28 October
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| One-foot table at K |
"COD?!?! That’s a fish and I don’t like fish!!"
Mr Newman has been on the scene for what seems like forever. I remember a photo of him in MBUK mid heel-clicker when he rode for Muddy Fox. That must have been what ten years ago?! Since then he has strayed away from crazy tricks and refined a distinct style based around clicked tables both ways and one of the best whips in the industry. Having competed in the King of Dirt (KOD) series over a number of years he has become well known among the dirt jumping community across the country. While in the latter half of his twenties, on a bike he's like an excitable teenager. His enthusiasm is infectious, livening up any evening or hungover trails session. Without further ado, the first getabmx MTB're interview!
Age: 26 years young
Years riding: Too many! I suppose its about 20 years since I was the little kid making little brick & board jumps and riding round like a loonatic!
Sponsors: Flow Bikes, Nookie Bikes Components, Society Forks, Halifax Credit card! (lol)
Bike set-up: Flow Ting Frame, Society Xeno Forks, Nookie 10 NR bars, Nookie Fist Stem, Nookie Playa Pedals, Insane Cranks, Sensus Swayze grips, Funn hubs, Funn (old skool as hell) rim, Funn F2 disk brake, Schwalbe table top tyres, NARROW BARS 4 LIFE!!
Day job: Part-time Secondary School music teacher.
Food: Can’t beat a Sunday Roast, roast beef is definitely the winner!
Drink: Cider & Black, those Bulmers blend 17 stuff is pretty special!
We’ve just reached the end of the trails season, how has 2011 gone for you?
To be fair it’s been the best season I’ve had in ages!! I’ve been pretty chuffed with it… finally managed to get 360s and a few variations tucked under my belt which in turn helped me at this years comps. For years I have just been going to have fun, see people and ride the comp for the sponsors rather than a top 3 position; to be honest I still have that attitude but because I’ve been pushing myself a bit & still having fun with it I managed to qualify for the final of every comp this year! I think my top placing was a 6th or 7th but I consistently got further than qualifying and finished higher than last out of all the finalists without backflipping, frontflipping or tailwhipping!?! But yeah its been a wicked season, pretty good weather, a good few trips to other spots, lots of good sessions at the K-hole and bar my bruised heels & fucked up hand from 3 weeks ago it’s been another injury free season.
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| 360 table at Chicksands |
How did the jam go this year?
The jam was so good this year, in the words of Craig Potter (NS Bikes – pro rider) “Faaakin well goooood!” Again the weather was kind to us and blessed us with good weather in the week up to it and a lovely weekend for the jam to actually be held on. It was a good crack, loads of people made the journey from different parts of the UK with a good 15 or 20 people camping at mine with the obligatory Saturday night cycle down to the pub to get sloshed followed by the pitch black country lane mission back from the pub. Actually this year was good as Dezray (aka Laughing Boy aka Desticle aka Derek Pinkett) gave most of us a tow back with his L200!! But yeah a proper good one, fancy dress riding actually happened too, although not enough people got involved.
Was this the first time a jam has been held at K?
It was the second year we have had an official jam at the Hole. I suppose in years past we would inevitably have a weekend where a shit load of people turn up to ride, but its only the last 2 years we actually invited lots of people, made an event of it, had camping at mine & most importantly, been allowed to use the village common as parking! It’s been good tho, it definitely grew and improved over the past two years. Next year is gonna be mad though; it will most probably coincide with the local village street party again which then turns a bit mad with a load of pissed up dirt jumpers there!
It wasn’t long after the jam that the big line grew. Was this in response to rider feedback or to keep up with other trails spots?
Nah it was because of neither of those; we don’t really care about ‘keeping’ up with other trails spots, K-hole is different and we like to keep it unique rather than try and copy any trends. And as for rider feedback everyone was loving the set so Pete’s changes may prove controversial!
The real reason was that Pete Ford (the main digger & absolute legend of K-Hole) had started riding them, really liking them, which then lead him to think about them a bit. This resulted in him deciding that, although called the big line, all the other jumps around them had grown in effect making the big line the not so big line anymore. Therefore they are now in the process of being resurrected as an ‘officially big’ new big line!
"I suppose having Gee and Dan (Atherton) about helped with that a bit, in fact we all did our first DH race together."
So how and when did you get into riding?
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| DH racing days! Ashcombe, Devon Photo curtesy of raceshoot.com |
Oh dear god, what a question? How long have we got? Basically since a young kid I have loved riding bikes from making little tracks round the farmyard to making ramps to take down our lane and launch as far as possible to riding the tracks at K-Hole when we were primary school kids!
Proper being fully into biking, buying MBUK, getting proper mountain bike that could take some abuse was when I was 11 though; I sold my share in my horse to but an 18” cromo-steel Diamond back hardtail. It was so good lol! And then it was a matter of weeks later that the bloody Athertons decided to get mountain bikes too!!
Didn’t you start out riding DH?
Well we always rode jumps but yeah used to be well into DH and hucking off big drops and stuff. I suppose I must have been 14 when I started doing the South West series DH races and we’d always go up in the hills round here making & riding tracks. There was such a good crew of rider when we were back at school, I suppose having Gee & Dan (Atherton) about helped with that a bit, in fact we all did our first DH race together.
You must have been pretty competitive doing a lot of races. How did the MuddyFox deal come about?
The Muddy Fox deal started from me blagging a bit of a deal from a local bike shop when the big old Diamondback frame actually died so I got one of the Muddyfox Dual slalom aluminium hardtail frames £100 cheaper than it should have been which I rode & raced. The two chaps from Muddyfox that you saw at races back then, Steve Weir & Ben Cox, were also mates with the owner of said bikeshop which resulted in me ‘borrowing’ a pair of RST High Five forks that Ben had left there. However I managed to snap the forks riding in some woods about a mile from the shop which was a fucker, fully grazed face the lot! Luckily I knew Steve’s pair of High Fives were also in the shop so I went and made one working pair out of the 2 sets, mainly so that my folks were none the wiser that I had snapped forks but also to enable me to ride. Anyway this all transpired into me paying the Muddyfox gents a small fee for the forks I had off them, making them take more notice of me shredding the DH races on one of their hard tail frames and eventually leading them to ask whether I fancied riding for them and testing some of their prototypes etc.
