BMX UNION

When Paul Aya hit me up telling me I needed to interview Mike, without much thought I said yes. I think it’s because Paul is the man, and knows what’s up. I honestly knew nothing of Mike, but now I do. The kid can ride a bike and seems to be pretty cool. This is what he had to say. Check it out, leave some comments, and enjoy.

Photo: Jimmy

Name:
Mike Arnold

Location:
Sunland, CA

Sponsors:
n/a

Years Riding:
6

Photo: Jimmy

What was it that first got you into BMX?
My dad got me a bike at the age of 4. We had jumps across the street from my house and it just went on from there. Until about 6 years ago I got really into it.

I won’t lie, I have never heard of you before Paul Aya suggested this to me. It sounds like you are finally starting to get noticed though. Aren’t you doing some stuff with BMX plus this issue?
Yes, I am doing a bike test on the new Stolen Cheater F/S Complete and an On The Move 5. The 5 is five tricks on one rail.

Have you been filming or taking photos much lately?
Everyday, I just got a Nikon D80 and my friend Jimmy who used to be a photographer loves taking photos of me. Filming wise, we don’t have a filming camera but when we can get our hands on one we fill up the tapes.

Photo: Jimmy

Where are you usually found riding? I heard you are pretty much able to ride anything?
You can find me anywhere in Los Angeles County, I know the spots. I ride mostly street, but skateparks are fine with me. I grew up riding trails so that’s just a given.

Who is your usual riding crew? Any other unheard of guys who are killing it?
Paul Aya for sure. I don’t go anywhere without that guy. Christian Moreno, I’ve been riding with him since day one. Jimmy Gentry, he’s the photo guy. Tim, he’s the local park homie.

Photo: Chris Luton

Have you had the chance to travel much? Any big trips planned for 09′ yet?
I’ve been up to Oregon a few times. Portland street isn’t anything like LA street, but it’s still amazing. I go to Vegas for Interbike, riding the strip is always an adventure. It’s something different every time. As for trips planned, I’m trying to get to NY because every street rider wants to ride there.

If you could go on a trip with 2 of your friends, 3 pros, and 1 filmer/photographer. Who would you pick, where would you go, and why?
My two friends would be Paul and Jimmy because they always have a positive vibe and smiles on their faces. The pros would be Dave Thomson, I love his style. Seth Kimbrough, I’ve ridden with him once a while back and it was amazing, he is such a cool guy (n/h). And Jim Cielencki, he’s real creative and an all around cool guy.

When it comes to riding, who or what are the biggest influences on your riding?
My friends and fresh spots.

Photo: Chris Luton

If you could only ride one spot for the rest of your days. What would your dream set up or place be?
The Santa Ana banks, it’s got everything from rails to wallrides. I can ride that spot forever and never get bored.

Do you ever ride contests much? How do you feel about the bigger Dew Tour and X Games contests?
I’ve ridden 2 contests and I don’t know what I placed, but I did make it to the finals. The big contests are cool because you get to see all the heavy hitters come out and make me not want to ride anymore. Haha.

What was your first real trick you learned, and what is the last trick you have learned?
First real trick was a one-footed x-up. The last trick was a back flip.

Photo: Chris Luton

What is it about BMX that keeps you so into it?
BMX brings the best out of me. Nothing can beat that.

If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change if anything?
ALL THOSE HATERS. People who dick ride people. All the people who follow trends. People who can’t ride a bike and talk crap need to get out of the game.

What are some things you would like to accomplish riding wise in the next year or two?
Get my name out there and make it. Have a video part in shook or something like that.

If you could be sponsored by one BMX company, and one NON-BMX company. What would your picks be and why?
Sunday! Bikes because they have a great team and parts, Iʼd be sponsored by chipotle…gotta love them burritos man

Photo: Chris Luton

Outside of BMX, what are you usually up to?
Hangin out with my lady. Chillen with my friends and shooting photos..

Do you work or go to school at all?
Yea I work at a grocery store freezer. I try to go to school, but riding gets in the way. Haha.

Do you party much? What usually makes for a good night for you?
Occasional parties here and there. Not a big fan, but they are fun. Usually at the parties I wind up at something always goes down bad or good.

Photo: Jimmy

About how many girls have you slayed?
Oh you know haha ive had my fair share. Too many diseases around now. I donʼt want my dick falling off anytime soon

You are offered a job to do porn for a career. Do you take it? Why or why not?
Dude heck ya I would. Getting paid to beat all day. Thatʼs where its at. They would call me the RAMROD

If you could see any band right now live, who would you pick and why?
Good question, I’m always finding new bands. As of now I would probably go see Sea of Treachery, they’re really brutal.

Photo: Jimmy

You are surrounded by some thugs trying to take you down. What do you do?
Hold my own and jack em’ up. I’d give em’ a fight.

What is your craziest experience of your life and why?
We have these huge street jams in San Fernando and it just so happens the last one we had started off with a bang. We were going to the first spot and the cops showed up tellin us not to move.. These kids decided to take off and the whole group saw them take off so naturally we all ran too. Cops started mobilizin’ and cut off one group of kids, since no one had brakes they slammed right into the cop car and flipped over the car. It was funny and messed up at the same time. I was gone!

If you could relive any day in your life, what would you choose and why?
The time I broke my hip, I wouldnʼt have tried to nose manual this weird spine/box thing

Photo: Jimmy

What are some things you would like to accomplish in your life?
Finish school. Lol.

If the whole BMX thing doesn’t play out, what is a dream job you would have?
Satellite Networking for jet propulsion labs.

