Name:
Al DiMino

Location:
Pennsylvania

You have been repping MirraCo a lot lately, what do you got going on with them?
Long story short..went to interbike in 06 seen the red blend pro frame ,talked with the Mirraco reps and Bart de Jong from Fatbmx for a bit about the Mirraco products. Afew months passed and I received a call from Mirraco and they said they liked what I do for bmx and were sending me a frame and bars. I recently am riding a 20.25 blue blend.

What have you been up to lately, I noticed you just at a jam the other day?
SICK! BMX massacre contest at h-town was a fun time. Teams, made up of 4 riders competing made it very entertaining. Nothing but goodtimes. My team won the event took home the trophy.

Are you still working full time, or do you have more time to ride now days?
I been working a full time job, the medical coverage is the only plus on that deal but it still doesn’t cover all expenses. I’m trying to knock down some medical bills ya know. As far as riding ,during the week I ride street for a bit usually with a few locals then off to my night job. I ride the whole weekend and hit up as many spots as possible.

I saw you were rocking a full face lately, how come?
After getting my grill smashed on the trails and took a few slams on the head I kinda figured its time to take a break away from the emergency room. I had a couple of concussions so I am just playing it safe.

What are some of the things you got planned over the winter?
To keep on shreddin of course. Gonna plan a road trip for a vacation week and visit a few spots I’ve never rode.

It seems like there has been a few new videos of you up on the internet lately, are you working on any video parts or anything?
I would like to have a solid riding video but I never seem to have a cameraman present when I’m riding. I really need to hook up with someone with a good camera and shoot some footy. Sometimes I get some footage but its not hi def quality and just edit it to share with riders on internet.

Do you have any bmx invasion projects planned?
I have to start promoting the next bmxinvasion bike battle contest #8 in a few more weeks . The location is undecided at this time. Recenty brought back the BMXinvasion t shirts ,the whip design is becoming a favorite on the streets. Just wanna say that BMXinvasion is about promoting fun. I hope to keep it alive as long as I can. Its been nothing but good times for sure.

Rumor has it Spider Man was seen doing flairs on your bike the other day, are you guys friends or what?
I don’t want to disclose the identity of spiderman but lets just say I know him very well and he likes to borrow my ride once in while…. hahah

What are some of the new stuff your working on, I saw a turndown flair recently didn’t I?
yep the flair turn down got that dilaled in , I try to learn a trick then work on adding a combination. I have been also working on some bar spin stuff.




You post up on Bikeguide.org a fair amount, what do you think about forums like those?
Bike guide as well other bmx forums are full of general knowledge, I like reading reviews of new parts looking a bike checks . I also enjoy the feedback haha theres times when you get the haters putting in their 2 cents in but its all good.

Where are some of the places you have gotten to ride this year?
Baltimore dew tour was the best and theres been a bunch of riding spots around the tri state area I’ve been shreddin lately.

Are there any places you haven’t been that you would like to see?
I’d like to visit europe, places like Musso trails in France. I’d like to make a euro tour if I can swing the funds.

What kind of music are you into?
Anything that makes me go crazy, heavy metal is always on my play list.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in 08′? How about in the next 5 years?
I’d like to travel to a few places the midwest scene is bangin. Like to meet up with some riders like Dustin Griess from interbmx, Art D’Ambrosio from lake own camp and of course you and your crew. Who knows what the future will bring but I am thinking about college maybe get a few credits to have in the bank for a future job. I really would like to keep my energy involved somewhere in the bmx industry.

Who are some people you would like to ride with you haven’t had a chance to yet? I’ve been riding woodward about once a month and been sessioning with the big names in bmx so much fun those guys they push each other break balls its sure is good times when they’re around. I walk in and theres Jamie Bestwick pointing his finger at me says this is for you and he pulls a doulblewhip flair haha so good. But one person that comes to mind to ride with is Mat Hoffman

Any thanks or shout outs?
My folks who are always supportive. Team Manager Abe Ford who is one rad dude. Mirraco bikes for the frames , Long distance shout out to Rob Harrison in Germany at Fuse protection WTP head quarters for providing me with the best safety gear. All the bmxinvasion fans, supporters and riding buddies. West coast holla to Ricky ratt and Ryan Barspinner and the list can go on an on.

Any last words or things you would like to add?
If you are involved in BMX and you are not doing everything you can to make people happy about BMX and make them want to be involved in BMX, then you are a detriment to this sport. Invade the scene in your own way and have fun.

BMXinvasion

Brian is one of the guys I have met a few different times, hes always been a super nice guy, and rides like a champ! I have always looked up to Brian’s riding so when I had the chance to get this interview I was more than stoked. This is what he had to say.

Name:
Brian Kachinsky

Location:
hometown: Neenah, WI current location: Chicago, IL

Sponsors:
DK bicycles, Etnies, UGP, Cti

You were down in Florida, were you there for just baco, or was there other stuff going on?
Yes, I was here for the latest installment of Baco jams. As per usual this one did not disappoint. I was also here visiting the folks at UGP and shooting for their next catalog. It’s been a fun-filled trip to say the least.

You seem to be everywhere now days, where else have you been lately?
It’s been a crazy summer/fall as far as travel goes. I’ve been to Europe three times in the past 3 months (Rebel Jam, Mega tour and T-mobile contest), Salt Lake, Vegas, all around the Midwest and next week New Jersey.