The rest as they say is history haha
It must have been cool being on the same team as the Athertons! What was that like?
Yeah it was pretty cool being on Muddyfox with the Athys. It was kinda like things were back before sponsorship, just riding together, helping each other out and having a laugh. At that point they were living near Cheddar in Somerset so it was only events and races that i'd see them but at that point they were already making large ripples in the mtb world.
Unfortunately I don't often see them anymore, maybe once every couple of years; they are so flat out busy with their training and racing schedules that they don't have a lot of time for much.
It must have been cool being on the same team as the Athertons! What was that like?
Yeah it was pretty cool being on Muddyfox with the Athys. It was kinda like things were back before sponsorship, just riding together, helping each other out and having a laugh. At that point they were living near Cheddar in Somerset so it was only events and races that i'd see them but at that point they were already making large ripples in the mtb world.
Are you still in contact with them?
Unfortunately I don't often see them anymore, maybe once every couple of years; they are so flat out busy with their training and racing schedules that they don't have a lot of time for much.
Why did you move away from DH?
University – that is the reason! Unfortunately the university lifestyle didn’t complement the money thirsty sport of DH and without a car I was screwed. It was a shame really cos living just North of Cardiff I wasn’t far from prime DH territory and I did get out a few times but as the DH bike got more shonked, I just couldn’t afford to keep it running on top of the getting hammered most nights of the week.
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| Table at K. Other way, no problem. |
How did you get into the K-hole scene, and was this the first set of trails you got involved with?
I suppose I have grown up with the K-Hole scene, as primary school kids it was a few lumps and berms and tracks to ride down, as secondary school kids it had moments of resembling a 4 man BMX track to moments of being something like it is today. When the Atherton’s left the village when we were 14 or 15 the jumps were a little on the big side for the rest of us locals so they did shrink slightly at that point but since then they have just grown with us and our ability.
Can you give me some K-hole history?
I suppose I just have in the previous question. But yeah it may not have turned out how it has today had the Atherton’s not lived in the village.
How did you (k locals) get around the council issues with the trails?
Well it took a fair bit of perseverance, talking to the Parish council, respecting their requests to not use the jumps until the issue was sorted and many hours of pulling my hair out at what may happen. We were pretty lucky that the majority of the village support what we do and enjoy being able to walk past and watch us on a sunny summers day.
On the legality side of things we were also very lucky as the jumps are on common land that no-one has ever wanted to use as grazing land (mainly cause there's not a lot more than stinging nettles in there!) and that technically there is no registered land owner that could be held liable.
What would you say to other riders facing opposition towards their trails?
If any one else is in this kinda position, I would say keep the channels of communication fully open between the powers that be and yourselves. You need to discuss the problem loads and get as many people on your side as possible.
When did you start competing in the COD? (Editors note: oops!)
COD?!?! That’s a fish & I don’t like fish!! If you mean KOD or King of Dirt
Then my first kinda comp/display must have been Nass the summer I finished my GCSEs, 10 delightful years ago! Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun.
"There are too many kids that don’t learn the basics before the big tricks and their style definitely suffers as a result."
What are your views on the series? e.g. the spots, rating criteria?
Well this is an unfair question as I’m now co-organiser of the Dirt Wars comp series alongside Cliff Barbeary. Lol. But its definitely a good thing that the comp series are still running. For the last 2 years we have had both the National King of Dirt series and Cliff’s Dirt Wars series to compete in which has been good in the way of giving us more to do and chose from. However it has at times thinned out the turn-out to some of the comps. With regards to the venues there has been a slow improvement in the spots used and I think things will slowly improve further; hopefully Dirt Wars will be pushing this in 2012 to create the best series possible for the riders. Rating criteria? I suppose you mean the judging? Well that’s always going to be a contentious subject, it is so subjective after all and at times the framework with which the judges have to work within can be some what sketchy. Hopefully this will sharpen itself up over the next few years, maybe trying to become more standardized taking ideas from the FMB world tour judging. However I think I have benefitted this year from judges looking at the whole picture rather than just looking for big banger tricks. It should be about your whole run, style, smoothness, variety of tricks, whether you trick every jumps, whether your rotations are bang on etc. This is the way I’d like to see comp judging go.
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| Whip at K |
There seems to be an emphasis on big tricks. Do you think flow and style should be scored higher?
Well I wouldn’t say higher, but definitely more equally. Its all good being able to do the big bangers, but if they look horrid or sketchy then what’s the point! There are too many kids that don’t learn the basics before the big tricks and their style definitely suffers as a result.
Best trails spot in the UK?
Its so hard to call one favourite, but my top 3 from this year would be 4a, Holdshott & (as always) Wisley.
I'd have thought you'd have said somewhere with lots of hips and lines like Bar End? And no mention of JLC? I'm offended!
I do like Bar-end but it was like 7 or 8 years ago since I last went there. As for JLC... they are good for letting your dog run all over them and shit everywhere!! lol
Have you ever met Robbo (Tom Tobinson) or ridden his trails?
Is that Mrs Robinson's son? No I haven't, maybe briefly met him at Wisley years ago but never been to his jumps.
Where would you most like to ride?
That’s a hard question too, I want to get back into proper mountain bike riding as after doing the Red Bull Weekend warriors downhill event I really have got the DH bug again (just no bike yet to fulfill the itch yet) so I would love to get out in the Alps, maybe do a Megavalanche event. Also British Columbia, Whistler, anywhere where there’s big proper mountains or rad trails in Canada or the US.
What about Post Office trails or Woodwood?
Those come without even mentioning don't they?? Of course I'd love to hit those places up; dunno if I'll ever be able to afford to though!
Who’s your favourite rider (both renowned and unknown)?
Favourite unknown rider (although more people are becoming aware of him) has got to be Freddy Pulman, He has bare skills, its just in his genes, he is rad. And he is still at the age where he can take some hefty crashes and just bounce up.
Favourite famous rider would have to be Yannick Graneri at the moment. The style & shapes he manages to throw on his bike is just too rad. I want 360 can-cans like his!
Favourite trick?
360 crankflip (when I land them sweet.)
What was the last edit you watched that made you think ‘wow’?
It was only a trailer as the vid isn’t out yet but when it’s released “From the Inside out” looks like its going to be one of the best biking videos ever!
When did you learn heel clickers?
