Today doesn’t feel like Saturday at all. I guess the extended-weekend due to Thanksgiving has really thrown me off. Then again I am aiming for Saturdays to be my random blog day, so here it is.
The other day I got thinking about how much BMX changes you physically, and mentally and why once you get to a certain point you can’t just quit. I mostly was thinking about it from the perspective of Mike Aitken and Stephen Murray
The biggest thing that got me thinking about this was Mike Aitken, and Stephen Murray. Maybe it was just me that caught this or maybe I am just crazy, but I noticed something very similar to their recoveries. In both situations the doctors had said “I have never seen a recovery go as well as this” at some point. Obviously, Mike and Stephen’s injuries are drastically different but still very severe. I think it has something to do with BMX as to why they made it through, since both could have died from their injuries.
When you ride, you become very determined when you want to do something on your bike. For example, I probably tried over 200 Icepicks on some quarter’s last night. Why I did so many considering I already have and can do them, I don’t know? It is just about doing something you can’t or couldn’t do before that makes you have to do it over, and over again until it is perfect. If you think about that, it is like a body builder doing 200 repetitions to get stronger. We just don’t have roid rage later (unless it is something really crazy and you feel the need to do a victory lap while screaming at all your friends that you did the trick). What I am trying to point out here is the amount of determination you develop from BMX to overcome something. This determination had to carry over in Mike Aitken and Stephen Murray’s situations. That would be the mental part of what BMX does to you. They both, in there own ways have overcome very severe injuries that if it were anyone else, they probably wouldn’t have made it. Something about their minds made them determined enough to keep going.
The physical side of BMX is probably more obvious than anything else. I am not just talking about the muscles you develop, like the massive arms, strong back, and legs. I am talking about pain tolerance. Since I started riding BMX 8 years ago, I have had a few concussions, separated shoulder, bruised and broken ribs, collapsed my lung twice (I tried to ride a week after I did it the first time and it blew out again), scars galore, bruises, bumps, trashed knees, elbows, and wrists, you know the typical fun stuff. It seems like as time went on, getting hurt seemed to hurt less and less. I mean I even told a kid with steel toe boots to kick me in the shin and I didn’t even flinch (for a dollar!). That is nothing compared to pedal bite from bear trap pedals!
The pain tolerance goes way up for BMX riders, I mean how many videos have you seen where there isn’t one crazy crash? I highly doubt you have ever seen one unless it was a web video. People crash all the time on bikes. I am sure when you are about to do something you have never done before, you contemplate how it could go wrong at least a little bit. I mean even things you have done a hundred times before can lead to crashes. Mike Aitken went down doing a 360 over a double, and Stephen Murray went down doing a double back flip. It is scary to think about how much both of these guys have gone through and they haven’t said “I hate BMX because it almost killed me”. Honestly, I would have expected Stephen to say he hates what BMX did to him but… The guy is always smiling and still totally in love with BMX. Mike, fresh out of a coma and re-gaining his balance to walk says he will be back on his bike as soon as he can. Why? because BMX causes this major dedication and love that I personally cannot even explain. Injuries are expected, and I think that is why both of them are still very involved with BMX even though they have had life changing events happen to them.
I don’t want to say that we are superior but have you ever watched professional football, basketball, baseball, soccer? The injuries a lot of those guys get where they are laying down on the ground like they just got hit by a bus leads to their sprained ankle, or something that BMX riders usually just get up from. Not in every case is this true, but it was just something I noticed.
BMX is about having fun, but it has a lot more benefits that people usually overlook. It motivates people to go outside of their own box and try a little bit harder, and it makes you tough as nails. Maybe all this above won’t make any sense at all, or maybe it will make a lot of sense. I don’t really know…
What I want to know is if you feel like this is true at all or not?
BMX is cool because of how many different personalities there are in it. Sean is one of those guys who you really can’t judge just by looking at him. He recently won video part of the year at N.O.R.A Cup and always seems to have something badass in the works. I am willing to bet a few things in this interview will blow your mind, I know I was caught off guard by a few things. Enjoy, and leave some comments!
All photos: Jeff
Name: Sean Burns
Location: Seattle WA
Sponsors: Metal Bikes, Kill City Jeans, Éclat components, bone deth, dick mauls bike shop
Years riding: 13
What was it that originally got you into BMX? I skated at first… and could not Ollie for the life of it, and then rode my brothers BMX bike and could instantly bunnyhop. I took it from there..
I cannot imagine that you would, but did you ever imagine BMX turning into what it has for you? The sponsors, N.O.R.A cups, and everything? Not at all… especially for the era that I grew up… I started riding around 1994 and 95. My first video was props issue number 9, followed by 1201, both of them were kind of the same summer and footage… there were no N.O.R.A cups back then… and dirt jumpers I looked up to didn’t have sponsors yet, Kris Bennett and all the push locals. it all just was fun and looked fun as fuuuck.
How are things going with Metal these days? Any changes to the frame, or other signature parts, web videos, or video parts, trips, or anything cool going on with them? WEB VIDEOS, NO. As much as kids and people like to see footage every day on the internet, that is not what Metal is about. We stand strong for QUALITY NOT QUANITY in our showcase of riders. Metal for 2009 yess is going to be very different. We have switched manufacturing companies, there are going to be some new team riders in the near future, we have a completely new line of product to be unleashed, and possible plans for starting a new video this upcoming summer. Chris Wilson has a new frame in the works titled the “Moon Unit” which has a lower top tube than the rest of the metal frames. It is something more for riders that adjust to Wilson’s style. My frame will stay the same, a few minor adjustments, and shorter drop out. bla bla etc.
