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The latest BMX Videos, Products and News!
*click to make big!
As you can see by the flyer.. it has a few more sponsors!
Hell On Earth
S&M
UGP
For all the details on the contest click on the right under Contests
or Click right here
Van is probably on everyone’s favorite rider list at some point in time in every BMX riders time. I finally got a chance to do an interview with him and it turned out pretty much awesome. It is weird how some people you could ask a million questions and that wouldn’t be enough. So this is about as much as I could give him without well, over doing it. Enjoy!
Name:
Van Homan
Sponsors:
Fit Bike Co., Orchid Footwear, Duo, Little Devil and Two by Four
Years riding:
16
After all these years this would make interview number?
I have know idea. Couldn’t even guess.
Lets start out with two by four which was recently featured in Ride BMX. How is business going? Id imagine it is picking up due to the weather?
Yeah things are good over here. Its everything I dreamed it could be. No one is making a ton of money but its a great vibe and it holds its own. I love having it here for the kids. It also feels great to have the team backing this whole thing up. We have been busy working on a video that should be out by Aug. Hopefully Two by Four will continue to grow so that we can take care of the employees, the team and bmx as a whole even more as time goes on.
Did you start the shop so you could start to “settle down” a bit or is there no slowing down planned?
I guess in a way it was but its more of a future plan I guess. I really just didn’t like sitting back and just being a pro rider anymore. I wanted to be involved in another way.
Is there any big two by four news you can tell us about?
The Video in progress would be the biggest news. We have a couple other things in the works that should be announce/finished up before the end of the summer.
What are some things you would like to accomplish with the shop in the next few years?
Just make it grow. I’m sure we will have some sort of online store at some point but I hope to always keep a local feel to it. My goals are pretty modest. I would love for me and another employee to be able to support our selves from the store. I would also like to be able to continue to due trips and what not with the team. Continue doing local events, Video Premieres and so on.
With all the work it takes to run a shop, how much time are you getting in on your bike?
I still get to ride and travel plenty thanks to Dan Palumbo, Smurf, My Wife Samantha and my parents. I couldn’t do it with out you guys. Thanks.
Did you have much time to travel over the winter? Where all did you go?
I went to Dubai in December for the Dubai X-Games. That was a lot of fun. I thought my X-Games days were done. I never thought I would be getting a bronze metal at 28. Those street events are really cool. I hope they put it in the US X-Games. We went on a couple filming mission to the south. Garrett, Tocco, Randy and Myself just did a trip to Cali loosely based on riding pools. That was a lot of fun.
You have had the chance to ride so many place, where are are your favorite places you have been over the years?
Wow thats a hard one but I really like going down south. Raleigh NC, Tennessee, etc. Its just laid back down there.
Where are some places you haven’t been that you would like to go to?
South Africa would be cool. Any place is nice if your with the right people. Just anything or any place new is cool. At the same time staying home is really good too. I love leaving for a trip but I think I like getting back home even more.
What is it like to show up in a new place and have people recognize you?
It can be a little weird but bmx is cool. People only reconize you if they ride so its not like you get random weirdos just coming up to you and giving you a hard time.
Who is your usual riding crew? Any unknown guys you think people should look out for?
I have been riding with Randy Brown, Chase Dehart and Darryl Tocco a lot lately. I ride with a lot of the locals from around the shop. Everyone just ends up here and we go pedal around. If Cody Jennings keeps up the good work he could have a really interesting part in the new video so keep an eye out for that.
If you could only do one trick or ride one spot for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
If I could only do one trick I think I would quit. If I rode for 16 years and only learned one trick that would be pretty frustrating haha. If I only had one spot I think I would just ride my local street spots. That might wear on my bones as I got older though so I might have to pick a nice concrete park.
What is one trick that you cannot do for the life of you?
Nose Wheelies are really hard for me I need to buckle down and put the time in to learn them proper.
What do you think you would be doing if you never started riding?
Couldn’t really guess its been such a huge part of my life. Maybe music, art, skateboarding but who knows without riding I might not even be the same person.
Out of all your video parts over the years, what is your favorite one?
Criminal Mischief or Fitlife. I was really happy with how my props interview came out too. Hard to say.
If you could, would you change anything at all about any of your past video parts?
yeah but mostly small things. A wack clip here or there. I was happy with most of the major ones over all.