I suppose I must have been 15 or 16 when I learnt heelclickers, back in the days of jumping on my full suspension bike with SPDs.
So you’ve finally got your twists dialled. You’ve had some trouble with them over the years haven’t you?
Yeah 3’s are a hard trick, they’re a lot to do with having them mentally dialed and hitting them 100% confident as much as technique. Its this last year that the fear has subsided and I’ve manged to get my head round them.
Anything on your mind that you want to learn?
Still working on tailwhips slowly, but would quite like to get a couple more 360 variations dialed by next year.
Flips?
Well I wouldn't mind doing flips but think I would hurt myself too bad learning them! Every time I've tried them into foam I've never got further than half the way round! :-(
"We just couldn’t believe it when the headlights and blue flashing lights appeared right behind us on this field!"
Not many people can crank clicked tables both ways... Got any tips?
Practice practice & more practice. Its all about really relaxing and being comfortable putting the bike into the right shape & bring it out again. You got to twist your hips, unless you drop a foot & bend your legs as much as possible.
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| Back to his roots! Heel clicker at Pinesridge |
Tables or heel clickers?
Tables any day of the week.
What motivates you to ride?
There’s a number of things really, the main one really being just the feeling you get flying through the air or flying down a DH run flat out; I love it! Its so amazing feeling at one with the bike & using the machine to do stuff you couldn’t do just on your feet.
To a degree sponsors motivate me to ride; as part of what I give back to the companies I need to be out as much as possible representing their kit & showing people why they should buy it. This is a dodgy one as at comps you can really stress yourself out thinking about needing to do well & get the top positions. So my third reason…
Is just to have fun. Its amazing the people I’ve met and the times I’ve had on my bike. Life would have been so much worse if I had been into rugby!! And the having fun bit also needs to be your main thought at comps and it can usually over-ride the worry from trying to do your sponsors proud.
Best and worst riding related memory?
Best biking memory would probably the time we did nass, I came 2nd in the Saturday comp, we then we went straight on a roadtrip for a few days and were riding Wisley when none other that Corey Nastazio, Ryan Guetler & load of other BMXers turned up. It was unbelievable watching them shred Wisley!
Worst memory – although one of the funniest – is probably getting pulled by the police whilst I was a passenger in Ricky Cromptons old Volvo, at Filthy 48 in Southport doing doughnuts round the field by the road. Needless to say we were both quite merry. I was shitting it as the 5/0 were being quite nasty about it all. Lol We just couldn’t believe it when the headlights and blue flashing lights appeared right behind us on this field!
What has been your worst injury?
Worse injury would be a toss up between the broken foot from an over rotated 360 back in the day or the fucked thumb ligaments that needed an operation on after bailing a 360 third run in practice at nass a few years back.
Does the teaching career choice have anything to do with holiday time to ride in?
Well it certainly helps!! I suppose the holidays were brought into consideration when I decided to try my hand at teaching and they are a bit of a bonus, but you do have the issue that when you have a week off no other bugger does! So I end up just going to skate parks for solo sessions.
Do you get most of your inspiration from BMX or MTB?
This could be controversial but I’m gonna have to say BMX. Bmx has obviously been about longer, progressed further and has a more people with different styles within it. MTB can influence your style but in essence the MTB style is a mixture of BMX & MX with its own twist, which can look good when done right, but can look awful.
What do you prefer to watch?
It's hard to say which one I prefer, and I suppose if I had to make the choice then it’d be MTB but they’re both just as important to understand and take influence from.
As a MTB’er who rides trails and the occasional skatepark, do you get much agro from BMX riders? If you do how do you respond to it?
Generally I don’t have too much of a problem. I try not to piss the BMXers off or get in the way, talk to them if they look civil or just let them be moody emo grotbags who don’t speak to anyone if they look like the type. Locally the BMX and MTB scenes are really quite friendly to each other.
The locals at Decoy have a bad rep among mountainbikers. Have you ever ridden there? If you have, did you receive any hassle?
I’ve ridden there years ago and got the odd dirty look or comment from one of Kye & Leo’s greebo followers but I haven’t been on the hard end of it like Dylan was when he had rocks thrown at him mid-air!
Why don’t you ride a BMX?
Because they’re too small, twitchy and for kids! Lol I ride a mans bike. Hahah. Nah but seriously I prefer the more stable bigger bike.
Have you ever given 20” a go or considered making the conversion to small wheels?
I’ve always ridden other peoples BMXs thru the trails and had a few shitty old BMXs as a kid; I kinda like riding them but never done it long enough to get over the twitchyness. And of course every winter I toy with the idea of getting one for park or to learn tailwhips on but it hasn’t yet happened.
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| Table at K |
Will trails ever be cool?
Trails are cool, end of. It’s just the rest of the world hasn’t discovered how cool it is to be chilling at the trails on a nice summers day, bbq on the go, maybe a bottle of cider, generally having great times with mates.
How do you visualise the dirt scene in ten years?
Hmm, hopefully still here. God knows what tricks are gonna be being pulled then tho. 10 years ago I wouldn’t have expected frontflip Indian airs or cliffhanger backflips!
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A mate of mine once got told by Rob Warner “If your not crashing, you’re not pushing it hard enough.”
What are your interests outside of riding?
DJing and writing DnB, Dubstep & other varieties of electronic music; that keeps me pretty busy. And of course I enjoy general socializing down the pub, club or where ever I get to.
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| Table at K |
How old do you think you’ll be until you’ll stop going sideways?
I hope not for many years yet. It will probably be when my body can’t actually take it any more!
Tell me a joke!
What do you call a girl with 2 dicks? N-dubz
Cheers Rob! Any last words?
Thanks for having me along to do this interview, thanks to all my fans (lol) thanks to my girlfriend; scratch that I haven’t got one of them at the mo (aww any girls reading send your date requests in to getabmx.blogspot.com) thanks to mum dad lol.
But seriously massive thanks to Steve Weir at Flow bikes, Tony at Independent100, Sy Folland at NookieBikes, Ben and Jay at The Bike Shop in Tiverton and all the K-Hole crew.
Hopefully catch you all at a round of Dirt Wars next year.
