THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF
Nike 6.0 Build off
If this mag could talk, you’d have an American voice over getting in your face right now saying something along the lines of ‘this is the first Nike 6.0 build off, a build off of epic proportions......’.
Hell on Wheels
Back Bone
So, why the frame and parts choice?
What custom elements did you bring to the build?
So, why the frame and parts choice?
The frame was a no brainer, the Tierra has been a popular choice amongst riders since it’s conception and love it or hate it you can’t deny the impact it has had on riding and frame design over the last few years or more. As for the rest of the bike, with the exception of the tires which were a matter of being the only decent white ones available, the parts list was simply what we thought your average rider would want to run, based on what has been popular as of late and also received good feed back. A mix of light weight, yet long lasting and obviously just as aesthetically pleasing gear. The stem had to be an S&M because you just can’t buy a better longer lasting stem. We were so impressed by the new Simple rims and hubs (especially after seeing Trav doing his best to kill the prototype ones last xmas at Five Dock) that we had to go with them. The éclat Complex seat and post combo’s are impossible to beat as far as weight and cost are concerned, I’ll leave it at that as I’m sure you get the idea...
I always like the idea of a bike with no black parts on it because it’s just not something you commonly see and given that the criteria was to build a bike in the 6.0 orange and white colours we decided to combine the design of the Nike 6.0 box and the bike with no black idea. In short I guess we wanted the bike to resemble the shoebox you get with the shoes that will hopefully win you the bike! This idea meant everything except the wheel set, pedals, grips and tires had to be colour matched and sprayed (thanks Cooper!) in a very short amount of time. Once all the parts were painted, Tom gave it some loving and I added the final touches by stickering it up with laser cut graphics from the crew at Digital Colour and what you see is the finished product which we hope you all like.
As soon as we got word of the comp we racked our brain for ideas, one of the first was to say ‘lets make this bike as one-off as we can regardless of budget or timing’. So we contacted our friends at FBM and put together a one off custom frame to our specs and a few other details that FBM were able to come through with, namely the Nike seat stay bridge and the Nike 6.0 brazed logo on the down tube. As you can imagine building a custom frame isn’t quick but the guys at FBM came through and got it to us a week before the deadline. Psyched! We also wanted to put parts on it that you couldn’t get just anywhere (yet), so we had our friends in Taiwan express through one of each of our Back Bone headset, BB, pivotal post and seat, so we could have little touches of one off parts throughout the bike, Back Bone style. What we didn’t want to do was build a bike that was over-the-top Nike 6.0 but instead something that was dialed, subtle and you still knew it was 6.0 ten years later when the paint had faded.
Rob
Frame Fly Tierra 21”
Hell on Wheels build list
Tires Primo Wall
Back Bone Build list Frame FBM/Nike/Back Bone
Tires Odyssey Aitken Park
Fork Mankind Asadi
Cranks Dragonfly 2 piece
Fork United Squad
Cranks Fit Team
Bars Bicycle Union bar
BB Superstar
Bars Proper TTxL
BB Back Bone BMX
Grips Odyssey Team
Sprocket Black Lotus
Grips Animal Edwin
Sprocket Proper Microlite 25t
Stem S&M Lil’ redneck
Chain KMC 410h
Stem Colony Official
Chain KMC 410h
Headset Mankind
Gearing 25/9
Headset Back Bone BMX
Brakes Nike 6.0?
Rims Simple
Seat clamp Fly
Rims Colony
Seat clamp Integrated
Spokes Proper double butted
Seat post éclat Complex combo
Spokes Hi-Tech, 3 cross
Seat post Back Bone pivotal
Hubs Simple
Seat éclat Complex combo
Hubs Bicycle Union
Seat Back Bone pivotal
16 ISSUE 34 DECEMBER 2009
THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF The deal was simple, a three way bike build off involving the crews from Hell on Wheels, Back Bone and Ride on. One bike would stand supreme, winning the shop in question much kudos in the custom BMX build world and a sweet 42inch plasma TV for their customers viewing pleasure. All sounds good and great for the winning shop, but to make it even better, any customer purchasing Nike 6.0 products between Dec 7th 2009 and Feb 27th 2010 goes into the draw to win the bike at the store they bought the gear from. So rad. But, back to the bikes themselves, each shop built their own Nike 6.0 inspired ride. The only prerequisite was to follow the 6.0 colour scheme of orange, black and white, other than that, it was open slather.... So heres the three bikes in question.
