year the locals went all out and acquired a pretty hefty sound system too add a bit of atmosphere to the proceedings. The cock-rock compilation mix seemed to go down espe-cially well, as did the 2 hours or so of Dio. As well as this Dig’s found some sausages on special offer in Tesco’s and spent the day cooking and selling them in an effort to add to the days profits. The turnout of riders this year was a little different to the norm. It would have been nice if some of the guys from the other local trail spots had made the effort and shown a little support. Luckily this lack of enthusiasm was made up for by those who had made the effort and traveled from further afield. It was nice to see the Chelt BMX lot, particularly Boyd and Luke Peters shredding it, as well as a few boys from Wales with amusing accents. There was even an appearance from the legendary Mr McGoo with his unique skill of packing more tricks into a single air than you would think possible.
Words and photos by Gareth Howell
DK DIRT CIRCUIT Dayton Oh. 08 AUGUST 2009
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After an 8 year hiatus DK Bikes brought back the DK Dirt Circuit. Having ridding in a few of the original comps as an amateur, I was really excited to see what this comp had to offer. Memories of the 98 Dirt Circuit at South Park instantly came back and compelled a few friends and I to make the drive out to the small town of Dayton, Ohio.Amateur class was once the most exciting park of the DK Dirt Circuit. 30-44 dudes riding jumps of a size they had never seen holding on for dear life. It was truly a spectacle. For some reason or another am was held on Friday and only 8 people rode in it, Bummer! As for the jumps, it was a relatively bumpy stock 6 pack that felt very much like the jumps of the old days. Riders were forced to adapt to huge ruts and a nearly full sprint at the jumps. Some riders who I will not name, tried to have the course covered in ply wood, which wouldn’t be completely out of the ordinary for a dirt circuit. But with some hard work the jumps stayed clear of the ply and we had one hell of a camp fire that night. Ryan Wert even hit the first jump at 2 Am with nothing but the glow from the distant fire and a camera light. The jumps were similar to those in the old days, but the riding level was anything but. It is hard to comprehend how far riding has come in just 8 years. What was once a bunch of trail riders coming out to ride together, compete and party together is now one hell of a circus act. 14 year old kids doing front flips and even Lance Mosley throwing out a double flip was wild to see. But the high light for many was seeing a true dirt jumping legend Kris Bennett come out and kill it with all the young guns and even throw his bike. Getting to see this kind of riding without all the hoopla of Dew Tour was something cool for everyone and hopefully DK throws another one next year.
Words by Mark PotocznyPhotos by Mike Netley
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The James George
Carlucci a.k.a ‘Maria’
Interview
If you would have told me five years ago that James would be one of my best friends for years to come, I would have told you I was the one who killed Moby Dick. If that wasn’t far fetched enough, I would never have guessed I would travel far and wide with him. In the beginning most of us downright hated him. The boy with the squinty eyes I would see riding around town trying to do all the same tricks as me. If I hadn’t taken the time to get to really known him I would have really missed out. Left unfound would be a great traveling buddy, a riding companion, and a true friend. James is one of those naturally gifted people. He seems to do well at everything he does. If something doesn’t naturally come easy to him, he has enough determination to make it seem as he was just kidding and not really trying at first. His riding can do one of two things during a session. It can motivate you to ride harder or it will make you stop riding all together. Just to watch. Partying with him can have the same affect. You may die of alcohol poisoning if you were to eat his liver. James lives his life the way he seems fit and is not afraid to stray from the already beaten path. Whether swimming in the Mediterranean at four thirty in the morning beneath onlooking forest fires, barbecuing while the sun comes up after another crazy party, or getting locked up searching for something new to ride, I know we are going to always have one hell of a time. Its been an honor to look after him like an older brother and to watch him come into his own. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the life of my friend. The one known as Maria.
Interview by Mike CarniAll Photos by Keith Romanowski
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Full name, where are you from, how old are you?My full name is James George Carlucci. I’m twenty, from Lindenhurst New York.
You have a pretty interesting nickname. People are always confused once they hear it. Tell us what it is and how it origi-nated?Yeah Maria is a weird nick name and if you knew the kid that gave it to me you would understand because hes a pretty wierd guy. My friend started calling me Maria when I was fifteen and he was Nineteen. It was like the second time I met him and he thought my sisters name was maria for some odd reason. He started singing Maria Maria from the West Side Story and some reason it just stuck as my nick name. (Laugh-ter) It sucked at first but no one ever forgets it so i guess thats kind of cool. So he was the older kid that everyone looked up to. It was so bad at one point my friend Keith had some photos of me up on his website. It was of course labeled as Maria and a bunch of people messaged him assking if that girl Maria was really that good. (Laughter) Ever since than I have stoped telling people my nick name so only my close friends still call me it.
Its been a few years since we have been calling you by that name. Some people don’t even know your real name. Do you get upset or pissed off when people call you Maria? Once in a while I do only because I hate when random people do and the little groms around town do. So I always let them know that only people that know me can call me
Maria. When I was fifteen it was ok but I’m not a little kid anymore.
How did you get into riding?I really have no idea it kinda just fell into my lap. I wanted this bike from my local bike shop and my parents got it for me. It was a yellow Gary Fisher. It fucking sucked but I loved it. I used to just ride around and one day I just tried to jump up a curb and from that day on I never stopped.
How old were you when you started?Fourteen. I was in ninth grade.
Did you have any other hobby or interests at the time?Yeah, skateboarding. I was pretty good but I gave it up fast for riding.
How did you decide between the two?Skateboarding sucks.
So you hate skateboarders?Not at all one of my good friends is a pro skater. It’s just not for me. I just felt like I needed to ride.
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Why do you ride?Good question. There is a million reasons but mostly having fun, traveling, and meeting good friends. I like to challenge myself and riding definitely does that for me.
Is riding more of a hobby or a lifestyle for you?Definitely a lifestyle. I’ve made huge decisions based on riding. The first thing I do every afternoon is roll out of bed try shake my hangover off and find out where im riding. It’s changed me. I am a completely different person because of it. I don’t know how it couldn’t be my lifestyle.
Why do you talk to me in spanish when your drunk?Because I’m a fucking idiot and we are in Italy so I get so used to speaking in it.
You said you have made some pretty big decisions based around riding. Up until this point in your life do you think its had a positive or a negative affect on who and where you are?Probably both. Not going to school is most likely a bad choice. Going to jail in Georgia. Pretty much everything else it has done for me is positive. Not working right now and not going to school is most likely a bad choice. The countless tickets and going to jail is the worst riding has done to me but its definitely all worth it because the positives by far out weigh the negatives. Not going to school or working a steady job gives me lots of time to travel and ride.
Being that your not going to school or working a full time steady job, have your parents and family supported you and your deci-sions?Yeah they help me a lot. If they weren’t so cool I’d be living on the street with nothing. (Laughter) I don’t know how they put with the parties. My friends coming in at all hours and just staying there for weeks at a time. Right now its my friend Chris and he has been basi-cally living at my house for four months Them having no idea where I am for days at a time and then helping me out with money when I go on longer trips. They really want me to do what I love so they kinda just let me do my own thing. I love them. Do you have any other passions or hobbies outside of riding?Not really other than going out and drinking. (Laughter) Kind of a stupid answer but its the only answer I have. Like I said im really into traveling so that is definitely one of my passions. I’m sure if I didn’t ride I would still be running around the country. I don’t really have any hobbies. Basically if I’m not riding I’m out with some friends at a bar or doing something stupid.
Where are you right now?I’m in the little town of Orsonga. Its’ in Italy. It has a population of four thousand or something like that. It’s pretty cool. I’m like two hours away from Rome and there is some sweet stuff to ride here. Me and my good friend Mike are here. The one who gave me the nick name Maria. We are filming and just hanging out. We’re going to hit up a bunch of cities and maybe end up going to Paris. Should be a good time. I’m here for about a month.
Who and what inspires you when you ride? Almost all my friends inspire the way I ride, but everyday life inspires me to ride.
So traveling is something you really like to do. Do you get to travel a lot?Well I try to travel as much as I can atleast a few days a month and a bunch of big trips a year. The last three months I didn’t really get to go away much. I had to work on and off and all my friends were working everyday. After this trip I have a lot planned so it should be good.
Tell us about these future trips.About a month after I get back I’m taking a trip down to Florida stopping in a bunch of cities to see some friends and ending up at my friends beach house. Probably will end up staying there for a few weeks. Then sometime in November I’m supposed to go to Co-lombia. Past then nothing is for sure but I have a few things in mind.
