Niki Croft is one of those riders whose riding could be described as powerful. His whole style screams beast. There’s no denying that. Back in 2010, Niki took a pretty bad crash that landed him in a coma. Since then he has been making his way back to full strength while making some life decisions to put the pieces back together the way he wants them to fit. We were lucky enough to be able to get ahold of him for a little bit to take a closer look at his bike and find out what he has been up to lately. Lets check out what he had to say…
Name: Niki Croft
Location: Aberdoom! Scotland
Sponsors: And Forks, 20twenty Store
Years riding: 11 years
Frame: T-1 Garrett
Bars: BSD Highlanders
Fork: And Forks, 33mm
Stem: Shadow Ravager
Headset: just the cheapest I could find ha!
Grips: Shadow
Cranks: Subrosa Bitchin
Pedals: Odyssey Trail Mix
Sprocket: Deluxe 28T
Chain: Shadow
Seat / Post / Clamp: FBM seat, Shadow seat post
Wheels / Tires: I have no idea on the name of the tyre, but it’s a Shadow Stun rim with a Raptor hub same as the front
Pegs: Fuck them
Hub Guards: No need
Brakes: Fuck yes!
Modifications? Tighten everything the fuck up!
What’s the newest part on your bike? My frame, Joe over at T-1 was nice enough to help me out, so stoked!!
What’s the oldest? Me!
I know you’re basically the definition of “beast” so I’d imagine you go through some stuff pretty quickly. What are you usually burning through the most?
Well these days I don’t really break too many things, BMX has progressed so much so parts are strong enough these days.
Does your bike have to be set up a certain way or can you pretty much ride whatever you are given like it’s yours?
I’m not too fussed as long as it ain’t too light!
How are things going with And Forks these days? Does Mark have anything in the works with you that you are getting excited about?
And Forks is amazing, I’m not involved a great deal, I just keep in touch with Mark, to me Mark is like a legend ya know cause of all the Ride UK stuff – so chuffed that he asked me to be part of it.
So a little while back you won the Relentless Short Stories event. How did you feel about that whole project? Did you think you would be winning it?
It was a very weird time for me – I spoke about some things and emotions for the first time out in the open so it was kinda real hard, but I was happy with the outcome. I didn’t do it to win it ya know, I just wanted to publicly speak to make people aware, so winning it didn’t really phase me however it was a nice little pay off.
Speaking of Relentless, do you have anything going on with them here in the future?
To be honest, not really – I enjoyed my time with them guys it was fun and they really got behind with what I wanted to do with BMX, but I don’t really have them intentions anymore.
Any other sponsor news you can tell us about?
Nothing in the works, so no gossip there ha!
So 2011 was a fairly rough year for you with the aftermath of accident and everything. Are you back 100% now?
As a rider? Or as me, Niki Croft? Yeah it was a very strange time for me after my crash in 2010, but I’m back to me now, I don’t want to be going through my life looking back to what I “was” – I’m back to me, but I’m not going to be the rider that people used to know. That accident made me sit back and evaluate my life and I can’t help but see positive in it all.
Have you made any changes to your personal outlook on things since then? I feel like a scare like that would cause that to happen.
Well, I don’t want to ramble about heaps of personal stuff, but yeah I did make a lot of changes, some that I chose to do some that just happened in front me that I was blind to, but anyways I do take a way more chill approach to things nowadays and it’s way more fun, I can’t help but just have a good time.
What are some of the things you want to make happen in 2012?
Get the draft sorted out in my new flat ha, mainly just chill, take it easy, ride my bike and have fun with my friends and keep that feeling that BMX gave me when I was 13 ha!
Where have you been getting most of your riding time in these days?
Just down at the local park up here, Transition Extreme. It has an amazing 10ft bowl.
Have you been filming at all? I feel like I’m not the only one hoping for some fresh footage of you to surface.
To be completely honest, filming for me now is not that at all enjoyable, I think unless I go on a trip abroad I won’t really be filming, but I did film a couple of things for Alex Donnachie’s new vid, Nearly2…
Any plans of heading to warmer temps before the winter is over?
Erm not really, but hopefully all us lot from 20twenty will be going somewhere soon.
What have you been doing when you aren’t riding these days? Are you working or anything?
Hells yeah I am! I somehow managed to get a job with some oil company, so now I just handle metal all day and driving huge 10ton forklift trucks, it’s real fun, it’s where all my energy goes these days.
What’s something about yourself that might surprise people?
I don’t really watch videos anymore or keep up with BMX, as one very inspiring person told me, “BMX is what you make of it” – Stu Dawkins. So I keep it where I want it, I love it, my passion for it will never die, but I only get that feeling when I’m actually on my bike.
What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched and website you visited?
Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground (song)
The Davinci Code (film)
TV license place (website)
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Big thanks to all… Mark Noble, Mike at 20twenty , George Marshall at Albion, Stu Dawkins, Orlando, The Caldwells, anyone that has made me laugh and last but not least Roey.
Anything else you want to say?
Thank you and keep it fun, don’t get misled…