Your signature frame from DK came out recently, how do you feel about that?
It’s crazy. Not only do I have a bike I’m super psyched on but it’s been out for a little while now and I’ve had the pleasure of hearing tons of positive feedback on it. Hearing fellow rider’s reactions to the frame is as rewarding as riding it. I’m on a trans black one right now but the trans green might be calling my name.

(A striking resembalance between Brian and the Graffiti, the real question is whose beefier?)

Being a beast when it comes to rails, What is so appealing to you about rails, they seem to beat you up?
I think I like the challenge of rails since each one is different. There’s a sense of accomplishment when you conquer a rail you had your doubts about. Sure, some may get the best of you but there is no better feeling than getting over the fear and/or frustration.

Speaking of getting beat up, How do you get up or walk away from most of the falls you take!?
I guess I don’t really know how to answer that other than if I really want to do something I’ll try it until I pull it or can’t try it anymore for some reason. I try to take care of myself as well. I try to keep strong and healthy in whatever way I can without going overboard. I’ve had ACL reconstruction in both knees now and countless other injuries and my body still feels surprisingly good. I don’t have the patience to sit in a gym all day long but I don’t mind doing stuff that might allow me to ride for as long as I can. (yoga, knee and shoulder exercises, eating well, etc). I’d rather just ride but when one part of your body is broken that’s not always an option.

you moved from Wisconsin to Chicago recently, was there any reason in particular?
I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life and I felt like it was time for a change. I grew up in Neenah and went to college in Madison so I was never too far out of my element despite traveling a lot. Traveling is also way easier from Chicago, two major airports and a fairly central location allows me get places easier than before. A lot of friends from college as well as my lady live in Chicago so that makes easier to call it home. My parents are still only 3 hours away so I can still visit them often, which is a plus. I’ve been to a ton of big cities but always wondered what it was like to live in one. It’s just another thing I’ve wanted to experience in life so here I am!

At Kevin Porter’s wedding, you guys met Gene Simmons, how did that all happen?
I walked through the doors of the Hard Rock (after Kevin and Chelsea got married at a resort across the street) and there he was in all his glory. He had a few people around him and I debated whether or not to go say hi. After thinking for a second I just dropped in and went for it. We chatted for a bit and snapped a pic or two. He offered to buy me a drink; I replied with “I wanna rock n roll all night and party every day”. He obliged and the night commenced.

A while back if I remember right, you were going to college, did you ever get to finish or did riding take over?
I did graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison a couple years ago with a bachelors in Consumer Affairs in Business. It doesn’t seem that long ago but the past couple years have been filled with a lot of riding, travels and experiences. I had blast in school and the work hard/play hard philosophy many embrace in Madison made for a great 4 years. I do utilize my degree every day but not really in the traditional way most people use it. I’m glad I finished school because it was a huge challenge balancing that and riding/traveling. Along with that, I will always have the degree now and can use it however/whenever I want.

What is your favorite story you have involving you and catfish?
Hmmm, that’s like going to Baskin Robbins and having to only choose one flavor, so hard to pick just one and none of them are anywhere close to vanilla.

Do you have any new video parts or anything coming up?
Yeah, I’m working on a Props interview with Stew Johnson at the moment. So far luck hasn’t been going my way but I’m sure things will turn around. We don’t have a deadline but I’m really exited to work with Stew again. We had many great (and a couple not so great) times filming for Grounded. I respect Stew and am honored he asked me to do another project with him. I have also been working on an interview for Ride BMX that has been in the works for a little bit now as well. I have a few other smaller projects on the side but those are the big ones right now.

In the latest issue of Ride BMX, there was a pretty long article about a rail mission you and a few others went on, how did that go and do you plan on doing any other trips like that anytime soon?
That trip was pretty spur of the moment and amazing. We had a great time. Road trips like that are my favorite. Take a couple of friends you like riding with hop in a car and explore new territory. I’ve done a couple trips like that since. Iowa was the most recent. That was a damn good time as well thanks to the Dubuque, Davenport and Iowa City locals. Thanks guys!

If you were going on a road trip and had to pick who would be coming, who would you pick and why?
I’d like to go on a trip with every well-known duo there ever was and see which one is really unstoppable: bonnie and clyde, beavis and butthead, snoop and dre, romeo and Juliet, bill and hillary, ren and stimpy, etc. That would be pretty interesting. Heck, throw seth and corey in them mix, they might actually come out on top!

What are some of your biggest influences in your life?
My parents, my mom is there to help whenever/wherever she can and my dad is as hard working and courageous as they come. My dad has been a huge inspiration, especially this past year. Thanks Dad.

What kind of music are you into?
That changes daily but I’d say a mix of alternative/emo, rap, classic rock/metal, I’m always looking for new stuff to listen to but I love the classics as well.

Outside of riding what are you into?
I love traveling and learning about new cultures, this covers everything from food, social norms, housing, family structure, healthcare, religion, and everything in between. I’d like to learn more languages to go along with all of that. Other than that I like to hang out and catch up with friends inside/outside of BMX and meet new ones. I always want to be trying something new or learning about something new whenever possible.

Since you have moved to Chicago, has your coffee intake increased due to Kevin?
Haha, my coffee intake has been quite high for a while now but Kevin did fuel it by giving me free coffee when he was working. He moved to Austin recently so I’m going to miss his coffee making skills and of course riding with him.

Any big trips or things planned that your excited for?
Yes, Red bull Down N’ Dirty contest next weekend in NJ will be fun I’m sure. I am also going to Tulsa in November and the X-Games in Dubai in December. I’m sure other trips will come up in between those but those are the ones set in stone. There will be a trip or two with Stew Johnson mixed in there as well. I’m super exited about those.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Yes, always! Thanks DK, UGP, Etnies and Cti for being awesome. My family, everyone I ride with and travel with. Everyone who does or has rode a BMX bike and of course BMX union for doing this interview!

