Wethepeople is one of those Companies I have always liked, from the products to the visual draw, down to the team. They have been putting out some good web videos lately, and I must admit me being jealous of all the spots that Europe has to offer. Rob sent over a little forecast as to what’s going on with WTP this year.

Team? Chester Blacksmith just got back from the first Eclat trip and his first time in Europe. And in three days will be on Roadfools again. His signature frame is in the works and will be previewed when we’re ready. Same goes for Ashley Charles…. Both of these two new wethepeople signature frames will be out in due course. Some expansion in the US team is also in the works. Andrew Jackson and Mike Brennan will be feature pretty soon on the videorama page, both are working on their parts now.

products? The wethepeople tyres just hit distros, camo products are there.
contests? Peoples jam in the previously no-bmx concrete park is going ahead. This place is the biggest 70’s concrete place in the N.Germany. Previously held the worlds back in ‘94 and since then has only been ridden during out of hours missions. We’ll also be behind those contests we backed last year and i’d hope that Dave and Brian will be open to a few more.

Road trips? Dave, Sam Lowe and Andrew Jackson just finished up a Cali trip… Be some footage from that soon. The next ads also feature again Andrew Jackson with photos from David Hawthorne of that trip. Pretty sure we’ll see a smaller trip Vancouver to Portland, Got something planned in the UK with a fire engine. Max Gaertig, Luc Legrand and Jason Phellan should be coming over to NY in the middle of the year.

what to expect? expect the unexpected and some solid product-

Here is a photo of Chester, at a spot found whilst tripping round. This thing has never been ridden and is already over, but it was the best spot ever seen. There’ll a bit more video footage coming soon from Eclat including this place. The seat is from Ashley’s bike(testing his signature frame)… But he also had some of the eclat stuff on….. Looks good.

I asked Crandall to give me an update as to what going on at FBM, any new plans, what’s up with the team, etc… His response? why don’t you ask me questions? Shit! I thought.. I wanted a cut and paste update for the site now I have to come up with questions… so I threw a few at him and this what he responded with. Enjoy… iTod

How you been? I am 33 years old, and I am still enjoying BMX, i guess i’m doing pretty good, thanks for asking. I rode bikes in NYC last weekend, and had so much fun, it was like I was 17. My knees were shot when I got home.

How are things at FBM going so far? -so far in relation to what? things are good, we area small business struggling in a tough industry to stay afloat, especially with in house manufacturing in a community that seems ambiguous to these things. We are doing it on our own, forging our own path, and we have a lot of irons in the fire so to speak, we are headed in a real positive direction.
I noticed that you have revamped the team this year. bringing on new riders. Seeing older riders move on. What’s going on over there with the Team? Refresh us as to who’s on the team now.- Currently our team, aside from employees and original fbm gangsters- is Joel Barnett, Mickey Marshall, Garrett Guilliams, Joey Juarsti, Nate Richter, Mike Tag, Derrick Girard, Tom Blyth, Josh Elkington, Kie Asworth, William Ashby and Ruel “wormz” Smith. Less formality, Less emphasis on having a “pro” team, just some dudes stoked on bikes, and stoked on FBM.

Looking at the 2008 line, you guys seem to have a newer direction going as far as frames go. hell the whole company has been getting a new look in recent years, is FBM all done with Fire,Beer, and Mayhem? and moving towards Fun, Bikes, and Mylanta?
Fbm is based loosely on good times, with friends, and riding bikes, whatever else falls under that umbrella is fine with us. We were caught somewhere between Albert Street, and becoming a Normal Business for a while, we are just trying to keep it fun and do cool shit right now.

Any big plans for the team members this year that you know of? road trips, contests, video parts, etc? We are having a Jam at Rays in May, and another Old School Dirt comp at the Belmar, Brawlin at the Belmar 2, we have talked about some video Ideas, but nothing set in stone. We are doing a Team tour in the Midwest in May though…. we’ll be filming on that.

Clothing has been and always be a part of FBM. over the years designs change and evolve with the company. how important is it to you to continue making cool shirts for riders to express their sport in? -Its how we got started in this whole gig, and its an important part of our product line, its a pretty good way to express who we are and what we are into. Its a pretty good canvas to showcase FBM ideas and imagery.

How has growing older changed the face of FBM? -I think the ideas that FBM were founded on have remained pretty close to when I was younger, but how it relates to the current BMXer has changed, and thats something that will always change. I hope the simplicity of a good time, and wanting to support people who promote that in BMX will remain important enough for people like us to stay involved. It’s Weird that I am twice as old as the average BMX rider/consumer/internetter, hopefully the youngsters at FBM keep me in check though.

Aren’t you that guy from Fuel TV? ever get sick of that question? hell, ever think when you were younger, people would stop you on the street and ask you that shit? I don’t own a television, and I have never seen 1 episode of that show (not a lie). Most people in the town I live in haven’t seen it either, I don’t think Fuel is on the regular cable package in Ithaca. When i travel though, it is totally fucking weird though… the whole thing was pretty informal, since I grew up with the Props guys, and am friends with them. I didn’t realize how much of it would end up broadcasted, and how many people would see it though. Its better than people asking me if I am Jack Osbourne though, that sucks.

