Mike Schmitt caught this slightly over exposed shot of me while we were out filming in the Persidio last weekend. This tuck no into the steep/muddy grass bank was one of the last things we captured before the sun set on another mint day in the city. With tuck no handers it’s all about folding up like a lawn chair and touching your shoulder to that front wheel. They are almost like barspins, you just have to throw those bars.
Here’s a couple of the photos that Bryan Dempler took while we were hanging out, riding bikes on the beach yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out how dense and smooth the sand close to the water actually was. Not quite concrete, but a hell of a lot easier than trying to do tricks on grass. This summer I plan on doing plenty of riding in this newly discovered playground, wearing nothing but shorts & shoes.
Photo Credit : Bryan Dempler
The days of the “Keo spin” being the epitome of Fixed Freestyle is quickly fading, and is being replaced with a new age of fixed tricks. Riders have begun to push not only what can be done on these bikes, but their design as well. The classic trick list of Keos and bigspins have been replaced with feebles and barspins. I miss the days of popping up no hand wheelies, doing pole jams, and spending all night riding something as simple as a basketball court with my friends. The only thing I won’t miss are flats, but besides that, What do you miss most about riding track bikes?
Caught this picture the other day of Mike checking out San Francisco’s famous Clipper Ledges. With rounded corners, and a shear drop on the other side, there have been plenty of people who have been worked at this spot. Mike was lucky enough to ride away unscathed hitting both hubba’s back to back. You’ll see the clip of the action either in the next Wheel Talk or Grime edit. Stay tuned.
Caught this photo of Scott Horton riding the dirt jumps hidden inside Golden Gate park the last time he stayed w/ me in the city. I remember back when riding dirt jumps on fixed was unheard of. Bike geos have progressed to the point where riding dirt has become a more common part of the sport. People are beginning to explore new options w/ their new and improved off road capabilities. Taking the bike to places nobody has before and pushing the scene in ways nobody ever thought possible.
Matt Rice from Deal With It SF shot this killer photo yesterday of Mike getting creative filming me doing a wall tap 180. Sometimes the person filming ends up pulling some moves to get the shot. Whatever it takes. In this case it took Mike scaling a wall, holding onto a pipe, and dangling from a loose electrical wire.
Here’s my top 10 favorite photo’s I’ve taken over the last year. 2011 has been a big year for us, and we plan on making this year even better. The top 3 are photos you may have not seen yet, and the rest are from sessions throughout the year. Devon Lawson throws some of the most dialed barspins I’ve ever seen, here’s a great example of that. He’s made some big moves this year and has helped to make San Jose a power house in the Fixed Freestyle scene.I don’t know what it is about Jeff, but he is incredibly photogenic. I’ve always been able to catch such great shots of him. I love funky wallrides, especially ones on weird nooks & lips on the wall. Here’s a shot of Me (Matt Reyes) riding this double bank back behind this parking lot on one of the steepest hills in the city. It was so much wasted effort trying to ride this spot. Up hill battle the entire time (more…)
Here’s a great photo of Jeff Dempler throwing a bar spin off of one of the ledges at Pier 7, one of San Francisco’s most famous skate spot. The moment after sticking this bar spin Jeff popped his shoulder out of place, and wasn’t able to ride for the rest of the night. Quite unfortunate considering he landed the trick like butter.