Brian sent me this clip also to go with the interview. Manly would be an understatement

I don’t exactly remember when I met Bink for the first time, I think it was when he showed up at a small indoor park we used to have here in Rochester Minnesota, I always remembered seeing and hearing stuff about him on the old twin cities bmx website. Since then I have had many more chances to ride with him, and he always has some crazy trick like backwards hang nothings to do or a crazy story about him hooking up with a grandma. I remember once I called him and he was in like ohio.. then a few days later I called and he was in canada or something.. Now that he lives in Arizona I am more than stoked to ride with him when theres an oppertunity.. heres his interview along with some questions that his friends asked since mine were pretty weak.

Name:
David Quinn Seavey, but mostly known as Bink.

Location:
The Couch, Tempe, Ariz0na

Your going to school down in Arizona, what are you going for?
To learn things. More specifically, about film and media.

You are usually traveling all over, but who are more of the regular people you ride with?
Uh, it depends. Everyone has their own schedules, so not too many big sessions go down, but I ride with Looofah, Ryan Chadwick, Frank, Nate, EVT, Derek Riggs, Greg Litecky, DJ Migs, or whoever is down to ride bikes.

Last I checked you were filming for some video parts, which ones?
Nothing specific right now, but I am saving some clips for the BMXFU vid, That Counts. I will probably have some web videos of myself and some of my friends this winter when I can film more. I plan to start a web portfolio for my video projects, including riding, short films and maybe some music videos.

Do you prefer to call them barspins, or slingaz?
I call them Lynchbergs.

When I recently talked to you, you had mentioned you had a few new tricks you were doing, care to share what those would be?
Variations of bump jumps, pedal grinds and Lynchbergs. For specifics, you’ll have to get the BMXFU vid.

Out of all of the places you have been, where is your all time favorite place to ride?
I don’t really have an all time favorite, but some of the places I’ve liked the most have been Vancouver (in general), Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Boulder, CO, Ohio State Campus and Toronto (in general). My favorite thing to ride changes daily.

Top 5 places you would suggest for people to road trip to?
See above.

I threw out the rest of Kurt’s questions and asked a few of my friends to contribute…

Kyle Stark’s Interview for Bink

Name the ages of the youngest and oldest women you ever made out with and did they call you daver?
12 and 50. I was 12 when I made out with the 12 year old, and the 50 year old was last year at a Halloween party in her gigantic house. She has a daughter that’s older than I, and she’s old enough to be my grandma, but who doesn’t look up to the MILF hunter? I attached a pic to show that I’ve got standards.

True/False- You once had sex with a beyond questionable female for a profit of seven US dollars.
That would be true. It was worth it for the comedic value and I came out of it unscathed. Besides, she wasn’t all that bad, especially when I was drunk.

John Proppe’s Question

If you could fuck one dude, who would it be, and where?
and i mean both location and which oriface.
I don’t care who he is, as long he doesn’t have teeth. I think that satisfies both questions…oh and it would be under a waterfall in South America.

Zach Smith’s questions

Who fell off harder, Steven Hamilton or Christopher Reeves?
Well, Reeves went from Superman to paralyzed and Hamilton went from famous BMX pro to infamous drugged-out moron.
My vote is for Reeves.

Would you let a pro’s girlfriend suck your jagon?
May have already occurred, no further comment.

Who is more influential to modern street, Ian or Butcher?
Kevin Robinson.

Why hasn’t Ice Money came up?
Because he kept it real.

What is the worst event to happen to BMX in the past five years?
The tweaker, multiple whip-fontflip-do-as-many-tricks-as-possible phenomenon. It’s so gross.

Who is more likely to hate Jews, Markus Wilke or Tobias Wicke?
Probably Mel Gibson

Name:
Fat Tony

Location:
Originally Luling, Louisiana (a small town about 20 miles outside of New Orleans), then Baton Rouge for the 5 years after high school, and now Long Beach, California where I’m living my dream.

Where do you work and what do you do?
I work for Transworld RideBMX Magazine. I’m the Associate Online Editor. I shoot photos, film and edit videos, do interviews, write stories, and post content to our site, RideBMX.com. I also do freelance photography, graphic design, and writing whenever opportunities arise. With that said, send more work my way! (www.thafat1.com)




Did you ever imagine you would work for RideBMX?
I remember sitting in yearbook class during my senior year of high school when I realized I could lay out pages for a BMX magazine like I was doing for my school yearbook and have a career that I loved, involving BMX. I went to school for graphic design, but always had the mindset of, “After college, I’m packing up and moving to SoCal and doing whatever it takes to work at Ride.” I eventually realized that doing graphic design for a magazine wouldn’t allow me to travel, so I shifted my focus to photography and editorial. I thought about working at Ride every day for more than four years before I got the call from Keith Mulligan asking if I’d be interested in a job. I believe what you think about, focus on, and work for will become your reality. I never had any doubt that I’d work at Ride. I still consider it a literal “dream come true,” and am always thankful for what I have. After going through the process I did to get here, I can’t say I’m “surprised” or “shocked” that I’m here…just happy to have accomplished my goal.

