Name: Nathan Williams
Age: 22
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 155lbs
Location: Nashville, TN
Sponsors: United, Etnies, Levi’s, Cinema, Dan’s Comp
All photos by Jeff Zielinski.
Frame: United Mothership
Fork: United Squad
Bars: United Grande
Stem: Colony
Grips: Duo Van Homan
Barends: Animal
Headset: United
Seatpost: United Trinity
Seat: United Trinity
Cranks: United Value
Sprocket: Senntal
Chain: Shadow
Front Tire: Duo
Front Wheel: Cinema Prototype
Front Hub: Cinema Prototype
Rear Tire: Duo
Rear Wheel: Cinema Prototype
Rear Hub: Cinema Prototype
Pedals: Animal plastic Hamilton
Hub Guard: United
Pegs: United Squad
Modifications/Other/Extras:
Cut down bars a little and the fork steer tube, and tightened the bearings in my pedals so they don’t spin real fast.
Which parts do you go through the most?
Pedals for sure. It seems like I have to order a new pair every couple of weeks. The pins wear down so quickly.
Describe your bike setup and how you like your bike to feel…
I like it to be high. I run a spacer or two underneath my stem to make it feel that way. Chain always has to be really tight. Basically if you pick your bike up and bounce it on the ground and you hear a lot noise…that’s annoying to me, personally.
What part are you most particular about or do you feel makes the biggest difference on your bike?
Probably the frame.
Is there any story behind the name of your signature frame, Mothership?
Yeah, kind of. Nothing to crazy though. It’s based on a Led Zepplin deal. I know that the Mothership CD is a compilation album, but I thought it was only one that could be used in the sense I was looking for. I listened to Zepplin for a lot of my younger days and still do now. Actually, I used to fall asleep when I was younger listening to the album “Houses of the Holy.” I think it’s only fitting, haha.
How does it feel to have your own frame, anyway?
It’s awesome man! Having the chance to design something exactly the way I like it is a huge honor.
How long have you guys been filming for This Is United?
We have been filming for almost two years now. It feels like forever, haha. I think everybody has a lot of amazing footage and we’re all ready to get things wrapped up and see the final product. We have a few more trips planned, and from what I have heard the filming deadline is June…ish.
Where are all the places you’ve traveled to for filming?
Spain, Germany, France, England, Hawaii, California, Tennessee, Alabama… I might have forgotten a couple in there.
Have you had the chance to go on a trip with Mike Escamilla since he was added to the team?
I haven’t unfortunately. I hope I am able to soon though! I also can’t wait to see his section in the video!
You were just in California for a few days doing some stuff with etnies, didn’t you guys go to a skatepark meeting? What was that all about?
Yeah, basically John Povah has a buddy that is on the city council of Long Beach and they have been working together for a long time trying to get bikes in the skateparks there in Long Beach. Povah asked Dakota Roche and I if we would be into coming out to support the cause, and of course we said yes. They had a meeting at the El Dorado skatepark and the turn out was awesome. A ton of bike riders showed up and pretty much ero skaters showed up, which is great to see. I have nothing against skaters…actually I love skatepboarding, but we all know how lame it is to go ride a park and end up getting a $200 dollar ticket. So that was really cool to see.
Do you have anything in the works with etnies shoe wise?
Yeah, Povah and a shoe designer named Wallace came up with an idea to make a shoe that caters to a brakeless rider. Anybody that is brakeless knows how quickly you will go through a pair of shoes, so they decided to come up with a different type of sole that will have a more durable rubber on the places that you normally use your foot to stop. So since I am brakeless they gave me the opportunity to have a colorway of that particular shoe, which I am beyond stoked about! We are still working on materials, colors, and artwork, but keep an eye out for it!
Click the photo to view the sequence.