What goes into deciding on a destination for a trip? Is it always based around riding or do you try to take a trip to explore somewhere you have never been before, or to expe-rience a new culture even?It’s all of that. I don’t always decide I just kinda go with the flow and whatever happens, happens. I like to be open to new things and new places so i’ll really go anywhere. It mostly has to do with the riding. Not that I won’t put my bike down for a few days to see some touristy shit because I do enjoy that too. It’s mostly about the bikes.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?So far California, Colombia, and this trip to Italy. All three places give me a really good vibe.
“slip on my own shit and
slide down the hill covered in it”
Since your currently not working a steady full time job, how do you manage to go on all these trips?I usally do some odd jobs before the trip to make some fast cash and if I come up short my parents will help me out.
What are your future plans if you have any? Do you plan on go-ing back to school or looking for a nine to five?Going to go back to school. I’ve been seriously thinking about opening a bike shop possibly with my friend Mike.
Why open a shop?Long Island only has one real BMX shop and it’s out east. I want to open one up closer to the city. We need one. I also want to be part of the BMX community for as long as I can. I feel like opening a shop would be good for everyone. It would get more kids riding and I would make money. I could ride till I’m in a wheelchair.
Do you get support from any companies or local shops?Not really. Kenny from Long Island Bike Shop helps me out with some stuff. Thats really it. You should check out their mail order at www.libbmx.com
Is getting hooked up or sponsored something you strive for at all?Not really but if it came my way it would be cool. If it happens it happens and if it doesn’t Im still going to be here riding.
What’s the scene like on Long Island? How do you do you think it compares to other scenes you have had the opportu-nity to experience?The scene is pretty good on Long Island. There is a bunch of good riders and everyone kinda knows everyone, but no one really hangs out or talks. Compared to other cities it kinda sucks. Everyone seems to just stay in there own little groups on Long Island.
Your pretty well known around town. Do you feel like the younger kids look up to you as a role model?I hope not I’m a mess. (Laughter) I’m never really around. I’m always riding some other place and if I am home I’m prob-ably just riding some curb. Thats all we really have.
For a while there were some kids out here hating on you for some reason. Where did it stem from?Well me and my friend Frank used to play this game where we would race to land something. So me and him were at a skatepark and doing this and these kids didn’t know us. When I landed it first they thought I was trying to one up him so after that they just didn’t like me. Which is weird because I really never have a problem with anyone but we are all cool now.
There was a handful of kids that used to call you “looks.” Where did that name come from?(Laughter) I squint a lot so the same kids thought I was trying to give them looks or something. It’s stupid and unbelievable but I really must have a squinting problem.Do you have any on going beef with anyone on the Island?No like I said I never have problems with anyone.
What is the best and worst part about riding bikes on Long Island?I have a great group of friends but there isn’t much to ride.
Tell us about Firemans Park.Probably the ultimate spot. It has a sweet hill to wall, a bench with broken legs, a tree, and a curb covered with goose shit but It’s Firemans. Everyone in my town basically meets up there and sometimes we ride it for hours even though there is really nothing there.
What else do you ride on a regular day to day basis?My friend Johnny used to have a cool little mini but he changed it into a kinda shitty box jump. It’s fun for a little. Other than that some curbs by my house. In town there is a fun rail hop and some other little jibs.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?Alright, this happened to me when I was a little younger. I was on a trip with my parents. We were driving to Florida and I had to crap so bad that I had to tell my dad to pull over. So he pulls over and I run over to the side of hill and proceed to shit like I’ve never shit before. Then right in the middle of it a fucking raccoon walks out of a bush and I jump up, step back, slip on my own shit and slide down the hill covered in it. All I was thinking was fuck. So I walk up the hill and my mom sees me and is pissed, so she starts slapping me around for what I don’t know. (Laughter) I’m already covered in shit, just leave me alone. So here I am cov-ered in shit. My mom is beating me and everyone is just slowing down to look at me. That was fucking embarrassing.
What is one thing you absolutely hate?I don’t really hate much. I hate walking away from something I’m trying to do. Like if I’m riding it’s almost like I have to keep doing it until I land it. It gets annoying. I also hate sardine pizza and coconut flavored candy.
Do you prefer to film or shoot photos?I like to do both. They are both just as rewarding and it doesn’t hurt that two of my friends Mike and Keith are talented at both. It makes it that much more fun.
If you were a food what kind would you be?Thats a hard question. I love almost all food but my favorite would be pizza or any kind of sushi.
What was the last thing you did on your bike that scared you?Some eighteen stair rail. I had to wait an hour to do it cause my friend Keith took forever to shoot it because he was fighting with his girlfriend. So it gave me way too much time to think.
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“Black cats. I hate black cats”
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Do you have any superstitions?Every superstition known to man. I hate littering even though its not really a superstition. Black cats. I hate black cats. I feel like if I do anything wrong that it’s going to come back to me somehow. Unless I am screwing over someone who deserves it.
Do you think you will be alive in five years? If yes what do you think you will be doing? If no where do you think you will be buried?Hell yeah I’ll be alive and even better I’ll have my bike shop up and running. I look forward to it.
When you are laying on your death bed what is one thing you want to have accomplished in your lifetime?I want to see everything and be everywhere that I could pos-sibly be. I want to be able to tell some good stories and so far its going well. I just want to know I lived.
Thank everyone?I’d like to thank all of my friends. Mike, Keith, Steve Kay, Frank, Johnny Boy, Rob, Chris Bad Boy Rafferty, Ronnie, Curtis because without him I probably wouldn’t be riding. George, Kenny for always hooking me up. Everyone else I probably forgot. Of course my parents and older sister who have sup-ported me all this time and really helped me with everything I’ve ever wanted to do.
B B QWITH FIT BIKE CO’S
VAN HOMAN, JUSTIN INMAN
AND SPECIAL GUEST,GEOFF SLATTERY
WORDS AND PHOTOS: MIKE NETLEY
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On the day after the Nike ‘Tunnel jam’, to make the yanks’ visit a little more worth while, the guys at 4down (Fit Bike Co’s UK distributor) teamed up with the guys at the Source bike shop in Sunny Hastings to put on a little demo in the bowl for all the kids and to eat some good quality Tesco burgers.And a good day it was at that. Any day that involves Van Homan riding 3 feet in front of you can only be classed as that of a good day, right? Things kicked off at 3; meet and greet, autographs, burgers and hotdogs, waiting on the ‘always fashionably late or not show up at all’ wildcat,
and then a good old session on the sources bowl set up.Justin and Van killed it for Fit bikes and United’s Geoff Slattery even stepped in as a special guest to table out of the vert wall at a good 3-4 feet much to the excitement of all present. Justin Inman blasted out some awesome tyre slides on the vert wall, tables like only he can and all with that super chill and laid back NW style, but I think the highlight for me, and I’m sure everyone else was seeing some classic Van Homan trickery. Whip the spine, wall ride to bars on the wall, no footed step thru the spine and to finish off a classic 360 wall ride over the wall ride section on the spine. In true Little Devil bowl (RIP) style.
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Southampton man, what a love/hate thing I have going on with this place I call my hometown. Its been the same forever, I don’t mean the people, because that’s one thing that most certainly has changed, I mean the vibe, the spots and the attitudes of the people involved in said scene.Sure there’s plenty of pluses; my friends, my family, the good times I have had here, the really cool local bike shop -Pijin, and the Chandlers ford bowl to name a few….. but unfortunately, for me at least, the bad heavily out weighs the good. Still, I guess it is what you make of it right? At least I’m still hopeful.
For those not familiar, Southampton is a fairly large city on the south coast of England, right between Bournemouth and Brighton. Southampton’s port is one of the largest in the country. The port itself played a huge part in the world wars, and is home to that infamous ship that sunk, the Titanic. Its also home to some of the biggest cruise ships that sail the sea’s today. All of this though unfortunately has no relation to why your reading this what-so-ever. But please, do read on anyways. Maybe you’ll learn to understand why I think its riding scene isn’t quite what it could be.