When got the job at RideBMX, how hard was it to move across the country and leave everything behind?
I was ready, man. I waited for that moment for so long, and I couldn’t have been more stoked. The only thing that was difficult was the situation with my girlfriend at the time. The long distance relationship was a rough deal for about eight months; then we broke up. Now I’m single and things are the way they should be. I’m learning and growing as a person every day and couldn’t be happier.
Leaving behind family and friends was a big deal, but by the time the move actually happened, I was mentally prepared. Once I got out here, Jeff Zielinski helped me out a lot. He played a huge part in keeping me sane while not knowing many people in the area. I can’t thank him enough for being the great friend he has been.

Since you’re in California, how does your website,www.LouisianaBMX.com stay updated?
I launched the original design of that site nearly five years ago on my birthday. And since I’m a sucker for tradition and schedules, I redesigned it every year and launched the new versions on my birthday. Last December, after living in California for a few months, I redesigned the site once and for all, turning it into a simple blog. I gave access to the blog to several riders around Louisiana to keep it alive. I post on there every once in a while with random stuff, but I don’t plan on doing anything more with it at this point besides maybe give more people access to update it. The site was “my baby” for a long time, and I’m really stoked on how it worked out for so many years.

What is the best part about working for Ride?
Well, there is the obvious answer, that I love and relate to the work I do. But besides that…Traveling, hands down! If I didn’t get to travel, I don’t think I would work there. BMX and seeing the world is where my passion lies, and I don’t want a job that doesn’t involve both of those things. Getting to experience new things is the best. And when the company you work for pays you to do it, even better! Some people may not realize it, but when I’m on a trip, I’m getting my salary and the company is paying for my food and stuff, so I’m not even spending my salary! If I could be on the road or traveling for months at a time, I would do it. (Even if I had to pay for my own food! Haha.)
The next best thing is getting hooked up from different companies. I’m always super grateful when I get free clothes, shoes, bike parts, or whatever. And knowing that it helps that company allows me to graciously accept the products without feeling guilty for taking something for nothing.

How does a typical day go for you?
Overall, thee are no “typical” days. If the days become “typical” for more than a week, I start to get real antsy and freak out mentally. Luckily I have the freedom to change up my days so I don’t fall into a strict routine and lose interest in what I’m doing. With that said…
Office day: Wake up at 8, leave the house at 9, be in the office at 9:30. Check emails, post news/press releases on the site, then look at my “to do” list. Some days I may edit videos all day, other days I look at all the photos in my folders and figure out who I want to do interviews or features with. Then I write up all the questions or whatever and send out a bunch of emails. And of course, build stuff for the site. Office days are typically boring, but at least it is still BMX. I try to leave the office at 4:30 or 5 and hope to beat traffic.
Work from home day: Wake up at 8, start working at the computer by 8:30. Most of the time when I work at home it is because I know I’ll be editing videos all day or building articles—the tedious stuff I have to concentrate on to get done without distractions. When I say, “build articles,” I’m talking about taking the photos and interviews or stories and putting them into our site system. I try to build plenty of stuff in advance so my iCal is full of stuff for the upcoming week. This ensures we have something new on the site every day. When I’m at home, I usually work until 6 or 7, sometimes later. Today I worked at home all day without shoes or a shirt on. Pretty sweet.
Out of the office day: This may be covering a contest, on a road trip, or shooting/filming with people within driving distance. These are the days I’m most stoked on, even though they usually involve the most hours and work. These days are generally non-stop with shooting photos and video, and/or rushing to the computer to post something as soon as it happens, like at the Dew Tour or on Road Fools.

Do you find a lot of time to ride?
I ride as much as I want to. There may be a week or two that goes by that I don’t really feel like riding. Then there are other times that I ride several days in a row and love it. No matter what is going on, there is always time to ride if you want to. Usually if I’m in the office or working at home a lot, I’m not motivated to get out and ride after sitting at the computer all day. When I’m traveling or out shooting, I tend to have that desire more. The hard part isn’t finding time to ride, it is making that time line up with other people’s schedules that I want to ride with.

Is working for the “industry” all it is cracked up to be?
I’m not sure what others have “cracked it up to be,” but for me, it is great. I feel like I’m a part of something that I have always loved, and I really enjoy hearing what other “industry guys” have to say about things. When I’m around people like Keith Mulligan, Robbie Morales, Ian Morris, Ron Bonner, etc, I listen to everything they say, trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible. I’m definitely still new to the industry, but so far, so good. I’ve definitely become jaded, where certain things aren’t as cool or special as they used to be, but that is to be expected. Overall, I think any time you work where your passion is, it is a great thing.

Where are some of your favorite places to ride?
The most fun I’ve had in the past few years on my bike was Ray’s MTB Park on Road Fools a few months ago. I hardly picked up my camera that day because I was too busy cruising around the wooden rhythm section with a huge smile on my face!
Also, I will always consider the Louisville cement park to be a place that changed the way I look at riding. The first time I went there was my first “big” road trip; it was such an eye-opening experience. Other than that, I really love pulling up to a city I’ve never been to, taking the bike off the rack, and just cruising. That since of excitement of the new and unknown is always amazing.

How did you get the name “Fat Tony”?
Oh man, I’ve told this story more times than I can possibly count. Haha… Back in ninth grade I was riding a quarter pipe in my friend’s backyard with a group of riders in my town. Brock Gomez (who has been filming for Props recently) said he always wanted to give someone a nickname that “stuck.” Since I was the newest guy in the group, I got the name. They blurted out a handful of names, and when “Fat Tony” came out they said it sounded like a mafia name. It was funny to them because it was so unlike me. Even though my real name isn’t Tony, it stuck… It is annoying when people call me Tony since that’s not my real name. Haha. I prefer Fat, just. It is short and simple. I know some people hate me because of my name, but my friends have been calling me that for nearly ten years so, it’s what I’m used to and comfortable with. But seriously, if you don’t like it, call me whatever you want. I’m not trying to make enemies or piss people off.

