It has been a minute since we have caught up with our friend, Mike Vockenson, down in Australia! We had caught wind that he was working on a new signature frame with Tempered and had just built up a fresh bike to give it some proper testing. We figured between that, and all that time that has passed, it would be a good time to get a look at this bike and find out what’s new with the guy! Let’s take a look!
Name: Michael Vockenson
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Sponsors: Tempered, Shadow Conspiracy, LUX BMX Store, Lotek
Years Riding: 19
Frame: Tempered Prototype, ‘Untitled’.
Bars: Tempered Treason
Fork: Shadow
Stem: Tempered Cross Bones
Headset: Unsure
Cranks: Shadow
Pedals: Shadow
Sprocket: Tempered Anchor Down
Chain: Shadow half link
Seat / Post / Clamp: Shadow combo
Front Wheel / Tire: Shadow Simone Barraco, Primo hula hoop 48 spoke
Rear Wheel / Tire: Shadow Simone Barraco, Alex Triple wall 48 spoke
Pegs: Shadow
Hub Guards: G Sport
Brakes: None
Modifications: Jack the seat post up as high as it goes!
What’s the newest part on your bike?
Frame, just started running that badboy as well as a heap of Shadow parts
What’s the oldest?
Probably the wheels or bars, the 48s just don’t break!
What do you usually go through the fastest?
Grips, pedals and cranks it would seem as of late!
I see you’re running a prototype of your signature frame from Tempered. What’s the story with this frame? Care to drop us a few details and specs on it that you are going with?
We don’t want to give out too much info on the geometry and specs for this frame, as it’s only the first prototype, so there might be a few things we switch up over the coming months. Its important to Mat that I’m 100% psyched on this frame and it wouldn’t be released until I am. I can let you know that I’m riding a 21′ TT with a 75.5 Head Tube, 13.25′(centre to centre) Chain Stay and a BB height of 11.65″ (MID).
How has testing been going so far? How far out is the production version do you think?
Testing has been going good, I trust the Tempered frames as I have never had any issues the entire time I’ve been running one. I can only hope that this one will run the same.
Do you have anything else going on with Matty at Tempered? Trips, videos or anything like that?
Yeah man, we have been talking about doing another team trip recently, probably go to Sydney and ride with some of the dudes down there. It will be a treat to all get together again and spend some time hanging out and filming. Hopefully early 2014 we can get something like that happening. Other than that, and the subsequent edit, myself and Jerry Vandervalk are slowly working away at our own Tempered edits around filming for the 2020 DVD.
How are things going with The Shadow Conspiracy these days? Have you been working on anything with those guys? Trips,videos or anything?
Things are sick with those dudes. Being in Australia makes it hard to be an integral member of the team, which can sometimes have negative outcomes, however its different with Ron/Chadwick, they are both easy to talk to and seem stoked to have me involved so as long as that is the case, I am down. We have been discussing some kind of trip, whether it be me travelling to them or vice versa for a while now, kind of like a filming trip to get things done for the Shadow DVD. However that turns out I will be so excited, again, looking forward to something along those lines happening in early to mid 2014.
Any other sponsor news you can tell us about?
Sorry man, nothing juicy, you will have to talk to Irvine for that.
I know you have been filming a bunch for the new 2020 DVD, right? Care to talk a little bit about that project?
Things are slowly, but surely, reaching the end man. It’s a long time coming but it will be worth the wait. Troy just wants things to be perfect and I respect that, when you have already put 2 years into a project, might as well spend a few more months finalising it down to the last piece. These last few months it has really started to come together, all of the mix sections are done; it’s just down to 2 of the full sections. As far as my section goes, it is ‘done’, but as long as we are still filming, I want to get some other things done whilst the opportunity is still there. When the DVD is finished, I am afraid I won’t be able to find the same kind of motivation to do heavy shit.
It seems a lot harder to get things done in Australia, I mean, none of us ride for a living, we all have Monday to Friday jobs, leaving us with 2 days over the weekend to film. Compared to the Markit and Deadline dudes, it’s quite a shortened time span.
Anyway, we are always planning shit over the weekends so hopefully we can finish up shit soon, I heard Troy say that come the end of 2013, a premier date will be announced.
Not much travelling, most of this year has been focussed on finding, and now maintaining, my full time job. Once I have accrued some time off, I will be taking it for sure, so keen to take some more trips. Ultimately, that is all I want out of BMX, to go on road-trips, find new spots and have fun. Other than that, just getting super stoked on the upcoming 2020 DVD premiere, heaps of people I’ve spoken to across Aus are trying to come over for it so it should be a sick weekend where everyone can catch up, party and ride.
You have been working a real job for a little while now, right? Care to talk about what you’re doing when you aren’t riding these days?
Yeah, as I mentioned, I found full time work in July this year as a result of my university studies which I finished in November last year. Took me 6 months to find a job, but it couldn’t be any more perfect. I was definitely expecting to have to move around the country for the job, now I get to stay here in Brisbane, where the scene is the best by far.
How has that all been going for you? What are some of the crazier projects you have worked on?
Yeah it’s rad! Things are pretty slow in terms of most industries in Australia at the moment, but as a smaller and specialized consultancy, we have a particular niche that is continually building. Since I have started, we have employed another 5 full time staff so that is a good indicator of things to come.
Nothing too crazy haha, I guess most of the work I do is for fuel related developments such as pipelines, fuel tanks and service stations. I’m working on a bitumen pipeline connecting a future terminal facility to the Port of Brisbane at the moment, not really crazy but it’s interesting to me.
What have you been getting into when you aren’t working on riding these days? Any new hobbies or anything?
When I’m not working, all I’m thinking about/doing is riding BMX. The 5 day working week to 2 day weekend ratio is fucked. Other than that, I spend a bunch of time with my girl and my mates hanging out at a new place I just moved into, finally left the nest of the parents and found shelter with a few good mates who ride also. Makes things interesting!
How can people keep up with you these days? Are you on Instagram, Twitter and what not?
If you really feel the need to follow me, I’m on Instagram – @mikevockenson, otherwise holla at CrispyStream.com to see what’s really going on.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Always. Matt at Tempered, Yags, Chris Harrison, Ron Bonner and Chadwick at Triple 6, Sparkys and Shadow, Mitch and Evan at LUX, Rich at Lotek. Thanks to all those guys for helping me out with support for BMX, appreciated. Otherwise, thanks to all my rad mates, my housemates, my girlfriend, parents and anyone who loves BMX!
Anything else you want to say?
Chur.
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