All photos by Aaron Zwaal
If you haven’t noticed by now that Radio Bikes have been on it as of late with a stacked team along with a dialed range of products, you’re slacking. The brand has been making some moves and we have definitely taken notice. Last week we got a look at their Great North Tour video and we took notice of one of their German connects who has been apart of the team for a couple years now, Christoph Werner, and figured it would be rad to get a look at his current setup and find out a little more about the guy. So, here’s a fresh bike check for you guys to get a look at! Let’s do this!
Name: Christoph Werner
Location: Germany, Saxony, Grödel
Sponsors: Radio Bikes, Almond Footwear, UNIT Clothing, Ganic Water, blankstore
Years Riding: Approximately 9 years
Frame: Radio Bikes Siren 20,5“
Bars: Radio Bikes Wraith 9“
Fork: Radio Bikes Minotaur
Stem: Radio Bikes Crystal
Grips: Radio Bikes Frequency
Headset: Eclat Cargo
Pedals: Premium Slim
Cranks: Radio Bikes Istari 170mm
Sprocket: Eclat Sylar 28t
Chain: SaltPlus
Seat: Radio Bikes Team Seat
Seat Post: Radio Bikes Tripod
Front Wheel: Eclat Dynamic Hub with Eclat XODUS Rim
Front Tire: Maxxis Grifter 2.1
Rear Wheel: Eclat Dynamic 14mm Female Cassette Hub with Eclat XODUS Rim
Rear Tire: Maxxis Grifter 2.1
Pegs: none
Hub Guards: none
Modifications: Cut my bars down 1″ each side
Weight? I don’t wanna lie but I think around 10-11 kg?
What’s the newest part on your bike? The Wheels.
What’s the oldest? Does it hold any sort of sentimental value?
I think the Radio Istari Cranks because of how damn strong they are. Sentimental value? Not really, but I like it a lot!
If you had to pick a favourite piece of your bike, what would you say that is?
The Radio Istari Cranks again, I am so impressed with how solid they are and the way they have been designed.
How often do you build up a new bike? Are you the kind of person that likes to keep everything fresh or run it till it’s dead before getting new parts?
To be honest I rarely build up a whole new bike that often. I really only switch out the parts that are old or worn out like tires, grips or pedals. I always try to keep my bike running as fresh as possible so I will keep on eye on it and change anything which needs replacing.
Are you pretty particular about your bike? Specific top tube length, seat tube height, chain stay length, bar height, bar angle, seat height or anything like that?
I try to test different things from time to time. When I started riding for Radio Bikes rode a 21“ Toren frame, but now I am riding the 20.5“ Siren frame. I really like a short chainstay, lower seat tube height and the steeper head tube angle. I also like a slightly bigger bar and a fatter seat almost slammed. I also run a LSD hub to prevent me from breaking my sprocket during Crankarm grinds. Otherwise I am open to try new things.
You have been doing it for Radio Bikes for a while now. How are things going with them?
I am super happy to ride for Radio Bikes. The Team is a good mix of all riding styles and everyone on the team has a great personalty and are good to hang out with when you’re not riding. Dave Paterson the Team manager does a great Job, he is there for everyone night and day, and always helps us with anything we need.. He always kills it too to design new products and involves us with testing new stuff like prototypes and new colour ways which is super fun. I am thankful that they support me so hard and make trips like the #greatnorthtour happen. I’m really looking forward to the future!
You guys recently took a team trip from Germany to Denmark. How was that?
The Trip was perfect! It started with a few days hitting up street and park spots in Bremen and Hamburg and then we headed north to Flensburg and into Denmark.. We had some really good weather, and I got to ride a lot of spots I had never been to before. It was such a good crew and we had a lot of fun and good times along the way. It was not that super serious trip, it was just like travelling with your friends which you have known for years. We rode so many good places like the Streetdome in Haderslev, and had good times with all the locals we met along the way. Big thanks for Christian Hepp from Hartje Distribution who helped make this trip happen.
How about things with Almond Footwear? Any projects or trips in the works there?
Things have been quiet for a bit, however the new shoes are coming in a while and they feel amazing! The whole brand will be getting a re-launch and I’ll be involved with that for sure.
What about Unit Clothing, Ganic Water and blankstore?
Everything is fine and I am highly thankful for every single one who supports me! I´m super stoked to ride for UNIT because it was my favourite clothing label long time before they start to supporting me. GanicWater keeps me fresh all the time and I help them a little bit to keep their product in the social media life, it’s a give and take deal and we are all happy. The blankstore deal is the newest one and the owner of the shop is a friend of mine and he does so much for the kids and the scene, I hope he gets the recognition and success what he deserves.
What’s B-Team? What’s that crew all about?
Hahaha, you need to know our crew to explain it properly. It would be the simplest, to show you some videos of different crazy nights, but this would be too much at this point, haha! Theyare the guys with who I am always riding with and have some pretty heavy drinking nights with. They are all really good friends which I couldn’t imagine BMX without, especially the daddy Paul Asspig.
I’d assume that means you’re a fan of beer. What’s your go to?
Not necessarily beer in my case, the most of us are really into Jägermeister! We love the heavy stuff, hahahaha.
Have you been filming for any new videos at all? Can we expect some fresh footage of you popping up soon?
No, nothing big at the moment. To be honest I’m happy that I’m back on the bike after my injury on the Radio trip. However I just bought myself a gopro a few weeks ago and will do some selffilming stuff over the winter and see what I get with once winter is over.
Where have you been getting most of your sessions in these days? Any spots in particular you have really been into?
I’ve just got back on my bike after breaking my foot, but before the trip I had been riding a bowl 20 km from my house as much as I can. We have an indoor skatepark about 10 km away bwhich I ride quite a bit. Now that I’m back on my bike I’m going to try try and travel as much as possible outside my hometown over the winter and ride some new spots with my boys.
What are you usually doing when you aren’t riding these days?
Working and waiting for the weekend!
How can people keep up with you these days?
Check my instagram account @wernair and @http://www.instagram.com/radiobikes/”>radiobikes too!
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I could now extend this to 2 pages but I want to keep this short, so thanks to all my sponsors, family and all my friends from everywhere. Special thanks goes out to David Hofmann, Steven Petter, Cinto Gersie,Martin Kiesewetter, Martin Ohliger, Dave Paterson, Christian Hepp and the B-TEAM Crew + friends and you Kurt for this interview.
Anything else you want to say?
Cheers!