I’ve lived in Southampton myself now for around 14 years and have been involved in the BMX scene for around 10 years.Over these years I’ve learn to expect nothing. It is what you make of it as some would say. You may think I’m being negative and you may wonder why. Well let me explain. I will go into this in more detail, but in my eyes, the people are lazy. This is just my opinion bear in mind. Sure, people have come and gone, and the scene has gotten a little better for a while, but like most good things, they must come to an end. Or just not last. Whichever way you look at it. For me at least, the scene was way, way better, way back when.I remember in the early days, there was a sweet wooden outdoor park down by the ferry terminal, the local shop was tight, and the riding group was so small and tight that everyone knew each other. This, bear in mind was also back in the day before arrogance showed its sour, screwed up face. You’d see a rider at the park and you’d be so stoked to see someone else riding that you’d automatically see the commonalities of each other and this would lead you to speaking. Often resulting in making a good new friend. ASHLEY CHARLES / 180 BARS
Words and photos by Mike Netleyadditional words by Cal Earnshaw
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SLOSH / NO HANDS
I have lived in Southampton for two years now but have become more of a bystander when it has come to the so called ‘scene’. When it has come down to riding, a broken ankle and a gammy shoulder have caused me to take a backseat. Though the few times when I have been able to ride have given me a slight insight into what BMX is like in Southampton. There is definitely some sort of scene here, it maybe a little more park orientated than I’m used to but I’m still keen to get involved and what I have seen is great. There’s a tonne of riders here and a handful of them are defiantly pushing it.
Joel Nicholls for one, always up for riding, filming and getting loose. In his three year stay here he definitely had an impact. He helped get the scene out there with web edits, street jams and even a Southampton sec-tion for the P5 ‘one more brew’ video. Pijin BMX shop is also doing its bit, providing riders with somewhere to meet, fix bikes, chill and obviously buy something from time to time.I think what I’m trying to say is that I haven’t got a full perspective of what the scene down here is really like yet. But I should be riding again soon and hopefully finding out what its like to actually ride in Southampton! - Cal
Now however, there’s all these kids on their low slung frames with their waste bands below their balls trying to one up you and generally not giving a shit about anything except pushing their curb hopping minds into realms of show off –man ship.Am I sounding old and washed up yet? Perhaps salted that I never ‘made it’ and still do this day still can’t ‘sling the bars?’ who knows.Having just had a quick re-read of what I have just written I am already starting to feel bad about my ever-grow-ing negativity, but what the hell. I’ve been wanting to get this off my chest for a while. Perhaps in the hope that it might help the scene in some way?!?! Southampton isn’t actually all bad, and I’m sure tomorrow once this is all written I’ll have the best day I’ve had here in a long, long time, my point is that it doesn’t seem to last.I can’t even pin point my finger on any one particular thing. And I actually do believe that may be the problem. People come and go; the city has a pretty big uni-versity campus so the people involved in the scene are forever changing. People quit riding, people start riding less and people move away, sure it’s a part of life, I just wish the kids getting started where as keen as others to start something new and to help build the scene. Another factor in my deep pocket full of problems with this town is the lack of spots. To give you an idea, you’d have to travel about 1hour and 45 minutes to either Bristol, Caterham or Bridport to ride something indoor. All of which a million miles away from the quality of parks up north and are all fairly small also.
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This makes riding in winter pretty tricky. Especially if you’re hoping to ride with the fellow riders in your ‘scene.’As for trails? Forget it. No one cares. Which is a great shame. Its even more of a shame because people will go to other trail spots from time to time and have the time of their lives, but for some reason will not start a trail spot of their own in the area. And before you say ‘why don’t you pick up a spade yourself’, I have done, but its not easy on your own and having your trails ploughed by a herd of cows is an even bigger blow to your already low ‘lone-dig-ging’ esteem.
Again, the lack of trails is something that’s happened in the last 10 years because way back in the day there were 1 or 2 sets of fairly OK trails in the region. These how ever were abandoned by old locals moving away and people have no interest in keeping them going.I will tip my hat off to Lee Bruton though, who has something pretty decent going on the land he works at, but that would be more appropriate for a Fareham scene check rather than that of a Southampton one. Ha!
Street spots? Sure it has a few. It has that ‘hassle free, something to ride for everyone’ spot which makes for a good meeting place, but having been said meeting place for probably close to 15 years, if not longer, has made the spot fairly well ‘rinsed’ for lack of a better word. Construction is on going in this city, so there is always the odd new jib that you’ll find but again, it’s rarely anything long lasting and epic and again it seems to be getting a good crew together to go out exploring to find the rest of em that’s the problem.Oh yeah, there’s a metal park right in the city centre too, supposedly the biggest mini ramp complex in the UK, but its metal, its rarely painted, and its full of heckling young drunk 13 year old girls and Burberry wearing tough guys with their gold chains and trouser tucked into the socks, Reebok-wearing types. But the park its self isn’t too bad, and again is a fairly alright place to go on a sunny day if your looking for people to ride with.
So that almost sums it up with what Southampton has to offer. Have I painted a bad enough picture? Oh wait, the nightlife… It’s up to par. How did I almost forget to mention the nightlife. Dirty indie clubs, sweet bars and pubs, lots of fairly attractive girls, an up and coming punk scene mainly thanks to Rob Castle’s punk nights at Hamptons bar.Come down for a weekend, the drinks and cheap and the girls are cheaper. The clubs are good and you’ll no doubt be buzzing on Castles sofa until the early hours after a pish drunk night. Bring your bike, maybe we’ll even cruise the streets and ride off that hang over the next day. Ay Bomber?!?!
I just want to thank a few people for all their input in helping to build the scene and for bringing something to the city over the past few years: Joel Nichols, Decoy Pete, Cal, Rob Castle, Carlos, Dave Cotton (for being around for ever), Toadie, and most importantly Pijin BMX shop whom I’m sure with out, there’d be even more for me to moan about and even less of a scene. - Netley
STEPH COOKE / BARS GAP
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United’s French ripper,Alex Valentino.Words and photos by Hadrien Picard
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I’ve known Alex for around 5 years now. Like a lot of people, I thought Alex was really quiet and what you’d call a ‘fashion’ rider. Actually he is fashion, but on the contrary to a lot of people he knows that. It’s when you know him a little better that you’ll realize that Alex is really ironic,a realist on the BMX and humble on himself.I caught up with Alex a couple of weeks ago during the Roc d’azur in the sunny south of France. Here’s what he had to say.
So, how is the United video going?I don’t really know when it’s supposed to come out; I would say the beginning of 2010
You’re going to have a part?Yep
Who’s filming you?James Cox, he’s the best in my opinion, at least to my taste
How many times has he filmed with you?Only once. I was with Corey, Ian and Nathan in March in the States
We’ve recently seen you on the ‘Let it ride’ tour video, you’re not afraid that you may have filmed some stuff already done for the United video?Yeah for sure, but that will happen, my repertory of tricks is not very big! Ha!
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True!Is he supposed to come back? Cause I guess its pretty hard to film a part in one trip, or even two for that matter.Yeah, he may come in November to my house
You mean… Valreas? (A small city lost in the south of France, where all the Valentino family live)Yeah… We’re going to move.
Have you thought about some bangers? I heard everybody on the team is motivated…I don’t really think in advance about the trick, it all will depend on the spots. But yeah I’m thinking of some tricks, like doing again a 900.
Speaking about tricks, since you’ve learned the bus driver, you’re doing them quite a lot… Do you ever have the urge to do some of the old tricks? You used to do a lot of spinning stuff, and big tricks.Yeah, I’m trying to do a mix, to be complete. Whip oppo, oppo spinning etc etc
Didn’t you try bus to bus lately?Yeah…it hurts the fingers…
How was the states trip?Great. I felt part of the family, they were so welcoming.At the beginning I was super happy to eat all these hamburgers, pancakes etc… But after a while, when you’re used to eating ‘normally’, you can get a serious stomachache
Not to impressive to ride with Corey and Nathan?Yeah, Ian told me not to be impressed by this punk from Nashville. Finally its just riding with buddies. And like everybody can struggle 50 tries on a tech thing
So now you’re more than the little frenchys?Yeah at the euro Mega tour. It was my first trip with them, Kye, Ricky, Dean Hearne, Nathan, and Steve. Trips are a good way to gather the entire group. Since I was the only non-English spoken guy it was a little hard at the beginning
To show that you’re part of it, you have a signature ‘squad’ right?