Have you ever been arrested or spent time in jail? Why or why not?
Yes. Wrong place at the wrong time.

Photo: Chris Luton

Any favorite websites?
BMX Union, Thecomeupbmx, Google, BMXonline.

You inherit one million dollars, What do you do with it?
Buy some land; build my house and a street style park.

If you could live like anyone in the entire world for one day. Who would you pick and why?
I’d be Bill Gates and spend all his paper.

How do you feel about Obama being president?
I don’t follow politics, it’s too confusing. What’s the difference between a republican and a democrat?

If you could change anything about the world, what would you change and why?
I would make daytime television more enjoyable.

Photo: Jimmy

What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Just get it done.”

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
To the homie Paul for always bein there to ride. My girlfriend Francesca for supporting me. My parents and my lil bro Nick. Chris Brown for pushing me all the time, The homie Georgio at Top Shelf Clothing, and anyone Iʼve ever ridden with

Anything else you would like to say?
That’s 2 Paul! Hahahahaha.

Click Here to check out part 1 if you missed it!

If you were into what the guys in the first round had to say, then check this out. It is round two with Jon from Eastern and Ted from Seshin. Two companies from different countries, product volumes, and styles of doing business. Check it out.

Name: What company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware:
Jon Byers, I own Eastern Bikes with my buddy, Mike.

Name and what company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware:
Ted from Seshin bike company. We are a small bmx company, founded in 2001 in Halifax NS Canada.

Seshin ShitHawk V.2

The lead testing law place in the United States that is coming into effect in about a month will really change the industry. Could you explain what this law is doing in easier to understand words?
I know I have seen about 20 articles and it’s hard to get a full understanding of this from those.
This is basically trying to protect kids under 12 from getting lead poisoning. It is difficult for the industry to have a full understanding, as the regulations seem to be changing on a regular basis.

In a nutshell, this new law lumps BMX in the kids market in the USA. Basically BMX and 24 inch bikes will have to clear some testing and certification in order to be sold in the USA as of Feb 10th 2009.

How will this affect you depending on where you are located?
Since we sell product in the USA, we are required to comply and so our manufacturers and we are having products tested.

This affects us in a big way. As we are a small brand, rising costs are not good for our bottom line.

When you first heard about this new law, what was your first though of the whole situation?
If a kid is chewing on a BMX pedal it’s more likely to get sick from dog shit or other germs than lead or phthalates. Besides, any kid over 3 or 4 gnawing on his bike has other problems… We’ve become a nation of sissies.

Eastern Deceptikon Stem

Is this a freaking joke? Since when is my bike a kids toy?????

If you could give us a rough estimate on how this testing will effect you on lets say, a shipment of frames? Or How about something a little smaller like handle bars?
We are required to have documentation stating those products are in compliance with the law.

From what Taiwan is telling us now, the cost should only be a few thousands dollars per year. I can’t give a breakdown right now, I’m still waiting on some pricing from Taiwan to come back via e-mail.

There has been a lot of talk of smaller brands going under from this, do you feel like that will actually happen or is the “gossip” getting to be a little overboard?
No, that’s way overboard.

I don’t think so, BMX is a hard place to make money these days. Competition is huge these days, and costs are rising all over the place.
From 2006-2007 I saw my shipping costs rise about 20%. I think this new law is just another hit, along with dollar shifting, higher shipping charges and higher material costs being even bigger issues. Non the less, it’s going to do nothing to make BMX better, or safer.

Seshin Chilko Bars

How will this affect your team, travel budgets, advertising, and extra things like helping people out with prizes for contests?
It won’t affect our spending in these areas.

Money is always tight, so nothing should change.

Do you feel like companies will start to make better quality products because of this, or will there start to be a decrease in quality due to less money?
No, I think most smaller BMX companies already want to make good products.

I don’t think the market will be pumped on Hi-ten frames! The costs must jump, as much as I hate to say it.

Will you be changing who makes your products overseas? Or if you are a U.S.A made brand changing the materials you work with?
No, we will continue to work with the same companies. If they can’t comply then we will work with them so they are in compliance. The USA is the biggest market and it is in their best interest to make sure their products meet the new standards.

I should be sticking with they same manufacturers, they are can provide all certification I need, that’s all I’m worried about, getting the testing done in a a decent amount of time. We will continue using our snakebite heat treated 4130 tubing on all frames and bars.

Will your brand have to bump up prices to cover the costs?
Probably not.

Yes, I don’t think many companies that can suck up the extra cost, maybe some huge brands, but certainly not the smaller ones.

Since the law only applies to the United States (as far as I am aware), does this mean you will be focusing on the rest of the world a little more to keep sales up?
No, we will continue to focus on all of our customers. Even Imre in Hungary.

Eastern Grim Reaper

As of Feb 9th 2009 we will not be selling to the USA until we are certified.

Do you feel that as time goes on, and companies are repetitively coming through with clean products the government will begin giving price breaks or even allowing them to skip the testing all together?
I don’t think the government knows what to do as evidenced by these new standards.

I don’t see that happening. Money talks.

Do you have any other words you would like to say about this “crisis”?
Yeah, people are already dying in the streets with the bad economy… just look out the window. This is not a crisis. Just get your shit tested, do your best to comply with the arriving changes in law and get the fuck on.

Kids! Stop using your bmx fork to eat your dinner. This could result in death, which is really why this law is in place. BMXers eating brake pad sandwiches, and using seat posts as straws. Grow up, stop eating your parts, BMX will be better for it.