You joined the Eclat team not too long ago, how are things going with them? Do you have anything in the works with them at the time? I could not be happier, I am so stoked to be apart of this and it is going completely pureee taste. I would usually go through a pair of cranks between 2 hours or 2 months and these éclat cranks have stood up since July. That is almost 5 months, and still purring beautifully. As far as things in the works, There is not too much yet, a signature shirt that should be out soon. I believe anything parts related will come further down the line.
What about the rest of your sponsors? Do you have anything big going on with them? There are some possible overseas trips with Éclat. I have never left North America so I am really into that…
After winning video part of the year this year, do you have any intensions on trying to do it again next year? You seemed surprised that you won it; did you honestly not expect it even though everyone was yelling your name? Intensions! hahaha. I do not ever intend on winning anything. That’s actually the only thing I’ve ever won in my life. I just ride what I think is fun, and film what I think I would want to see in a video. Yeah I was surprised; because in my mind someone like Dakota Roche could probably do everything, I do in that video. I voted his part, it blew me away.. Tech and gnar and gnarly tech usually you only get one or the other.
It seems like you have to be a pretty badass dude to be on Metal these days, do you have much say on whose on the team? Yes, I pretty much play a slight team manager role at Metal, but usually if were going to put a new guy on the team, first run it by Jimmy, and the rest of the guys.. Were really picky and try not to add a million kids at once and throw them on a flow team, haha I mean we can’t afford too. But yeah we try to stick to the style of speed and having no disregard for your body hahah.
You have been doing some traveling to film and do other trips lately, where are some places you have traveled? It has just been the States, nowhere fancy, Vegas, Tulsa Oklahoma, DC, and Baltimore. haha I never go anywhere too fresh.
Where are some places you would really like to go someday? Anywhere in Scandinavia like Finland, Norway, etc… Germany, Greece, Africa… England, too many to keep naming…
When will the next Bonedeth contest take place? Is there anything planned so far you can tell us about? There are no plans of when, where though most likely in the North West. We have just been too busy doing filming for the upcoming bone deth video ‘Surfin for the Ugly Broads’ which is looking to be out late spring/early summer.
Who are some of the guys you have been riding with these days? Any up and comers you think people should be watching out for? On a regular basis I ride with Ferbert, ox, Chris Crawford, Albie Bennett I am not really a fan of the term up and coming, and preaching new riders. I have been pretty stoked on Chris Crawford, I do not think anyone has ever seen him ride, just simple fast stuff.
If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change? The negativity. I might come across as negative at some points. Mostly towards the plastic parts and slow riding, but I just mean it that I do not like it for me. There is a place for everything; if everyone rode the style I like, shit would be boring. I like that there is virtually all different styles, and it is all respectable. However, when everyone hates on each other it gets kind of retarded.
What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX? I always imagined myself doing something involving music, or even acting, or writing weird shit. Probably writing.
It seems like there are always some awesome photos of you and hot chicks floating around, what is the Sean Burns key to success with women? Key to success? hahahah. Being a weirdo helps. There is a handful of women that love creeps, but not in the manner of child molesting creeps. Spending a lot of time around girls and knowing that there are some FREAKS out there. Your regular school girl looking lady might not be the innocent victim.. She might actually be a model for a bound and gagged website with here titties tied up and they love it!
What are you usually up to when your not riding or anything? Ahh err when I am not riding.. Yeah I am usually getting into weird situations. There is no telling how a day goes. For some reason I cannot walk out the door for 5 minutes with out weird shit happening. My first day I moved to Seattle, I go out riding for 10 minutes and spot a half woman, half man looking fish thing, with a toilet paper made dress masturbating, while eating fish and singing “another one bites the dust”
If you could see any band live right now, who would you pick and why? Dead Boys, with Stiv Bators being dead fuck… I would love to see them shits
What kind of movies are you into? I am not really a movie fan, porn is good
Did you ever go to college or work at all before all the sponsors started taking care of you? I still work. I do not make a living off riding bikes, maybe 400 dollars a month. I have to struggle to get by especially due to trips. I go off an on with jobs, I was working at salvation army for a bit, now that I have moved it looks like I am going to be working at a tanning salon. I always try to get a job that has benefits; Salvation Army provided free clothes and old ladies, tanning salons… Toxic tangerine boobies.
Have you ever been in a fight or arrested? I got wacked in the face by a captain Ron look a like and a knife fight with a gay rapist in Las Vegas… All I can think of really.
There was a rumor floating around that you were straight edge? Do you know why people were saying that? I have not heard this rumor hahaha. I hate the term straight edge. I would love to be straight, no smoking no drinking nothing, and being totally healthy. I go through phases with it. I actually hate alcohol. I am not a fan of being drunk and getting messy. The back of my mind despises it now days. People always get the idea that I do a lot of drugs and its def the complete opposite.
What makes for an awesome night for you? Go out and ride bikes, get some clips, followed by some Brewster babes whaaat!!
If you could have any super power, what would you choose and why? Mind control baby!
Who or what are some of the biggest influences on your life? Jimmy Levan, Kris Bennett, PUSH and POSH, scum videos, Anthem, 1977, zero skate videos, WElCOME TO HELL, Taj, Van Homan, the little devil videos, my friends growing up, ox and Ferbert, Ryan Worcester’s fast plants, Stiv Bators and the dead boys, Vic Murphy’s tables, Stickers’ tables, Jim Morrison, and rock n roll n general.
If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, or fictitious, who would you pick and why? Bill and Gary Jones, the legend and wildcard, 2 friends of mine who were murdered a year n half ago… to be able an get some words out of them once again would be top notch. They were the two most influential people I knew as far as personality. Most of the weirdo tongue you hear from me came from them two.
Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite sites? I spend time answering emails, MySpace messages, Metal emails, nothing too weird. My ex gf looks at porn a lot so I get into it a lil bit. Burningangel.com I check here and there
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years? Solidify metal bikes, bone deth video, metal video. Do some wild ass bone deth ninja course style events. fuck hell I don’t know, just keep riding and filming video parts as much as possible until my body cant take it anymore.
