nice editing

different styles of street riding.

mike aitken

mike aitken is one of the most influential and inspiring bmx riders of our generation. his style, courage, and positive attitude are unquestionably pure, and his skill and prowess are so legendary that his signature frame (or frames; he's up to 3.5 of them at this point) may be the most-ridden frame currently on the streets today.

i remember one of the earliest photos that had an impact on me when i first started riding bmx: it was mike aitken throwing a clicked turndown off a tiny transition on a sidewalk. it proved to me that you could have fun on the smallest terrain if you worked on your skills.


Mike Aitken Retrospective from Fitbikeco. on Vimeo.

so the tragedy is that he has been seriously injured. he crashed while riding and damaged his brain. being a professional bmx rider, he has been unable to get health insurance. given his current condition and need for treatment and care, he and his family could definitely use some aid. you can read more here: mikeaitken.com, and make donations as well. i've already made mine.

i wish mike and his family the best. my hopes are with them.

winter is coming, things are good

the low temperature in oakland hit the 40s yesterday. today it's windy and it didn't go over 70. the chill is here so my next question is when the rain arrives. but i shouldn't fret. it is only early october after all.

in the meantime i've begun teaching martial arts at the elementary after-school program i worked at last year, and thus far it's been a very positive, challenging, and rewarding experience. i'm encouraged by the children's progress, and my sustained enthusiasm is merely reflective of theirs. the program runs semiweekly and will run through the rest of the school year. i am confident that at the end of the year these children will have learned a solid foundation of martial arts skills.

i'm decidedly conclusive that this transfer to the west coast has provided me with ample life opportunities. not even mentioning the clear benefit that i've been riding my bike almost every day for the last year; i've worked a whole year in construction management that has given me loads of experience, and am beginning my second term at this elementary school where i can make a living sharing my love for martial arts with the future of the world. can it get better?

yes it can! i'm also incredibly grateful for all the wonderful people i've met out here and the network they make up for me. there are dinner parties, and bike rides, and bar gatherings, and art shows, and all these great fun things that i can just jump on my bike to shoot over to enjoy with good company. i really can't beat that.

or can i? i haven't even mentioned the new girl who, in so few weeks, has made a distinctly strong and positive impression on my life. oops, well now i've mentioned her. ;)

to good things; make them happen for yourselves.

bicycle-talk: bmx progression

i remember when i first got into bmx, something like 10 years ago, and for months the big word in all the bmx magazines was "progression". every issue had a segment, a spotlight, a feature on the next step, the higher level, the further progression. the longer an activity is pursued, the greater the amount of possibilities come into existence.



when i see an image (sequence, to be specific) like this, my mind kicks open another door..

bicycle-talk: macaframa premiere

Macaframa SF Track Bike Promo from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo.


MACAFRAMA Trailer from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo.

the trailers for this film created a turning point (or rather, exposed to me a new style to explore) in my riding career. after seeing them, it became clear to me that there were riders out there really pushing and refining a fixed gear street-style that took serious skill and innate grace.

soon after moving to the bay area, i was riding with a few fixed gear street riders. i was riding my brooklyn park bike. they rode their style, i rode mine. we cruised all around oakland. one of the riders, james, asked me if i'd ever ridden a track bike. i told him i hadn't. he said i should try it out; it's fun.

a while later i was commuting fixed on my cross bike. within a month i was looking for parts to build up a dedicated street fix. the bike came together cleanly. the fit was perfect. the style stuck, the motivation to progress grew, and now i'm absolutely a true believer.

bicycle-talk: bmx cruisers back in a big way

sunday is working on these, and they look really good.
sunday bikes.

i want to fly

i never truly considered the possibility until now.
and it terrifies and inspires me.

i am bicoastal

so it's been kind of crazy.

i was in new york for two weeks.
it was amazing; wonderful; home.
spent time with family, friends, and the landscape.
rode my bmx bike the whole time; that was ill.

but i was having a hard time with bicoastal pulls.

on one hand new york was the hometown
where i felt like i knew everyone and everything.
faces and streets familiar, pure comfort.
all the things i've grown up with.

on the other hand the bay has been treating me well.
the weather is great and the opportunities abound.
i ride my bike everyday and have met awesome people.

a good friend gave me some insight.
rather than feeling sad about the people and places
that i inevitably miss when i'm here or there,
i will feel happy that there are so many i treasure.
there are so many good people in my life,
that my thoughts are filled and pleasant.