Rob Newman features in: Gone K-Holin' video
27 August
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| Table air out a dodgy quarter |
Age: 25
Sponsors: Zilch
Day job: Carpenter
Music: Pelican, Neil Young, The Jezabels, Jakob, Bob Dylan, Explosions in the sky
When and how did you get into riding?
About 12 years ago when my brother gave me my first BMX.
Have you dabbed in bikes outside of BMX?
Yes, I ride a road/touring bike
How would you describe your riding style?
Feel the flow
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| Table at Pinesridge |
Well I was born in Kent then moved to the north yorkshire moors at the age of 2. It was an awesome place to grow up. We then moved to Spain when I was 16. I moved back to London when I was 20 to live with my brother. I lived there for two years on and off (moved back to spain for a while). Now I live in Newton Abbot. I like the Devon countryside, but i do love Malaga, Spain so much too! I have the best of both worlds with my parents living there! Im lucky. I couldn’t hack living in London, too many rats in the race.
Has living in different places and riding with different people had an impact on your riding?
Absolutely! Its made me who I am today
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| Turndown in Malaga |
Not at all, I felt instantly welcome! They are some of the best people i have ever met. Learning Spanish was a bit hard though!
Has riding in Malaga with renowned riders including Ruben (Alcantara) and Sergio (Layos) had a strong influence on you?
Yes it has, their style is contagious!
From a riding point of view in particular, Malaga must have been an amazing place to live, why did you move away?
I moved back to England just to pass my driving test! Then i got a job and the rest is history.
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| Style at Decoy |
Well now I live in Newton Abbot, so its a good place to ride. I think the Devon 'scene' is chilled. Needs more trails!
What motivates you to ride?
You seem to have a very laid back and care-free approach to riding, what scares you?
Spiders! I guess injuries scare me, not being able to ride for any reason.
Favourite trick?Table
Most stylish rider?
Ruben
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| Dumped twist at Pinesridge |
I think Joe Rich's spanish toast and the Andalucia series is beyond words. I guess because i have lived there and ridden where they filmed and know what is going through there minds at each place.
Summarise your bike setup:
T1, Fly parts, and a weird looking thing called a BRAKE!
You have a strong brand loyalty towards Terrible 1, is there a story behind this?
Not really a story i just like the frames, parts, designs, graphics, team, videos and so on. Its all good
Question by Joe: If you didn’t ride a T1 what would you ride and why?
Fly Pantera
If you had to confine your riding to only one spot, where would it be?
Arroyo de la miel... but that place is no longer with us, so... I'm happy riding Decoy trails at the moment so there i guess!
Do you prefer trails or park?
Trails
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| Euro somewhere in Spain |
Its stupid... No I think anyone should do what makes them happy, apart from scooters!
What do you do in your spare time when you aren’t on a bike?
Film, take photos, play bass guitar, surf, drink shit loads of coffee.
Any countries or ‘wishlist’ spots you’re planning on visiting?
Austin, Texas, NYC to see my brother and his new baby! I want to go to New Zealand also, that place looks incredible!
FInal thoughts and shout-outs?
My Family, friends, the trees, cheers y’all!
Videos of Mike:
Sunday Afternoon at Decoy
Decoy Bowl
Untitled
This is March
24 June 2011
The Boarding House
If you asked any rider in or even around
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| Gavin Farley and Tim Ruck outside the Boarding House |
When and how did you get involved in BMX?
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| Tim shredding the pallet jump in leather back in 81 |
Gav: I got my first BMX around ‘82/’83 when I was around 9/10yrs old. My friends all had them so naturally I wanted one too. My first bike was a shitty red and yellow Raleigh Burner that my mum got from her club book for £89.99 which was a lot back then! (equivelent to around £300 today) It was crap but I loved it.
How did the boarding house come into existence in 1984, and who set it up?
Gav: No Idea, I was 11! I did however shop there and bought my first skateboard there around 84/85, a blue Turbo 2 with Hawaiian graphics! It was Bad Ass! Well actually it was pretty rubbish but again it was my first so I loved it.
Tim: It was set up by 2 brothers from
How and when did you get involved with the shop, and why did the original owner(s) leave?
Tim: I did some demo’s for the OG guys around ’85, and then another guy (Phil) took it over in ’87 -who I used to skate with a bit- and I started working there part-time around ’95. By ’97 he’d had enough of running the shop (he didn’t ride or skate anymore), so sold it to me.
He used to love a hustle, you could go in and negotiate with him, but just before I took over, we had a customer in, who was after something, and said ‘yeah it’s £**** in such and such shop’, so normally Phil would have been, ‘well, maybe we can do it for £***’, but then just went, ‘is it, well go and fucking buy it there then, go on, fuck off’… I was open mouthed, this was about to be my business and he’d just burnt this customer! He’d had enough, definitely!
Gav: I started there in 2005 after Tim offered me a job. However I did actually do a couple of shifts there for the previous owner Phil when I was around 16/17 as well as working with Tim in another skate shop called ‘Gosh’
Has it been a challenge running such a niche shop, and were there any particularly difficult times?
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| Coloured grips must be fashionable at the moment |
The shop’s been here so long because we cater for what people are using in skateparks, and everyone knows some shit can be looked down on, but it’s meant we’ve always been here for skate, BMX, without the other stuff we probably wouldn’t, and you’d be getting your skate stuff from Two Seasons (pur-leeeeese, jeez) and bike stuff from Partridge Cycles (oh god).
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| Tim with a backwards rail, Mount Hawke in 93 |
Tim: Dealing with like minded people. Obviously most of our customers ride/skate etc, and a lot of the suppliers do, it’s good to deal with people you have something in common with. Plus I have been to many, many, private ramp set-ups and private sessions at skateparks over the years. Got to go to a leaving party at Hawke for the lady who started it a while back, and cause we’d driven down from Exeter they let us stay at the park overnight. Mount Hawke, to yourself and best friends, all night, no one else there- that’s the stuff of dreams for most people right? Took whole shop BMX/media team to Nike Pool recently. That was pretty sick. Oh, and you get to speak to Mad Jon Taylor on the phone on a weekly basis.
Gav: From my point of view apart from the staff discount! It would have to be just being involved in the local scene, helping the locals out and seeing them progress.
If you weren’t involved in BMX, what would you be doing now? (job/ career)
Tim: Pssssh, who knows? I used to take photos and write articles for Ride, but that doesn’t really fit in with family life. Hopefully something I liked, and self employed. Maybe skatepark building full-time?