Colourway, size, stickers?Yeah I’m so proud to do it! I have special stickers that I drew with my name, zip code, the symbol of my town and the French flag and a special colour
It’s important for you to show the French flag? Like in racing you’re used to that but not in the French freestyle. People in general in French are not proud of the flag or the countryYeah it’s not being over proud, but if you look at the other countries, the English, the Americans, they are proud of their country. And us, we are not proud of our flag
And with Vans, how is it going?Yeah, perfect, maybe it’s going to evolve, maybe a little more budget
So what are you doing right now? Job, studies?You were last year in Lyon right? To do what?I was only one year where I went to the uni
I think you didn’t go a whole year no?Yeah thanks to the strikes I actually went there only 4 monthsI got bored so I went back to Valreas where I work half time now with my dad in his shoe Shop, so I can ride half time.
You have real schedules? Like you get up early in the morning?
Surprisingly. Yes
How’s your dad, as a boss?He’s perfect, he’s cool, it’s not like a regular boss, and he’s my dad
Speaking about the family, I heard you are quite a lot involved with BMX…I started riding thanks to a TV show on the French TV showing the X games. Then I had a Peugeot for my birthday. After that I did 2 years racing with a PK ripper. But I was more at the trails than the racetrack so I stoppedMy dad and me started together. My dad is really interested into what his family is doing.He was 38 at that time. After that my sisters started racing, now she’s elite woman.After Race and dirt I was a lot into skate park, having a brake, fufanus and stuff like that, but when I saw Joe Cox's 'Voices, it really motivated me to ride street, mainly Tom Blyth and Joe Cox.
So the Cox’s are generally good in videos?Yes even if they are not brothers
Your nickname was, and still is 'Dirt' right? Even if you don’t ride a lot of trails now?Yeah I was doing tricks on the racetracks, so the racers gave me this nickname.Yeah during the let it ride tour, I just
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watched the new line in Peynier…
Let’s talk about your clothing Co, Marie JadeWhere do you find the name ?I Heard a Rick James song where he was saying Marie Jane, I just changed the 'N', I don’t know, sounds good to me. I do that with Remy Dumoulin. I draw the stuff.
Why all the t-shirt in XXXXL?Because we are gangstas.
What size are you wearing?XL
Even if you are … 65kgs?70!I was fed up with having my butt outside my pants
You did a Marie Jade bag right?Yeah my team are doing that. I saw a Chanel one and I had the idea to do that. It’s 90 euros.
Is it a serious thing for you?Now it’s just for us, just for fun
What’s the team?We have a good team by the way! Badet, Lauque , Kalkoff, Remy Dumoulin, Winai and me
Beautiful team! Do all the riders have lot of Marie jade stuff or just one t-shirt?
Yeah it’s more like, they have one t-shirt, and they wear it at the right time héhé. It’s just because we are friends that they accept that kind of deal…
Any last words?Coxie you’re a slag!
‘Because we are gangstas’
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luke
peeterswww.unitedbikeco.com
united case luke ad.indd 1 23/10/09 14:42:02
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For your chance to win this amazing prize courtesy of the guys over at The Source all you need to do is simply answer the question below correctly.
Pictured here on the right is The Fids.He has been with his current frame spon-sor for something like 20 years. Legendary achievement right there.
But what frame sponsor are we talking about?Is it,A) Haro BicyclesB) Hoffman BikesC) S&M Bikes
Simply email either A, B or C along with your t-shirt size to:[email protected]
One winner will be picked at random.Competition is open to UK residents ONLY.
Closing date is Friday December 18th 2009
WIN £100 TO SPEND ATTHE SOURCE
PLUS A FREE CASE SHIRT AND STICKERS
Competition
pic
: Dye
Case BMX Magazine and The Source bike shop in sunny Hastings are teaming up this issue to offer you some pretty damn awesome prizes. The Source have one of the best mail order systems in the business and their store front is second to none. It’s packed with all the latest bits from all the best brands in BMX. Com-pletes, hardware, clothes and shoes, mags and DVDs, you name it and The Source probably has it. And if they dont, then Wildcat will order it in for you!
The Source are offering you the chance to win, and subsequently spend £100 pounds in their store or via mail order and all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning the £100 is answer the simple question below.All you’ll need to have a knowledge of BMX greater than lets say a few years. Yes, it is THAT easy. And if you dont know the answer, then hazzard a guess. What have you got to lose?
There is a place on the eastern coast of the United States that has been talked about the world over by trails riders. This place, or shall I say these places, because there are two in the same sort of area, are on another level to anything else imaginable and are only truly understood by those that have graced both said patches of woodland.The amount of work put in (15 years at one of the spots) is unbelievable, probably even to those who have seen the place grow over the years. The amount of time, money, and effort spent maintaining these places, let alone building new stuff is to be honest, difficult to even apprehend.
I cant tell you too much about where, who, when and why but what I can tell you is that both patches of land are roughly the same sort of size as a football pitch and that there’s barely a square meters worth of land that hasn’t been built on. This one particular place, for the sake of this article we will call it ‘cover boys’, well, there’s only a few guys that dig there full time, probably accountable for on one hand, and to think about how much time and effort it takes to fix everything up and make those minor adjustments to keep things ‘fresh’ isn’t even worth thinking about. You’re normal human being would need to quit work and dig at the trails full time throughout spring to match what these guys do.
PAWOODS
MARK MULVILLE / NAC NAC SEATGRAB
TOM ARKUS / 360
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Words and photos by Mike Netley
MIKE COTTLE / TBOG
MARK POTOCZNY / NOTHING
Riding said places is something else entirely. You wanna hear about predictability and trust? Well let me tell you that these guys know what they are doing and that when eyeing up a section just know that these guys built it to work just right. Every single set there just works. Simply that, it just works. And works perfectly it does too. Sets that at times might make you question your own ability, but when hit for the first time, set you up perfectly for the set to follow. It really is quite incredible.There was this one line, my particular favorite (actually it was two lines that you hit in one run), namely ‘pony express’ into ’chillers’, man, that might’ve been THE best line ever created at any singular set of woods. In my opinion. If you’ve hit it, you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if not, I really honestly hope you get to experience that at some point in your life. Again it quite simply just works. Perfectly.I would’ve taken that line home with me had Jay of let me.
The locals, damn son, the locals know what’s up. Everyone I met was just an absolute pleasure to hang out with. Very welcoming, yet hostile at the same time (so would you be with 15 years worth of hard work on the line), thankful of your kind words about said place, sincere, modest, and most of all, fun to ride with. Trails by 10am, riding till dark, out to dinner and then hit the back room. I sure could do with more days like that in my life.
You wanna hear about
predictability & trust?
Again it quite simply just works. Perfectly.
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MIKE COTTLE / TABLE
JOSH PEKICH / TURNDOWN
If I’m honest though, besides all the driving between spots, I actually kinda like visiting the different scenes. The different styles of jumps, the different landscapes and the different attitudes of locals, in my mind, shows character, change and individuality. The central location has happened, and although not all parties have migrated the amount that Brian and Tom have achieved over the past 12 months is more than what the guys out east probably achieve every 3 years. And that’s not even an exaggeration. Tom Arkus said it best; “Digging with Brian is a whole different experience; he counts as two people for how much work he puts in”In my eyes Pittsburgh is booming, and for me at least, having the options to hit a cement park, wave pools and the south side bars make it the choice location to call my summer home.In the same state, but out on the western side lays the
beautiful city of Pittsburgh. Home of the Steelers and of a thousand bridges, or so it seems.Pittsburgh is home to such trail legends such as Kris Bennett, Todd Walkowiak, Punjab, more recently Chris Doyle and even more so, Brian Yeagle.That little list right there, and that’s not even naming the locals who have been around forever yet may not have had their names in the limelight at one stage or another (Potoczny brothers, PTT locals, Blake, Boner, Josh, Mark and Bobby, Monroeville guys etc), gives an almost certainty of a thriving trail scene similar to that out further east. Thriving it sure is, however very spread out. Its been said before and I’ll say it again, and I know all the locals agree, but if the certain groups were to combine time and skills at a central location then I believe that Pittsburgh could even ‘one up’ what’s on offer out on the eastern side of Pa. Not that it's about ‘one upping’ one another. “Digging with
Brian is a whole different
experience; he counts as two people for how
much work he puts in.”
Thriving it sure is, however very spread out.
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A Scott Malyon Interview, of sorts. Words and photos by Fraser Peek
So you finally have some good local trails to ride and dig at, what’s that like?It’s real good, they are still at an early stage but we’ve all got big plans for them this winter. It’s good not to have to travel miles just to ride some trails, so far it’s a pretty select crew... Just the way we like it.