Do you have any crazy stories involving hookers, midgets, homeless people, or pissed off pedestrians? I made out with a midget in Vegas… Rubbed her tummy and patted her forehead… and for homeless people and pissed off pedestrians, you’ll just have to buy the bone deth video to witness some of the madness.
When you meet somebody new, how do you explain to them what you do for a living? How do I explain? … I work a cash register. It is pretty simple
What is the worst thing and best thing you have ever spent your money on? The worst… a rapping Santa Claus toy at 7-11. It was only cool for a minute. And the best… lap dance in Canada that led to sex. $12 dollars whaaat!
What kind of advice do you have for the people out there? Jumping gaps is not something just anybody can do. It takes time and effort to learn how to tuck and land correctly. IT IS NOT HUCKING unless it looks sketch!
Do you have any shout outs or thanks? Thanks diaper dad, your dick gets shitty eh?
Anything else you would like to say? Bite the bitch
Some of the weirdest interviews for me to do are the ones people already know about. Obviously, you know who Ryan Nyquist is… Infact there is a good chance you rode one of his complete bikes when you first started. Maybe you still are riding his signature stuff. I litterally could have asked about 200 questions just because theres so much to talk about. Ryan sums up what’s going on with him these days, moving to cali, having a kid, and all that good stuff. Enjoy and leave Ryan a little love!
Name: Ryan Nyquist
Location: San Jose, CA
Sponsors: Haro Bikes, Thor, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Schick Quatro Titanium, Ogio, Bell, SST, The Jiffy Market of Los Gatos
Years riding: 18 Years
You have been a pro for a long time now, do you even remember when and the reason why you started riding BMX in the first place? Well I don’t think it was for the chicks. Hahahahaha! I started riding because I liked the freedom it gave me. Even before tricks and riding dirt or ramps came about for me, I enjoyed being able to ride around town with my friends and just be on my own. Exploring, feeling independent, and having fun.
It seems like these days pros come and go pretty fast. What do you think the difference from being pro now is from when you first got picked up? I’m not too sure. I have a feeling that it was probably the same as it was back in the day, just on a smaller scale. Back then there were probably 5-10 riders that were the main staples of Freestyle. Guys that you knew were going to produce some amazing riding. And I’m sure there were guys that came and went as well. I think that today, the sport is bigger, more popular, and more accessible for kids to get into. So naturally there are going to be a higher number of riders producing amazing riding, but also a large number of guys who come and go. That’s a pretty scientific answer. Hahahaha!
Do you ever feel like it is hard to keep up with the kids these days? Or is it more or less, you just do your own thing and don’t really care if you can triple whip or not? I’ve always felt like my riding was a little bit different than a lot of people, especially today with all the whips getting thrown. I don’t think it’s about keeping up with everyone else. I think it’s about doing what you think is right for you. I think I just did what I thought was fun, and let that guide me. I like doing things that nobody else does. I think that, more than anything else, helps you stand out in a crowd, and always keeps them guessing.
You did pretty well contest wise this year if I remember right. How do you feel about the Dew Tour and X-games these days? Well the Dew Tour is great. I feel like they do a great job of promoting the event and getting people to come and watch us ride when the event is in their town. The X Games is kind of slipping in my opinion. I feel like with every year that passes, we become more and more like a side show. My prediction is that in five years there won’t be anything in the X Games besides big air. Everything else will motorsports. That’s fine with me though… one less trip to LA. Hahahaha!!!
It seems like your set up hasn’t changed up too much over the years. Have you ever tried the brakeless thing, and how do you feel about that trend? Yeah I think the biggest thing that has changed with my bike has been the switching from 4 piece to 2 piece. It’s funny how things come back in style though. I saw an ad for Fit 4 piece bars the other day. If I could have held out for a few more years I would be waaaaaaaaaay cooler than I am right now. Hahahaha!! I rode brakeless for many years in my beginning years. Mainly because I didn’t have money to buy new rims, so I constantly had hand me down parts that were bent or on their last leg. My wheels were always so bent that I couldn’t have brakes on my bike without them rubbing, so I just took the brakes off. I like the way a bike looks brakeless. It’s very clean looking and simple. I think I could maybe go without my rear brakes, but getting rid of my front brakes would be really difficult for me now. I love them too much.
You have had some pretty crazy sponsors over the years like Slim Jim and Butterfingers, what do you feel is the weirdest sponsor you ever had? Never had Slim Jim as a sponsor… that was Mirra. Guilt by association I guess. But I did have Butterfinger. That was good around Halloween though. Always gave out the King Size bars to all the kids in the neighborhood. One of the craziest ones that almost happened but never really panned out was a silver jewelry sponsorship where they were going to have a signature line of silver jewelry designed by me. Kinda wild! I currently ride for Schick Quatro Titanium Trimmer. I never would have thought I would be riding for a razor company, but it’s awesome having all the new razors you want. Those are pretty expensive in stores.
This might sound weird, but do you have any plans on slowing down and focusing on getting that family started or is riding still the main focus? Well My wife and I are about to have our first child, and it’s definitely crazy to think I’m going to be a dad. It’s one of those moments in life that seems so surreal when it’s about to be a reality. As far as slowing down, I definitely am going to slow my traveling down a little bit just so I can be home with my family more. I used to pack my summer schedule full of trips, but I don’t want to be the traveling dad that just gets to see his son and wife a few days a month. I’ve kind of narrowed things down a lot this past year, and am just doing the bare necessities as far as contests and trips.