Taj is a kickass dude in so many ways. I am stoked to start my 2009 interviews off with him. I had wanted to interview him for the longest time and didn’t really know how to approach it. In reality, I probably should have hit up Sandy but didn’t think of that until writing this. I dropped Taj a comment on his Blog over on Ride BMX and he got back to me. I was way excited about this and I ended up asking about a million questions. Please enjoy and leave him some love in the comments!

Borrowed this photo from Taj’s blog

Name:
Taj Lucas Mihelich

Location:
Austin, Texas

Sponsors:
Giant, Odyssey, Bicycle Union, Fender Musical Instruments

Years riding:
Riding? 32!

I’m sure this has been asked hundreds of times… but what was it that made you pick up a bike and keep going?
Escapism maybe? It was a good way to get out on my own and explore. Hanging out with friend and jumping stuff helped a lot too.

You have had a pretty productive year with Giant. What does 09′ have in stock? Any big trips, filming projects, or cool stuff like that in the works? How long till people will be able to pick up your frame or was that a small run just for you?
I think 09 should be really fun. Basically if a company pays you to ride for them your job is to promote that company and help them sell their product. That can be directly with big logos on you while on TV, or as indirectly as doing something cool using your sponsors equipment. Clearly I’m not going to be an X-games gold medalist for them, so I’m trying to think creatively about ways that a sponsorship can work. With Giant in 09 I am going to try some new ideas on how to maintain my end of the sponsorship bargain and they are giving me free reign to try it out. I want to do a lot of fun little projects that are things I’ve always wanted to do, and will also (sometimes in a roundabout way) promote Giant as well.

As for my frame, I am just riding a ever so slightly modified Method Team frame (just a .5 degree slower steering) and I don’t think it would be worth doing a run of frames for such a small difference. I think if I had a unique idea and something really different to do, they would do it for me, but I actually really like the frame as is. I did design some new graphics for a bike that I will get to ride.

Anything cool going on with the rest of your sponsors? I know you have had a few changes to the list recently. Also, do you have any new sponsors that you can tell us about?
Basically the Etnies things ended this year, and Giant is trying to step it up to better support me. Odyssey is staying constant and no new sponsors.

Even though you are no longer the owner of Terrible One, I would imagine you have a little insight on this whole 3rd party testing the industry has to do now. Can you share what your thoughts on it are?
Well, I’ve heard enough to know kind of whats going on, but to be entirely honest with leaving T-1 I am trying really hard to stay as uninvolved with the business side of BMX as possible. It all sounds like a mess, I imagine that eventually everyone will find some kind of loop hole around it, or maybe not. Either way, bikes are bikes and we’re all going to keep riding them. If prices go up for all bikes it might actually help cheaper BMX type bikes (even if they aren’t as cheap as they used to be).

You make it pretty obvious that you don’t like to stay in one place for too long. Where are some of your favorite places you have been able to visit and travel to?
You’d be surprised… I think you might have me mixed up with Joe. He’s the one who can’t sit still too long and is more into traveling. I’m pretty content at home most of the time, and not traveling anywhere near as much as I used to. I also haven’t been to any of the crazy and exotic places that Joe has been to. Anyway, last year I got to go to Whistler Mountain north of Vancouver and that was really beautiful and amazing. If I could live there I would in a heart beat. I’ve been feeling a little anxious about leaving Austin lately, but I’ve been living here for most of the last 15 years and a change might be due.
Yeah, I think the blog about you wanting to maybe move gave me that idea…

So… If you did move from Texas for a little while. Where would you go if you couldn’t live where you live now?
I can’t figure that out. Here’s what I want… seasons with snow some part of the year, trees and not too big of a city, music scene, and an indoor skatepark or at least an empty warehouse for me to build ramps. I can’t find anywhere like that on the map. I have been thinking a lot about moving to some small town and finding a cheap warehouse and trying to start something like that.

Where are some places you have yet to ride your bike, but would like to?
I’d like to do a big cross continental tour with a road bike and camping. I think that would be amazing, but the time and commitment involved always seems to make it impossible for me. On BMX I mostly would like to travel around to ride a lot of wood parks and dirt jumps (as those are my favorite).

Your video part in Electronical was one of the most unique video parts ever, do you have any ideas of how you will be able to out do that one next time?
My part in Electronical was cool in that we got to go and work in that crazy abandoned school. I kind of wish I had a couple months and a lot more wood in there though and it could have been even crazier. Imagine covering every inch of that place in some wild race track/ street course that took you through all its levels and rooms! For filming video parts its fun to try and come up with a concept that can make it more interesting then just whatever the hip tricks of the month are.

Living in one of the biggest scenes in the country, I would imagine you see your share of really talented riders. Are there any up and comers you think people will be seeing a lot of soon?
Austin has always been strange in that there has always been amazing riders here that a lot of people have never heard of. Its a good thing because its the attitude here… just ride and enjoy it, you don’t have to make a lot of noise about it. With that said there is a lot of amazing talent here that I think could be as good as anyone you’ve ever seen, but if they will take the steps out of Austin and do it waits to be seen.

You have seen everything from wearing leathers, to tripple wall rims, to tighter than tight skinny jeans and big bars. What are some trends you wish would have stuck around?
With all the recent injuries I kind of wish full face MX helmets had stuck around, but it’s so hard to go back to them for me now. There was a time when I was as comfortable wearing one of those as I am now in a skate helmet, and lets face it, skate helmets don’t really do very much at all. As far as fashion goes, it all comes and goes, I’m not too worried about any of it.