Are there any new and exciting things going on around the Ride office or in general you can tell us about?
Oh man…wait ’till you see the next issue! I can’t say anything specific about it, but I’m really pumped on it. It’s a whole new layout and design, and I think people are really going to like it. It’s going to have a lot more lifestyle and culture in it, too.
With the site, we are waiting for a redesign, but I’m not sure when that will be launched. Hopefully sooner than later…We all know it is long overdue. Before the full redesign comes, there will be a new section added where people can upload their own photos and videos.
Other than that, I’m excited about something I’m working on for the magazine with Johnny Devlin. That guy is absolutely amazing and one of my new favorite riders. Hopefully the idea we are working on will surface within the next few issues.

You get a lot of emails from people submitting photos and videos, what is the best part from that, and what is the worst part of it?
This is the part of my job that I dislike the most. I can’t stand sifting through reader photos! I’ve seen 10,000 shitty photos in the past year and a half! AHH! Haha. But it’s not even the lack of quality in the photos that gets to me; it’s how lazy people are when sending stuff. You have to be professional about things if you want people to take you seriously. If you send in a few terrible photos or video grabs with no names or text in the email, how am I supposed to perceive that? On the other hand, if you send in some decent images with captions, names, and a little introduction to yourself (spelled correctly, with proper grammar, etc.) I see you as a legit dude trying to make it somewhere and I will do anything in my power to help you on your journey. But you have to put in the effort first.

What is your favorite part about living in California compared to Louisiana, or the other way around?
The best part of Louisiana was the friends, family, and food. I definitely miss a good fried seafood platter! The best part of California is the weather and endless possibilities and opportunities. There is so much going on here compared to back home, especially in our world of BMX.

What are some of your favorite riding memories?
Riding my ass off at Ray’s MTB Park during Road Fools! Also, any story from a road trip that I can tell people for years on end is a good memory. Even if it is a “bad” memory, in the long run, it is still a good one and I’m happy I had the experience. Stitches in the groin in St. Louis comes to mind as one of those “bad,” but “good” memories. Thanks to Brock Gomez for being there for that one! Haha.

Favorite websites?
I’m over them… After updating the Ride site all the time, I don’t really surf the web anymore. However, I still spend some time on MySpace and looking at other BMX sites. Of course I do the normal online stuff too like credit cards, bank accounts, airlines, etc. And when I’m not reading books about it, I sometimes research stuff about money, investing, or whatever else I’m trying to learn about at the time.

If there was one thing in this world you haven’t or can’t do, what would it be and why?
If theres something I want to do, I eventually do it. I truly believe you can do anything. Whenever I think of something new I want to do, I immediately start figuring out a way to make it happen. I have a huge, ongoing “to do” list including short-term and long-term things. Some of those are: go to Hawaii, scuba dive, paraglide (which will be checked off next month), go to France, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica, and Amsterdam (those should be checked off in ’08), become a millionaire by the time I’m 30, and be financially free by the age of 40 so I never have to work again unless I want to.

Is there any shout outs or thanks you have?
Thanks to Keith Mulligan, Jeff Zielinski, and Ryan Fudger at Ride for giving me the opportunity to work with them. Huge thanks to Jeff Zielinski for being a great friend and mentor in the crazy world known as California. Thanks to Brock Gomez for pushing me in a number of ways. Thanks to all the industry guys who talk to me (or around me) and allow me to learn from them. Thanks to Marco Massei at Props for letting me go on Road Fools and all the other companies and people who have helped make traveling possible. Thanks to all the companies that help me out with products including Fox, Odyssey, Oakley, Shadow, Nike 6.0, and a whole bunch of others. Thanks to Terry Adams for being an amazing friend. Thanks to Bobby Carter for being a friend, inspiration, and motivator. Thanks to Terry Adams and Catfish for introducing me to a life-altering way of looking at social dynamics. Thanks to my family and friends for the support. And of course, thanks for this interview and the opportunity to write so much. Hopefully a few people read it. Haha.

Name:
Albert Mercado

Location:
San Diego CA

Sponsors:
GDC, Kinkbikeco, hooked up by Mosh parts.

Whats it like riding for and being apart of Give D?
being a part of give D is pretty nice. it is pretty much just the people I’ve been riding with for years in S.D its nice. they are all rad dudes. might come off like assholes if you don’t know ’em but once you get to know everyone they are the nicest/down to earth dudes you will know.

Rumor has it those crazy fires in California are because of Give D’s hotness, do you care to comment?
I don’t care to comment but ill give it a try. D is pretty hot so that might be the cause haha…nah but sadly the fire has gotten worse in the last few days. im not in SD right now to help out my family and friends. over 270,000 acres have burned. lots of people have lost there homes and a lot have minor injuries. it’s a pretty serious issue but ill keep this interview nice and happy. SD may be on fire and people have lost there homes so lets just be happy no one has died. everyone just smile everything will be ok. if you see my mom or anyone that looks sad in San Diego right now give them D! a hug or just a good solid high five.

What are some things you have going on with riding right now?
started riding for kink a little bit ago. got some stuff coming up. thats real nice. other than that just chillin and riding my bike.

