It is a rought time right now. NO time to ride. Christmas, Work, Wife's schedule, I'm not getting old gracefully...you know the score. So I was thinking...why am I here in BMX world still-at 40, barely able to walk in the mornings. It is a young mans game. (or woman's)...Well...Lets get small again-but in my timeline and look up to where I am now (or is it down??)
The first recollection I have of riding a bike is my Grandfather(?) pushing me down the driveway on a blue cruiser type bike with whitewalls and fenders. I ran into the hedges. I bled. I did not cry-I got on and did it again. Missed them. Rolled straight into the street and kept going. Haven't stopped since.
How about a mini-memoir by Bike (that my declining memory can recall or create)? sound good...I don't care what you think, I'm writing it anyways..Let's proceed. I forgot a bunch of bikes.....
1984-Chrome and Blue...Murray? doubtful as that was the brand at the time...but I had a bike that looked like the cool kids.I immediately learned endos, jumped curbs and wore muscle shirts an tube socks. RAD. It was about this time that I met Andy and Greg- neighborhood kids. We rode everywhere, jumped curbs, curb endoes galore...then we started bomb drops, and gaps, and sprocket grinds and stalls, OG pegless riding for sure (know your roots kiddies)
1986 Haro FST-Oh Snap..I got a haro. I remember ordering it from Trend or Albes? but it was awesome. Turquoise and White. I learned hang fives with my brother, Tim OG and eventually Matt B. I Broke the seat tube and drilled it so I could bolt the seatpost in place-I wan't getting a new bike for a loooong time. AFA masters Flatland regional comps af Frankford Bicycle...Parking lot sessions at Beachwood Mall Garage in the Ohio winter-moe time than ever on the bike.
1988 I was a freshman in high school...Haro Master time-. There was a bike in between, Anyone remember what it was? me neither. This bike was dialed. Peregrine HP's, sealed BB for odyssey excaliburs, I rode the hell out of this bike with Tim and Matt, and Dave now some Heights locals I forget (apologies-there was a dude called "Boner", and that cat who rode flat and lived on Coventry?). and all of the ones that followed. Haro Sport, Didn't like it as much as Master-But I rode it. Daily with the crew.
ummm..I skate now...the bike takes a back seat (it is 1990), and girls....sooooo-time for a small break while I act awkward and go to high school football games to meet girls.....
and we're back
1992-Wilkerson Airlines Riot..and this frame was bad ass. Except for the long fork leg that hung up on the mini and pitched me into a dislocated shoulder and broken tailbone....That bike goes away now.whats next? Dyno Pro Compe. Now is when I blew up my ankle in conditioning for baseball...two years will pass while I recover. and on to Ohio State...and back to roots Gaps and ledges with Matt D at OSU.
1996-Columbus Ohio. Hoffman Taj, and a Morales Flat, then a Condor...Ohio State Law Building is unbelievable. New arena is gold. I ride now for years. AMA Trails Pat, Ryan my clothing company Strictkly twenties....Then I became a mild celebrity in my own mind, and have to "grow up" a bit...On to Chicago for Acting...nothing but a back pack...No BMX for two years. 1999-2002
2002-On to LA with my bad self...Hoffman Instrument around Long beach in 2002-2004, Fly (?) and Fly Tierrra, Specialized P20 pro (why?), Standard TAO, Sunday Wave-C, Sunday Soundwave...A whole bunch of bikes to try to regress...but I have no patience. Even Now I change the format of my soundwave from flat to street to try to find the perfect ride that will make me like I was on my FST or Master, or take me back to the days on my Dyno,and Hoffman at Ohio State. I realize it is not the bike.. Don't let my customers read this...the bike means fuck all.
Shhhhh.....
What was key in those times that I cannot regress to, or have not yet at least- is the atmosphere. Murray-Andrew, and Greg. Haro-Tim and Matt..etc, etc...Now to LA and nobody...solo sesh heaven. It is time to find not the bike, but the brotherhood of BMX. To get over my self loathing pity party and fear of mockery. Time to ride with some people. I know they don't care how bad I am-and that if I actually ride my bike I will be accepted back into the fold if I accept the brotherhood for what it is...a whole bunch of dorks on their kids (or little bothers) bikes. Of which I am, and always have been, a member. BMX community-remember, I was a jock, and actor, a performance artist,,,acceptance since I left BMX has been crucial to my community, and to be accepted into any of those communities you have to be the best...I never understood why none of those made me happy. Now it is like a deprogramming session from a cult-but I will be back.
Soon.
And No more changing bikes around dammit......(yeah, It is a street set-up again)
