It seems like everyday I am exposed to a new rider in some far away country that absolutely kills it on a bike. It’s crazy to think how BMX has grown to pretty much everywhere in the world. Vasya Lukyanenko is one of those riders from a city in the Ukraine that I can’t even pronounce. However, because of BMX, I get stoked whenever I see his name turn up in a new video. It’s also rad because we’re able to get to know more about him because of BMX. We’re about to take a closer look at his Tempered setup along with a bunch of extra questions. This one is half bike check, half interview. So let’s get into this one right now and check out what he had to say!
Name: Vasya Lukyanenko
Location: Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
Sponsors: Red Bull, Mental Parts, Tempered Bikes
Years riding: 6
Frame: Tempered Treason 21.25
Bars: Tempered 1929 handlebar
Fork: Wethepeople Helium
Stem: Mental parts KUMA V3
Grips / Bar Ends: ODI longneck
Headset: Wethepeople
Cranks: Profile 175
Pedals: Odyssey Twisted PC
Chain: KMC 710
Sprocket: Mental parts 27 t
Seat / Post / Clamp: Tempered seat and Macneil seatpost
Front Wheel / Tire: Mental front hub , éclat Bondi rim / Tire – Wethepeople Grippin 2.1
Rear Wheel / Tire: Primo Remix hub , Fly bikes rim / Tire – Wethepoeple Feellin 1.9
Brakes? Pegs!
Pegs: Kink
Hub Guards: Mental parts
Any custom modifications: Put on 4 pegs
What’s the newest part on your bike? Grips and pedals
What’s the oldest? Front wheel and stem.
What do you usually go through the fastest?
Grips and pedals are the most changed parts on my bike. I don’t know why, but left grip wear faster than right, hah. And rear spokes. Every two weeks I need to put in a few new spokes. The rails are to blame, hah.
How do you like your bike to be setup? Do the bars and everything have to be in the perfect spot, or are you able to adjust pretty easy?
Yeah, I always like having every part of my bike on perfect spot. Just make the chain tension tight. I hate when the chain is beating on the frame.
Does your setup change much? Do you ever add or remove pegs? Brakes on, brakes off? Anything like that?
I put 4 pegs on my bike when I realized the possibilities with it. When you find some awesome spot but it’s the wrong side of your regular side, you leave the spot, but with opposite side you can ride it, hah. I don’t feel good with brakes, I guess without brakes you focus more on tricks.
Photo: Kostya Kotov
How are things going with Tempered these days? Do you and Matty have anything cooking?
Everything with Tempered is awesome. Mat Lawton is doing his job awesome. He’s always keeping us in touch with some news about team and stuff like that. Recently we made a welcome video, which I filmed in Barcelona in January with friends. Hopefully someday I’ll join whole Tempered team and we will produce some good stuff since trips help everyone evolved..
What about Red Bull? I’d imagine you will have a pretty busy summer filled with traveling? What do you have planned so far?
Red Bull has given me some huge opportunities. They have been helping with trips to contests .. Also Red Bull is a pretty much extraordinary company and everything they do is always great, unusual events and contests for sure. This year I have a couple cool projects with them. One year ago we made an awesome project we called “Red Bull riding over Kiyv”, it was photo and video shoot on this perfect spot to ride on a roof! The building was over 100 meters high and we have some nice pictures from there … Fixed travels abroad… I haven’t made any set travel plans yet, but maybe later I’ll know something… I don’t have enough money for just travel and filming but I wish I doing it so much, haha.
Photos: Sergey Illin
Any other sponsor news you can tell us about?
In our country, stuff with sponsorship is so bad. It’s so hard to get a good support from somebody. My sponsors have helped me out so much with keeping my bike dailed. Also last year I was sponsored by Carhartt, but they cut the budget and than a lot of riders left. Carhartt was definitely a big supportter for me with clothes and the trip to Germany with the team. It was fun days .. But it’s impossible live life only on sposors supporting in Ukraine.
I’d imagine the weather is starting to get pretty nice in the Ukraine these days. Have you been filming much? When can we expect to see a fresh edit out of you?
Yeah, the weather is getting better but the winter was so snowy and cold. I have not filmed yet, but want to start filming some good clips soon. This year I hope I can make some video, which will be hopefully be filmed in more than 5 days like I usually have, hah. I need to go to some good place with cool spots. I’ve filmed a lot in my home city and I don’t want to film more over here. It’s also hard since I don’t have any filmers in my city who can film BMX.
Photo: Vincent Perraud
Where have you been getting most of your riding time in these days? Any hot spots?
Two weeks ago I was at the best BMX contest ever. The Simpel Session in Tallinn. The course was sick and had awesome rails and ledges. It was fun to ride that spot. Now I’m just riding on my local spots. I can’t say that my local spots are hot. hah.
Do you ever get burned out on riding? What are some of the things you like to do to keep things interesting?
Until this day I’m still getting a lot of pleasure from riding. Every now and then I need some new inspiration. Last time it was Simpel Session. It’s so cool ride with best BMX riders in the world. Another source of inspiration for me are the new videos and interviews. I’m always inspired by guys like Garrett Reeves, Garrett Reynolds, Corey and Nathan, Kevin Kiraly, Ben Lewis and other good fellas. I guess most important thing to keep interesting in riding its trips . When you travel around the world you can ride on new spots and do new tricks . It’s the main thing with riding – evolve.
Photo: Vincent Perraud
What are you usually up to when you aren’t riding these days?
I’m studying. I go to University where I study in the department of Marketing. At home I’m reading some marketing blogs and different sites.. Also I like watching football, last Monday I was at the stadium and it was such a sick game haha, crazy fun and made a sick show with fireworks…
So you are going to college for Marketing. What interested you in that field? How much school do you have left? What are your plans for when you are done?
First time I went to University at the Department of Programming and it was terrible for me. Then I decided that I liked Marketing and it’s pretty interesting for me. It’s really useful with things for creating any sort of business. When I graduate University I want to leave this terrible country.
Could you see yourself living in the Ukraine forever? Where could you see yourself living someday?
Hell no! Hope it will not happen to me hah. I want to live in some sunny country like Spain.. But also I’d like to live in Australia. I haven’t been there but guess Australia is way better than the Ukraine. I’m sure the economics and people there much rather be there than here… And I want to visit New York city. I guess I’d like that city and maybe even will want to live there, haha.
Photo: Wojtek Antonw
So you are like me and tend to ride with the headphones in. What kind of music are you into? Care to list off a few of your favorite artists to ride to?
Yeah, I’m listening to music all the time, even when I’m not riding. I really like a lot of different music from Metal to hip hop. It depends of mood. When I riding like some bass music, for chillin I’m into soul music. My favorite artists to ride to… I have a lot. Here’s a few of them – ASAP Rocky, OFWGKTA, Currensy, Waka Flocka Flame, The Sword, Kid Cudi, M.I.A. …
What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched and website you visited?
Last song Lil B “The BasedGod” – NYU , last movie “Untouchables” (2011) and “Scent of a Woman” and the last websites were Facebook and Hypebeast, haha.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Somewhere, but not here, hah!
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Yeah, big thanks to my family, the whole Red Bull community, Janis Dreimanis, Mat Lawton, Preddy Tendergrass, Mike Emde. Thanks to Savva Derugin, thanks to all people who support me. Shout out to everyone who is promoting BMX. Big shout out to Brian Kachinsky, he is a part of BMX history and very good human! Shout out to Adam22 , Risto Kalmre, Fat Tony, Vince Perraud, Brad Simms and many other awesome dudes!
Anything else you want to say?
Ride for yourself.
