London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

i really want to see attn staybridge
any chance you could see if there's a copy knocking about?

I didn't realise this had turned into a full on BMX topic. Nice.

I met United's Ricky Feather in Leeds last week. He's riding a fixed gear bike for winter.

+1 to that. I'd really like to see this too.
Ricky Feather's an awesome rider. He used to ride up in Sheffield a fair bit at my local, Devonshire Green.
Theo Simpson's another of the locals from Sheffield.

anyone got any clips of Doc Smooth Dylan Clyton riding dirt, possibly one of the smoothest riders that has ever come out of the UK.

I know that I've got a dvd with him riding dirt in the UK, but I can't remember which dvd it is and I don't know how to upload vids from dvd.

It may well have been either Cassette or No Front Teeth, both dvd's from Ride.

*Edit - Found the exact clip I was thinking of - http://video.mpora.com/watch/RLL0S4nVU/ - but it's from Mpora, so I don't know how to embed it. It's not the best clip to show Dylan Clayton, but it does show some great UK riding from a few years ago.

Here's another classic bit of dirt - from No Front Teeth. I think the rider is Luke Merchant, but don't quote me on that one (it's after about 1min45 or so).

this is so insane

he looks pretty fucked in that clip. What was he in rehab for?

He went down hard on a 360 and had some serious head injury
http://bmx.transworld.net/2008/10/07...e-aitken-fund/
this has an overview.
it's crazy to think that he's already up and about, let alone pedaling a bicycle after only 5 months.
you can't keep a good man down i guess

That's incredible. I had no idea that had happened. He's an amazing rider and here's a video showing just how good he is. I hope he can get back up to speed without too much trouble. Now people may see why I wear a helmet!

I flippin love Mike Aitken, good find Phil!

I know fuck all about BMXing other than I have one, and I can't do shit on it.
But one thing is for sure that Mike has flow. Very smooth. I don't always like the "HUCK IIIIIT" style that BMXers have. Obviosuly going big is the new thing but I dunno..

Well that's interesting, but why don't you answer your phone or txts?!

Always been a big fan, and it genuinely hurts to see this happen - and it's happening too much these days. It seems only a short while since Stephen Murray had his spinal injury. It's just... scary.

Lurker - 2.07 in that video is the kind of simple tech stuff that I love. Transfers are where it's at...

knowing even a portion of what he's been through makes that video the most rewarding BMX web edit ever recorded.

That smile is the reason that I ride bikes. A love of something so simple that to enjoy it so much is surely a sin.

It's savage. He still does not look right. I'm amazed that someone like Matt Hoffman did not end up like that at some point.

Not passing comment or anything, but Mat Hoffman seems to very much a helmet-wearer.

You are right. Thinking back, even dirt jumping in videos he would have a full face on.

Nothing to do with helmets but I have always found BMX a weird area of cycling. All areas of cycling have the fashion influence but BMX, maybe because alot of teenagers are into it always seemed extremely fashion swayed. Take now for instance in bike parts. Most companies all seem to make bikes that are more or less the same, a dirt bike from one company seems the same as one from another, there seems to be less variation compared to other areas of cycling. It's amazing how unpopular front brakes are now despite people like Rob Ridge showing how they can be put to good use.


I think the guy on this blog makes a point about many of these things http://sprfls.blogspot.com/.

I don't think BMX is more affected by fashion than other forms cycling niches though it depends where you look.

On that note, riding for 12 years and out of hand good (opposite pegless switchfooted rail anyone) couldn't give a fuck about BMX fashion. Ben Lewis:

http://rideukbmx.com/30-seconds/ride...ewis-edit.html

Ben Lewis is amazing. Half that video is shot at Liverpool uni where I'm studying. That red rail with the knob he toothpicks down at the start is the entrance to the building I have half my lectures in. I've been wanting to see him do that rail for 5 years! I've ridden with him quite a few times, saw him last week while I was on my fixed and he was ribbing me a bit because he hasn't seen me on my BMX for a few months. When someone like Ben says that you just have to go home and dust it off don't you!

