Dan Conway Interview

Photo: Ryan Chadwick

When we think about riders that have really blown up over the past year or so, there’s no denying that Dan Conway is one guy who has been on everyones radar as of late. Dan has been crushing it for years and it seems like he’s finally been given the opportunity to really show everyone just how good he really is now that he’s on the Fit Bike Co. Pro team and The Daily Grind! We have always wondered what this guy was all about and with him having some down time healing up from a shoulder injury, we figured it would be the perfect time to hit him with a bunch of questions! Let’s get to know this savage a little better!

Name: Dan Conway    

Photo: Ryan Scott

Location: Drexel Hill, PA

Sponsors: Fit Bike Co., Stinkpit, The Daily Grind

What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories come to mind?
I got in to BMX like any other kid, just riding around with friends, jumping off of shitty wooden ramp set ups and eventually learning how to grind and progressing to more street type of riding. Funny story, back when Van Homan rode for Airwalk, we were riding a local spot and he rode up with some filmers and a photographer to grind a rail. I posted up in the background intentionally just to hope the photo would run in a mag. Turns out it was a sequence for something that ran in the next issue of Ride! I think I was 15 at the time, haha!

Haha, that’s so good! How’s things been going? I’d imagine you have been itching to get back to riding after some down time, huh?
I’m good! I have been chilling since November, but I have been staying busy with doing Stinkpit shit, like coming up with new threads and finishing our 4th DVD! I am really excited about everything and there will be more news to come with all that soon! Other than that it has been great chilling with friends and my lady, Kim.

You tore your labrum in your shoulder, right? How did that happen and what does that mean from a medical perspective?”
Yeah, I went down on a switch hanger. It sucked because it was a nasty tear and I had to get it repaired orhthoscopicly. I have been at physical therapy for the past two months and I still have a little ways to go, but I am on the up and up. I should be back to riding soon. 

When can we expect to see you back to riding and crushing it like before?
Haha, thanks again for that! I hope to be back pedaling around by the end of March and hopefully 100% by the end of April.

Prior to going under the knife, you were added to the Fit Bike Co. Pro team. How did that opportunity all come about? I know you are one of those guys who put A LOT of work in over the years to earn that spot.
Thanks! Yeah, I got the bump to the pro team for Fit last year and it has been a hell of a year! It is really an honor to be on such a crazy team full of legends and fresh new shredders. I was filming a bunch prior to the “Holy Fit” DVD coming out and it just made sense for me to have a full part. I guess my hard work was getting the attention of the other guys on the team and other guys behind the scenes and they decided to make it official! I can’t thank Van Homan, Chris Moeller, Stew Johnson and Ben Ward enough for everything they have done for me.

Your signature Savage frame and bars have been available for a little bit now. What was it like to design your own frame and bars? What were some of the main features you wanted to make sure happen for them?
Yeah man, it’s nuts to have my own signature parts! I just wanted to have a little bit bigger products that catered to the bigger rider. Ben Ward really helped out with the design of the frame. I really never knew what dimensions did what on a frame. All I knew was I wanted a longer and taller frame, but I still wanted it to be a street frame. We also wanted to try the internal tensioners. It’s the only Fit frame with them at the moment and people seemed to be stoked! Half of the Fit team is running the Savage frame and they all are stoked on it, which in the end makes me even more stoked! Did I say I was stoked?! Haha.

I’d imagine it’s a little weird to see people out riding with frames, bars, grips and complete bikes with your name on it since it’s so new. Have you had any weird moments with some fans at all?
Nah, nothing too weird. That’s one of the reasons why we decided to call the line “Savage”. I didn’t want to blow out a frame or bar with a Conway sticker on it, haha. But, like I said, a lot of people have be giving positive feedback on all the Savage parts! I’m am truly thankful for the opportunity to have a signature line! Thanks again to everyone that swooped any grips, bars, frame or complete bike!

Do you have any big plans with Fit once you’re back to full-strength? Trips, videos or cool projects you want to get to work on at all?
Nah, nothing planned yet, but I’m defiantly gonna push to get shit going. The team just got a face lift and I am really stoked to go on some trips with those guys!