Gav: No Idea…
Has the scene changed since you first got into it?
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| Gavin wallriding in 91, this shot was featured in the Express and Echo! |
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| Tim's old house, which regularly hosted riders and bands from across the country |
What are your views on the multinational companies such as Nike and Red Bull becoming involved in BMX?
Tim: Wow. OK, to give you the picture, when skating blew up in the 70’s, Coca Cola used to sponsor shit, but swiftly left when it died. In the 80’s, Mountain Dew were all over BMX, but swiftly left when it died. ‘Extreme’ (the umbrella these people list everything under, from BMX/ skating to pogo-sticking/ left handed wanking) is pretty big these days, so maybe they’ll stay. I don’t think Nike make much from BMX specific stuff, but they can buy some extra cred for what to them is chump change.
On the other hand some Pro’s get the sort of salary they could never achieve anywhere else, and we get to go to the Pool Jam, or Empire Of Dirt, so, what can you say? I know guys that get support from those two specifically, and they live the dream, so good on ‘em.
Gav: I can see both sides to be fair. They do put a lot of money into it and put on some awesome events and sponsor some amazing riders but they use it as a marketing tool and when there’s no more money in it they’ll be off, just like they’ve done before and will no doubt do again! But to the guys getting paid, fair play to them take it whilst it’s on offer.
Has the advent of online mail order companies affected the business?
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| Supporting the scene through another skatepark construction |
Tim: Yep, can’t deny it, but anyone switched on knows the best is go in your local shop, see guys that know their stuff, the same guys that probably campaigned for you to have a local skatepark, and who care that you get the parts you need. As opposed to some faceless character on a phone in a warehouse somewhere, who’s only knowledge of BMX is that it’s ‘like a mountain bike but for kids’. Plus, you ever tried sending something back to these dudes when it’s the wrong part/broken/came 6 weeks after you needed it? It can be a bit cheaper sometimes, but usually for one reason- service, or rather, lack of it. There are some exceptions obviously, but mail order can never compare to the service and advantages of a local shop. Winstanley’s don’t lend you the tools to fix a flat 5 minutes walk from Flowerpot do they?
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| Gav in Paignton circa 91, no light-weight parts here! |
Tim: Hidden headsets, heat treated metal. The internet so you can check out parts and what stuff works/ where to ride/ who hates who, via forums.
Gav: Internal Headsets and Heat-treating
Worst part ever made?
Tim: Those wind-up Evel Knieval toys. The starter/ wind up bit always broke, so you had to get him up to speed zooming along the floor with your hand like a toy car.
Gav: Quill Stems, and anything using loose ball bearings.
How do you think bikes will change in the future?
Tim: Well, in ‘back to the future’, they have hover boards in 2015, and still no sign of a prototype, so what’s going to happen with bikes? I saw a funny cartoon that Taj at T1 did a few years back, of bikes getting lower and lower with bigger bars, that morphed into scooters, That’s already nearly happened, right?! Seriously, most major advancements have happened, the bike has never been so light and strong, but chains that don’t break and tubes that don’t pop would be awesome.
Gav: No Idea...I think most things have been tried and bikes are pretty basic to be fair these days. All the gimmicks have been dismissed as failures! The only thing I can think of would be something we were joking about yesterday when one of the boys chain snapped for the second time that day, which would be some sort of belt/shaft drive set up, but as I said we were joking! You never know someone might develop it and it could catch on. But I doubt it! haha
Over the years you must have seen a huge range of parts, frames and designs. Have either of you considered setting up a component company?
Gav: Nope.
Tim: Ha, yeah. But just in my head. It would have to be something cutting new ground, not the same shit from the same factory with a different fresh logo on. Most stuff you buy, it’s an emotion you’re buying, such and such is cool so if I buy that, I’m cool, or at least I feel cool. Any high end part is good nowadays, no one falls for shit dressed up as gold, so do we need any more parts companies?
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| Tim at Arena pre skatepark in 98 |
Tim: For me, Xmas 1980. Never forget that moment. Cheers Dad (R.I.P.). That changed my life, for ever! Rad.
Gav: Hell there’s so much to choose from, but for me probably Mat Hoffman pulling the first ever Flair, or the first 900 or anything he did in the early 90’s! He was way ahead of his time.
Would the sport be where it is today if it wasn't for Matt Hoffman?
Gav: Probably not
Tim: No, or at least delayed in progress, he set nearly all the standards in vert, first handrails on street, and could kill it on mini and dirt, what more can you say, his influence is legendary. Followed on from Ron Wilkerson in making sure comps had a riders hand steering the way.
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| Gavin: QE wallride on a rare riding opportunity, 2009 |
Tim: Easy this one, not enough.
Gav: I usually manage to get a ride at least 1 or 2 times a week although it’s not uncommon to go up to 2 weeks without riding. It all depends on the weather usually!
When and how did the shop start supporting the local scene and its riders?
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| Jamie Skinner, Boarding house rider, with an old skool over Tim |
Tim: Since the start, sponsored riders and demo’s under the first guys, Phil the second guy sponsored comps and the metal surface at the local vert and mini ramps, and then me, sponsor/ run comps, riders, campaign for skateparks etc.
Gav: I used to think brakeless riders were plain mad, but now I ride brakeless I get it. There is an element of fashion I guess especially amongst the young riders but its like most things it’s personal choice with maybe a hint of being fashionable?
Tim: Definitely not a fashion, it changes the way bikes look, and how they're ridden, here to stay. Someone good with no brakes, a joy to watch, someone who has no brakes just because others don’t ... the opposite! If you're good, it defines your riding, if you're not that good, it inhibits it. Lots of 3 mph tricks are going down cause the rider hasn't got brakes. Watch the shop guys with no brakes, pedal full whack at stuff, anti-pumping when they need to lose speed, side-swiping back wheel to check speed, this is how no brakes should be done.
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| Scooters... |
Do you feel a little bit guilty when you sell a scooter?
Gav: No comment
Tim: Well, we already have scooter kids trading up to bikes, so, that’s good, right? (I copped out on that answer huh?!)
Gav: Hard to say, its huge at the moment so I guess time will tell…
Tim: It’s real similar to blading, it was popular because it was easy, but most want more of a challenge by the time they’re 13-14, so either get sick on blades/scooters, or more likely, move on to BMX/skating.