I think I have personally seen one other person besides you do a handle bar grind, do you wish more people would do that trick or is it something unique to yourself?
Its just a Luc-e grind and it just happens that on fast coping ramps like T-1’s ramp they work awesome if you drop your front wheel all the way down till your handlebars hit. When I had gyro tabs on my bike I used to be able to hook the coping on the gryo tab and that felt super cool. Its a really fun trick, I highly recommend it to everyone. And, hell, its named for Luc-e, one of the great creative riders. Everytime you do one its like sending off a salute to in honor of John Luc-e Englebert.

How do you feel about BMX becoming as big as it is? Do you find it weird that it is all over TV and everything?
Its seemed natural to me as I’ve seen it happen relatively slowly, and its still not anywhere near as big as I think it should or could be. I hope it keeps growing. Um, but usually anything BMX related I see on TV makes me cringe and turn the channel.

About how many times have you been stopped, arrested, or fined because you were on a BMX?
I’ve never been arrested because of BMX, but I’ve been stopped a lot of times and fined only a handful of times. It always pisses me off so much… I can’t stand getting hassled for riding my bike.

Your blog over on Ride BMX has been amazing, do you plan out what you are going to write about or just wing it usually?
Thanks! I just wing it. I had a blog over at Etnies and it was much harder for me to come up with content for because any post I made became the news of the day. And if I felt like writing about some things, like my new dog or something, then it just didn’t seem appropriate to post. With my Ride blog I feel really comfortable writing anything I want because you actually have to click on me to get to it. I’m not cramming anything down anyones throat, they have to reach out to get to it. So anyway, its fun… I’m starting to see it as a whole new form of media. More then just an online journal, kind of like a zine that is a hell of a lot easier to make. I do really want to get my act together and make a actual paper zine soon, but I’d probably post that on there too.

Did you imagine your blog would become as popular as it has been?
I have no idea how popular it might be. Its just fun for me to do and makes me laugh. I like hearing that people read it, and its a place where my friends and even mom can keep tabs on what I’m up to.

You had hit your head quite a few times I would imagine. I heard you have some crazy memory issues sometimes. Care to talk about that at all?
Yeah, I’ve had a number of concussions. More when I rode vert, but of course it does happen sometimes. I have had some memory issues as well. One seemingly minor bump at the Download Festival in England a few years ago really erased a lot of stuff. Its crazy when people tell you things that happened and you can’t remember them. Sometimes what they are telling me sounds so crazy, but somehow I can tell they are not lying. No matter how hard I try I can’t actually refresh the memories they are talking about.

If you couldn’t be a pro, own a bike company, or play music for a living. What do you think you would want to do?
God, I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that a lot because those days aren’t too far away. I’m just kind of hoping something jumps out at me. I like building stuff out of wood, working on houses, working on bikes, hanging out with dogs and eating. Maybe a dog food critic who also builds the dog a house?

Did you ever go to college at all? How do you feel about the pressure people are put under to go these days?
I went for one year to Eastern Michigan University for fine arts. I just really had a basic studies that was the same as highschool. I don’t know, I like to learn so school seems cool to me. It seems like the people who get the most out of school are the ones who already have a direction for things they want to learn and are there because they want to be, not the ones who are pressured to be there.

When will people be able to see some of your new art? Have you ever considered making a clothing company with your designs on them? I personally feel like they would sell.
Thanks! The problem is I don’t really do much art. I scribble little doodles for the blog occasionally, but I could go months without drawing anything sometimes. I’m just often not that motivated to draw or do art and I’ve never felt like I was doing anything important enough to worry about being slack. I have thought about doing some shirts lately though… maybe just some one offs for fun.

Borrowed these photo’s off of Taj’s blog!

What are some bands you would suggest people to check out that people really haven’t heard of?
I don’t have any idea what people have heard of but here’s some I’m into for various reasons: 31Knots, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, The Kinks, Jape, Redneck Manifesto, Modern Lovers, Beirut.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
I hope to find a new direction I can apply myself to the way I have with BMX… but not just now… still riding BMX!

How old is Roscoe now days?
He’s 9 and doing good. I just got a new dog over christmas and Roscoe is showing him the ropes and exhausting himself trying to keep up with all that puppy energy.

Borrowed this photo off of Taj’s blog

How do you feel about Obama being president?
Indifferent? I like that people of my generation feel united by him, but it worries me that he might have the effect of polarizing the country into hating him or loving him. I don’t have a lot of faith in the idea of saving the US system of government, but I hold a little candle that maybe he could make some progress and I really do believe things need to change radically.

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
Yeah, a fair bit. I think I just cruise through the usual BMX sites (RideBMX, FatBMX, VitalBMX, DigBMX, sprfls.blogspot.com”, Odyssey). Then I check Sandycarson.com and Slashdot.org. Thats about it really unless those sites lead me somewhere else.

You recently got a new car, hows that going for you? And if you could own any car at all what would you want?
I love it. I got a Mazda 3 hatchback. It doesn’t feel like it is the best built car, but its a little quick manual transmission and it is fun to drive. A dream car is hard because then I start stressing about fuel economy and stuff even if this hypothetical question invovles someone giving me the car. I think that would rule out super cars and stuff. That Nissan GTR looks pretty cool though, I don’t know… gotta be a hatch back for bikes and have a back seat for dogs.

Who or what are some of the biggest influences on your life?
I always say Mat Hoffman but he was for sure. From him being the focus of the first BMX video I ever saw in Head First and opening my eyes to the unlimted possibilites of bikes, to actually meeting him and working with him and riding with him. He’s been through an seen a lot and helped me to learn a lot.