I noticed you are in LA right now whats that all about?
im in LA to visit my girl. she lives out here in Sherman oaks CA. she is the best for letting me hang out for so long. I also brought my bike with me so when she is at school or work I cruise around on my bike so I don’t have to sit on a couch for hours on end. riding up here is real nice. lots of nice spots. she lives pretty close the supolveda dam. that place is fun. also some fun nibs here and there.

What are some things you are really pumped on for riding right now?
right now im just real pumped people enjoying themselves riding bikes.

What is the first trick you learned ever, and your most recent one you have pulled?
first trick I learned ever that I remember would probably be tuck no handers. when I first started riding me and my buddies had this pretty sweet flyout behind a library. it was way nice. I saw some race kid in the area do a no hander on it. it looked neat so I thought I’d give it a go. also kickflips and just tons of flyout tricks. I used to be somewhat of a boxjump hound when I first started riding. the reason for that was this flyout that was way fun. its still there. except now it has a chain after the lip. now its just a sweet chain hop.

Who are some of the biggest influences in your life?
right now that would have to be my mom and my friends. my mom because she is the toughest/nicest person ever. when life hits her hard all she can do is smile and make things work. where a normal person would fall down and give up. she will get right up and fight on through anything with a smile on her face…also my friends. for the soul reason they are what keep me happy. without them I would be face down in a ditch somewhere singing show tunes.

If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I think I would love to meet the person who invented ramen noodles. they have kept me alive and I love noodles so much you have no idea. takes minutes to make and they are tasty.

If you won the lottery, what would you spend it on?
well I would buy enough ramen to feed me for the rest of my life . then I would not change a thing. besides me traveling more. I would love to have the money to travel when I wanted.

Your primarily a street rider, is that all you ride or do you try and ride everything?
I like to ride more street cause the city I live in is pretty far from everything that is transition. there are tons of nice street spot in my area. they are way fun. on a good day ill hop on the trolley and go the Clairmont park. that usually takes about an hour to do so I don’t ride there to much these days. I do ride everything though. I love riding park and on a when I feel like falling I ride dirt. its nice not to limit yourself.

What are your 5 favorite websites?
defgrip.net, moshparts.com, myspace.com, fecalface.com, bmxunion.com for repping hard.

What kind of music do you like to ride to?
im into anything good that feels good against my ear drums.

You got a smoking hot girl to go on a date with you, what is your plan for the night? (maybe I should have asked Alfredo this one?)
im not much of a planner but with my girlfriend we like to go cruise around grab a bite to eat and check out the sites. bridges/city lights/oceans/lakes/rocks/building. anything thats fun to chill around.

Where are some of your favorite places to ride?
number one place I love to ride is andres backyard ramps. I think that will always be my favorite. it is down the street from my old place. it is way nice for being backyard ramps. these days they are a little worked but with a little work they can be fun again. the Clairmont park is way nice when it is not flooded with little scooter kids. also there are some concrete hips (gordys) by my place which are great cause they are smooth and right next to the water.

Where are some of the places you have yet to be that you would like to ride?
everywhere haha I have not been many places. I’ve been to AZ and Nevada mostly. I would love to hit the east coast sometime. also Canada and parts of the northwest. Midwest also. just everything and anything fun I would love to ride.

What kind of things are you into outside of riding?
drawing and design. I also screenprint whenever I can. im real bad at it but it is way fun when you do something that actually works out. also I like to watch cartoons. I don’t know if that really counts for anything but I love all things cartoon.

What is your most embarrassing story of any of the Give D guys?
haha no comment.

Is there any shout outs or thanks you would like to say?
first id like to thank you Kurt for the interview. AL and the give D! crew. Stephanie Lopez for being there for me all the time. DITCH CREW! Eddie Cleveland for hooking me up. Mike Ardelean at moshparts for being a rad dude. J.roe at Kink. KC badger Sean sexton for being way nice. Andre Gonzales for being such a good friend. B-DUBBS. nuno at defgrip. Jordan snider and smalls. Brad wingers chin. natty ice. Steve woodward for being a badass. Dennis enarson for being better than everyone at bikes. Kyle Carlson for having more money than me. Alex A for being Jewish. house cats for being cute. anything Ron pitcher draws is amazing. look for his art show dates/areas at 69ron.com. anyone i missed….i love you.

Did I miss anything, would you like to add anything?
“fun is good”

Name:
Dr. Stephen M. Crandalsmith the 3rd.

Location:
42 degrees 27 feet north-76 degrees 29 feet west (latitude and longitude)

Obviously your one of the dudes at FBM, and now Nice, what gave you the idea to start Nice?
We are starting to work on a line of completes, so we wanted a line of products on the bikes we could brand ourselves, as well as develop a proprietary line of components and accessories that we aren’t going to or don’t do with FBM. Many reasons, there are alot of people involved with FBM, so there is a lot of room for idea development.

When do you expect to have some of the Nice line available?
We showed samples in Vegas at Interbike, so It’ll still be a minute before release.

There has been a few new frames from FBM for 08′ seen at Interbike, are they replacing the current line?
Yeah the howler is a new frame, and the autopilot and deployer are finishing up. The Stairmaster is Now the Aaron Ross Pro Model, and its new version is the “master Blaster”. We are still doing the Joint. All the new bikes are heattreated with Butted tubing, so we can now offer a strong as shit, lightweight handbuilt frame that will make you smile.

Are there any new products that didn’t make it to interbike?
Did you see the Milk crate that they carried the Alien in, in the movie E.T.? we are working on a lightweight Brakeless version of that, as well as mock turtlenecks, to cover up unsightly neck tattoos. Has any one invented the wheel yet?