Outside of running the shop and riding, what are you into?
My Wife Samantha, My Dog Hazel, Poker, Yuengling, Snowboarding, Skating mico minis.
You have been married for a little while now, how’s that going?
Its great I love the family life. Its good to have some one to share your life with.
What are some of your favorite bands, any you suggest people to check out?
Screeching Weasels, Dead Milkmen, Ryan Adams.
What are some of your favorite websites?
I hate the internet. Its evil but you can’t help but be a part of it.
If you could spend the day with anybody, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
My wife Samantha
If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Pay off my house and live the same way I do now.
Who or what are the biggest influences on your life?
My Parents for sure.
What are some things you are excited about right now?
Getting to the end of this interview haha, Two by Four video
*note: Van said he was kidding, but honestly I think I had too many questions haha*
Who are you going to vote for on the coming election?
I don’t vote. I don’t pay enough attention to politics to make a valid choice. Maybe I should pay more attention but…I don’t so I don’t vote.
What is something you wish you had more of in your life?
Places to ride, Money, Time. I’m not complaining about any of the above but I wouldn’t complain if I had more of that stuff either.
What is something you wish you had less of in your life?
Flat Tires, Drama. I don’t have much drama because I do my best to avoid it but I sure hate when drama finds me.
What is one thing about yourself that nobody really knows?
My first bike was a Peregrine Performer until I traded it for a Mongoose.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Samantha, My Parents, Robo, Derek Adams, Steve Buddendeck, Cory Muth, Dan Palumbo, Smurf, The entire Two by Four team, Everyone that buys stuff to help support Two by Four and keep our doors open, all my friends and anyone who has helped me out in anyway. Sorry for anyone and everyone I forgot.
Plastic, plastic, plastic. KHE just sent out an email to introduce the newest BB they are working on… you may have seen the other BB out there by Eastern this one is a bit different. I’ll let Thomas explain since I am no engineer…. –iTod
We plan to offer the AFFIX® bush system for Mid BB, Spanish BB & Euro BB.
Here you can see pics of the new system assembled on a bike.
Bink is probably the most fun person to watch ride ever, I am shocked he isn’t getting much coverage to be honest. I don’t even feel this part fully does justice to what he is capable of doing haha. However he left Minnesota for Arizona so I never see him much anymore but I am sure he gets better and better all the time.. yes like the song.. Miss ya buddy! haha
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.
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.
haha the title is all you need to know. It has been a while since I have posted anything Zach Gerber but the kid is awesome, I don’t care what you think (actually.. comment it up on your views of Zach)
Brett Rohlfing posted this up.. and I guess it is actually a preview to the Albes road trip they did that will be up on go11 in a few days I guess.
There is a clip from Minnesota in here.
Chad was up visiting for QBP’s Frostbike and we went to 3rd Lair.. (bikes can’t touch the bowls) they said in the phone call that it wasn’t busy.. we got there and there was like 30 skaters and we were the only bikes… It was cool to crash a skater only session… -iTod.
PS. That wasn’t an Indian giver in the first few seconds. it was a opposite revert…
Kenny is a guy with a lot of riding history, he’s also the man behind Long Island Bikes new online mail order. So he knows his BMX. He is an interesting dude and this is the interview! There was a lot of help with this interview from Keith Romanowski, he has some photos in this one also.
Name:
Kenny Hirsch
Sponsors at all?
Long Island Bikes, Fit, and Carleton
Your one of the guys behind Long Island Bikes, What’s the story about the shop, hasn’t it been around like 10 years now?
Well Long Island Bikes has been around for 11 years. Dean and Julie are the owners. I’ve worked here for 7 years, they put me in charge of the mail-order. We are like family, I love them!!
You have been working with LIB since basically day one. Have you seen an increased size of the bmx scene on Long Island since the shop has opened?
Yea def.!! Everywhere I go see more & more shredders.
The shop recently added a online mail-order, when did you decide on that and how has it been going?
We always wanted to do it but when I broke my neck things went on pause for few years. I stayed positive and determined and I’m here doing it today(Im blessed). This is a golden opportunity for me. I never wanna leave the game.
What are some of the main brands you work with for the shop?