How important is it to have a strong media presence, such as the Boarding House’s recent feature in Dig? Does it have an impact on the success of your business?
Gav: Any media presence is always a good thing, if people don’t know you exist they aren’t going to use you!
Tim: Not much as we don’t cater to the national scene, it gets a bit of kudos I guess, but we’re firmly local scene focused. It’s nice to be recognised by the national scene though;
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| Not just a park rat! Tim styling over some trails in 08 |
What were/ are your views on mountainbiking branching off into street/ park and trails?
Gav: I don’t have a problem with it
Tim: In the 90’s, I thought mountain biking was the lamest ever, now, I’m much mellower, if those guys want to constantly bend wheels cause they’re too big, get on. Makes you good at wheel trueing I guess, but must hurt your bollocks when you case on that big tall bike eh? ;)
Tim: Hard one, been riding 30 years +. Private set us are always my favourite, I guess a huge dope mini ramp/ bowl with all the features would be it, but I haven’t ridden one that ticks all the boxes. That’s why everyone’s always looking for the next spot or park eh.
Gav: that’s a good one, probably Timaru in New Zealand
Are there any riders or industry people that you admire?
Tim: Riders, whoever the last guy I saw that made me think YO! Industry, probably Ian Morris. Ian lives the dream, and supports a lot of other guys to live the dream, and has worked fucking hard to make it happen. Props.
Gav: Mat Hoffman without a doubt! He kept the sport alive when hardly anyone was riding and also kept pushing the limits of what was possible on a BMX! There are many others like Chris Moeller (S&M) an Rick Moliterno (Standard) who started the whole ball rolling with the ‘Rider Owned’ companies who took it upon themselves to start making bikes and parts that wouldn’t break just by looking at them. Mustn’t forget Bob Haro the original BMX freestyle creator, Craig Campbell… man I could go on for ever!
The Steven Hamilton story, whats your take on it?
Tim: Real sad. Sponsors are there when you're the man, throw a load of cash at you (when sometimes the rider just can't handle it), then when you're not the man… sayonara. You see it all the time in sport and music. Give someone a load of cash and they'll pursue their dreams, even if those dreams turn out to be a nightmare.
Gav: He just totally lost the plot. Blaming the industry for paying you to ride your bike does not make them responsible for you making bad lifestyle choices. I guess having money and time gives you freedom to explore shall we say but you have to take responsibility for your own actions. It’s a shame he’s ended up like he has as he was such a talented rider. You make your bed, you’re going to lie in it…
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Hahaha… very funny!
Editors note: Unfortunitely, rather than provide an elaborative account and detailed history of the metal, Gav found it difficult to open up about his passion for 4130 chromoly, but his tattoo says it all. If you want to know more, click here
What is your most memorable customer experience?
Gav: Can’t think of one, although we do get our fair share of strange customers!
Tim: Had a woman offer to fight me in a shop I worked at before here, because we wouldn’t fix her sons severely abused bike under warranty. Her fella escorted her from the shop and came back later to apologise. Nice.
Editors note: While I was at the shop a huge guy came in asking whether they had any bigger BMX's. After he had walked out Gav responded 'you were saying about customer experiences...
Riding wise, do you ever get competitive amongst each other?
Tim: Nope. But shop-wise, yeah all the time!
Gav: Nah. Mind you we did get pretty competitive when we went BMX Racing when the new Exeter
Quadruple flip, ever going to happen?
Tim: When I started riding people doubted a 540 on a quarter-pipe would ever be done, does that answer that one?
Gav: Just a matter of time I’m sure.
Are there any local skatepark plans in the pipeline, and how about a Boarding house indoor park?
Gav: No idea, you’d have to ask Tim about that. Indoor Park
Tim: Got a couple of potential skatepark jobs in the pipeline, just finished the 24 foot wide mini-ramp in Kingsteignton. Indoor park- going to need someone with deep pockets who is down for practically living at the park for it to happen. Not us, sorry!
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| Re-wind 10+ years, Tim bar-spinning in an ice pick, 99 |
Fast-forward 10 years, what’s happening in the BMX world?
Gav: No Idea, the speed with which riders are progressing who knows.
Tim: The more things change, the more they stay the same, companies get old, the riders reckon they can do it better and go on to start their own thing... that’s the way it goes. The best companies are run by the owner riders, not the ones who just ‘lend’ their name to the company. People stop worrying about breaking out from skatings shadow and admit it’s been around longer and is an influence. Chains don’t break and tubes don’t pop!
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| Cookie jam 26 June |
Thanks a lot for your time, and keep up the hard work! Anything else you would like to add? Shout outs?
Tim: Thanks for the interest and questions, good ‘uns! Thanks to every customer ever for the support, and all the team riders and employees, past and present! Thanks to everyone who’s shot-produced video/ photos for the shop. Thanks to all our suppliers that have helped out our riders and comps with sponsorship. And anyone else that knows me haha!
Gav: Fuck Off Woolfy!
Tim: Please see Exeter Ride to Glory video, out now!
15 November 2010
Tom Goldsmith is a talented local photographer known for his knack of capturing big moves at their best. And he's not a bad rider himself... I am stoked that his top photos will be published here on getabmx on the Photo of the Moment page. Here is a little bit about the guy behind the lense:
So what came first, photography or riding?
It's hard to remember back to when I first became involved in either one of these... Riding came first and from there I gradually became more interested in photography. Admittedly I'm not the best at riding so I guess picking up a camera gave me something else to do while still being out with friends.
When and how did you get into photography (and any inspirations)?
My concept of time is really quite bad, but I have been taking riding pictures for around two years now. I have an album on my computer called pre 2009 with a couple of images from late 2008.
The most influential person to me picking up a camera was my dad, he has always taken pictures since college and encouraged my to pick up a camera when I could. Ever since I started riding I used to read RideUK and that definitely inspired me to pursue taking pictures. Yet, I guess all of the media surrounding bmx is influential and encouraging right in some way.
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| Jamie Skinner |
There really is only one possible answer to this question. Street riding. I couldn't think of anything better. Both riding and shooting street are great. The thing is that every place you ride is different, this form of riding breaths creativity, something I am a big fan of.