If you could change anything about the world what would you change and why?
Cars would vanish overnight in exchange for sweet public transportation going everywhere and bikes lanes down every road. Guns would disappear too and all desire to use them.

In some previous interviews you had mentioned a big reason for going over to Giant was because you are able to travel more and live a little better. I’ve seen some people say the words “Sell Out” from going from your own core company to a big corporate company. Care to explain yourself on that?
Hmmm… well it certainly is a vast departure from where I was before so I understand people thinking that. I can say that it was not really enough money to be selling out for, but I suppose that’s not really the point. Getting older and riding more kinds of bikes it kept striking me that I liked all this different riding. For years and years I only rode BMX and all of a sudden I was buying a road bike, buying a mountain bike, buying a track bike, ect. There was a time back in 96 or so while I was on Hoffman that i heard a rumor that they were going to make mountain bikes. I remember being so upset and I was going to quit the team if it was true! I’m ashamed of that close mindedness now and I see moving over to Giant as a natural progression of opening up my mind about bikes (and maybe even life).

On the other hand, and this I agree is a very big hand, Giant is not a core BMX brand and do not have a big history in core BMX or whatever. I felt like it was time in my riding career that I could make a decision based on following what I enjoyed doing and not as a political stand. What do you do when you are an older BMX pro is a question I kept asking myself? I’m not going to train in the foam pit to try and win Dew Tours. I could beat myself up trying to keep up with the lastest fads in riding style, but that never seemed like fun. I could just walk away entirely but I didn’t want to do that because I still love riding so much. So how do you handle it? The best way I could come up with to stay true to myself was to follow what I was loving doing, and that was riding bikes. I focused on that and that’s sort of how I see Giant. To me they don’t really have any image or attitude. They just make bikes. Very simple… just bikes for bike riders. No BS.

When Giant offered to support me to ride anything, it seemed ideal. In all honesty, I hope that through riding for Giant I will help to break down the segregated isolationism that BMX has from the cycling world. Like it or not, BMX is cycling. Its sold through bicycle shops and takes place on bikes! When you see all the kids doing BMX tricks on mountain bikes why do we see it as some alien thing? Its exactly the same. A smile earned cruising down the street on a beach cruiser is the same as a smile from jumping a double on a BMX. Anyway, I really hope to break some of that down. Get some BMXers to open their minds, and also get some bicycle shops to realize that BMX is just cycling too, and that they can carry the products. Too many shops won’t even carry BMX because they don’t understand the lifestyle side of it, but a bike is just a bike in the end. I’m not saying I want to get BMXers to start riding mountain bikes instead… god no! Don’t stop the BMX. BMX is the purest and most amazing thing to me. However, through BMX we have all developed amazing bike skills that make every other form of cycling easier. Trust me, a pro road cyclist can’t show up and jump a 30 foot double, but a pro BMXer can show up and ride a gnarly MTB downhill. There’s so many fun things to do on bikes! I think its back to the idea that bikes are just a tool. Having different tools for different terrain makes it so you can ride BMX literally anywhere… does that make sense? Holy shit… I’ve gotten way off subject.

Back to Giant… I feel like BMX is a long way away from the dire state it was in in the early 90’s and supporting rider owned companies was so important to me because they were the only companies making decent bikes. Now days most BMX bikes are more or less the same, and Giant probably makes half of them anyway. Also, having been in the “industry” for a while I’m sort of disillusioned by the idea of rider owned companies. BMXers can suck just as much as anyone else. I think there was a moment when I was intimidated by what people would think of me if I rode for Giant even though I wanted to, and that made me that much more determined to do it. You have to stay true to yourself even if doing so sometimes means you progress in a direction you never thought you would. In fact, I think thats even harder, and that challenge was enticing to me.

Could I just have said, I like bikes, Giant makes lots of cool bikes?

Photo/Ad Credit: Sandy Carson!

I know Giant doesn’t expect you to compete or to change much of what your doing. Do you have any plan to hit up a few contests in 2009?
Its really just up to me. If something looks fun I’ll go check it out. I always love the Empire of Dirt and the BMX Masters over in Germany. But who knows…

When you and Joe originally started Terrible One, what were some of the biggest problems you guys ran into? Do you feel like in 2009 companies have the same issues?
Joe’s and my biggest problem with T-1 was just that we wanted to ride bikes more then we wanted to make sales calls or do accounting. Also, we ran the company the way we rode bikes. Half the time we just closed our eyes and went for it and hoped it worked! We had a lot of determination and passion about it all so it did work out in some amazing ways, just not exactly as a healthy functioning business. Joe is trying to get more of handle on that now I think, and hopefully it will be easier for him without “two cooks in the kitchen”.

I think any new company would have a lot of the same problems that we had, especially if it was started by riders. Manufacturing overseas might be easier now, but I don’t know if thats really easier then we had dealing with US manufacturers.

How do you feel about people who say “all frames are basically the same now days, just maybe a steeper head tube or a lower top tube”? Do you feel the same way or is it more than just that to you?
I agree that most bikes are the same these days. I’m all for it too. It would be really cool to me if everyone just agreed that this is a BMX frame and never changed another thing. I think that a BMX bike is just a tool for riding. Its cool that everyone had the same tool but finds different ways to use it. I also like how simple and basic it is. With less gadgets and and technology going it keeps the bikes more affordable and more about riding (compared to a $5000 road or mountain bike frame).

Of course, I love the tech side of bikes and seeing what is possible, but I don’t think there is as much of a place for that in BMX. Keeping BMX bikes cheap and affordable to the kids who will ride them is essential.