Is there anything you want to get built down there?MORE JUMPS. MORE AND MORE. I personally am looking forward to the line which will divert through a tunnel to a mud quarter, were not totally sure if it’s gunna work or not, but I’m sure if we all put our heads together we’ll make it happen. It’s already been named “The Tunnel Of Love”.
Describe a usual summer session...We’ll I’d probably get to the jumps around lunch time, everyone else will probably already be there, pick up a shovel and do some little repairs, some watering and dusting. Maybe get the fire going so we can have a cuppa. Everyone will probably be throwing a few insults at each other. Then it’ll be time to pick up the bike and do some riding and hopefully keep riding until it gets dark. Pack the stuff away and go home for a nice dinner. Job done.
You can pretty much do any jumping trick you want; I’ve seen you bust out at trails all over the country...what’s your favorite thing to do at the jumps? Or anything u wanna dial in down there?Well that’s very kind of you, your right though I do bust out a lot of tricks at all the trails I go to...the stiffy, a pencil, sometimes a dead sailor and that’s just to name a few. Ha Ha! I love just flowing through jumps and blasting nice and high. But you can’t beat a good no-hander, a no-foot step thru or a cheeky nac nac. I’d love to be able to dial in more 360 stuff though.
Not so long ago you couldn’t pick up a magazine without seeing you plastered all over it... Where did you ‘disappear’ to?I’m still here and always have been. Maybe I don’t kiss enough ass??!! I think the only coverage I got was mainly at the comps I used to go to like, KOC, Urban Games, King Of Street, The Bike Shows (when they were good) and now those comps aren’t around anymore people seem to think I’ve stopped riding. One well-known rider was even heard saying that he thought I was dead??? I have my ramp, which I ride a lot, and now we have local trails. Just because I’m not in magazines it doesn’t mean I’m not riding. I’m still alive and kicking!!!!!
When you put your gyro back on are you gonna be spinning the bars left, right and centre? No I just wanna get it back on and have a bit more freedom to spin the bars a little. Don’t worry I’m not gunna be wrestling my bike and throwing bar spins and tail whips all the time. THATS GROSS!!!
What bands get u most inspired while you’re riding? This is changing all the time. For a long time it’s been bands like, Murder City Devils, Cromags, Youth of Today, Bane, Slapshot, Hardskin. But right at this moment it’s got to be The Sword or The Saviours, when this stuff comes on at the ramp it makes everyone go mental.
Favorite trail snack?Any kind of fruit. A nice cup of tea or may be a cheeky cream cake.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how ‘trails’ are you? - Explain...I don’t know. I like to ride everything so I guess it would be about 3.333 trails. Ha Ha! It’s good to be able to ride everything; Ramp, Street, Dirt. There’s no point limiting yourself to the stuff you can ride. Wow, that sounds very positive…
“One well-known rider was even heard saying that he thought I was dead???”
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Who’s Tom Sanders? Big man eh? I’m no big man. I’m a lazy student from Hull, studying mechanical and electrical engineering at college at the minute – probably the most boring course I could of picked. I’ve got a mint job at a clothes shop called Beasley’s in Hull that I do 4hours a week selling the weirdest and best American import clothes ever! Why don’t you live in the ‘Cock House’ with the other Hull riders? Good question, I may as well live there, I pretty much stop there every weekend and my house key some how works in there door which means I pretty much do live there. First weekend they moved in I woke up to two mice on top of me, I ended up having to sleep in the bath. Carl soon sorted the problem out by masking the holes up. They’ve got a new house now that is only £425 a month between 6 making it probably the cheapest house in England to live in!I hear you have a special relative? with stunting in their blood? Yeah my Grandad, who pasted away before I was born was a stunt man. He used to race side cart on a motorbike with his mate and after the races used to rig up some sketchy fire hoops and sheets of glass to jump through…wish I’d seen it.You live in Hull, why do you think the city is suddenly getting coverage? I guess it could be to do with Rich Wilson putting together the one more brew edit for us or the Nike 6.0 entry he filmed in Hull with me and Nathan Rule. I don’t think many people outside of Hull thought that there was much of a scene here or many spots to ride before they saw that. Is Hull really that bad? It’s worse! Joking. Nah it’s not bad, well us lot don’t think it is anyway, I guess we’ve grown up here though. Every city’s got its sketchy areas and I can think of loads of other places that are worse you just need to know where’s alright and where’s sketchy. I’ve been to alot of other citys that i’ve thought are rougher or sketcher than Hull. Hull’s home and I like it here!What’s there to Ride in Hull? It’s mainly just street here. There’s also a pretty good outdoor park here on Ings estate. I don’t know if many people remember the Rock city skate park in
Hull? Well that’s reopening in a few weeks and is looking real good so that
should be cool when that’s all finished.
How are things going with FBM?
I left FBM the other month, not on bad terms or anything like that I think Steve
and everyone involved in FBM are cool as well as the company its self, I just
didn’t think it was the right company for me to ride for, plus Blyth told me I
had to grow my hair and start listening to satanic black metal.
What’s going on now then?
I’ve just started riding for United bikes which I’m psyched about, Dean and Ian @
4down are cool as and I’m glad I’m involved with their company. I’m also looking
forward to filming for the new video as well.
Would you get married with your Beany on?
I reckon. I don’t take it off for anything else.
What’s next for Tom Sanders?
Bed {with his Beanie on].
Tom Sanders with a big 180 to fish supper.
Interview and photo by George Marshall
TOMSANDERS
“Hull’s home and I like it here!”
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was wondering, what is it that has kept the trails scene so strong in this country and indeed Europe, America and the rest of the world. Trail riding and building are my roots in BMX and it’s how I met a lot of people that are now good friends today. It has been a door to so many opportunities and it has even inadvertently led me as far away from here as you can get, before coming back again. As a result I now have close friends in New Zealand and had the pleasure of meeting some of the most genuinely friendly and accommodating people I know.Now I know this is a cliché and you’ve read a similar statement about BMX a thousand times. But go back and read it again. I’m not talking about BMX, I’m talking about trails and that is an important point here. You see I differentiate the two things, because after many years witnessing the growth of this curious beast I have seen how being a trail rider separates me from the animal of BMX. Or in fact a more accurate statement how I have become closer to Bicycle Motocross than the average BMXer will.
This isn’t an attack on any other style, or to try and compare one against the other. No this is just a realisation that trail riding has it’s very own persona as does street, freestyle, vert, flatland or whatever it is you wish to label yourself. When you have built and maintained a set of trails there is a whole new creative outlet in your life. It makes me sad when I see people complain about how shit their council skate park is. To see people totally reliant on what some fat out of touch beurocrats have so kindly slapped down with the meagre crusts from a very substantial council budget.You see when I started BMXing it was to liberate myself. At the time it wasn’t exactly well known and certainly didn’t hold the credibility it does today. It was however liberating and free. You see the freedom that goes with trails is amazing, it’s a buzz and like a drug it can become addictive. We got stick from some people for building trails that resembled quarter pipes, it got dubbed the skate park line by many and I can see why. To be honest I couldn’t give a fuck about the dissing element or the fact that the criticism came from people that probably had very soft hands. What did annoy me is that people could be so intent to stick themselves in a rut and try and faction the different elements of BMX as if there is some kind of dogma that we should all be adhering to.
in late August Mark Noble took a small band of fellas out into the mysterious world of the British Trails scene. Words by Davros. Uncredited photos & layout by Davros. Additional Photos by Frog, Mark Noble, Graeme Bateman and Ed Salter.
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DELUXEON
THE ROAD WITH
ForewordNow you have me condradicting myself and you can be forgiven if this rant seems a bit hypocritical. However this is how I have come to my conclusion. That maybe I’m not so detached. Although I feel that trail builder/riders are in many ways a different breed, we still have so much to offer BMX. In a way we are remnants from a past that refuses to die, and maybe when the house of cards finally falls down there will be the few that will be there to shuffle the deck and deal them out for another game.