The team has had some wild changes lately, is there anything you can say about Hamlin and Wood leaving the team? and who has recently been added to the team?
New Team dudes, include Mickey Marshal of Baton rouge Louisiana, Joey J of Fla. Garret Gilliums of St. louis, and Joel Barnett from the Binghamton Area. These dudes are stoked, cool as heck, and totally into working with FBM on getting awesome!

Are there any other big changes at FBM?
We are in the process of manufacturing an FBM fixed gear bike, vegetable oil tanks for diesel conversions, and updating the blog on the FBM site amongst other things.

With trails season in full effect, how are bakers acres now days?
I have had some of the most fun days of the year riding with my best friends at my favorite spot. I am happy about that.

Do you have any more contests planned like the one you had a little while ago, Brawlin at Belmar?
we are at least doing the comp at the belmar again, and possibly 1 or 2 more if we find a suitable location.

What is your funniest story you have about Aaron Ross?
any time with aaron is comedy, i like watching him dance and get excited about stuff, especially when he thinks no one is looking. when he first got on FBM he asked if it would be weird since he didn’t eat light bulbs, drink or party all crazy, I just asked if he liked having fun, and the rest is history…

(see the middle bottles name, Lil Reggies testicals.. it will make sense after the last question.)

Does FBM have any big road trips or DVD things planned?
we are working on a budget to fund a trip, provided by google video and Youtube, but havent hammered out the details yet.

How about you, with winter coming to NY soon enough, do you plan on getting out for a while?
I hope I get to visit my parents soon….

What are some bands your really into right now?
today- the black lips, toots and the maytals, chuck ragan, rymodee, IPOd on shuffle, tomorrow could be any of a million bands I like.

When your not working or doing BMX related stuff what do you like to do?
I like drinking coffee, making soup, riding motorcycles, scribbling, playing dumb, etc…

What’s your best move for picking up the ladies?
I Pretend I am Burt reynolds in Cannonball Run, but act like Captain Chaos.

Who are some of the biggest influences on your life?
My Parents, my friends, my bike, music, and travel.

If you could only ride one place for the rest of your life where would it be and why?
I like riding with my friends at Bakers Acres. If I had my friends with me, i would be happy anywhere though…

Who are some upcoming guys you have met that you think people should look out for?Kelly baker, Jeremy reiss, Mike Tag, Ryan Corrigan, and Ralph Sinisi.

Any shout outs or thanks?
thanks to everyone! seriously. I am stoked.

Anything else I might have missed you would like to add in?
I used to live with a guy named reggie styles who has eaten Acid like 1000 times. He’s a great guy, but totally kooked, I love him though, one time he and Wilbur, and other Legendary roomate of the time, were on acid, and listening to Skinny puppy in reggies room, which was outfitted with black lights and weird posters. At one point Wilbur says-” I feel like i’m in a spaceship” to which Reggie Replies-“Can’t Move…”
any rate, at the same time we had a black cat named Honkey, who had babies, one of which we kept. It was walking around all squirrelly one day, and walked into a wall, and someone said “check him out, he’s walking all Reggie Style” hence the name Reggie Styles, and the cat was named Little Reggie. The Vet Neutered Lil Reggie, and I still Have His Nuts. I have Never to this date hallucinated on Acid though.

Name:
Hoang Tran

Location:
San Diego most of the time

Sponsors:
Subrosa, Kronik energy, Give D

It seems like lately you have been getting a ton of coverage, did you ever expect riding to become like this for you?
Not at all haha. All I can say Is I got lucky.

What is Give D to you?
Give D is something created by a straight edge kid and represented by drunks haha… but really it’s just an excuse for all of us to take trips, hang out, and escape the clutches of adulthood for a little longer, allowing us to stay young. It gives us an excuse to make our dumb ideas into reality, and not be so serious all the time. It personally reminds me of being young and having all the stresses of day subside, freeing my mind, in order for it to truly travel its lengths. Give D just basically shows me how in the beginning bmx is possible because of youth and later how youth is kept through bmx.

How are things going with Subrosa, you have been with them from the start has anything changed?
Things with Subrosa are pretty bitchin’! I couldn’t ask for a better frame sponsor! Ryan’s one of my best friends and I’ll be with subrosa till the end. Nothing comes to mind about subrosa changing…other than kicking ass more everyday!

Would you say you are a street rider? or are you more of an all around rider?
I like the way street looks in videos but when it comes down to it, I’m an all around rider. I love everything from jumping down a big set of stairs to flat, going as fast as I can towards a quarter, or flowing through that fresh dirt. As longs as I’m going fast enough for my tires to make that buzzing noise I’m happy.

If I remember right, arent you originally from Iowa? How did you end up in San Diego?
Yes I am, I was raised in the fine town of council bluffs, Iowa. I ended up in san diego because my mom wanted to move closer to family (the rest of the family lived in san diego). At first I hated it but now I can’t thank her enough.

Whats it like being apart of such a huge scene like San Diego’s? Do you think it has impacted your riding much?
Its so awesome being apart and getting the chance to ride with all the people around san diego! We are all close and good friends. No drama in SD and that’s the way I like it! And I only hope it continues to grow.

How is the whole brakeless thing treating you? Do you plan on getting brakes again anytime soon?
Being brakeless is whats fun to me right now and it’s fun to pedal as fast as you can at a gap and not bitch out! I’ll probably put brakes back on when brakeless isn’t fun anymore…or not popular haha.

