It was announced the other day that Roy Van Kempen had parted ways with his long time sponsor, United. I had a feeling that a rider like Roy would have a new opportunity lined up when an announcement like that is made, so I decided to hit him up to see if he was working on a new bike. It turned out that he did have a new opportunity and that would be Federal Bikes. We figured since he was building up a brand new bike that it would be a good time to get the first look at that dialed new ride. Check out this full bike check along with a few bonus questions to see what’s new and what 2013 has in store for Roy!
Name: Roy van Kempen
Location: Amsterdam, Holland
Sponsors: Federal Bikes, Animal Bikes, Soul Cycle BMX Shop, Etnies
Years riding: 10
Frame: Federal Lacey frame 21 inch (easy green)
Bars: Federal Drop bars 8.75 (easy green)
Fork: Federal Drop forks (easy green)
Stem: Animal MR Topload
Grips: Odi grips
Headset: Animal
Cranks: Animal Akimbo cranks
Pedals: Animal Hamilton pedals
Sprocket: Federal street sprocket V2
Chain: Shadow chain
Seat / Post / Clamp: DUB x Joe-Tek seat and Federal Stump post
Front Wheel / Tire: Animal Javelin hub, primo spokes, Federal motion rim – Animal Tom White tire 2.2
Rear Wheel / Tire: Animal Javelin cassette, primo spokes, Federal motion rim – Animal Tom White tire 2.0
Pegs: 3 x Animal butcher plastic pegs
Hub Guards: Front: 2x Eclat pulse rear: Animal hubguard
Brakes? nah
Modifications: cut my bars down a bit
Do you have a particular way you have to have your bike setup for it to feel right?
Well, with my new setup I wanted to try a 21‘’ frame for the first time in my life. Normally I ride smaller frames but Im glad I took the 21 inch. Other than that I just want a solid bike, if you bounce it on the ground you shouldn’t hear any noises.
Now that you built up a brand new bike, what is your favorite new part?
Definitely the frame. The Lacey frame has a 75.5 degrees head tube angle which makes it perfect for nose manuals, hang5 etc.
What’s the oldest part on your bike?
Animal Akimbo cranks
What do you usually go through the most?
Pedals and plastic pegs
What are you most paranoid of breaking?
Handlebars, that would just suck haha
So if people haven’t caught on yet, you’re now doing it for Federal after parting ways with United. How did the opportunity all come about?
That’s correct. A couple of days after I had left United, I decided to release an Orange Juice video with some 2-year old clips of me riding spots in Amsterdam. Jack from DUB BMX had sent it over to Federal and before I knew it, Federal TM Charlie Reed asked me if I was down to ride for the brand.
The family part of a team is really important to me. Federal riders Lacey, Bruno, Michal Smelko and Eric Sans are already good friends of mine, so I didn’t have to think twice. Riding/chilling with friends is all that matters, right? I can’t wait to meet the other guys as well.
Do you have any plans with them as far as trips or anything like that yet?
Yes, a trip has been planned, but I can’t say anything about it yet.
When can we expect that welcome edit?
The weather is finally getting better here in Amsterdam, so I seriously can’t wait to start shooting for my ‘welcome to Federal’ video. I want to be stoked on every single clip so I can’t say when it will be ready yet.
How are things going with We Are Orange Juice? Care to fill us in on some of the new projects you’re working on?
We Are Orange Juice is doing great! The blog weareorangejuice.com is getting more and more views every week. Our man, Alex Coumailleau is doing an amazing job on original content. It’s dope to have interviews and Exclusive Orange Juice videos with amateur/world riders. We get loads of positive energy in return.
The Orange Juice brand is going really well too. Our first line was a big success, thanks to many shops around the world that have added Orange Juice to their collection. Big shout out to all the shops that support us, we couldn’t be more stoked on every single one of them. Also thanks to Jack from DUB for being an amazing distro in the UK. Tom Lammerse and I just finished the new Spring/Summer ‘13 line which will be released around the end of April.
Do you have any other sponsor news you can tell us about?
Nope not yet.
What are your plans for 2013? Do you have any big trips or anything you’re planning on going on?
Man, 2013 is going to be amazing! I can’t wait to meet up with all the Federal homies, definitely want to go to the UK to ride and hang out with the crew. Besides that, I have organized a sick We Are Orange Juice x VANS trip to Barcelona with the best group of dudes. That’s it for now but I’m sure I will plan more trips anytime soon.
Other than your Federal video, have you been filming for anything else?
My Czech friends Michal Smelko, Tomas Carda and Pavel Vykuk came to Amsterdam last week to film for an Orange Juice x TBB store exclusive webvideo. We shot 50 clips in 4 skateparks in 4 days. Tom Lammerse is currently editing all those clips together. That edit should be ready somewhere next week.
What have you been up to when you aren’t riding or working on We Are Orange Juice? How’s things going at Soul Cycle?
Working at the Soulcycle BMX shop in Amsterdam is really dope. I can advise people and I can help out kids with their first bikes. Together with Soulcycle and We Are Orange Juice, we are organizing a street jam again this summer.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Big shout out the Charlie Reed for being the best TM out there! Shout out to Koen and Jeroen from Rock n Roll distribution/Soulcycle and last but not least all the people/brands that support We Are Orange Juice.
Anything else you want to say?
Follow me on instagram: @royvankempen and/or @orangejuice_
Check out the first full Orange Juice Collection WeAreOrangeJuice.com/shop here.
And thanks Kurt for this bike check!