If for some weird completely messed up reason things with Giant fell through. Would you go back to working with Joe on Terrible One or is there other ideas going through your head?
I wouldn’t work at T-1 again. I’ve closed that door and don’t want to second guess that. If things with Giant fall through I’d probably just start school and be a dishwasher somewhere. I do have some ideas floating around, but I think I need to learn a few basics in school (or somewhere) before I dive into them.

After all this lead testing situation settles in, and companies are paying the price. Do you feel like quality of products might start to slip or improve with companies?
I don’t really think in the end it will make any difference. There may be a scramble of some people looking for cheaper manufacturing sources which could be an issue, but a lot of BMX companies have a certain amount of quality I believe they will do their best to maintain.

You are recording some new music these days. Are you working with your band The Snake Trap? Solo? or what? When and where will people be able to pick some of your music up?
We just finished in the studio and that was cool. I think we will have the records in february. This recording is going on an actual LP record so you’d need a record player to enjoy it. I’m trying to talk the band into releasing the tracks online for free. In any case, I guess just keep an eye on our myspace. myspace.com/thesnaketrap

Will you be touring at all performing your music at all?
We play around Austin and I think we will play at least a small tour sometime over this summer. Its kind of funny, I’m the stick in the mud for touring… done so much of it with BMX its hard to want to do it with the band… plus, there’s no Povah to pay for the food and hotel rooms!

If you could play for any band to ever exist. What would you pick to play for and why?
Wow! As I get a bit more controlled on bass I keep finding that a lot of the riffs that I make up are really close to Fugazi bass lines. I think that listening to them so much as a kid subconciously engrained the bass playing style in my head. I guess if I could play with anyone though it’d be pretty cool to play in The Who just because Entwistle was such a smooth and cool bass player, and such a character. It would be amazing to see what being in a stadium band was like. To be honest though, I am completely content keeping music in the hobby category. I’ve had a good run of tunring something I love into a career without souring it, and have no interest in pressing my luck again.

What kind of advice do you have for people just getting into BMX, or looking to start their own company?
Just starting BMX I always say to just have fun. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to anyone else. If its fun, then enjoy it. Fun’s fun right? Just starting a company? Plan out what happens in any scenario you can forsee. What happens if everything fails or you get 1000 bikes that are all built upside down. On the flip side, what happens if you get an order from Dan’s Comp for 20,000 units… be ready for as much as you can and start from the beginning on planning how you can hire someone else to do the work you don’t want to do in a way that you will be happy with. You don’t want to loose your vision of your company in the daily grind of work.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to BMX everywhere and everyone!

Click here for part 2 after you check part one out.

It seems like every forum you look at lately there is something about this new lead testing law. The discussion is always lead by kids who probably don’t work in the industry, and are probably mis-informed in one way or another. I also was reading about 10 articles about this whole deal, I really didn’t find many answers towards what I personally wanted to know. So, I went and power bombed out a mass email to a bunch of the companies with the same questions, and this is their responses. I hope this makes a little more sense to you now. All I know is before this I thought the Apocalypse was coming. I don’t even know how to spell Apocalypse either!

There was a real good response from the companies too so here are the guys who responded so far! There will be a second round of these as I continue to keep receiving responses.

Name:
Alan Foster
What company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware:
Brand Manager for Felt BMX, I hope you know about us already. www.feltbmx.com

Name:
Zach Taylor
What company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware: Alienation; We are a U.S. based design house for bicycle parts established in 2006 with a emphasis on grips, hubs, rims, seats & tires and other products under development. AlienationBMX.com

Name:
Gaz Sanders
What company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware:
Mutiny Bikes. We are based in Austin, Texas and have been around for 10 years. Joe Simon and I are the sole owners and work hard to bring you the best BMX products money can buy. We have a awesome team who are; Josh Bedford, Niki Croft, Brandon Hoerres, Mat Roe, Justin Simpson, Ryan Smith, Randy Taylor and Morgan Wade. Along side the pro team we have a amazing flow team too. You can find more info about us at http://www.Mutinybikes.com

Name:
Charles “Charlie” Fernandez

What company do you run, and explain a little about it for those unaware:

I am the marketing person for Profile Racing. Profile manufactures after-market, high quality BMX components (cranks, hubs, stems, etc.). All our manufacturing is done in the USA at our St. Petersburg, Florida factory. ProfileRacing.com

Profile Cranks

The lead testing law place in the United States that is coming into effect in about a month will really change the industry. Could you explain what this law is doing in easier to understand words?
I know I have seen about 20 articles and it’s hard to get a full understanding of this from those.
Let me start by saying all of my answers of from “Felt’s understanding” We have had legal advice, have read many articles and have had discussions with CPSC and parts makers to better understand the rules, the guidelines get fuzzy in some areas and may get interpreted different ways. The whole reason behind it is not a bad reason, the reason is to make sure kid’s are safe and someone/something does not cause child safety problems. We cannot argue the intention is good but it get’s questionable when a valve stem with lead in it becomes a safety issue to a child. I believe the rules were put into place pretty fast and CPSC is not targeting bicycles, they are targeting the Gerber, Fisher Price, Toys-R-Us type companies, BMX bikes just got sucked into it. -Alan