So, the other big news it that you have also joined The Daily Grind team! How did that opportunity all present itself? Was it a pretty easy decision for you or did Gremlin flex his guns and twist your bad arm behind your back?
Haha! Yeah, I joined The Daily Grind team! I’m stoked on it. I like that all the dudes are about riding and not Instagram followers. Along with being a pro for Fit, I still work a full-time job and so do most the guys on DG. I respect the weekend warriors and you can’t beat the sunday sessions! With the down time of being injured, I had time to think about where I want to be and what I want to do in BMX. After some conversation with Devon and Gremlin about The Daily Grind and what they have to offer, I decided it was a road I wanted to go down. The feeling of support and the never ending group text I get from these guys makes me feel right at home. The DG team is nuts, so many sick street riders that kill it and care more about the spot than throwing an extra bar in the middle of a basic ledge line. That’s the kind of riding I’m about and wish that more people would see it that way. Once this “Hard Times” DVD comes out, people will know.

I believe filming for “Hard Times” is getting close to wrapping up. Will you have any footage in that video or will there not enough time to stack some clips between the cold weather, healing up and everything?
Yeah, the deadline is coming close, but like I said, I hope to be cruising soon and hopefully I can sneak in a few clips. I’m not going to stress it though, whatever happens, happens. Plus, what DVD deadline ever gets met? Haha.

The Daily Grind crew tend to get out on the road a fair amount. Will you be hopping in on any trips or anything in the near future?
Yeah man, I really want to get out of Pennsylvania more this year. With most of the dudes on DG in Ohio, thats a perfect excuse for some short trips over to them and to host the crew and take them around my way… Or even meet up in the middle somewhere.

How’s things going with Stinkpit? When can we expect the new DVD? Are there some web videos or anything cool like that coming from the crew in the near future?
Stink Pit is going good! It’s awesome that Fit is in on it will helping out with our DVD, keeping the crew rolling, and doing collabs with my frame graphics and even a “Stink Fit” shirt. We still have been hustling on our own as well, though. We just finished the 4th DVD with full sections from the crew and some new faces as well. We have some major things in the works with premiering it and where it is going to be held. More details will be announced soon. Check Stinkpit.com for threads, videos and other jazz.

Stinkpit was definitely a good part of how you really got your name out there. Do you feel like you would be where you are today if you didn’t have that crew to help push you along with get your name and footage out there?
Without a crew you’re nobody. There is nothing more motivating than being out and about with your good ass friends. Whether that’s riding, bullshittin’, filming or partying, it’s all the same. We just filmed videos to keep each other stoked on riding. The goal was never to try to “make it” while we filmed. We did it to keep the crew videos alive. We all look out for each other and with the help of LFS and Chocolate Truck the east coast scene is amazing. I gotta thank Landman, Eric, Fran, Nick, Bunn, Ryan Scott and all the others dudes for making Stinkpit what it is. 

It’s pretty easy to say you busted your ass and earned everything you have today. What do you think about all these kids out there that think because they can throw a few bangers and have a bunch of followers on Instagram that they deserve to be pro?
Thanks man I appreciate that! Oh man… I think it’s crazy how kids who click-clack their pegs on foot tall ledges are making it to the same ranks as riders who send themselves down deadman shit! But that’s BMX now days. BMX is what you make it. I feel like a lot of people don’t understand that personality goes a long way, not how many Instagram followers you have. I understand more followers means more advertising and that’s important for brands now days, but I believe in being true to yourself and not faking the fluff just because of what’s popular now. Everything comes full circle it’s just a matter of time. I feel if you’re a good dude and you’re a pleasure to be around and willing to bust your ass when need be, good things will come. Don’t just sit back and expect thing to happen, make them happen with a positive attitude. If you’re in it for the right reasons, it will show.

Who were some of the riders that really influenced you growing up?
Growing up, I was really into videos like FBM “All Time Low” (Mike Tag and Vic Ayala’s parts), Animal “Can I Eat” (every section), S&M “Please Kill Me (Bob Scerbo, Wiz and Josh Stricker’s parts) and Little Devil’s “Criminal Mischief” (Van Homan, Jason Enns and Matt Berringer’s parts). Those videos and sections were and are still awesome to watch.