Fit #1 dealer on the east coast, S&M, Animal, Primo, FBM, Fox, Odyssey, Demolition, Kink, Duo, Shadow, Eastern, Profile and many many others!!
Do you have any plans to expand the shop now that your able to do business all over?
No, we already have a big shop its 3500 sq.ft. We just recently built a little warehouse for the extra mail-order stuff.
What do you think makes your shop different from any other?
To start, Dean dials your bike to perfection. Theres always a positive vibe here, all the locals come to just chill and to check out new products. L.I.B always has everything NEW!!!!
Who all is on the Long Island Bikes team?
Myself™, Russ Barone, Shawn Garrett, Justin Crofton, Rich Guidice, and we have a bunch of locals we hook up.
Photos: Keith Romanowski
A few years back you used to have a mini ramp in the back of the shop. Do you think you will ever re-build another ramp?
Probably not in the inside of the shop again because we have a lot of stock but outside we have ramps and dean’s building some new stuff this summer.
Besides making tee shirts, do you think LIB will ever start making parts?
No, we like to just have good relationships with our vendors and support them full throttle.
You guys also carry skate and mountain bike stuff, do you do much business on that side?
Yea! We would love more than anything to have a strictly BMX shop but on long island mountain biking, road biking, and skating are very popular as well , so we cover everyone!
What is the most important thing to you when it comes to business?
Making the customers happy and developing a relationship.
How long have you been riding for?
About 10 years
What was your first bmx bike?
Redline 340(purple) then L.I.B hooked me up with a kasten because Russ and I were in the racing scene hardcore.
What kind of riding do you typically do?
Park, street, and trails . Holla
Who are some of the people you typically ride with?
Russ, Shawn, Justin, Lil’Ricky
When did you know you wanted to have bikes be your life?
When I met Russ and all we ever wanted to do was RIDE.
Are there any riders you know that are unknown that you think people should know about?
Lil’ Ricky, Denny P., Matty long
What are some BMX/Skate videos that have come out recently your really into?
Fitlife, Summer of fit, Insight, and Thecomeup dvd
Who were your biggest riding influences growing up, and what about now?
Joe Rich, Taj, Robo, Darryl Nau,B.I., Keith T, Mike Aitken and now still those guys and Russ b, Chase hawk/dehart, and JJ.
Outside of work and bikes, what are you into?
Having a good time going out with my dudes, cars, and girls.haha
Do you find much time to travel, and where are some places you have been?
I try too. I’ve been all over the U.S. Canada and Vegas were awesome!!
Where are some places you would really like to visit some point in your life?
Australia, Barcelona and Italy
What is something interesting about yourself that nobody would really expect of you?
I’m always smiling!!!!! haha
If you never got involved in bikes and stuff, what do you think you would be doing for a career?
Hmm. I honestly don’t know.
Did you ever go to college for business or anything?
Yes, I still currently go
What are 5 things you cannot live without?
Celly, my bicycle, food, NewEra‘s, friends n family
Have you ever had an epiphany in your life that changed the way you acted?
My accident I guess. I take some many things for granted
If you had to sum yourself up in a few words, what would you say those words would be?
Cheesin’, positive, outgoing, goal orientated
What are some of your favorite non riding movies?
Dumb n Dumber, Wedding Crashers, Super bad. I’m a Comedy dude
What are some of the bands or music you are into, any unknown stuff you think people should check out?
Circa Survive, Brand New, Chiodos, Lil’ Weezy, Marley’s
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Peanut Butter because its amazing!
What are some of your favorite websites?
LIBbmx.com
Fitbikeco.com
The Come Up
Rascats.blogspot.com
Carl-eton.com
and myspace. haha
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Keep getting stronger, take this mailorder on another level, and live life.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Kurt for giving me this interview, Dean and Julie @ L.I.B, Robo@fit, Momma dukes, My sister and Nephew (lil mart), Russ, Poppy, Barone Family, Bivs, Reid, Dugan, Skinny, Anellos, Adam22, Jay Emer, Keith Romanowski, Shawn, Jeff S., Darryl N., Lil Ricky, Hooligans crew, Andrew@SAS and I’m sure im forgetting a bunch but you all know. thanks
Anything else I forgot you would like to add?
Be sure to peep libbmx.com THANKS!!