Ride On
What custom elements did you bring to the build?
So, why the frame and parts choice?
What custom elements did you bring to the build?
Apart from the design and spec for the custom frame, we got a local artist and BMX rider Leah Brideson in to paint the frame for us. As well as trying to make the bike look like a Nike 6.0 bike, we wanted the bike to look like it was the ‘Australian Nike 6.0 bike’ without painting something obvious like the Southern Cross or Ned Kelly, haha. Leah paints indigenous style dot paintings and has also painted her boyfriend B-Dog’s bike in this style. As well as that, just repainting the forks to match the colour of the frame and Bentley polished up the seat stay bridge and Nike 6.0 badge on the downtube, for extra pop. Even though we had planned how the bike would look for a while (since we were told about the comp), we got the frame back from the U.S. on Monday afternoon and it was painted and built by Thursday afternoon, we’re pretty psyched that everything worked out in such a short timeframe! Thanks again to FBM for making one hell of a kick ass frame, Leah for painting it, Bentley for the build and polish and everyone in the store for ideas. Nike 6.0 for putting the competition on too.
First off we wanted the Bike to Be 100% “shredable” as well as looking clean. When first approached it, we had a bunch of wild ideas but most of them made the bike not being what someone would be able to put on the wall or ride the shit out of. There’s a lot of frames out these days and the Pandora DTT stands out in the crowd by far, oldskool looks but rides like a 2009 top end frame plus why have one top tube when you can have two? Also the fact you can roll down the street easily with a carton of beers siting perfectly on top is nothing but a bonus. As far as the parts list go, we have parts on there that no one else in the world has or will have anytime soon. The seat and forks are proto so not only is it custom, it’s one off and unique. We found that Proper and Colony both had a perfect colourways that matched each other and to the Nike 6.0 theme which was specified. The rest of the gear we chose in our opinion is the best BMX gear available.
We wanted to compliment the brand, but bring the “Ride On” image to the setup so we had some custom artwork by good friend Loz Hocking from Westside Tattoos which is four doors up from our store, he did some one-off artwork with the frame. Also because the forks were prototypes we had some powder coating done on the forks to match the specified colour theme. We tried to keep it as clean as possible doing little things that often get overlooked that can make a clean look, like matching the headset and stem and cutting the forks down so the colour flows between the two without having spacers or different colours breaking it up, same with the BB and Sprocket and bars and grips and the pegs. We did have brakes in mind to begin with, but it was so clean and solid that we left them off as I would have to say an ever growing majority of riders are rolling without the stoppers. Cheers to Loz for the graphic’s, Clint at Colony for the prototype gear, Mike D at KickassBMX for Proper hook ups and Nike for the challenge and hooking up Chris Courtenay! And finally, Jaime at Stowaway for the rubber, cause you gotta roll on Animal tyres! Morrisey
Rhysty
Ride On Build list
Frame New Subrosa Pandora DTT 21”
Cranks Raw Fly V2
Fork Colony prototype V5 official
BB Colony Mid BB
Bars Fit Sky High 29 x 8 1/4
Sprocket Proper Team
Grips Proper Team
Chain TSC V2 Halflink
Stem Proper Microlite
Gearing 25/9
Headset Colony integrated
Brakes Running bare
Rims Colony Clone F and R
Seat post Inbuilt
Spokes DB Mutiny black stainless
Seat Colony PC Pivotal prototype
Hubs Proper
Barends Colony Konka Alloy
Tires Animal
Pegs Sputnic Hammer pegs
Head in to one of these three stores for your chance to vote on the winning bike and go in the running to win one of the three stylin’ rides with any Nike 6.0 purchase before February 27th 2010. Entry forms and terms and conditions can be found in each store. We’ll announce the winning build next issue!