What about now? Who really motivates you to push yourself or just get psyched to watch?
Now days I’m stoked to see anything that is more based around crews. Stink Pit, LFS, Chocolate Truck, Act Like You Know for example. Just seeing a group of friends push each other is rad. There are some new wave riding I am into though. Dudes like Simone Barraco, Alex Kennedy and Ben Lewis. Those dudes kill it and have all the tricks. Locally Justin Care gets me fired up to ride because he can do all the new wave shit but doesn’t act like a clown. 

Photo: Ryan Scott

I’d imagine it’s kind a weird question, but what do you think you would be doing today if you never got into BMX?
Haha, my friend Fran and I talk about this all the time. I would probably be just a regular dude, married, kids, full-time landscaper that drink beers and just lives. I don’t diss that life… I just want to ride BMX out for as long as I possibly can.

There’s a real good crew in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania area in general. Where do you spend most of your time riding this time of year? Do you ever consider moving somewhere a little warmer when the winter months get long?
Yeah, as I said earlier, the scene here is sick. There are soo many good riders all around. On any nice weathered day you’re bound to run into someone in the city. I love it. I ride wherever; the local plaza, city street and my favorite is different suburb street missions. It would be cool to live somewhere warmer, but I have good ties here. I love my girl, friends and family. It would be tough to move to a new scene and start fresh, but that’s what trips are for!

You mentioned you still work full-time. What are you doing? What are some of the shittiest jobs you have had in the past?
Yea man, I’m still working a full-time gig. I work for a landscape company and my boss is a super chill and understanding guy. He knows where I’m at in BMX and understands I need to go on trips and such. I used to work for another company where my boss was a complete dick and always put up a fight when I needed time off for riding. It came down to me losing my job or going to Mexico on a Fit trip… I went to Mexico, haha.

I know a lot of guys consider what they would like to do “after BMX”. Any ideas of what you could see yourself doing down the road?
After BMX, I don’t know. I’d like a family and a house with some land to build a spot to “keep the dream alive”. Other than that, I just want to be happy and stable.

What kind of a music are you into? Have you been into any good shows lately?
Im am into metal, all types and classic rock. The babe and I go to shows on the regular. It’s our thing, haha. We have seen KISS, Motley Cru, Alice Cooper, Scorpions, Pentagram, Bad Company, Lynard Skynard, Black Sabbath, The Sword, Danzig, The Misfits and the list goes on. I seriously love live music.

I’d imagine you have spent a good amount of time cruising Netflix while healing up. What are the last 3 movies or shows you watched?
Netflix is the shit! We binge watch TV series. The last three things I’ve watched have been Waynes World 2, Terminator 2 and continuing the show Scandal.

What’s something about yourself that might surprise people? Anything else you’re really good at outside of BMX?
I’m pretty good at using machines and driving trucks and trailers. I drove the rig on the last Fit shop stops in Nor Cal, up and down all kinds of mountains. That shit was crazy!

I’d imagine a full day of being an absolute beast requires some pretty heavy nourishment. What’s the go-to meal for one Dan Conway?
Ask Stew Johnson, haha. He always gives me shit on how I eat, but hey, I’m a growing boy! Seriously, I eat anything. I try to be healthy but that whole vegan/juice lifestyle isn’t for me. I just try to keep it tame. …. but when I’m drunk? No. Holding. Back, haha.

Since the lottery is getting way up there again, let’s say you won… What would be the first thing you buy?
I’d get myself all paid up on bills. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Any goals or big things you hope to accomplish?
Five years… It would be nice to be in a house that we don’t pay rent for, married, still riding and filming and living comfortable.

How can people keep up with you these days?
I think I have all the social media outlets, but I only check instagram… Barley. Give me a shout! I always try to respond @danconway. Stink Pit has the insta as well @Stinkpit and usually one of us from the crew is running it. You can go to stinkpit.com and type in anything in the shout box as well.

Photo: Jack Elkins

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to Van Homan, Chris Moeller and all the guys at Fit! Ben Ward for helping me learn more about the tech side of BMX, all my dudes at Stink Pit, Gremlin and The Daily Grind squad! I can’t wait to get shit going with y’all! Every other crew out there doing their thing!

Anything else you want to say?
Thanks to The Union for wanting to hear me blab! Catch you on the flip side!