You recently moved back to California. Where have you been riding lately? Is there any plans of reviving Sheep Hills? Yeah I’m living up in Northern Cali, San Jose to be specific. It’s the same area that I grew up riding in, so there is still a lot of parks around and some trails as well. I’ve been mainly riding a lot of cement parks. That’s all there really is to ride around here. Some are great but there are a lot of not so great parks around. I’m trying to get some ramps built for the winter so I can still progress my riding, but right now I’m carving the cement trannies.
Out of all the places you have had the chance to travel to, where are some of your favorite places? I’d have to saw Australia, New Zealand, and Africa would have to be my top picks. I have a lot of friends that are from Australia, so it makes it really enjoyable and fun to spend time there. New Zealand is pretty much a paradise to me. Especially the South Island. No bikes needed. And I went to Africa twice last year, once to South Africa and once to Egypt. Both with out the bike, and both were amazing trips. I feel so fortunate to have been able to travel all over the world.
Where are some places you have never been before? China, Italy, Greece, Nova Scotia… there is a lot I haven’t seen in this world. I wouldn’t mind going to Antarctica just to say I’ve been. I think italy and Greece would be my top picks for a trip though.
Do you have any big trips planned any time soon? Nothing whatsoever. Hahahahaha! This winter I’m spending all my time at home, getting to know my new son Tristan.
You have had some really good video parts over the years, which one was your favorite, and are you working on anything new? Thanks a lot. Video parts are fun to put together. I don’t do it very often, but when I do I really enjoy the whole process. Everything from making lists of things that I want to accomplish, to listening to music to find the perfect song, to helping with the editing process. I’m most proud of my part in End Search. Josh Harrington asked me to be apart of the project and I couldn’t resist. That was the second time he asked me to be a part of a video project, the first being in Against The Grain. He was really great about letting me take control of my part and letting me put my own little touches into my section to really make it my own. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. I was nominated for Video Part of the Year at NORA Cup for it too. That was amazing for me because it was something that I never thought would happen in a million years.
I know your not exactly a Josh Harrington when it comes to height, do you feel like not being super tall makes things easier for you to do? I think there are pluses and minuses to being both tall and short. I always wished that I had a couple more inches of height, but I think that when your limbs are longer it’s sometimes easier to get things tweaked or broken. But when your short you have a hard time getting things off the top shelf. I always have to have a step stool in the house. Hahaha!
What is the biggest thing you have learned in life because of BMX? I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is just how to function in life. You can’t learn that in school. I’ve also gained a better sense of how people are and can sort through the bullshit a lot easier. That’s just something I’ve learned while dealing with people in the business for the past 12 years. There’s a lot of bullshit out there.
If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why? I hate this question. I wouldn’t change a thing. The shit talking that goes on is good and bad. Who doesn’t like to talk shit? Or at least read about it. But sometimes it’s taken too far. BMX is what you make of it and what you surround yourself with. So if you don’t like what BMX is to you, surround yourself with the right people and just do what you want.
What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX? I started to go to college for Mechanical Engineering in 1997/1998 but stopped to ride and compete. Maybe I would have continued on that path… who knows. I love being active. I used to play a lot of soccer, so maybe I would have tried to pursue that. I’ve been involved in Freestyle for so long that it’s hard to picture myself not riding. I think I would be a completely different person without the knowledge and life lessons that I’ve gained from riding and traveling.
What got you to move back to California anyways? Well, my Mom’s health isn’t so great and I just wanted to be closer to my family. I spent 9 years living in Greenville and only seeing my parents and older brother like 4 times a year. I wanted more than that.
You were going to leave The Unit there for everyone to ride and enjoy, do you still pay the bills or is it up to the locals now? Yeah I still take care of the bills. We have talked about them covering the utilities, but I haven’t really pressed the issue. When I decided to move back to Nor Cal, what to do with the Unit was probably the hardest thing for me to try and decide. The options in my head were to sell it and tear down the ramps, lock it up and only open it up when I was visiting, or keep it up and running and just have my close friends take care of it like it was their own. I felt like the place was too new to tear down, so that option was out the door. Plus I think it would kill me to have to dismantle that place. We put so much hard work into finishing it, that I would probably get really depressed. And the whole locking it up option was stupid. What’s the use of having a place like that and only letting people in when I was around. I’m not that selfish. It just seemed like the right thing to do was to keep it open. And so far it’s been working great. I just miss the place a lot though. Wish I could have taken it with me.
Mirra is leaving Greenville also, do you feel like that will change what GV is or do you think it will be the same pro destination? I think he was talking about moving to NY permanently but I believe he changed his mind and is back in Greenville again. I can honestly say that the scene in Greenville is much stronger than just Dave and I. If we both left, things would continue on just fine. There are too many riders and still plenty of things to ride for things to change that much.
What are some things you are good at that people really don’t know about? Puzzles. Or at least I think I’m good at them. I guess I should just say that I enjoy them. I can cook alright. I make a mean spaghetti sauce. ANd a excellent chicken pot pie.
How do you feel about Big Daddy always calling you out and calling you “Nyquinch”? I think it’s funny. It’s not he’s saying anything that people don’t already know. He’s hilarious. I always look forward to the next video to drop. I wouldn’t mind filming a video of my own though, and just flip the whole thing on him. I got some great ideas…
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next 5 years? First and foremost is to be a great dad. We are 6 day out of having our first kid and my wife and I are super excited. Beyond that, I’d like to keep progressing my riding, maybe travel a little bit more. I’ve been really into fixing up our home, and I wouldn’t mind learning more things like that. I guess those are some short term and long term goals.
First song to come to mind? Pink’s “So What”. My wife has been rocking that song nonstop. and it’s stuck in my head.
First movie to come to mind? Role Models. That shit is hilarious!!!!! I definitely recommend seeing it at least twice. Soooooo gooooooooooooood!!!!