ISSUE 34 DECEMBER 2009
17
Hop up to ledge ride with a lil turndown just for good measure
52
ISSUE 34
I
N
T
E
R
V
I
E
W
I've got to say, from the first time I saw Ryan riding at city park in Adelaide from afar, and having no idea which way was regular or opposite for him. To getting to know him and hanging out and riding I've got to say he is one of the nicest, giving guys you'll probably meet in the BMX community. The following is a little Chat myself, Jack and Matt had with Ryan on a hot Adelaide afternoon. PHOTOS BY DAVE RUBINICH INTERVIEW By DAVE AND JACK ISSUE 34
53
Photos by JAMIE MAURI Words by ALEX LIIV & JAMIE MAURI
There was me. That is Alex, and my fellow droog, that is Jamie. We roll into this strange town on horse back, cowboys from a far away land. Eye balled down by the local filth as we walk through the swing door at the saloon. “Sharpen your soul, propose a duel”. Sharpening up for the challenge of life and death in a street of a strange place, is rule number one of joining the local cowboy muster. This muster is tight and you have to show you’re a worthy piece of shit. This is the tight companionship I feel travelling with these blokes. They are fellow land travellers, free stylers of the world. Street surfers or maybe I feel more like a character from X-men, I can’t really decide. But being a mutant cowboy in Boston with fellow freaks is my real malt liquor flavour. My metaphors are more like the truth than ways of explanation. LETS JEW DIS PRIEST!
62
ISSUE 34
Jamie & Alex- Table tops
T
he muster consisted of Burns: The boss, Diamonds: The guy from that movie “Huskey Diamonds”, Colt: The puppy man, Albie: The weird science, Crawford: The craw fish, Lee: The poker dad, Tardiff: I love you, Botsch: Bonedeth party management, and then you have Jamie and I the “OZ C!#TS” Filming for the up coming, world record breaking Bonedeth movie. Key word being MOVIE. With crack heads, biker mice from mars and the constant Jimmy LeVan lingo this city had a taste of Oz, or is it us Australians had a taste of Boston. We never knew who was fucking who? Were we metal to a magnet or the magnet to metal? Breakfast with bean then out the door with the boss. The days were long, filled with BMX excitement, weird naked casual weirdies followed by long nights in the city gutters with the smell of malt liquor in the air.
ISSUE 34
63
SPINALD Words and photos By Stephen Morrisey
The Gold Coast in sunny Queensland is home to many things. Some of the best surf beaches in Australia. Lots of Japanese tourists. An abundance of good weather and sunshine. Unit T’shirts. And who can forget the Meter Maids along with the truckload of fine looking ladies. For August 30th 2009 it was also a home to the Spinal Disorder event, which was set at the annual Gold Coast Show. This is where the City meets Country, and this isn’t at all a bad thing. With a bunch of random happenings behind the scenes, little to the knowledge of most who attended, the comp nearly didn’t happen. Just two weeks prior, some of the powers that be, that do not understanding BMX freestyle (like that’s ever going to happen) tried to cancel the event... Anyway, the ramp was supposed to be the same as the one used last year in Melbourne but because of said problems behind the scene, that one was left siting in a container. So with some last minute thinking the original ramp from the first Spinal Disorder comp in Canberra was resurrected at the last minute. It made for an epic comp then, so why not now? So with a new venue, the OG ramp and armed with minimal knowledge I rocked up thinking it might have been a dud turn out. To my delight a bunch of crew from all over Australia turned up for the day. From Melbourne to Cairns, crew had come to take part in the fun and games. There were three classes; junior, am and pro and each category was loaded full of talent! Juniors had shredders and the Am’s were hungry as always! Pro had one of the bigger turn outs, with more new faces than I have seen in a while along with many a returning Spinal Disorder veteran.
Jonny Mackellar with the most badass ninja plant seen in years!
76
ISSUE 34
DISORDER 2009
ISSUE 34
77
Photo//EMMA SHEEKEY
94
ISSUE 34
A DISHONORABLE MENTION Interview by Holmes
PHOTOS BY JAMES UNLESS CAPTIONED OTHERWISE!
BORN IN ADELAIDE.... HOPEFULLY I DON'T DIE IN ADELAIDE. Give us a little insight into where and when the BMX virus infected you. Where were you, what were you doing?
