Bike photos: Rodolfo Lagos
The other day, our friend from Chile, Tomas Fuentes, had hit us up with a few photos of his setup that he’s currently running for us to check out. We were loving the look of his bike and figured that you guys would be stoked on it too! We figured with him recently joining Etnies along with representing Odyssey down there, that it would be a good time for a bike check and to get some bonus questions to find out more about just who this guy is! Ready? Let’s check it out!
Name: Tomás Fuentes
Location: Santiago, Chile
Sponsors: ICbikes, Etnies Chile, Rucapark and VolarProductions
Years riding: like 8, I think so
Frame: Fit Motomike 21”
Bars: Primo Rebar 8.69
Fork: Odyssey R32
Stem: Odyssey Tom Dugan
Grips: Odyssey Flatware
Headset: Odyssey
Pedals: Odyssey Twisted
Cranks: Odyssey Thunderbolt 175mm
Sprocket: Odyssey Chase hawk 28t
Chain: Odyssey Bluebird
Seat, Post and Clamp: Odyssey Tom Dugan Tri-pod
Front Wheel:
Rim: Odyssey Aerospace
Hub: Odyssey Vandero v2
Tire: Odyssey Chase Hawk 2.4
Rear Wheel:
Rim: Odyssey Aerospace
Hub: Odyssey Antigram 9t
Tire: Odyssey Chase Hawk 2.2
Pegs: no
Modifications: I cut my fork down a bit.
What’s the newest part on your bike?
Tires, pedals, grips and seat.
What’s the oldest? Does it have any sort of sentimental value or anything like that?
The wheels are the oldest. I changed them up earlier this year. Sentimental value? Mmm… I love Odyssey and to ride for Odyssey was a dream. Now I ride for them through their Chilean distro and now I´m living that dream.
I noticed you keep your setup pretty simple. Does it ever change up at all or are you pretty consistent?
I think I’m pretty consistent. I have been riding brakeless for 4 years now, haha. Sometimes I like to ride with pegs… Sometimes, haha.
Are you pretty picky about things or are you open to change it up?
The truth is that I am pretty picky as I like bike that perfectly fits what I have in my mind. I like a low front end, wide tires, 100 psi always and I like a simple bar that is not too big or too little.
How often do you build up a new bike or swap out parts? Do you usually ride it till parts break or swap things out before it goes that far?
I like to change parts when they start to fail, but I also have to be responsible and keep my bike working good so that it does not fail me. I like to ride hard and fly high so if something were to fail it would be very dangerous and irresponsible of me.
What are you usually riding? Do you have a preference to trails, street or ramps or are you kind of into everything?
I love riding bowls. It’s definitely what I like, but all the bowls that I like are quite far away. I am riding on ramps more often. I like to be changing and finding new lines where I can move my bike. Whatever that is makes it feel fun.
Photo: Rodolfo Lagos
How are things going with your sponsors down in Chile? Do you have any trips, videos or cool projects in the works you can tell us about?
Things with my sponsors are going great. I’m very happy to join the Etnies team. It is a childhood dream of mine and is being fulfilled. Things are going very well and rising. I remember when I started riding and saw the Etnies “Grounded” and it made me hallucinate and now it’s unreal to be apart of that team.
In addition I am also riding for ICbikes who are the official distributors in Chile of Odyssey, another brand that I really am happy to ride for. ICbikes is hooking me up for my trip to the United States. I will head to Austin, Texas August 20th and will be there for about 3 months. I want to go to Texas Toast and ride the amazing places that Austin offers and share my experience with all the good people over there.
You had your welcome to Etnies video drop a few weeks back and it looks like it got a real good reaction. How stoked were you on the response it got?
I could not believe how many people check it out and they commented to tell me how good the video was. It’s hard to believe when your video is posted on all the biggest BMX websites with very good reviews. I am happy and grateful for the good job I did with Juani Zurita. We worked hard and this video is the result of that. We wanted to do something short, but very good quality. We climbed into the car and drove until we found some spots and achieved the best shot. There were a lot of laughs and good times with the guards.
Photo: Rodolfo Lagos
Can we expect more footage to surface soon?
I want to film a lot in Austin. I don’t think I will have a video dropping before that.
I’m sure this one will be easy for you… Is it all about style or tricks?
I definitely like the style. Some days I am enjoying doing the simplest movement and feel like I’m moving my bike in a different way and that is entertaining. I think if you wanna do something, do it!
It seems like the scene down in Chile has really been blowing up lately. What’s it like where you are from? A lot of riders and spots to ride or not really?
I live in the capital of Santiago, Chile where there are the most riders and there is plenty of movement. In the last 3 years there are at least 10 new parks to ride and endless new BMX riders. Chile is too fun. You can find the most different places to ride your bike and there’s always good weather. Chile definitely is cool, you have a lot ramps, street and bowls all around. It’s definitely true the the scene is growing and you can now find all the BMX brands products in Chile so kids can buy them and get into the sport. Also the level of professional riders is increasing to a more international level. We are also traveling more and trying to expand the Chilean BMX scene. Coco Zurita is a great example of what Chile has to offer.
Have you had the opportunity to travel outside of the country at all?
Last year I went to know the United States. I spent three months there, the first month in Austin where I met a ton of people at the T-1 ramp, House Park and Pflugerville. There were all very nice people. Then I traveled to California and spent a week at Woodward with Coco Zurita, then I went with him to the Vandoren Invitational. I was on the west coast for 2 months, living in the home of Ben Snowden riding his backyard along with the Vans ramps, Full Factory ramps, a lot of bowls. It was crazy! There are so many spots and I met so many cool people.
What have you been getting into when you aren’t riding this beauty of a bike? Do you work, go to school or have any other hobbies you like to fill your time with?
I finished school 2 years ago, when finished I went to work hard to save money and to go to the United State.
Currently I’m just riding my bike, doing some bmx shows with another sponsor VolarP who do a lot of bmx shows. Other than that, I’m usually hanging out with my friends, playing with my crazy dog, sometimes I do different sports like basketball, futboll or whatever and living this fun life. I finished my work three weeks ago working with a friend as a delivery boy delivering papers on my fixie bike. but now as I am preparing to travel it.
Photo: Colin Mackay
How can people keep up with you these days?
Facebook.com/TomBMX3
Instagram @TomBMX3
I have twitter but is too boring, haha. @TomBMX3
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
First I want to thank you for absolutely everything to my beloved family, my friends are always giving me good vibes, to all the people who give me good support, also to my sponsors who every day make me grow up in this sport I love so much a pleasure to work with you and of course The Union for this bike check!
Thanks Etnies, ICbikes, Rucapark and VolarProductions
Anything else you want to say?
Enjoy this beautiful sport!!
Let’s Ride!!