What’s your dream car? And whatever happened to that car you had with the grill from when you did cribs? The car that used to have the Stove and all the kitchen stuff in the trunk was a 1965 Lincoln Continental with Suicide doors. That was a fun little project, and I feel like it helped make that episode of Cribs pretty funny. The car was awesome but it was a lot of work to get it running sweet, so I sold it. My dream car used to be the Plymoth Prowler. I always liked the way that car looked. I don’t really have an exotic dream car. I’d love to have a new Tacoma Quad Cab though. Those are tight!
If you could re-live any day in your life, what would you pick and why? I am the way I am because of the way I’ve lived my life. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Have you ever been in a fight? If yes, did you win? I was kind of in a fight in 7th grade but not really. I took a swing at a guy, missed, then just ran away. Hahahahaha. I almost fought Keith Terra back in the day. It was while all that shit talking and him writing letters into RideBMX was going on. John Paul Rodgers was going to set up a legit boxing match between us at the Christmas Classic Race/ Dirt comp in 1998. I’m not much of a fighter. I think it’s pretty stupid to be honest. Nobody wins in a fight.
Have you ever been arrested? If yes, why? If no, why not? Never been arrested, but got chased down the street in Germany by undercover cops, because Nick Cooper kicked some guy in the face. That guy called the cops and they started looking for us. We were walking back to the hotel when a car full of 4 big german guys skidded to a stop right next to us, and all the guys got out of the car and started chasing us. I thought they were some buddies of the guy that got kicked, and that we were gonna get our asses beat. Crazy times.
This interview could go on for days, so lets end it with what is the best advice you can give to a kid just getting into BMX? Do what you like to do, but be yourself. and wear your helmet and pads. Shit is way too crazy nowadays to not be safe.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks? Thanks to my wife and my family. Thanks to my sponsors : Haro, Thor, Rockstar, Schick Quatro Titaium, Bell, Ogio, SST, CTI Kne Braces, The Jiffy Market of Los Gatos, Calabazas Cylery.
I finally went up to Renegade Skatepark today to ride and FINALLY got my hands on the video they made from the contest last spring. The people who filmed and edited it are skateboarders who work for the park, so it is a little iffy on certain things. I still think it turned out good. I love the end where my buddy Wyatt shows Mini Mark whose boss. Haha Enjoy. Oh by the way, they asked me to throw another contest this winter there. I am thinking some time in January, I don’t know an exact date yet but it should be good.
Posted in: News by Kurt on November 16, 2008, with 6 responses
In this day and age of BMX it is all about how to make frames and parts lighter, stronger, and more appealing to the people buying the products. However, this rule doesn’t only apply to frames and parts. It applies to tools too. I got my hands on a DK Random Wrench V2 recently and I was impressed. The original Random Wrench V1 had come out years ago. I remember my buddy David having one and I would always mess up putting the pieces back in and the cover wouldn’t fit. I think it would be a good idea to add this tool to your collection and this is why…
If you are a “vetern” of BMX and have been in the game for years, you obviously know every piece on your bike. At least I would hope so. You should be able to feel something wrong with your bike, and take every little piece off and know how to fix it. Maybe you are on the other side, just getting into BMX and want to learn how to avoid running to the shop everytime your bike feels off. If that is the case, then you probably have a set of tools that you use.
Before I got my hands of the Random Wrench this is what tools I carry around with me when I am out on the bike. I mean, I leave them in my car so little skateboarders at the park don’t rifle through my shit to find a skate tool, since I would have that? It is fairly simple, a ratchet with an extension, along with a few sizes of deep sockets. I carry the extra ones to help out the other guys who don’t think to bring their tools. 2 sets of allen wrenches, American, Metric and another 6mm with a little leverage. 2 chain breakers, 2 because one has stripped out pin screw hole, so the pin will move around a bit sometimes. A punch, because you never know when you might need to pound something out. I don’t really know why I carry that in the first place. A wrench for my pedals, and an adjustable wrench for random uses. Then my vice grips, which actually have a really good cable cutter on it too. I have another wire cutter, but I forgot to take it out after I realized the vice grip had one. Also, there is a flat head screw driver. This is just because I broke my plastic tire levers and then got folding tires so it is just to help start the tire off. These are tools I use more frequently, there are a bunch of other tools I have in the garage that we really don’t need to go into.
The biggest difference I noticed from the original Random Wrench was the body of the tool was smaller, and lighter. It even removed the socket extension and put it inside as an attachment. The V.2 also has a much cleaner look to it too.
Once you unscrew the top, which actually is a spoke wrench also, all the attachments are found inside. The first would be a socket extension, 17 mm socket, 5 mm allen, 15 mm socket, and 6 mm allen. These are the more standard sizes for nuts and bolts on the bike. Then obviously the wrench on the end of the casing will fit your pedals. This is awesome because instead of a bunch of seperate tools, it is all put together into a tube and makes for a cleaner tool box, bag, or whatever you use to put your tools when they aren’t in use.
After the Random Wrench was placed into my tool bag, I obviously didn’t need to carry some of those tools anymore. I removed the ratchet, sockets, and extension. I might throw the extra sizes back in just incase my friends get screwed over. The extra wire cutters got removed, along with the wrench I used for my pedals. I even took out one of the allen wrenches because I only used the two sizes that the Random Wrench came with anyways.
With every positive review there at least has to be something I wasn’t a huge fan of. The thing I didn’t like most is that the sockets don’t have the ratchet ability so it slows things down just a bit. That was honestly about all I could think of that I didn’t like..
So, to conclude this review… I would say get the DK Random Wrench V.2 if you are looking to slim down the number of tools you have to carry. I would say the same if you are looking to get your tool collection started. It is made by a BMX company specifically for your BMX bike, why wouldn’t you want it? You can pick the wrench up on Albes, Empire, Staff, and Dan’s for about $32.95. I am sure you could find a way to get it from your local shop too.