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g
pic by Noble
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No
ble
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Mulville and Max. Villij train
Pom pom soars over gav at Bar End on day 1
Mulville, classic stretched style. Organic trails
MAD DOGS
and English
men.They say only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun; well if you had to put up with this climate then you would too. Although even madder people go out in the mid winter chill with spades and wheel barrows. After a lengthy discussion of available spots and best routes to take we finally decided on not one, but three alternative plans of action with all possible weather scenarios considered. And with our military like preparations, discussed over a summery trails evening we set off on what became the Deluxe Trails Tour 09 in pursuit of that allusive midday sun, or in fact any sun would be nice. Now I could carry on with the English theme and talk at great length about the weather, but I think I’ll assume we are on good terms, well at least terms and go straight into my little story. We met at Barend and started the trip there. We then went on to various other sets of trails around the country along with two Snail Munchers and a Goddam Yank, or
as you might know them, Pom Pom, Max, and Mullville, plus support crew including Patch on picture box, Gav on roadie duties and Joe Alderson on trail knowledge back up (which proved to be invaluable.) Now there is a video soon to come out about the trip and I think that it will explain it far better than I ever can. Plus I think the pictures here give you some idea of what we did and where we went. I can only speak for myself here but I think every one on the trip will agree that it was awesome, relaxed sometimes, sometimes frantic and honestly not what I was expecting. I think the best thing about this trip was getting to see a cross section of the UK trails scene. By no means did we get to see all of it and I’m thankful that is in fact an impossible task to achieve in just one week. There is so much out there and I think that we should take pride in knowing that there is one of the best trail cultures in the world right here on our doorsteps, something that the mass BMX media seem to have forgotten over the last few years. Its funny that this brings me back to a conversation that I had with someone and they mentioned about covering (I can’t quite remember the exact phrasing) the main sets of trails in the UK. At the time this made perfect sense and I would in no way fault the person for it, and the conversation just continued, but sitting here and reflecting on the recent trip I suddenly feel a bit perplexed by that statement. I actually think that it goes
against what the trails scene really stands for, and its main strength and virtue, that makes it worth the effort is that no one set is any more important than any other. So if you were to do a report on the scene, to presume that there are some sets of trails that deserve more recognition than others seems to destroy any premise that you first had about reporting on the UK trails scene. Then again try covering every spot and speaking to every person, so as to put it into a printable medium, well again you have an impossible task, and I don’t think any one was ever claiming to do that. So I guess the two points I want to make is that you can only have a cross section, a brief insight of the culture here and also to concentrate on well known / established spots fails to recognise the true beauty of what it is to build and ride trails. With that in mind I think I would like to just give you one specific anecdote on the last day of the trip. One of the last stops on the trip was Whingham trails. I had seen some footage of the place and met some of the locals before but had never been to the actual place. I think everyone had a favourite spot on the trip and I think for me personally this was it. Now if we were to look at it from a stats point of view then there would be nothing that sets this spot apart from any where else and I don’t want that to sound like an insult the place is dialled, but I guess it was more the general experience. We arrived and spent a good hour or more
helping the locals patch up and repair a few lines. It had been a long dry spell and as with all places had taken its toll on some of the burms and lips. Nothing major just that general wetting and patching, tarting the place up a bit. This gave us a bit of time to get to know the people local to the spot and as a team was nice to see how easily we could work together. Not to say that we didn’t help out any were else, but I think, I hope we went away putting in as much as work as we got fun out. We had a few runs to get used to the lines and before long we were running massive trains with the locals through the sets, and to an outsider I don’t think you would know that there was actually people from many places that had only just met. For me that is the virtue to building and riding trails. It is a great leveller in what is becoming a more individual, celebrity obsessed past time and I hope it continues in this direction. I mean the scene is in no way near perfect, and there are still a lot of things that I personally feel need addressing. It is still the case that it is still up to the few to provide the work and effort for the many to enjoy. I don’t think there are many trails in this country that can honestly say that for every person that rides there is an equal amount prepared to put in the work, but this is something that can get better and lets stay positive. If you are reading this then rest assured, from what we saw in just one week there are many people like you with the drive and creativity
and sooner or later it is going to get the recognition its due. There’s nothing wrong in taking pride in what you’ve created and maybe we are left with two choices, put on your wellies or be prepared to put on your aprons, he he. Just imagine what we as a BMX community can go on to achieve, for whatever there is now in the UK, we could have double, no pun intended.
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Frog turns down at Cothill and Pom pom folds one up in Winchester
58 59The End
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9SEC
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Broken bars (not Deluxe...), transit vans, lofty tucks, kick outs and stretched tricks. Thats what the Deluxe UK tour was all about.
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OLLIE REEVETRICK: ICE PICK
LOCATION: CHANDLERS FORD, SOUTHAMPTONPHOTO: MIKE NETLEY
P H O T O FEATURE
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BRIAN YEAGLETRICK: ONE FOOT TABLELOCATION: GIRONA, SPAINPHOTO: VINCENT PERRAUD
P H O T O FEATURE
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MIKE COTTLETRICK: ONE FOOTED TABLE
LOCATION: PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA
PHOTO: MIKE NETLEY
P H O T O FEATURE
LUC LEGRANDTRICK: RUBEN STYLE WALLRIDELOCATION: DAX, FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRYPHOTO: VINCENT PERRAUD
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ROB CASTLETRICK: ICE PICKlOCATION: SOUTHAMPTONPHOTO: ROBIN PEARSON
OLLIE STEWARTTRICK: TURNDOWNLOCATION: KINGS PARK, BOURNEMOUTHPHOTO: MIKE NETLEY
P H O T O FEATURE
Talking Heads
You’ve just spent your first summer in the UK in years, how was it? Yeah it’s been a few years. Damn! It’s been awesome apart from getting half my trails plowed, and I’m probably going to lose them all at some point. Summers been awesome in the UK, the weather hasn’t been too bad, I rode a bunch of trails I haven’t rode for years, some new ones, and went on a few trips, I met some new people and saw some old faces, its been rad.
Where have been in previous summers? The last 4 or 5 summers I’ve been going to Pennsylvania to go ride trails and hangout with my friends. It’s amazing out there, the weather’s awesome, the trails are shit hot and the people just top all that off. I’ve missed it a lot this summer.
How the summers in America compare to ol’ blighty? Probably the first thing would be the weather, the weather in Pennsylvania is amazing in the summer. But winter sucks though, you’re not able to build like over here it just gets so cold. Also it’s insane how much cheaper stuff is than in England, basically it’s about two quid for a gallon of petrol hahaha.
What was the Mutiny UK trip like you went on this summer? Arrrh man the mutiny trip was so rad. I had so much fun. It was good being around a big group of awesome people riding some sweet stuff that I had never rode before. We got the luck at the start of the trip with the weather, it was red hot. Then towards the end of the trip the weather kinda got shitty. But overall it was a blast - so much fun.
How are things going with Mutiny? Things with mutiny are amazing. I’m really into what they’re doing at the minute, well to be honest I always have. So I’m really psyched to be a part of it. It’s awesome to think that it seems everyone that’s involved with mutiny all get along. I think the main thing with a company is that your team all gets along. I can’t thank Gaz and Joe enough with how much they have helped me out the last few years. Thanks bros.
How did you originally get on the team? I remember being at the trails digging or something. and Jay Sponge called me and said Gaz was into me riding for Mutiny and wanted a trail rider on the team as they were making a trail frame. Jay was like you can have my spot on the team, I was so psyched and was basically like ‘fuck yea man’. I’m still psyched on it to this day.
On the mutiny trip you were overheard saying you’d rode more street in that week than the last 6 months. Are you riding street more these days? Hahaha yea that’s true. It’s because at the start of the year I’m always in the woods dialing shit in. I don’t really ride that much at the start of the year because there is always so much shit to do in the woods. Then I’m just into getting shit ridden in. I dunno if I’m riding more street these days I’ve just been riding anything. I just seem to get pschyed on riding anything these days even if its riding to the trails. Its all fun init.
How does riding street differ to riding trails for you? Riding trails is a totally different ball game to riding street. Street riding just doesn’t have the same feeling to riding trails. But like I said I just get psyched on riding anything - have fun.
Interview and photos by George Marshall
What do you tend ride in winter? How do spend time in the dark months of winter? Winter does really suck, fuck man. I try and ride some skateparks here and there and some street if the weathers not shit. But I don’t really ride that much in the winter, I just end up digging most of the time. Last winter was rad because one of my friends, Deville, lost his job so we would go down pretty much everyday building stuff. Last winter sucked weather wise - digging in snow is hard.
Any plans for 2010? Normally I don’t really have any plans I just live my life as it comes, but this winter me and my friends have got to get a new location to build on. We’re working on it but it’s going slow. We’re working with a landowner who’s really into what we wanna do so hopefully something will work out pretty soon. I dunno I wanna learn to drive, maybe get place with my girl and maybe get dog. Who knows. Ummm, mite be going out to Austin but I’ll just have to wait and see.