When I was growing up I had this family friend who I thought was pretty cool. If he was into something, I was into it. I reckon I would have been about eleven or twelve and his parents bought him this chrome Mongoose Menace. My memory is pretty terrible, but I can still remember him jumping this really, really lame step-up like it was yesterday. But yeah, that’s when the virus infected me. It must have taken me a good 18 months to persuade my parents to buy me my own BMX, a Haro Zi! I thought it was so awesome, but compared to today’s bikes it was a piece of junk.
Growing up in South Australia, I know all too well how hard it is to motivate yourself into getting things going, how have you kept the fire burning to ride and create?
Whenever I’ve travelled to other cities around Australia, I struggle to grasp how fragmented the whole scene is. People just don’t know each other, it’s weird. I really dig how in South Australia it’s not that hard to know a fair percentage of the riding population. Over the years, knowing people around the place has given me the confidence to try a few new things. I’m not sure if I would have had that confidence if I lived in Melbourne or Sydney. And I guess having that network of people has probably helped me be successful in some of the things I’ve done, for sure.
So you were getting busy on the web real early in the piece, how old were you when that kicked off? Yeah I was pretty young hey. I remember when I first saw the web, I just really wanted to get in on it. That would have been like 1997 or 1998, so I would have been 12 or 13. I learnt how to make web pages, and then somewhere along the line I learnt how to use flash. From there I just used to make crappy web pages about whatever I was into, and my skills slowly got better.
OK, so in terms of getting productive, I can only really think of one other cat doing more than you in the multimedia side of BMX in Aus, and that'd be the one and only Cooper B. You've got a truckload
of projects all on the go and all looking pro. You wanna run down the list of what's on the boil for you, both old and current? Maybe a date by date of when stuff started....
Wow, getting compared to Cooper. Let me put this first. Cooper does more for BMX in one day than I could ever do in my entire life. The end. Hahahhaa. So yeah. I first got into all this with Ugzine, I reckon around 2000. I started shooting photos seriously in 2005 and over the years I’ve contributed photos and words to 2020, Focalpoint, Rebelyell and BMXPress. In 2006, I started Dishonour Clothing. Then in 2009, I started my Photobook project.
So from the start... Ugzine popped up a long while back, what's the history of that little project?
I started Ugzine a long, long time ago… I think I was about 15. I used to take photos on a film SLR and later a Nikon Coolpix 990 and I’d post them up on there. We had a cool little scene at my local skatepark, Paradise, and for me it just seemed like a natural thing to do. We didn’t have Flikr, Vimeo or Youtube. If you wanted stuff on the web, you made your own website! Fast forward a few years and I had a car, so riding had taken a bit of a backseat. I ended up moving into a house with a bunch of riders, the 44/16 Colin McKay house. That played a massive part in reinvigorating my love for BMX. I guess it was just hard to stay off my bike when everyone else around me was loving riding. So Ugzine started up again, with me shooting on the trusty Coolpix. Go forward again a couple of years. I was still riding and loving it, but ugzine had fallen into a lull, the hosting company had gone bust and I hadn’t bothered sorting it out. Randomly, I had a thought to turn Ugzine into a forum… So I went out, got new hosting and got that going. After a while I added on a blog, and basically with the blog there are a bunch of dudes who can post whatever they feel like.
Now handling a forum and all its shit talk? Has that been a good or bad experience?
Yeah… Well, at the start the community was so small that pretty much it didn’t need moderation. Over time it grew, and people have come and gone. But there was a definite culture of shit talk. It got to a point where the forum was no longer strengthening the scene, it was actually creating conflicts. Cause of that a few of us decided that there needed to be some rules. I think it’s worked pretty good. I hate moderating though, I’d much rather steer clear of that stuff, but it’s better than having dudes getting all agro at each other on their keyboards. ISSUE 34
95
these shores? Different people, different perspectives, different experiences and therefore different advice. We picked a question relating to one of the most common and broad topics we've been asked about here at the mag. progression and how to step it up to the next level!