With regard to taking pictures this makes every shot slightly different in some respect. Each time you have to carefully think about every aspect of the photograph you are taking as chances are you may not have to opportunity to take that picture again.
You haven’t shot any trails photos this year, any plans to?
Trails isn't really my thing if I am honest. I personally don't ride trails and neither do most of the people I ride with. However, I do think it would be interesting to take some trails pictures so maybe...
What has been your best and/ or funniest photography experience?
This is definitely a hard one and not one that I cannot think of any particular moment to be the best of funniest experience. Lets just say that us Exeter boys get upto some good shit.
Tell us a little about some of your photos this year, anything particularly interesting you have shot?
From a photography perspective I have really enjoyed this year and feel that I have hopefully progressed in some way. This year I managed to get myself some off camera lighting and have been having fun with that ever since.
I have shot a lot of stuff this year and no doubt there are a few photos that stand out upon the rest, these are the interesting ones, the pictures that have more to it than just a quarter pipe and a blue sky.
Also this year I was lucky enough to take photos at NASS 2010. Although photographing competitions is never fun, looking back on it I enjoyed it. This years competition was really challenging to shoot and was great to meet some really cool photographers and influential riders.
Worst photography experience?
Again it's hard to narrow this down to any one experience but there are a few things that are definitely not good.
- Having to ask a rider to do something again
- When your flashes get knocked over
- Problems with your equipment
- Getting home and wishing you had shot something differently
- Getting kicked out before you even get your camera out
- Leaving something at home
What equipment do you run?
I run a lot of Canon equipment. I shoot on a Canon 7d, with 2 Canon lenses, Canon flashguns, Elinchrom triggers and manfrotto stands.
If you could photograph any rider, who would it be?
If I'm honest Im more than happy shooting the riders I currently take picture with. However, if the opportunity was there I wouldn't decline a photo session with some of the federal team.
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| Harry Mills |
Photographing riding is something that definitely takes a lot of time and practice. The more practice you get the better, don't give up to quickly. Learn from your mistakes and think about a picture before you press the shutter.
There is a lot of influential material out there and it can definitely help you along your way but try to think outside the box. It's something I am still trying to do...
Do you have any plans of making a living from photography?
Unfortunately not, photography is a profession crowded by thousands of people who own expensive equipment and know the "right" people. It's too competitive and something I would rather pursue as a hobby for now.
Any shoot outs...?
I would just like to say that I have an amazing group of riding mates who are extremely talented riders and without them the picture I take wouldn't happen. So cheers lads.
Again, thanks to all of the exeter riders, theboardinghouse, death for answering my questions and lending me equipment and to Jamie Skinner for repeatedly throwing the bars due to my poor timing.
Stay tuned to the site for some of the best street and park photos from the area!
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| Lookback |
Photos by Tom Goldsmith
Jamie Skinner is renowned in the local scene for tearing up the streets and park. He likes to throw down twists, bar spins and whips on pretty much any obstacle in sight. With a hunger for boosting huge airtime you think skinner would take to the trails like a match to fire… I’m sure the time will come, but for now here’s what he had to say:
Oright how have you been? Eaten much today?
Yooo man sorry its taken me so long to get back to you on this one have been busy eating again hah. Silly question really you know I allways eat laods
It seems like you’ve been riding for an eternity! When and how did you get into riding?
I think when i was about 14 I saw this kid on a haro shredder hopping up curbs, I thought it was amazing and wanted to try it. Didnt really work on the mountain bike I had so decided to get a bmx.
What motivates you to ride?
Just watching/ riding with any of the local bois is good. Edits on the internet or just finding new spots to ride
What has been your best riding experience?
That has to be going up to Derby in Adrians camper for a weekend sleeping outside the park in a real skechy industial estate. Half way through the night someone was looking in the windowns trying to get in that kinda scared us all a bit hah. Loads of riding and laughs. Would defo like to do it again
Who is your favourite rider and why?
Matt Hoffman . . . nuff said
What happened to the trails boss plan you had at the start of summer?
Just being lazy really, I do enjoy riding the trails but most of the time jsut end up getting stuck at flowerpots
Best place you’ve ever ridden?
Any street spots in london
What trick has taken the longest to learn?
Nose manuals has got to be the hardest by far can do them sometimes would love to get them dialled.
What has been your worst injury?
Broken leg was out for the best part of a year. Snapped Tibia & Fibula few plates and screws
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| Suicide no hander |
Mountain bikes at skateparks, I’m sure you have an opinion…
Lost ? Maybe get some signs up for the nearest mountains?
What has been your scariest riding moment?
Jumping all of jlc for the first time! trails scare me alot
I heard you cracked your frame in four places! You haven’t had that one for long either… Got a list of parts you’ve broken this year?
Hah i had that frame for two months and was finally starting to like it, boarding house sorted me out on warrenty with a federal notorious which seems pretty solid at the moment. List:
2 frames
3 sets of cranks
Back hub
2 chains
Seat
a few hundred spokes
And noticed a few cracks on my forks the other day so will have to add that to the list haha
Best thing since sliced bread?
G-Sport
Thought you broke your gsport hub?
Yeah I did. Got a new one on warrenty but broke the driver on friday, Luckly i had a spare one. Even after that its the only hubs i would run everything else is shit!!! Best thing since sliced bread haha
Tell me something most people don’t know about you?
I only weigh 12 stone haha
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| Bar spin gap |
Really into roof gaps and drops, the bigger the better
How do you think BMX will progress over the next 10 years?
It will dissapear as scooters take over the world
Do you have any hobbies outside of riding?
Eating
Quick questions:
Tricks or style?
Tricks with a bit of style is allways good
Street or park?
Both
Cider or beer?
Beer
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| Tailwhip on a roof! |
Obviously barspins
Nice one. Got any shout outs before you go?
Big thanks to Gav and Tim from the Boarding house for all the help with my bike. Tom Goldsmith for all his rad pictures, every one i ride with, Project bmx and of course Milan
12 September 2010
Welcome to the first industry insight interview for getabmx! How’s it going been busy in the shop lately?
Reg: It’s all good man, shops been steady and flowing at the moment. You get busy days, you get dead days.
Frank: Ignore Reg he doesn’t know anything! I have been flat out in the workshop! No quiet days out there!