Robbo on home turf. Tobbogan, Loughborough.
“winter does really suck, fuck”
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TWENTY VELOCROSSHere is just a few of Twenty’s 2010 line up of after market frames and accessories. All high quality Taiwanise-made, with a great attention to detail and clean looks with solid geometary all round.log on to SOURCEBMX.COM or TWENTYVELOCROSS.COM for more information.
UNITEDHere is just a snippet of what Ian and Dean have in store for you in 2010 from the 4down HQ.Notably, Nathan Williams’ signature frame, in black and this awesome orange colour that I am digging; dubbed the ‘Mothership’ (There’s a new version of the 40 frame too....)
Leo Forte’s personal favourite, the Corduroy pivotal seat, a new pair of cranks, available in white and black, as well as a new pair of bars; the Grande bars, which again, are abailable in black, white and also in the awesome orange that Nathans frame comes in. All looking good from United. And all available now.UNITEDBIKECO.COM or 4DOWNDISTRIBUTION.COM for more info on all of this.
PRODUCT
BICYCLE UNIONA swish looking, brand spanking new brake from the guys at Bicycle Union as well as a newly patterned grip. Also pictured are their popular front and rear hubs in new colour ways. It’s all looking good in the East End.WWW.BICYCLEUNION.COM
S&M BIKESAwesome looking new race inspired seats from S&M for 2010 along with the OG looking P-GUTS which allow you to use a traditional railed seat (with a hole drilled in) on a pivotal post. Awesome!New colourways of the C.Wood, Cardona and Randy Brown frames are available also. SANDMBIKES.COM or 4DOWNDISTRIBUTION.COM for more on these bits
ANIMAL/ A BIKE CO2 new thick hooded tops from A Bike Co to keep you warm whilst out on the streets during the cold winter months. Good quality materials used here as always from the guys over at A Bike Co.ANIMALBIKES.COM or 4DOWNDISTRIBUTION.COM
DELUXEAlong with new colourways of the ever popular Deluxe trails specific frame comes these new grips, descirbed as ‘man sized’, slightly thicker than your average grip and super comfortable and at the same time, long lasting. Very neat indeed.
Also pictures is the new sprcket which has been designed by CNC machinest and French rider, Pom pom.All looking clean and of the highest possible quality for Deluxe in 2010.
WWW.DELUXEBMX.COM for the whole new range and to get the low down.
CASE BMX MAGAZINEOur own t-shirts are available on the online store. Printed on high quality Gildan shirts by local skate legend Don Brider.Available in sizes S, M, L and also in girls sizes.casebmx.com for these
FBM BikesNew DVD from Crandall and Co. This one’s a goodun. And its cheap as chips. And it contains 2 disks.The first disk is the gypsy caravan 2 tour. Packed with fun times and some very good rding, and on the other disk, is FBM’s wizard of Oz tour where as the name suggests, some of the FBM crew jetted off for a tour of Austrailia with the guys at Stowaway Distribution. Awesome stuff as usual from the guys at FBM.Available now... 4DOWNDISTRIBUTION.COM
PROFILE RACINGTons of new colours as usual from Profile.See picture right for a large range but pay particular notice to these below. Classic black but with a sprinke of gold. How swish!Also, check out this slimmed down, smoother and cleaner looking hub from Profile. (below right) named the Totem. Please note, this is not a replacement for the ever so popular mini hub. These babies sit along side them, and they look amazing.PROFILERACING.COM or PROFILEEUROPE.CO.UK for price and availability.
This jam was a last minute winged attempt at getting a few buddies up for a ride of our trails. Each local had a different idea of what the jam would turn out like, George Salmon ex Osiris/ Howies sponsor wanted an old school jam with TNT banners on the landings and tricks galore. I just wanted a few of the Decoy boys and other trail riders to come
... sorry about the shitty excuse for an article but I’m tired and want to go out in the sun ha-ha.
Cheers
Pete
FIELDDAY
WORDS BY DECOY PETE PHOTO & LAYOUT BY DAVROS
Rory drove all the way from Winchester to tell
Pete War how much he hates him. Ferret motos the hip, arch
enemies share the love and watch on, (pre
strimmer.)
and have a ride, Pete and Camby wanted a MTB jam with local Ben shredding, and German Pete just wanted to grow some veg. What actually happened was quite different. It ended up with four people actually riding and about 30 watching, so wasn’t really any sort of Jam. On top of that someone crashed another persons van into
Ferrets’ van, then same said person ran around chasing people half naked with a broken strimmer, was pretty funny but I don’t think the Barend lot will be coming back.
So no major tricks went down, no sponsored superstars were there, and definitely no nibbly foot jam, to foot jam, to foot jam, but for the four riders it was a good, windy ride
on a Saturday afternoon. I must mention though that George Salmon did three all the sets down there and was upset not to go on the “trail tour,” he definitely would have won the kickout comp. As there were only four riders and I was the judge for the day, I definitely won the whole jam, and gave the prize money of £10,000 to myself!! Bet all you sponsored
money grabbers wish you’d turned up now. Cheers to all that came.
Thanks go out to: Salty sea hound for never helping dig, Toad, Ben, Pete, Pete and Camby, Staircase, Stagnant, George Salmons’ Wife, Builders of Decoy, Winch, Netley for trying to get a alternative mag in the UK, and any person with a spade and no sponsors, ha-ha.
I was the judge for the day, I definitely won the whole jam
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Ferret motos the hip, arch enemies share the love and watch on, (pre strimmer.)
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SMTAY STRONG
URRAY JAM 2009
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The Murray jam is always a date pencilled in ones diary. Your always guaranteed a few things good people, good food, real good riding and you’ll always whiteness people struggle with the rollers at the start of the farmers line. This years jam was no different, even more people turned out to show there support and get a piece of the hog roast.
The trails were immaculate and the riding was just as good. There were trail scenes from all over the country in attendance and as ever the que was even longer. All the locals smashed and some impressive lines were layed down. Its weekends like this that makes you realise what a strong community we
as riders have. Enough money was raised to pay for Stephens health care for a month. this is just a small part BMX is doing for Stephen and his family and I know im proud to have been apart of it. Stay strong Stephen.
Words and Photos by James BoughenUn-credited photos by Mike Netley
JAM
ES B
OU
GH
EN
I’m really struggling to even think of a few words that the dudes on this here page could have in common. I can think of three straight off the bat, but apart from that, I’m stuffed. “Fun”, “Potocznys”, and “crashing” are those three.If I were to summarize, I’d say something along the lines of ‘Both dudes seriously rip on a bike and with a constant smile on their faces. Add a few good crashes into the mix on any given day at Mark Potoczny’s house just outside of Pittsburgh Pa, and you have these two wild dudes to deal with’But I’m going to try and tell a little more.
These guys are two pretty different riders. Wert is pretty wild, but in a kind of “I’m throwing myself off of or over the wildest thing I can find” sort of way, whilst Johnny Z has some pretty wild stunts stashed up his sleeve but a bit more of a chilled persona about him. Both dudes are clearly not huckers how ever. You only need to watch them cruise the trails on any given ‘chill day’ to realize that. Both dudes just seem to really take well to feeding off of and/or getting a good atmosphere going at the trails. It’s just plain awesome to be around.
Johnny Z seems to be a pretty simple dude, not worried about the latest trends, not worried about impressing anyone and certainly not caring about padding up at the trails. It’s pretty refreshing to see. Although pretty ‘under the radar’, his name is certainly far from that around the concrete parks and trails of Western Pa.
As for Wert, well where do I start. You can see more of Wert in the latest video from Ride USA, where he was spotted on Ride magazines road trip up in the northwest earlier this year.I remember one particular ‘Wert’ story going something like this,“We were at this cement park in Oregon when the Ride USA trip came through. Wert didn’t give a fuck about watching all these pro’s and just carried on blasting this one hip that he’d been riding all day long. He was boosting it so high that it didn’t take long for the pro crew to take note and before you knew it, Ride magazines photographer and videographer both had their lenses pointed in Wert’s direction.Everyone was pretty stoked on Wert, I’m not really sure exactly how it all happened but before the end of the day he’d been hooked up on a Kink Bike Co flow deal.”