This merely my assessment and a simply an overview. Most will recall lead paint being discovered in hundreds of thousands of imported toys specifically from China in Y2007. It was a wide spread topic among major news outlets. Leaving many to believe most companies do not know what materials suppliers are using. Hence congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to set strict limits on lead and removal of certain Phthalates in children’s (ages 12 or younger) products thus forcing manufacturers to certify compliance. The CPSC made a ruling the week of December 5th regarding what is and is not a toy as the phthalate testing is required only for toys. It appears to exempt bicycles and tricycles. Leaving lead as the primary issue we are now dealing with. Beginning February 10, 2009 all products sold within the U.S. must be tested regardless of country of origin. This also includes merchandise manufactured prior to such date. This will force manufacturers to either prove that merchandise already in stores meets the requirements or pull it from shelves. After Feb. 10, it will be illegal to sell the banned products, even to export them. Current test are subject to 600ppm (parts per million); however, the limits will be reduced yet again August 14, 2009 to 300ppm for lead content by weight & 90ppm for lead paint & subsequently lowered again at a date to be determined. -Zach

I could write something very cynical here but I won’t. Somehow BMX bikes have been thrown into the category as children’s toy so we now have to make sure that are products do not contain Lead/Phthalates. Although there is a date for when we must comply with everything right now there are still a lot of gray areas that we are looking into. -Gaz

Mutiny Glam Bars

Actually, the lead standards law has been in effect for awhile but was aimed at “children’s products.” The CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) of 2008, that you refer to, makes manufacturers (all, domestic and international) prove that their finished products meet certain new minimum standards for lead content and prove their plastic components are phthalates free. Because the Congress, in their infinite wisdom, labeled BMX bikes as “toys” our niche bicycle industry is going to suffer through imposed testing laws. The consumer will suffer by the passed along added costs of these tests. -Charlie

How will this affect you depending on where you are located?
If you sell 24” wheel and below bicycles in the USA then it affects you.-Alan

New Scotty Cranmer XL bars

Location matters not in this circumstance as long as you want to sell into the U.S. market. The long term effect is lower margins for said company as it will be extremely difficult to pass these additional costs onto the consumer especially in this global economic down turn we are currently reeling from. In addition, we are in an extremely saturated market so competition is strong & the end users are mostly children with less disposal income. We cannot blatantly increase prices. -Zach

It’s is going to hit everyone in the Industry hard, if your goods are sold in the USA then you will have to comply with these new guide lines. -Gaz

We will abide by the new law by having our products tested by a Federally approved lab. We are fortunate in that our BMX parts are metal and we only have to test for lead content. -Charlie

When you first heard about this new law, what was your first thought of the whole situation?
That the CPSC is in an urgent need to cut down on un-safe toys and BMX bikes got thrown into the mix by mistake. -Alan

Why haven’t we tested for this in the past? As a father of three I do not want my children exposed to anything harmful especially when it can be easily prevented. From the beginning Alienation has tested our materials for chemistry and hardness not to mention the physical products to comply with CEN, ETRTO, ISO, JIS and other tests we feel are necessary. -Zach

Alienation Hub

I heard rumors right after Interbike. As for for thoughts, here we go….. -Gaz

“I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help you.” -Charlie

If you could give us a rough estimate on how this testing will affect you on let’s say, a shipment of frames? or How about something a little smaller like handle bars?
First focus is complete bikes, I do not know the frame/bar answer today. It may affect color choices and may cut down on the variety of colors (each color needs a separate test) -Alan

Let’s use hubs as example as I do not have frames or bars in my line. We do not complete with the complete bicycle brands. Anyhow, we have several SKU’s (say 10 on order at 50 each). I will test one or two hubs from the batch under CPSIA Sec 101 which is for lead content in material. Then I will test one of each color under CPSIA 16 CFR 1303 which is lead paint seeing we powder coat the hubs. Thus I have four to five tests in all which totals USD$110. The tests will be performed thru an accredited CPSC lab in Taiwan given this is the C/O and will take no more than two weeks.
I will say this, I will purchase products in larger quantities & fewer times each year to keep test cost down across the board.
The law states you must test each batch. It too states you must test each SKU or have a reasonable testing program. We are going with the later of the two. We believe in objective testing. For instance, the only difference in most cases is hole count so why test each SKU? There are ways to keep costs down yet comply with the law to the letter. I suggest every owner or manager to hire an attorney to review the law as we did. I was very revealing & too you have some recourse to fall back on. -Zach

I’m not in a position right now to give a figure, we are looking at many different factors and working with all our vendors and suppliers to keep pricing down. -Gaz

We don’t think anyone knows how this will all sort out. They are still figuring out compliance issues and we’ve heard that it might be 2-weeks or 6-months before definitive explanations are given to compliance questions being asked today. We do know that a hub needs to have all of it’s components tested and not just the shell. So, we talking about approximately 7 to 10 tests per hub for lead content. -Charlie

Profile Hubs

There has been a lot of talk of smaller brands going under from this, do you feel like that will actually happen or is the “gossip” getting to be a little overboard?
I think people are over reacting, possibly getting mis-information. Felt BMX is not a huge BMX company but we do have connections in Taiwan that are taking care of us to make sure things are legit. I could see some of the newer smaller guys just entering the complete bike game, not having the partners or resources, having a hard time finding the right resources to get the correct information and correct testing. -Alan

It’s highly possible. Look there are a lot of new brands in the market which are still trying to recoup their start-up cost. This will only place greater burden on them. Complete bicycle brands have it the worse in my opinion because there are so many parts to be tested per each bicycle model. -Zach

There is gossip everyday on every subject. I’m sure there is the potential for some brands to have problems but I don’t have any idea about other brands situation’s. -Gaz