Your real big into photography, when did you start doing that?
I’ve always liked photographs but I officially started when I took a class my junior year of high school.

What kind of camera gear do you have?
I have a couple. I own a Nikon D80, a holga, random medium formats I find at thrift stores and my favorite camera, a Nikon fm2.

You have had the chance to travel a lot lately, where are some of the places you have been this year?
Northern California, Nevada, Vancouver and the cities surrounding it, I went to the east coast but I had no idea what state I was in the whole time cause over there you drive 20 minutes and your in a different state, Oregon, and Washington. Thanks again to Subrosa for sending me to all those places!

Where are some places you haven’t been that you would really like to go to?
Since I’ve pretty much gone everywhere in the United States I would really like to venture across the ocean. Anywhere new and I will be pumped

5 favorite tricks?
Proper pancakes (includes all variations of the table), 180, Proper Tuck for the sky, Proper lookdowns, and bar twirl.

What is a trick that has given you the most problems?
Barspins have been the most elusive but I am trying my best to tame the beast.

You just recently got done filming and editing the new Give D web video, how do you think it turned out and when will people be able to see it?
I thought it turned out pretty good, I was stoked on everyone else’s clips. I wish I could of done better but my shoulder was bugging me for a lot of the trip. Both edits should be out now on defgrip.net!

Who are some of the people that have impacted your life the most?
Ron “dirt” pitcher for showing me even if you have -69 cents in your bank account you can still lead a rich and glorious life, Kyle Hart for giving me advice when I needed it and always telling me to do what I want to do because you can’t make someone else happy if you are not first happy, and Michelle Babick for making me appreciate the world around us a little more. My kitty uhmelio for showing me to enjoy the simple things in life.

Any thanks or shout outs?
Thanks to ryan sher for taking me further into the bmx industry, Alex at GDC for giving all of us SD kids motivation, Rich at lotek, Nuno, Bdubs, and anyone else at odyssey, The dudes over at kronik, my parents, my girls (the babicks and natty ice),John Paul Rogers at nice!, Kurt at bmxunion for this interview, and anyone else I might of forgotten that has helped me out or just made me laugh and enjoy life a little more.

Any last words or things I missed?
Dream like your gonna live forever and live like you’re gonna die tomorrow. And mustard is gross.

Name:
Kyle Thomas Hart

Location:
San Diego, CA Born and raised.

Sponsors:
Give D Clothing, Odyssey

How long have you been riding for?
16 years… haha I suck

Your with the Give D crew, whats your take on the D?
To me it’s all about having a good time and kicking a lot of ass on bikes. We all call out each other’s flaws and make jokes out of everything. We stay grounded because of that. Basically, don’t take life to seriously.

You seem to be real big into steet? or am I wrong?
I love street. It’s the place where tricks become legit. You can’t really go to the local gap or stairset and train. To me street is: Find a big gap/drop and don’t back down. I’m not too into tech tricks. But, don’t get me wrong, I ride parks almost everyday and flowing around a good cement park just can’t be beat.

San Diego is one of the bigger riding scenes in the U.S, whats it like to be apart of it?
It’s awesome. Everyone is ALWAYS motivated to ride, film, shoot photos, etc. Having so many people to ride with in San Diego is awesome. There are never any duplicates in our “scene”. Everyone has there own flavor.

Do you think living in San Diego has given you coverage options that a lot of people normally wouldnt get?
Definately. I might have to blame that on the weather though. It seems like there are always filmers coming to shoot something. Its easy to ride here compared to other parts of the US, because winter is still 72 degrees.

If you could only do one trick for a day, what trick would it be and why?
Lookbacks. I’m goofy footed… Is there any other choice? Haha

Do you have any big plans for trips or anything coming up for youself any time soon? No trips for now. Thank God. But, we are starting filming on a full length video that will actually end up on a DVD and not the internet…

You and Hoang seem to be real good friends, whats the story between you and him?(no homo)
Hahaha! We met riding bikes and just seemed to have the same outlook on a lot of things. I’m sure it helped that we ride similarly. It’s a lot easier to ride with someone everyday if they kick as much ass as you do.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Travel across the seas for sure, have some full sections in videos, edit a lot more, learn how to film, get married, design better shirts and get in more fights because of Ron’s big mouth.

What do you like to do outside of riding?
Drink, smoke cigarrettes and treat my girlfriend to a nice dinner.

Favorite food?
Filet Mignon

I noticed on your myspace your song was pretty heavy, what kind of music are you into? Favorite bands and songs?
I’ve been into Death and Black Metal since I was in highschool. I enjoy everything, but I like to keep it faster for the master. Favorite bands? Wow… The Legion, Nile, Origin, Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, Cryptopsy, Goratory, Crimson Moonlight, Antestor, Whitechapel, uh… I’ll stop before this gets too long. Haha.

If you could go anywhere in the world to ride, where would it be and why?
Spain. They have the culture and the spots.

Your favorite memory involving riding?
The only time I’ve ever got injured. 180 tuck no hander over a box jump in AZ. I busted my wrist and then the whole SD crew got crazy and broke down fences. We got banned from Fort McDowell. It kicked ass.

Any shout outs or thanks?
All of the GDC brigade, B-Dubbs at Odyssey, Ryan Sher and Subrosa, my badass girlfriend Kelsey and my parents for not disowning me when I told them I wanted to ride a toddler’s bike forever.

Anything I might have missed you would like to add?
Thanks for the interview and hugs and kisses to all of you in internet land.