When I started riding 7 years ago or so if you told me that I would interview Chris Doyle someday I would have probably laughed and brushed it off. However I decided to give it a shot and when Chris said he was all for it I was super excited since hes seriously has been one of my favorite riders since I started and still is today. I think you guys will enjoy this one.
Name:
Chris Doyle
Sponsors:
Kink, Rockstar Games, DC, Demolition, Duo, Pro-tec, Square One, Bicycle Union
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA
This will make for how many interviews now?
haha. Haha, I don’t know. This same sort of thing happend to me when I was 17/18 years old. I had a ton of interviews come at me all at once and then there wasn’t too much until… well, last month. If history repeats itself, I can look forward to another onslaught of interviews when I’m 36, hahaha.
How is the winter treating you so far?
Not too bad, we haven’t had too much snow but the temp. is definitely too cold to ride outside right now. I went to Arizona for about a week to get a head start on filming for the Kink video, on the second to last day I ended up smashing my face and getting eight stitches in my chin and spraining my thumb. Now, I’m just chillin’ and letting my body rest up a little bit… It’s been a long year.
Your recent Props interview was a hit, how cool was it to be able to look at an interview when you were 17, and then do one for now looking back on it all, was it weird at all?
I definitely had some good laughs after looking back at that old interview, I can’t believe how young and naive I was back then, I guess most 17 year olds are. When that first interview came out I remember being really bummed and a little bit embarrassed – I was 17, I’d only been around for a year, and I didn’t really have anything to say, I think I was just stoked to be in Props. I’m really happy that they let me have a do-over on that one.
How did you feel about contests this year?
I had my fair share of ups and downs but overall I’m pretty stoked on how I did.
What contest are you looking forward to the most next year?
Man, I don’t know. I don’t think there’s an “Elevation” contest this year and that’s usually my favorite comp. Oh wait! I think they’re doing that “Empire Of Dirt” contest in England next year, I’ll be looking forward to that one for sure!
Where have you been riding since the winter has hit? Is there many indoor spots nearby?
There’s two indoor parks in our area, both of which are about 45 minutes away from my house – not too bad. They’re good parks but I’m trying to pace myself, the winter is long and I don’t want to burn myself out on ’em too quick. Other than those two parks, every tuesday a crew of guys usually goes up to Rays MTB park which is about 2.5 hours away. That place is hella good.
Now that the holidays are over for the most part what do you have going on?
Not too much. I’m pretty much chillin’ for a month or so before I start taking some trips (which are below). I’m gonna start filming for a new Demolition online vid soon and I’d like to film half here (in Pittsburgh) and half out in Cali.
Are you planning any big trips anytime in the next few months?
Nothing too big. I’m going out to Cali in early February to film for Kink and Demolition and then in late Feb/early March I’m going to Austin to start filming for Anthem 2.
If I remember right, a few years ago in an interview when 401 trails got plowed, you had talked about buying some land and starting a new set that you owned. Did that already happen or am I just imagining things?
It was actually the 22 trails here in Pittsburgh that got plowed… 401 is still there but it’s beat. And, no I haven’t bought any land… yet. I’d still really like to but there’s a lot of ins and outs to it and it’s obviously gonna cost some serious money… However, I’ve been trying to come up with a better plan, I’d like to rent out my current house and buy a new house that has some land where I could put my own trails on, that’d be ideal. It’s just a matter of committing to making large purchases… it’s hard for me to do, I’m very conservative.
You have been on Kink for a while now, how have things been going with that? Your frame is out now, do you have any more plans for signature parts coming out this year?
Kink has been awesome, so stress free and laid back. I think my favorite thing about riding for Kink is taking trips with the team. Everyone shreds and everyone gets along, we’ve done a couple trips so far and they’ve been awesome. So far the frame is awesome and I’m getting a lot of positive feedback, as far as other signature parts go, I might start working on a signature fork with Demolition.
How are things at Duo? Any new additions to the team or new products coming anytime soon?
There’s one rider that may or may not start riding for us soon but I don’t feel I’m at liberty to talk about it just yet… I wouldn’t want him to get in trouble with his other sponsors. As far as new products go, the Van Homan grip just came out and we just released a limited edition seat in which we collaborated with Rogue Status. Also, I’d like to get Bohan’s grip moving along. We’d also like to start doing some cool apparel and bags.
After being pro for so long now, I would imagine you have been just about everywhere. Is there anywhere you have not been that you would like to go to?
I’ve never been to New Zealand before, I’ve been close, I went to Australia back in ’02. Everyone of my friends that’s been to New Zealand says it’s an amazing place.
I figure this was probably asked in your video interview but didn’t make the cut. Is there any set dates for a wedding anytime soon?
Haha, no, no set plans as of yet. Believe it or not, my girl is as busy or busier than myself. We’re happy together and It’ll happen someday but we’re in no rush.
Then and now, 1997 Vs. 2007
Frame
Then: S&M Challenger that I later traded for a Holmes.