The idea behind the story was simple; take one of the letters we receive from our readers asking for advice each issue. Then instead of just answering it ourselves as per usual, we figured why not forward this question onto some of the very best riders from
Zac Miner
PHOTO Nick Gascoine PRO OPINION
I’ve been riding for around 7 years now, starting off in a small country town of Deniliquin. I learnt straight away that riding your bike is a gateway into meeting new people, exploring different ideas, being creative and travelling. All things I’m still doing today. When I starting riding, I remember watching all the Expendable Youth videos and thinking ‘holy shit’ that can be done. Quickly learning that some things take time and preparation. One of the big things about riding is having the balls to try something, whether it be dropping in for the first time, doing your first backie or handrails etc. You’re always stepping out of your comfort zone, you’re bound to go through learning curves the first time you try something. Don’t expect to get on your bike and have tricks down on lock, making mistakes is all part of riding. Growing up around a good crew is always a kick start
106
ISSUE 34
into thinking outside your boundaries. When I moved to Canberra I was a park rat. And from there I ended up meeting one of the most influential riders I’ll ever meet. Liams (Fahy-Hampton) mindset was completely out of left field! He opened my eyes to the way I looked at riding. His confidence made me wanna ride better and to always try something new. He was one of the first street riders I’d met and I don’t think I would be going down rails now if it wasn’t for him. It just goes to show, the way you look at other people riding can change your outlook on the way you ride. I think growing up watching people whether it be on DVD, in magazines or in person, makes you step up your riding and you’ll noticed your courage towards trying something becomes a little easier. It’s funny that these days anytime I hit a rail my adrenaline rises. It would be just like when kids out there first
step out of their boundaries. I never used to like street, well mostly rails, only because I didn’t think the trick through prior to trying it. For example, you can have as many bitch runs at a rail a you like, but if you don’t think of how the trick should be done, there’s a good chance you’re going to take a slam. And believe me I’m still taking slams! Progression will come quicker to some than others, Alex Hiam is the perfect example. That kid is amazing! He’s always having fun on his bike, thinking of new stuff to try. But for those kids that can’t quiet figure out a trick, don’t stress, just keep playing with it. At the end of the day riding should be about having fun. But there is nothing wrong with manning up and trying something crazy. That’s what makes BMX awesome.
Andy Buckworth
PRO OPINION
What has got me where I am... Moving forward takes a lot. Respecting your body and surroundings. Living and keeping healthy, that means good diet, I personally don’t drink or smoke. Focus and persistence is another key thing. Knowing that practice makes perfect and to be hungry enough to get back on the bike after a fall and to try again and again. I find setting myself small goals helped me a lot, kept me motivated and motivation is one of the most important things. A good way to stay motivated is to find a group of guys or mates that you can progress together with. You can work individually towards your goal, but work together to get there by pushing each other.
PHOTO Ryan Guettler
ISSUE 34
107
TECH KNOWLEDGE THE FACES BEHIND THE SCENE
Thru the lens
In the first of a series of interviews, Jason Starr delves into the minds of some of the country’s best photographers in order to gain a little insight into shooting BMX... Story by Jason Starr When you first meet Nitai, you could be forgiven for thinking he is a laid back chiller who takes some cool pics. The truth is he is a passionate, driven photographer working in one of Brisbane’s top studios. Working with a leading fashion photographer and shooting BMX. A busy dude indeed. Nitai is the person who inspired me to start photographing BMX. I first saw his photography at the AIPP awards about 2 years ago and was blown away by his images. Nitai’s images capture the energy, colour and soul of BMX.
I think they both have their time and place. I used to be all film until about 3 years ago. I love shooting film for BMX, but I think digital is quicker and more accessible. It’s good when there is a tight deadline, or there is something you’ve just shot and you want to know that everything is just right. You could get everything technically right with film, but just miss the timing or something and not know until you get the film back and by then it’s too late. I think digital is a safer option sometimes but I find I think less about my shots when I shoot digital.