As much as I want to stay on top of writing stuff for this blog it is weird to think about what runs through my mind in a given day. I think this might be a good time to just give a little update with some projects of mine…
Numero uno, like always is BMX union. I need to start hustling on that to keep my stats growing. I love it.
Dos- This past week has been fairly exciting. I had been asked to do another contest at Renegade Skate park. I wasn’t sure at first if I wanted to then I realized how many people were into the last one and wanted me to do another. I have been talking to Red Bull about the event and I think it could be badass. Also, I had been talked to breifly about getting involved with another contest with Bawls which would be really badass from the details I had been informed of. As much as I get stressed out organizing things like that.. I like to do it because the end product usually ends up being real good.
Trace- I am pretty sure I am going to San Diego January 5th-10th.. I just need to do it.. I know it will be a good time too so I really need to follow through with it. I would be going down there to chill and ride bikes with some buddies who live down there. Once again like Vegas, it is all convincing.
Quatro- School has been going well surprisingly enough as is.. I am getting all A’s and B’s which I didn’t expect at all. I didn’t realize how little homework there would be this semester too haha. I guess I got lucky..
I seriously just lost track of what I was going to say so I will just call this quits for today…
Since I am waiting on what looks to be about 20 interviews to be returned… ahem… I figured it would be a good time to do my blog post of the week. Oh, by the way I am going to try and do a blog post once a week now. I figure it might just help my writing abilities, and maybe I can spark a little discussion? I don’t know. This time around I figured maybe I should give a little explaination to how or why BMX union came about… I even included some old slightly embarassing pictures…
This is probably 3 or 4 years old now. Local trails that eventually died with the scene around here.
The reason for this is that I actually have been confronted twice this week about how I am doing what I am doing. One, in a positive email and a not so positive one from an anonymous kid on The Come Up Board. So, maybe I can enlighten some of you of what I am all about, or at least what I wish I was about.
If you are firmiliar with web design, HTML, or anything like that, you might be able to remember some of these names I am about to bring up. One of my very first websites was a “crew” website on Expages. It was a free site hosting site that had really easy functions on how to build up a website in a few minutes. This was probably around the time I was in 7th grade. So, I would say about 7 years ago. We’re talking back in the dial-up internet connection days with AOL.
Shortly after that I was starting to teach myself HTML from Web Monkey and HTML Goodies. At that point I started experimenting with Homestead, Geocities, and Tripod. I couldn’t find any of these sites which was kind of a bummer. Then again after so many years I am not surprised they deleted that stuff. After a while I got into Freewebs with a site called BMXrochester. It was a scene website I did with all the local’s from Rochester, Minnesota (not New York, or Michigan).
That site was really the biggest jump with web stuff. If you look at the links and stuff, you can see this was the time when Trend which is now Empire was huge, I rode a Macneil Ruben, and Kyle Stark was doing the Twin Cities BMX site. I don’t remember the exact reason I stopped using Freewebs, but I think it was a mix of a lot of shitty service, and if you notice the template on that site… They had some big outage and lost all the data of my real design that I did all by myself. I didn’t have the code saved obviously, and that was it. I stopped doing web stuff for a few months and then played around with a few other services. After a while I resurected BMXrochester on a Blogger account, but this was right around the time the scene in Rochester started getting bogged down due to people leaving for college, working all the time, dirt bikes, and a bunch of other stuff.
Once the scene started dying down, I was still itching at the website stuff. I started BMXunion in September of 2007 and didn’t really know exactly what I was going to do with it. To be entirely honest, I was taking a Mass Communications class in my first semester of college and my final project was on how blogging can reach people. I got Catfish to do an interview and before I knew it I was at 150 interviews (actually at this moment it is 149.. who will be the big 150? Well, whoever sends theirs back first).
That is what leads me to Adam22 and The Come Up. I am surprised he even talks to me still to be honest haha. I was constantly asking him questions about how to get a website visitors, and asking if he would post my stuff. It had to be annoying as hell. However, he went on a trip which I don’t even remember what it was for but whatever. He asked if I would want to do updates on the site for him. Sure, why not? HA! I never realized exactly how many people check that site, and how quick they will catch your mistakes of spelling or anything. I guess it must have went well because Adam didn’t delete my log-in after that one. I still wonder why he lets me post on there haha. Oh well, it is fun and I really appreciate the oppertunity he has given me.
BMX is really cool because EVERYONE is connected. I don’t care what you say, if you need to get ahold of somebody it can be done at any time. I remember after a few months of helping out Adam and my site, I started getting a pretty dialed in e-mail contact book for people to get ahold of to get people for interviews and everything. Jump ahead to last September, Kyle Carlson and Alex from Give D are telling me I have to come to Las Vegas for Interbike. I was scared to fly, and never really traveled that far before. Somehow I convinced myself to get a plane ticket and just do it. I regret it for one reason and one reason only… Now all I want to do is travel!
It was really fun to go to Interbike and just bump into all these people who I had been doing interviews, getting in contact, and other things through email. I owe Alex from Give D, and Catfish big ups for introducing me to all the people I probably wouldn’t have just because I didn’t want to bother them.
Did I ever expect to be able to do any of the things I get to do today when I started? No, not at all. It is crazy to think about all the oppertunities I have been given because I was into messing around on the computer too much. I am very greatful though, BMX is the coolest thing to happen to me. To be able to be as involved with it as I am today is amazing. I was talking to a guy who used to ride back in the day a few weeks ago. He was one of the “older guys” I watched riding when I first started. I was always amazed by the stuff he did. He had said he saw a video of me on Youtube and was shocked at how much has changed since I was the little rat at the trails following my big brother all over the place. I guess it just made me laugh to think about how much BMX really has changed.