Not bad for a kid who never left his small, western Pa home town until the Potoczny brothers invited him along on an epic West coast pre summer fun road trip they had planned.If you’ve been out to the Potoczny house then you’ll know full well what I’m on about. If not, then grab a copy of Ride’s new video to catch a glimpse. Failing that, the next time you see Rob Dolecki, ask if you can watch his night time Wert clip from the DK dirt circuit this past summer. That’s an entirely different yet amazing story altogether.
Johnny Za.k.a John Zoppelt III
Werta.k.a Ryan Wert
Words and photos by Mike Netley
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The S&M WTFIs this the bike we’ll all be riding next?
Words and photos by Mark Noble
Wandering through the aisles of expensively decorated and creatively packed bicycle company booths, you almost become numb to the shinery and finery on display each year at Interbike, the industry’s open-house all-brand bicycle showroom – complete bikes in this season’s colour combinations, frames, parts that proclaim to change bike riding forever, wild and wacky and impractical rides from Taiwan, full suspension bouncers from Southern Californian workshops, hardcore spindly single-speeds from New York – it’s all here under one [gigantic] roof. However, if you look closer, and you focus on what you’re into, you can really find some true gems among the organised chaos – and we found something. This year, S&M Bicycles debuted what they’re developing as a bicycle of the future.Chris Moeller and co have come a helluva long way since 1987 when he was combining features of other frames
CASE: So who have you made custom frames for then?NEAL: We are building custom frames every week. You name it we have done it – 24” toptubes, V-brakes on an Edwin, even put a regular headtube and American BB on an LTF. We are working on the S&M custom frame website, so soon you will be able to order a custom built S&M frame direct from the website.When did the WTF bike project start?Chris [Moeller] mentioned the idea of building a frame around a lower fork in the beginning of 2009, but I did not have time to draw anything up. Everything else on that bike was either an idea or prototype product we have been working on.
to come out with the K-9 D-Zine frames, the predecessor to the Mad Dog, which was then the predecessor to the S&M Dirt Bike. In a nutshell, these are nothing less than landmark icons when it comes to BMX frames, and they helped change the landscape of BMX. Fast forward to 2009, and what does the S&M WTF hold in store for us? We spoke exclusively to Neal Wood – the ex-pat British BMX legend (old-school racers out there will remember banging elbows with Neal – and more than likely coming off worse) who is now in charge of S&Ms product development, which not only includes projects such as the WTF bike you see here, but also custom frames for both its team guys and paying punters. Over to you Neal.
Okay. First up, the forks – what are the differences with this new Shortfork?We wanted to build a fork with a 12” axle to crown measurement. To do this we used a tight bend radius on the fork leg, this gave us more tyre clearance, and the increased angle between the leg and steerer enabled us to have a much shorter crown. The steerer is also shorter, because we are only using a 4” headtube on the WTF frame. The drop out is closed – namely Black Hole – with only one inch of rake, as most high-end hubs seem to be female.
The frame has a new headtube too – what’s the deal with the ShortStock headtube?The WTF frame has a 4” headtube – most BMX frames use around 4 5/8” (117.48mm) this just worked well with the new fork and the idea of building a frame and fork designed to be run with a top-load stem. Once fully assembled your hands and axles are in the same position as using an LTF frame with a Redneck. The BB height has been lowered to 11.4” – this was because, the bigger tyres get the higher your BB gets, and we just thought we should address that.
How does the ShortFork and the ShortStock headtube affect the handling of this bike though?George [Ramirez] is riding one at the moment, but his hand is a little messed up. Everybody who rode the bike at the show said, “It feels solid and great for nose wheelies.” We have plenty of testing ahead.
What about the new rear dropouts?Same as the fork – Black Hole – a lot of high-end hubs are female and it completely eliminates pinching the drop out.
The drivetrain is all new too – what is the deal here?Why is ½” the BMX chain standard? It made sense when everybody ran 44-16, but with gears getting smaller shouldn’t the chain do the same thing? The Interbike bike had a chain I found in a tractor supply store, but I have already sourced shorter pitch bicycle-style chains to continue testing. The rear hub and driver are USA made prototypes, and testing is going well. The driver idea came from a vendor of ours who makes a lot of bronze bushings for Boeing landing gear.
Overall, how’s testing going on this bike – do you think this will roll out to production frames? And, are we looking at new standards here?
I will let you know…
left...S&M shortened the overall length of the WTF headtube, lowering the whole front end and tightening it all up – you may think it also affects handling, but with a top-loader stem and 8-inch bars, the grips are back in the usual place at the usual height, and it still rides natural. The geometry throughout is designed with this in mind.
From front to back, S&M have put a rash of new ideas onto their WTF bike – it’s being tested now, and if it all goes well, there are some features on here which could become stan-dard across BMX. Watch this space…
S&M figured that since sprockets and drivers have reduced in size from 44:16 to 36:13 to 25:9 (and even smaller) why not reduce the pitch of the chain as well? Check out the custom chain on the WTF – this is not a standard bicycle chain. Also, the rear dropout slots are closed – which means, though you’re left with the only choice of running a female-bolt rear hub, your dropouts will never pinch. Also, the height of the bottom bracket has been designed with larger tyres in mind (the larger the tyre, the higher the BB, so S&M have compensated for this).
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MIKE POTOCZNY
I first met Mike about 20 years ago at the hospital when he was born. He didn’t know how to ride, read or even talk for that matter. At the time, I was just confused that my mom had a big belly and all of a sudden I had another brother.
Fast forward a few years and you could have seen Mike at the local skate park or bmx track shredding. He was easily noticeable as the pudgy 9 year kid on a GT X Games bike doing no foot can-cans and super mans. Not only that but after a few years of racing he moved up through the ranks to being a nationally ranked expert racer. He still couldn’t read at the time, but everything else seemed so come very easy to him besides that. Then came a breaking point in Mike’s life, AOL Instant Messenger. When Mike realized he needed to learn to read and type to talk to girls, it was full on. After that he never looked back and quickly became a 4.0 Student with a very hard work ethic. Throughout high school, Mike took on more than most could chew with keeping up a 4.0 GPA, playing tennis, acting in school musicals, and serving as class and student council president. He graduated in the top 10 of his class and was voted prom king, pretty impressive for a bmx kid.
Nowadays, Mike is in college at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh studying history with nearly a full ride of scholarships.
Mike still finds time to ride and somehow keeps progressing with the limited time he has on his bike. With style flow and tricks, it would still seem as if mike rode every day.
I guess what I’m trying to say here is that Mike isn’t your typical bmxer. Heaven forbid someone rolled out in the wrong direction or spins goofy-footed, he wouldn’t talk shit and go write about them on the internet. He has more important things to worry about and chances are he would give them a high five and a hug and this is why he is a joy to ride with.
To sum it up, Mike is a likable guy with a passion for bike riding and knowledge; keep an eye out for him on or off the bike.
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Words by Mark Potoczny Photos by Mike Netley
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So, talking about the “jam de la source” is going to be a hard task for me. Why? Because I’m one of the local guys digging and enjoying jumps over there so what I lived this late September’s weekend was just joy and happiness.
Then let me try to share (in such a “Froggy” English) this joy in order make you want to join us next year.It would be useless to give you the whole list but maybe 100 unknown (or not) people came down to Toulouse for this 4th “event” which was not really something else than just a big BBQ session with peo-ple riding, digging or just chilling out with big smiles printed on their faces.
You guys probably don’t know it, but La Source is nothing close to a dirt field with big straight lines made to go big, no it’s much more “flowy” and was done to ride as trains with 12 or 13 riders in each on hips, berms and funny architectural handworks. Tricks are way less necessary than friends are for sure.
I liked how everyone had his own session in a “collec-tive” way sharing good times with each other without competition or anything to gain except pleasure.
It was the fourth September month we invited friends to ride, dig, eat and drink with us at the trails and I just hope many other good people will join us for the fifth one.CheersJems
‘Jam de La Source’Words by Jeremy MullerPhotos by Vincent Perraud
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DVDs TUBES BAR ENDS
GLOVES BOTTOM BRACKETS SEATS
BARS HOODIES SHOES
FREE S
TUFF
N E X TI S S U EMike Miller
Ben Green and Dan Boiski
Portsmouth
Joe Fox
Phil Aller
The Tunnel
Scott Malyon
Sheet Trails
And lots more.
AVAILABLE MID FEB.Double the amount of copies produced.
Another legend on the cover.
More products reviewed.
Another awesome prize.
And lots more.
Mark Mulville. Superman whilst crusing aroundthe UK after the Deluxe trip from page 54.
Photo by Mike Netley
84
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
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