Mutiny Frame Line Up

Anything is possible in our present economy. However, Profile is fortunate in the volume of product we make. It allows us spread the additional cost over larger quantities. Smaller companies with volume will take a harder hit. -Charlie

How will this affect your team, travel budgets, advertising, and extra things like helping people out with prizes for contests?
The extra cost will have to get absorbed somehow, is it the consumer, the team rider, the magazine/website advertising?, not sure yet. Everyone for sure has their cautious hat on to see how it plays out. -Alan

It will not. It’s business as usual. -Zach

Every year we do what we can for each of these expenses. We will continue to support BMX as it supports us. -Gaz

Our (US) economy in 2009 will determine that and not this issue. So far, the CPSIA looks like an additional cost of manufacturing that the consumer will bear for “safer” products. -Charlie

Do you feel like companies will start to make better quality products because of this, or will there start to be a decrease in quality due to less money?
These rules aren’t going to make a bike lighter or stronger but on the other hand I do not see any legit companies bumping down quality, if they had the chance to do it before they would already have. -Alan

Felt Sheriff Frame

Products are improving all the time. This law should not affect the way parts are made. In the end we all better for this. -Zach

I remember 15 years ago the bikes we were all riding were complete pieces of shit, products just were not up to the job! Things have got so much better, yes there is always room for improvement and revision but the products you can buy now are designed for modern day BMX.I can see the new standards causing problems but I don’t see products getting better or worse for it. Maybe you will be able to chew on your grips and know your not going to get Lead poisoning. -Gaz

This Act has nothing to do with making better products. It’s all about small kids touching and putting parts in their mouths. -Charlie

Will you be changing who makes your products overseas? Or if you are a U.S.A made brand changing the materials you work with?
If the current makers do not comply then we will switch makers, from all the talks so far we have not run into any maker who we see being a problem. -Alan

NO, we will continue to work with all existing vendors. In the numerous tests we have already conducted we haven’t exceeded 90ppm. -Zach

Alienation Grips

All of our vendors in Taiwan we have been working with for years. We have been working with them to get up to speed on the CPSIA rulings. So no big changers for us there. -Gaz

Our material vendors are now being required to present toxic elements analysis certification. They all are able to comply with our requests. -Charlie

Will your brand have to bump up prices to cover the costs?
It really depends on how much it ends up being, signs now show it may not be too bad. We do not see it being that much of a jump, nothing compared to the material cost increases we saw last year. -Alan

See my response above… -Zach

Yes. How much? I don’t know yet…. -Gaz

Yes. -Charlie

Since the law only applies to the United States (as far as I am aware), does this mean you will be focusing on the rest of the world a little more to keep sales up?
CPSC is only concerned with USA but the predictions are that other countries will follow shortly. We do not make country specific product so everything made will be made is being planned to pass for any new country that may add testing regulations. -Alan

No, the U.S. market makes up the vast majority of BMX sales. Too, the U.S. dollar continues to appreciate against foreign currencies which are hurting exports for anyone dealing in USD. -Zach

International sales are hard right now as the dollar is so strong. There are issues everyday that come up working here and our mind set is to deal with it. -Gaz

Mutiny Grips

This will not change our marketing plan. -Charlie

Do you feel that as time goes on, and companies are repetitively coming through with clean products the government will begin giving price breaks or even allowing them to skip the testing all together?
I do not see testing being skipped all together but as the system get more streamlined and all the bugs get worked out we will see the testing fees being lowered. Also the amount of items that need to be tested may decrease. An organization called BPSA is currently discussing with CPSC on what parts may not need to be tested, is a brass spoke nipple accessible for a kid to get his mouth on?, maybe we will see requirements on only certain parts? -Alan

There is a rumor floating that the BPSA (Bicycle Product Supplier Association) is attempting to have bicycles re-classed to Sporting Goods thru lobbyist which would exempt the industry from testing. Even so, the law is the law and we must abide by it for the time being.
To answer the question directly, No. The government wouldn’t change the national drinking age from 21 if less minors were caught drinking or there were less automobile accidents from underage drinking nor are they just going to eliminate testing for good behavior on the manufactures part. -Zach

No chance, they have made their minds up and are not going to allow anyone to skip testing. As I said earlier BMX fell into this through definition so we companies involved need to find the best solutions to the problems.One of the reason’s we have never done chrome is because of it’s environmental issues that come with it. We try to make the cleanest products we can and I’m very happy so far with all of the testing results that have come back from the lab as everything surpasses the new standards. -Gaz

What? That only happens in in our dreams. -Charlie

Do you have any other words you would like to say about this “crisis”?
Compared to last year’s material price increase this situation will not affect the bike industry as much, last year was insane. What it is causing is a lot of people to really look into it and make sure they are protected. The larger companies will share this with the parts maker or assembly factory.
I myself have not been the person looking closely into the details, I only know bits and pieces (see how I am covering my ass now..) My eyes and ears are open because I am a BMXer who deals with bikes with 20” wheels, I am not too worried about it. From what I have been told and heard from others is that by next year this will not even be something to talk about and just be an accepted part of doing business. -Alan

NUTS! No really, the industry needs to band together to eliminate confusion & adopted uniformity. -Zach

If it’s sunny outside, go ride your bike. -Gaz

This became a “crisis” because of how the laws were implemented. We had literally 2-months to comply with the first requirements of the Act. Other industry or manufacturing Acts the US government has inacted have been phased in over longer periods of time. What our BMX industry needs to do is get our US representatives to change the ACT to define our bicycles (20″) and components as “Sport Bicycles” rather than “Toys.” -Charlie