There is a real skill in timing the shot. I noticed you don’t always look through the viewfinder, does this help with timing the shot? I have grown up with BMX, so timing is just something you know. I don’t I never really thought about what I wanted to do with my life when I was look through the viewfinder with my Hasselblad when shooting fisheye in high school, but in grade 11 they started drilling us about figuring it all because you are so close you need to watch your head sometimes. As out there and then, and to start working towards it. I really wanted to do you saw when I was shooting Jerry, you sometimes have to get in super something with my life that would be fulfilling and inspiring, and not get stuck in a 9 to 5 job for the rest of my life. When I slowed down and actually close. I know what my composition is like when I do that though, so it’s starting thinking about what I enjoyed doing I always loved taking photos. I not something I worry about doing. guess this is where it all began and when I started shooting BMX too. Lighting is one of the most important aspects of photography. What do you look for when lighting a subject? How did you learn to shoot BMX? I just want the rider to pop. They need to be separated from everything I did a B&W photography course in grade 12 which taught me the else so that your eye leads straight to them. I don’t have any set rules. basics of photography, but everything I learnt about shooting BMX was Sometimes it is more a matter of keeping flashes out of shots etc. I through looking at magazines, watching videos and trying to work out always like to try and have a back light to separate a rider and then fill what the photographers were using, as well as reading online forums about skate and BMX photography. Then a lot of trial and error, and lots with other flashes. I mainly use 2 lights. Let’s start with the obligatory questions, what inspired you to start photography?
Are there any golden rules you use when looking to light an image? Like I said above, they need to pop from the background and you need How long have you been taking pictures of BMX? I would say since about 2001 or 2002 was when I properly started getting to give them shape. Anyone can shoot on camera flash or shoot really flat lighting. I think you need shape for an image. BMX is a laid back stuff published etc, so about 8 years or so. I have slowed down a lot lifestyle, break the rules, no one will question you. lately as my time has been taken up with other work, but I try and shoot On the technical side how did you set your lights up for this shot? BMX here and there when I can. What f-stop did you have the lights set on and why? Who are some of your favourite photographers? I think I had them at 5.6, it was getting dark and wanted to suck some It’s really hard for me to pick favourites. But I guess I have a bunch of more ambient light out, so I was shooting about 1/30th of a second people who inspire and push me. People I work with such as Marcus Bell too. I wanted a really side lit shot too. I don’t know, I kind of just go with and Israel Rivera have really helped me develop and pushed me to think how I am feeling on the day. Lighting should never be flat. Might as well about photography in many different ways. With BMX photographers I have shoot on camera flash if you’re going to do that! always loved Jeff Z’s work and Jeff Allen’s BMX stuff. And there are too many fashion photographers that I have been inspired by to even list here. What are some of the important things you should look for when framing a shot? What equipment do you carry on a shoot? I think using your basic rule of thirds is important. I try and keep shots I carry too much equipment. I think my back is wrecked as a result haha. simple and clean. Try and have the rider in a position where they will pop I lug around a bunch of lenses, a few cameras and some flashes and out like the sky or something plain, but using a flash as a rim really helps stands. Lately I have been using Elinchrom rangers (type of flash) in the separate the rider from the background too. Less is more, but you need few shoots I have done. It is way too much for BMX and probably overkill. to know what’s going on in a photo so you need to see landings and to The power is nice though. I can’t forget Pocket Wizards, they will forever know where a rider is going. Each photo is a story. be in my camera bag. What do you think the magazines are looking for in a photo? Do you have a favourite lens/camera set up? I haven’t really thought about that before. I guess look at the magazines I think my favourite camera would be my Hasselblad 503CX. I love the way to see what they are looking for. I guess shots that stand out and have the shots look. 35mm film and digital just can’t do what that camera can. impact, have strong compositions. I guess sometimes it will come down And as Nick G knows I have a tendency to keep the fisheye on there a bit. to a trick too. That’s something you’ll have to ask Matt, haha. How many covers have you had? What is one piece of advice you would give to a young shooter of money and film.
I think about 5 and hopefully more to come in the future.
There seems to be a few schools of thought when it comes to shooting with film or digital. I notice you use both. Which do you prefer, if any?
126 ISSUE 34 DECEMBER 2009
starting out? Learn how to read light and use it to your advantage, after all you are capturing light on film, and shoot shoot shoot.
TECH KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION 101
ISSUE 34 DECEMBER 2009
127