Now: Kink “Farside” 21.25 top tube (blue).
Weight of bike
Then: Who knows? Probably pretty light though, my bikes were always pretty “raced out”.
Now: I’ve actually never checked, nor do I care. Light enough, I guess.
Riders you looked up to most
Then: K. Bennett, Joey Garcia, Brian Foster, Joe Rich, and Brandon Pundai
Now: Brian Foster, Chase Hawk, Jason Enns, Joe Rich, and Corey Bohan
Time you have to wake up
Then: I think I had to be at school by 8:00, so probably around 7:00.
Now: Around 9:00 on most days.
Favorite Food
Then: Bojangles chicken, biscuits, and fries.
Now: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches
What you wanted for Christmas or Birthday the most
Then: Bike Parts
Now: Apple gadgets
Biggest Fear:
Then: Not getting into a good college
Now: Arthritis
What advice do you have for keeping those 200 LBS+ girls away from a guy?
Haha, my problem was always that I was too nice, don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to be a dick, just be careful.
Your a pretty influencial rider, do you have any crazy stories of stalkers or obsessed fans?
Haha, this may be one of my favorite stories to tell, I’ll give you the short side of it. I think it was 2001 and I was down in Orlando for the Roots Jam. There was an after party / video premier – it was packed but it was your normal BMX gathering, you know, a ton of dudes and about three girls, all of which had boyfriends. So anyways, this girl starts talking to me and being really flirty and touchy – she was showering me with compliments left and right. Needless to say, I was stoked – she was HOT. All of the sudden this dude taps me on the shoulder and says, “yo Doyle, that’s my girlfriend”. I didn’t know the guy and he was a bit bigger than me but he was being pretty cool, he told me that myself and Aitken were him and his girlfriend’s favorite riders, he then followed it up by saying that it would be his honor if I hooked up with his girlfriend. He’d said that she was TOTALLY DOWN and that she’d been looking forward to meeting me and Aitken for weeks. I ended up turning her down, I said that I was flattered but I had a girl at home (even though I didn’t at the time). The guy was a little bummed and then asked me, “where’s Aitken”?
If you were forced to only be able to ride contests to one song (Like Nyquist and “Jump Around”) what song would it be and why?
“Back before you go” by Dinosaur Jr.
By now you have had the opportunity to meet so many riders, who are some people you haven’t had the chance to meet that you would like to?
I’d like to meet Jerry Galley someday. He’s from England and was way ahead of his time. He’s been known to do things like HUGE 540’s and inverts on vert wearing nothing but a pro-tec, shorts (no pads), and a T-shirt.
How mad do your friends get when you have all the stories about what actually happend the nights they were drinking?
I wouldn’t say that any of them ever get mad. It seems though that they always think they had the wildest time ever, even when it was mellow. I think the alcohol just makes them exaggerate their stories more.
What do you think you would be doing if you didn’t start riding BMX, and the meteorologist thing didn’t pan out?
I honestly have no idea.
What kind of TV show are you into?
Seinfeld, Scrubs, Chappelles Show
What about some of your favorite bands?
My Current favorites are Dinosaur Jr. and Band Of Horses. Some of my all time favorites are Blankface, The Get Up Kids and The Farside; all of which are now broken up.
And to keep going with these, favorite movies?
My favorite riding videos have always been the early FBM videos (Ring of Fire, The Bar Is Closed, Live Fast Die), 1201, Lights Out, and Anthem “Home of the brave”. Non riding… There are too many to mention.
Outside of the riding world, what are your biggest influences in your life?
Probably my mom, bro, and sis. We’ve been through a lot together and they’re some of the strongest, most driven people that I’ve ever known.
If you could spend the day with anybody to ever exist, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Elvis. I don’t know why, that’d dude just seemed cool.
What would you like to accomplish in the next 5 years?
I’d like to film a couple more video parts with each one being better than the last, travel to some new spots, stay healthy, and move to a house with enough space for trails or a ramp (both!).
What is something that you feel needs to be changed in BMX?
Less talk, more rock!
What kind of advice do you have for people getting into BMX?
Pace yourself and have fun, you don’t need to turn pro your second year riding.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
In my Props interview I said thanks to my sponsors but I should’ve thanked them individually, so here goes. Zack, Jay, Chris, and Matt at Kink – you guys are the best! Ken, Damon, Bree, Sean, and Eric at DC, Brian Castillo and La at Demolition, The Bad Boy (Badders) at Pro-Tec, John Dye, Cory Muth, Steve Buddendeck, Kris Bennett, Todd Walk, Pittsburgh locals, NC locals, Wild Will, Barrett snake, and my friends and family everywhere.
Anything else I missed that you would like to add?
I think we’re all set.
Trying to find a video of Chris is not hard to go with this, finding one that isn’t a recent video part is. Here are some random clips and a recent one just posted up on the Square One website.
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