BMX has been swayed by fashion for a long long time because it's primarily kids that buy parts all the time. I know when I first started riding I wanted to be just like Luc-E and Rick Moliterno, then Scott Malyon, a regular at my local park (Rom) got hooked up on T1 and I would pay £4 a session just to go see him ride. By that time I had lost the urge to copy my favourite 'pro', but I could see all the wannabe Scott Malyons with their all black T1s, and Bicycle Union attire. I've ridden brakeless for 9 years now, to begin with I'd get shit from the gyro mob, then I'd get shit from the straight cable to the rear brake mob, then all of a sudden everyone was brakeless and 15 year old kids who had no clue about bike control were riding into me at the skatepark because they couldn't stop in time.

I think the perfect example right now is Odyssey Twisted pedals.

Go back 10 years and see what the magazines and what the kids used to say about plastic pedals. Shit, go back 3 years and see what they used to say about plastic pedals. Now all the kids are using them. Kids riding street, doing pedal grinds on plastic pedals. Now if that isn't fashion over function I don't know what the fuck is.

That's 4 quid well spent! I'm definitely a product of the Union, still miss Cyclone though I doubt my bank account does.

Benny's down in London filming for the Carhartt DVD this weekend along with a few others, hope the weather holds.

I get really disheartened riding now. I seem to spend all my time to to badly do something I used to be able to plus I go to local skate parks and they are so different to what I used to ride that I feel even more lost. But I don't want to quite. Too many different types of bike riding to be done not enough time is my problem.

Oh yeah I love my Union hoodie, I still wear it regularly. I used to love trips to Cyclone, you always had to mention Rom when you went in and Ray would give you a discount :)

Amen to that. When are we going out again? I need to drag you around some of my local haunts.

I will be back on the BMX in about a month. Need to get some riding in. I will have a brake fitted so I am planning on riding to work on the BMX every Wednesday for some after Work riding.

Count me in. I'm a regular BMXer, just need to find a few more people, and a few more places, to ride.

Dose anyone know the guy who works in Holloway Cycles and rides an FBM sord? I spoke to him the other day (when I went in with my road bike) about digging at my trails in North London. He seemed keen but I didn't get his number.

Where are your trails? I've been looking to get digging again but haven't made much effort yet. If you don't want to put it on the forum then PM me, I'd really like to ride some trails again.

Cantelowes?

When and where? I generally ride 2-3 times a week.

Trails are in trent park. I will be digging this Sunday if anyone fancys it. They are small but fun.

Em, I am planning a few carpark sessions to get my bassics back down and test the hand then I will be hitting up Cantalowes. most Wednesdays unless I get offered some street.

Digging and trails on Sundays.

You're on. Wednesday street it is!

Nice one. Not for a couple of weeks yet, but soon! Will have to get on street spot spotter(google street view).

You let me know when you're ready and I'll kstart riding the BMX to work (my legs ache just thinking about that commute)

At least my comute is all down hill (why I need the brake back on). Freewheel all the way.

Bastard. Mine's pretty much flat in both directions. Pedal Pedal Pedal, coast.
I can't even really sit down. Fuck.

wednesdayblog.co.uk

+1

Cantelowes is the place to be on Wednesdays!

polo fail

Opposing weeks my friend, that's what I've been doing for the last 2 months.

The first time I rode my BMX to get somewhere rather than go out 'stunting' after buying my fixed bike I was amazed at how slow it felt. I used to ride everywhere on my BMX thinking it wasn't that slow, but now I just end up coasting and wishing I hadn't. Sure it's nice to manual half the journey to my destination, but it's just too slow for me now.

I've been out a with my mate a few times. What is near you? Street stuff? What kind?

i'll be in on some wednesday sessions once this cast is off
(3 weeks left)
especially now the clocks have gone forward
make the most of those light evenings whilst they're about
might need to get a bigger chainring though. 28-10 is too damn light since i put 51-20 on my big bike

via the velocity usa blog

Awesome DVD, I can lend it to you in you want to see the whole section.

hell yeah!

wednesday? (i'll bring your cash money)

were about is trent park?? me and my mate are looking for some new ones to ride and will give a hand

Trent park is up in Cockfosters. I went to the trails yesterday and they looked good. Small but fun. I will let you know when I am next going up there.

ok kl u got any pics of them

I dont, but I will see if I can find some.