NEWS FLASH: After about 10yrs of only RARELY riding, I'm trying to get back on the flatland bike somewhat regularly! Here's some video proof:
- http://youtu.be/SA1SM2mHVY0
- http://youtu.be/t0iLYPUfjaE
- http://youtu.be/Wo3tccCsnLk
- http://youtu.be/k40h9NrtGmU
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I started riding in the early 80's. Thanks to Mike Lawless (still one of my best friends), I was hooked on a life of two wheels. The first tricks I saw blew me away (curb endos, kick-outs), and as an early teen I spent every possible moment on my bike. Looking back, those were some of the best years of my life... neon bikes, 80's metal, summer vacations--yeah!
Anyway, I loved riding so much, I tried to make a go at riding professionally. I was eventually able to make a living through my riding by doing stunt shows at fairs, festivals, and LOTS of bicycle safety/anti-drug shows at schools and other community events.
In the early days, I set all of these shows up myself (from making the sales calls to handling all of the logistics). I ran several teams: Northshore Freestyle Team, Maximum Performance Trick Team, Acition Impact Stunt Team; and eventially landed a spot on a national team: Perfection on Wheels.
Anyway, I was able to make a living for a couple of years just by riding my freestyle bike. It was AWESOME. I didn't make big money, and I wasn't one of the best riders, but I had incredible experiences, I met great people, and I traveled back and forth across this country more times than I can remember. What more can somone ask for?
Ultimately, times change, priorities change, and it wasn't feasible to live that life indefinitely. I stopped touring in 2000, after one last hurrah on the road with the Jolly Rancher/GT team. And while I used to have up to five complete, ready-to-ride BMX bikes on hand, I've only got one now... and that one only rarely sees action. I still think about riding every day though, and those experiences certainly helped shape who I am. I still get out there when I can.