I don’t know if that could explain how my web presence came into existance, but I tried. I just hope I don’t come off as a dick, or cocky bastard. I didn’t mean to at all. I am just happy to be able to do whatever it is involving BMX.
This would conclude yet another rambling blog.
There used to be this creepy guy who came to the skatepark called “Skunkboy”. He had to be about 30 and claimed to be an action sports photographer. I am pretty sure he was a pedophile now, but I thought it was cool back in the day for him to get pictures of me.
Believe it or not, I used to do hop barspins. I can’t do them for the life of me anymore. I probably landed 1 handed in this.
Thanks to those sponsor me websites, I some how got onto Psykopath back in the day. Once I realized I sucked at BMX, I quit the team and bought an FBM.
Posted in: blog by Kurt on November 12, 2008, with 4 responses
You may have already seen on some other sites, but Just recently Kyle Guidice fell victim to what seems to be a serious coma.
Its a terrible situation that I was notified further about through my dude Tyler Hanlon… I’ve spoken to Tyler numerous times on AIM before the incident and when he hit me up today about the situation, it all clicked together in my head and I realized that Kyle was his cousin. This is a terribly sad situation and I’m happy to see that a lot of people, shredders and non-shredders, all around the world are coming together to support Kyle during all this. For once I see that there is still good in people at a time like this, I visited The Come Up today and there was even little to no bad mouthing on there. I was literally surprised… So, please keep supporting Kyle and keep the good words, thoughts, prayers, any and all forms of positivity coming… If you didn’t happen to read Tyler Hanlon’s email that was posted on The Come Up, its posted below…
“yoo man, my name is tyler o’hanlon.. im from central new jersey. my cousin kyle guidice, was recently put into a coma. i know you dont know either of us, but we both ride bikes, pretty much everyday of our lives. and i love the kid to death but the doctors said he needs a miracle to wake up, because he showed no good signs within 24 hours of the coma. his myspace is www.myspace.com/iliketoridemybmxbike , kid shreds. he never gives up on anything, wether it be on his bike or any other situation.
im not asking for any sympathy or money or anything, just asking if you could maybe post up a picture of him or something on the come up.. and ask people to pray. because he needs it. i know he always talked about going to the banks one day to ride with all you dudes and spam might remember him a bit.
sorry if this is just considered a spam email to you but he needs a miracle to live.. and i just want people to pray. thanks a lot for reading this, itd mean pretty much the world if you posted this up.. sorry if this shit sounds gay but i love the kid and he got me into bmx.”
I am no economist or stock broker. I am probably not even qualified at all to be saying this… However, I think this little theory (idea) of mine should hold true. Seeing as I have had stock literally all my life thanks to my mom, I learned at a young age how to follow the stock market. Now that I am 20, a business major in college, and well aware of where my money has been going these last few months. I think it is time for a little positive motivation for how long it will be till the economy and stock market comes back.
When the Great Depression first happened in the 1930’s it obviously had a huge toll on the country. When I think of it personally I see the images from all the history books I read in grade school. Pissed off farmers in a dusty cloud (no, I am not mistaking for the dust bowl.. even though that would be a similar image). The biggest difference is technology, just compare the technologies of then to today. We were a national market at the time, now it is a global economy. Telephone service was weak and nothing. The word computer was basically a made up word, and the Internet is about 40 years away from becoming a word. People wrote letters and it took weeks for it to get across the country and to get a response sometimes. To get away from that depression it took years to fix. I doubt it will even take half the time to fix what we have gotten into this time.
Now fast forward to 2008, the global market is in crisis and people don’t know what to do. People are going crazy because they sit and watch the stock market channel where they literally know exactly what is happening the very second it happens. People are making trades from their computer over the Internet every second, the United States government has groups working around the clock to figure out how to fix this financial crisis, and the world is following suit. Why is it that you can be having a conversation with somebody in Australia on AIM, while chatting with old friends on Facebook like they are sitting there with you but, it has taken a few months for this economic hic-up to even begin to be figured out? We have the technology to connect people, the brilliant people we need to make the discovery of what the hell is causing this downward spiral!
Sure, 98% of us are uneducated enough to make these big economic decisions, but don’t you think that if the whole world is connected things will be happening a little more rapidly? Somebody is bound to have an answer, or at least a piece to this puzzle to fix it. Why don’t we have a place to put all these ideas together? If we know the exact reason for why big businesses are failing and banks are hitting the shitter than why hasn’t there been any solid solutions besides a great “bail out” where the government throws up this money that can be printed and made up that shouldn’t even exist?
All I am saying to sum up these blasts of words is that this depression/economic crisis or whatever you want to call it is not even that bad. For the majority of the people who might read this, answer this question. How much has your life really changed because of this? Do you still go out? Do you still buy food and gas? Have you been running around on fire or being shot at for your wallet? Okay so it isn’t that bad. I am saying that because of the technology we have, everyone should be coming together to figure out what the problem is… I am saying that because of technology this shouldn’t take 5 years, shit this shouldn’t even take until 2010 to be fixed. The world moves at a million miles an hour and isn’t slowing down. Why should business? Get on it.
Casey is a fairly well known street rider from the Midwest scene and Sputnic flow rider. This interview was really suppossed to happen months ago back when that A.J guy was helping out with the site. I guess it got lost in the process, so I shot him some fresh questions and waited for his new edit to drop. This is what came from it. Enjoy, and leave him a little love in the comments!
Name: Casey D Strong
Location: Currently Milwaukee WI
Sponsors: Sputnic
Years riding: I think about 8 years now?
What was it that got you into BMX in the first place? My oldest brother Travis was all about bikes, and he rode BMX along with mountain, road, etc. He pretty much was my main influence he built my first ramp out of a milk crate and plywood, and took me to my first skate park.