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| Work experience boy in a bag. I'm sure Reg has been there... |
Reg: Errrr, I did work experience here and asked for a job afterwards, started as a Saturday boy who had the piss ripped out him all the time, and now I’m looking after the shop, its all good.
Frank: Well I was working up at Haldon forest… I was getting fed up with my job so I called Ben (who I had worked with like 9 years ago) and he gave me a job?!
What are the best aspects of the job?
Reg: Best aspects are the guys who you work with, although they’re w**kers you always have a laugh. Also customers most of the time can be alright to talk to.
Frank: If I was a cyclist I guess I could get cheap bike bits...as a golfer there aren’t many!
And the worst?
Reg: The shop is freezing when it’s winter and boiling in the summer, I don’t see many bad top points to working in a bike shop.
Frank: Being a golfer in a bike shop!
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| Add caption |
Reg: To be fair, they don't affect us too much. A lot of kids go on there and we dont generally have the custom of kids. We are a cool commuting bike shop really. One of the more down to earth ones anyway. But if someone comes in and says " err well online its this much!" We'll either tell em to do one or we'll match the price.
Who has been your most annoying customer and why?
Reg: You Milan, you! Always wanting stuff! Haha, nah a customer that never listens to what you have to say is the worst when we are the people that are there to help, Guru’s I like to call ourselves! J
Frank: Paul Weston....Nuff said!
What mechanical jobs do you dread the most?
Reg: Your headset!
Frank: Your forks!
Have you ever fixed a bike that you wished you could keep?
Reg: Errrr no! They’re all pretty shite to be fair! Only one that came close was a Giant Defy that was MINT!
Frank: Yeah...Funnily enough though it already belonged to me!
And to the contrary any you wanted to put in a dump?
Reg: Pretty much anything that says Apollo, Richmond or Carrera
Frank: nearly every other bike I fix!
Do you have any memorable shop experiences?
Reg: Yeah when the man collapsed next to the clothes and we though was dead. that was hilarious!
Frank: Trade show road trips are always good! Especially when Jim throws up and we spun a hire car!
In your view what is the worst, and best, bike part ever invented?
Reg: Worst has to be the 3 speed fixed hub and the best is sealed bearings in things.
Frank: Crud Claws=shit! Crud catchers = great!
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What has been your most unusual mechanical or customer experience?
Reg; When a man asked for a new old bike. What the hell!
Frank: Making you a set of boxers to take to the Alps about an hour before you left!
What would you say to a kid who says he wants to work in a bike shop?
Reg: Have fun!?
Frank: DON’T!!
Have you supported the local riding scene, and if so how?
Reg: As a shop, us guys have got lads like you and bandstand Dave t-shirts with our name on it, and for riding with them, you get discount, so in that way we support local shredders. We also go to a lot of events throughout the year organised by Cycle Exeter. They are a big part of our events. We do a lot of Dr bikes aswell, which we do at a number of work places.
What changes do you think will happen to mountain bikes and BMX bikes over the next ten years?
Reg: I reckon robots will be riding them soon. We won’t get a say. Also a front wheel drive one! Imagine how cool that would be!
Frank: Belt drive, loads more E-Bikes, death of single speed!
Reader questions:
Paul Foster. Do you wish you had tried harder at school?
Reg: Not really, schools shit, I’m exactly where I want to be at the minute!
Frank: Yup then I could get a proper job!
Jake Lawry (slightly adapted): What bike(s) do you own?
Reg: Genisis Altitude 10 (currently in bits), Raleigh Dynatec (its awesome), Mankind Archangel Custom BMX
Frank: D/H specced Cube Fritzz, Single Speed Gary Fisher HKEK, Kona Honky Tonk!
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| Big twist at JLC |
Steve – big whipper – Bowler has been progressing like wild fire. The last few months have seen twists, whips, big old skools, insane boosts and recently whip tyre grabs go down at the trails. He has been attempting double whips and, during the photo shoot after he responded to the questions, he nailed his first three whip to the pedals for the camera! Harsh bails don’t keep him on the ground for long. I caught up with Steve to find out more:
Welcome to the first getabmx interview! I haven’t seen you out lately, what’s going on in your world?
Riding lots and preparing myself for my next Whistler adventure in August
You’ve been progressing like mad! Do you set yourself goals pre ride?
Yeah most days but sometimes i just like to get my flow on
What trick have you struggled the most with?
Have struggled the most with turndowns, they just feel un-natural to me but think I'm finally getting there with them haha
What tricks are you dying to nail?
I'm really trying to get double whips and 3 whips cant wait to stomp those
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| Twist Tailwhip to pedals! |
When and how did you get into riding?
I've been into riding since about the age of 5 but have tried many different styles along the way like MTB and Trials but my heart has always been with BMX now that's all I ride
Are there any riders (pro or regular) who inspire you to go out and kill it?
Pro rider Nath Dunster a.k.a Busface has always inspired me and shredding with Dangerous Dave is so much fun
You and (Chris) Simpson have been real trails legends this summer, keeping the place smooth and running good. So will we see you around this winter?
Yeah boi we'll be putting in the hours this winter cant wait to start on some new lines
What are your favorite local spots?
K hole, JLC and Saltash park
I know you were digging your own trails. What’s the latest?
Not alot going down at Heartford unfortunately the permission fell through and people lost interest you know how it is with new trails
Best place (trails or skatepark) you have ever ridden?
Such a tough call mate I have so many fav's but K hole is a special place, Mount Hawke is sick and Everything in Whistler is off the hook!
Style or tricks?
Making your tricks look stylish is where its at
Mountain bikes for trails and park, what are your views?
Ive got no issues with Mountain bikers as long as they are good guys and doing it for the right reasons
I know you changed frames recently, what’s your current setup?
I'm currently riding the Amity Russo frame its the best frame I've ever bought, super light, i highly recommend it
What parts do you break the most?
Ive gone through a few crank axles this year, also a few sets of forks and brake cables don't seem to last five minutes, guess i need to ride smoother haha
Do you have any hobbies other than riding?
Snowboarding
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| Sending a Tailwhip |
Reader questions:
This one is from Will Peters. What’s your favorite cheese?
Cant go wrong with a bit of wednesleydale with cranberries mmm
An odd one to end on! Well thanks a lot Steve. Any shout-outs before you go?
Thanks Milan see you at the trails, shout out to all the JLC crew