Contests…. last year it was Brawling at the BelMar, in years past it was the ghetto jam. I see this year the BelMar comp is on again. ever think of doing more of the ghetto type comps. in the future?
I think the Ghetto comp ran its course…. I would like to, but there would be too much hype for it to live u to that last one…

where is Lou Bickle? Lou Is currently serving time in a Pennsylvania correctional center, I think he is doing a 20 month bid… Write him a letter-Lou Bickel HJ6769 S.C.I. Camphill P.O. Box 200 Camphill, PA 17001 (editors note : Seriously you should write him something.. even if you don’t know him write him.. make a convict smile)
Forecasts….

Frames..

–

We are working on making lighter, stronger frames that are cool looking an handbuilt in New york. The Howler is a step in that Direction.

Team… Back to our grassroots, just dudes having fun, traveling, riding, More Lifestyle, less professionalism.
soft goods…. We are working on keeping a fresh lineup of silly ass softgoods, belt buckles,and retarded beer coozys.

unreleased new products…. Working on a revamped FBM hardgoods lineup, its looking good so far.

the sword… I love Unicorns! Forks in the R and D stages…
How has the Sword been accepted with in the fixed gear crowd? do you think FBM will expand it’s self into that market as well?
More frames, clothing, accessories? People seem stoked on the Bike, the quality, functionality, and the overall package is awesome, and its made In a small independent machine shop, Cycle enthusiast seem pretty supportive of that.

I am pretty sure I speak for a lot of people when I say this, I have always loved the videos put out by FBM. from the little web edits to the full length videos, do you think you will ever do another full length video, or has that time come and gone for BMX?
I am working on a full length version of The Derrick Girard Commercial, combined with the one where I was in a bathtub full of spaghetti. Mikey Corts and I have some plans or another FBM video, but its a little ways off. THe new Props has an 8 minute bonus FBM promo that will be online shortly.

Check out more of what’s going on at FBM by heading over to the website….

On the Horizon is a little series of info that I plan on posting up as I get them. Keeping you a little bit in touch with whats going on in the BMX world. hey lets face it you came to this site to get info right? here is the first installment.

Chad Degroot stepped up and provided a glimpse into what they have going on in 2008,
What’s up with the team and so forth.
check it.

-iTod

UGP news for 2008 will start off with the team and what each fool is doing.

Adam Baker-recently on Fuel’s Daily Habit talking about trails and the war. Will be on a few road trips with the UGP team.

Brian Kachinksky-Upcoming interviews in Props, Ride US. Will be appearing in summer ads in Ride and Ride UK as well as Dig. Brian will be attending all the Dew Tours, Metro Jam, and Baco Jams. Props Mega tour will be releasing the European trip soon. Look out.
Chad DeGroot-TM, Filmer, photographer, and partial sales. Will be going on 3 road trips with one being an all Europe deal. Will be at all Dew Tours and JoMo Pro in Missouri. Appeared on Daily Habit early Feb.
Tom Haugen-Doing shows all year long. Competing at this years Dew Tour. Traveling a few times over seas, and filming for web videos.

Aaron Behnke-Riding flat as much as the great up north will allow him. Filming for web edits and traveling to far away lands for flatland comps.

Dave Freimuth-photographer, filmer, and rider. Will be going to Toronto’s Metro Jam, JoMo Pro, and Baco Jam. He will be doing summer shows in southern Wisconsin.

Karl Poynter-with his signature shirt coming out, travel with UGP roadtrips, filming for web edits, Karl will be busy as a beaver. He will be attending Baco Jams in Orlando as well.

Tony Malouf-recently on Fuel’s Daily Habit, appearing in ads in Ride UK and soon Ride US. He will be working on web edits and signature clothing this year.

James Foster-Fresh off his Dirt win at Dew Tour, he will attend all events this year. He is going to appear in Ride US, BMX Plus, and NBL publications with his signature dirt style.

Last but not least Mark Mulvile-our newest additions to the team. Trails, street, park, he does it all. He will be at JoMo Pro competing. Going on 2 road trips for ads n web edits. He recently appeared on Fuels Daily Habit. Look out for his new ads in Ride UK, Ride US.

Flow:

Adam Banton-Fresh off the completion of Odyssey video Electronical, he has a sweet part. Will be filming for 2 more videos this year as well web edits.

Kip Williamson-freshly exposed fanatic of shoes, collector. He will be working on web edits coming out middle summer. He recently appeared in Ride UK ad doing “elbows on the table”.

Quinn Semling-Living in Greeville, there is never a shortage of riding. Fresh off a European trip ready to come out in Props mega tour.

Dan Sieg-Greenville resident as well, the level of riding he is doing is insane. Thriple whips, doubles, you name it. Dan will be at all Dew Tour events this year.

Catfish- Known for his MC skills which include Baco, Estonia, Dubai, X-games, and all Dew Tours. When he has time you will see him run some flat lines around the skatepark or flat ground.

Dave Brumlow-Vert assasin, he still flyin over the ten foot mark. Doing shows across the country. Attending the Dew Tours. Messing with anyone that talks to him

The plan for UGP this year will be to focus on making a solid brand, brand awareness, and make our comeback which no one thinks we can do. Our team is stocked with all kinds of talent and entertainment. Support the brands that support what we do…