How are things going with Sputnic these days? What do you got going on with them, any trips or anything like that going on? Things with Sputnic are great, a lot of things are going on with the company mainly with Johnny leaving. With Johnny leaving Ronnie B has been in a way running it all, and taking ideas from everybody on the team as to what should be the future for Sputnic. As trips, we do plan on have a couple but that most likely wont be until spring or summer. Me and Mike Hinkens are going to Florida over winter break though so i guess that could count.
Being a Midwest rider, you are no stranger to the cold and snow that will be here all to soon. What are your plans to make it through the winter? Winter is the worst thing ever. I hate the bitter cold, and even more so i hate the snow. I basically shuts down the street spots and forces you into the park. Although i am luck enough to have 4seasons so close i would much rather ride outside. My plans to attempt to survive the winter are spending a few weeks in Florida riding bikes.
You are living in one of the best scenes in the country with riders like Jeff K, Lil Jon, Mike Hinkens and so many more. Do you ever feel like that plays on your level of progression? Mike, Jeff, and Jon are all amazing people and bike riders. I have been lucky enough to grow up riding with these guys, mainly Mike and that’s probably why i like street so much. But being able to ride with guys on their level on a daily basis definitely plays a role on progression because of it motivates me to try and learn new things that these guys make look easy.
Outside of those bigger named guys, who are you usually out riding with? Grant C, Jeff Dowhen, and Nate W. All these dudes kill it. There are a whole bunch of other people that i ride with but these are probably the main three dudes besides Mike that i ride with.
You have had the chance to travel a bit these days, where are some of your favorite places you have had the chance to ride? I was really stoked on Florida in winter. Good weather, good dudes, good spots. Michigan was pretty fun. I cant even remember where else i have been.
Do you have any trips in the works or places you would like to go sometime? Sputnic has a few plans for trips coming next summer if everything works out. I would like to go somewhere out of this country, Barcelona looks amazing.
I would imagine you are still brakeless, so do you plan on ever running brakes again? Still brakeless, will always be too. My first bike was the only bike that had brakes, a DK fury. The brakes lasted a good 3 weeks before the cable broke and smashed the lever off with a hammer.
Your new Sputnic edit just dropped, are you filming for anything else from video parts to web videos? Not really filming for anything in specific at the time.
What is something about BMX that frustrates you the most? How serious it has become. I would also say the X GAYmes.
If you were going on a road trip with 5 people, who would you want to be on the trip and where would you want to go? Mike Hinkens, Johnny Devlin, Grant C, Nate W, and Jamie Bestwick. I think i would probably pick Athens Georgia, that place seems pretty crazy.
Where would you like to see BMX go in the next few years? TO THE MOON!
What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX? Pretty sure I would be a professional parachuter.
Outside of riding what are you usually up to? I guess outside of BMX, i am either working, or riding some other bike. I race road bikes in the summer, and usually commute to work on a bike. Also ride cyclocross.
Were you aware there is another Casey Strong who can lift a shit load of weight? No i wasn’t, but i did know there was a baseball player with the same name.
Do you work or go to school at all? I work, kinda gave up on school for the time being.
What is the craziest thing you have experienced in your life? Having a bike change the way i live.
If you could be sponsored by any thing that does or does not have any involvement in BMX, who would you pick and why? The Green Bay Packers, because football is sweet! Probably Levis though, because of their amazing health insurance for the riders.
How’s your criminal record looking? Any good stories? My record is pretty clean, but i do have a warrant for my arrest for a unpaid ticket in Philly. The ticket was for riding my bike on the sidewalk. If you couldn’t live where you live now, and couldn’t live in the Midwest at all. Where would you move and why? I think Portland Oregon, the place seems really awesome. I would have said Florida, but i would die in the heat.
What kind of music are you into these days? I have been really into Modest Mouse lately. I jam a lot of old shit too, like CCR, The Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Johnny Cash. List goes on.
Have you seen any good movies lately? The Dark Knight, so good.
If you could live like anyone else in this world, who would you pick and why? Brett Favre, he is a legend.
What would you do if you found a sack of money that you know is not legit? I would try to do something legit with it like give it to charity, probably pocket some of it though.
What is the worst/dumbest/funniest thing you have ever spent your money on? Ha, i bought a Mens work out magazine, box of Trojan Magnum XL condoms, along with the toilet paper that Matt Coplan asked me to pick up. That or the giant dildo that me and my roommates bought, no homo.
How do you feel about Obama being elected as president? I think its pretty cool, i voted for him. Hopefully things will start to get better in the country and i dont have to kick myself in the ass.
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years? Get my knee fixed, fly on a airplane, find a way to not have to work, end my dependence on a automobile completely and do a BMX trip across the county on a bike.
If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do and why? Double homicide, because two is better than one. haha.
What is the most embarrassing thing you have done while intoxicated? Since i don’t drink, i don’t have a good story. I have done some pretty dumb shit while sober though.
If you could change anything about the world, what would you change and why? I would make Rollerblades illegal.
What is some of the best advice you could give somebody? I guess do what you think is right, fuck the trends.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks? Thanks to Mike Hinkens for putting up with my shit and helping me get to where i am at, Johnny Devlin for being a great friend and helping me get to where i am, Ronnie Bonner at Sputnic for giving me a chance, Ralph and Omar at Animal for all the help, Jeff K for making me jump on shit, Jeff G and 4seasons skate park, Grant C for being a good friend and filming, Kyle Kompas for having fun on his bike helping me to do the same, my mom for being my first sponsor, Jake G for the photos, everybody from Milwaukee who i ride with, Tippy, Jason Minor, Ernie, and Kurt for doing this interview.
Anything else you would like to say? Yeah thanks if you actually took the time to read this.
