Adam Banton’s current ride is a 21-inch Eastern Codec loaded with Odyssey parts top to bottom. Two brakes for tech moves, tight drivetrain for consistent pedal placement, and green accents for style, this bike is “lean and mean.” Check it…
Name: Adam Banton
Age: 36
Height: 6’1
Weight: 175
Current Residence: Scottsdale, Arizona
Sponsors: Eastern Bikes, Odyssey, Armourdillo, Osiris, CTi, S-One
"I need a bike that’s practical. Everything on my bike is a good balance of strength and being lightweight." But does it have rabies? Photo: Mulligan
Frame: Eastern Codec, 21” toptube
Fork: Odyssey F25
Bars: Odyssey Double Spacebar
Stem: Odyssey Elementary V3
Grips: Odyssey Adam Banton V2
Bar ends: Odyssey Par Ends
Headset: Odyssey
Detangler: Odyssey GTX-S
Front brake lever: Odyssey Mono Lever Medium
Rear brake lever: Odyssey M2
Brake cables: Odyssey
Front brakes: Odyssey Evo2
Rear brakes: Odyssey Evo2
Seatpost: Odyssey Convertable
Seat: Odyssey Principle, Gary Young Edition
Cranks: Odyssey Thunderbolts
Bottom bracket: Eastern
Sprocket: Odyssey MDS
Chain: Eastern half link
Front Tire: Odyssey Aaron Ross
Front Rim/hub: Odyssey Hazard Lite/G-Sport Marmoset with G-Sport taper hex nipples
Rear Tire: Odyssey Aaron Ross
Rear Rim/hub: Odyssey Hazard Lite/G-Sport Ratchet
Spokes: Odyssey
Pedals: Odyssey JC/PC
Pegs: Odyssey Rifle aluminum
No-footed nosepick tailwhip-to-fakie on the recent Odyssey Palm Springs trip. Photo: Mulligan
Any modifications?
Not really, I replaced the stock female rear axle with the aftermarket aluminum 3/8-inch and used Titanium bolts.
What’s the song title for this bike?
[Laughs] Hmmm…100-percent fun!
What parts do you go through the fastest?
Grips, pegs—the normal stuff when you ride a lot.
Do you like to keep your parts as long as possible or switch stuff out and keep it fresh?
Honestly, I really don’t like building up a new frame or adding new stuff. I’d rather be riding. So I guess I run everything until it’s annoying. My last bike I had for almost a year. So that was a good test for my tolerance.
You do a lot of tech tricks and combos. Do you set you bike up any certain way for specific tricks?
Um, not certain tricks really, but for my style, definitely. I had Plegs on for the last two years or so, everything that touched the ground was plastic. I actually came up with a few things that you needed those parts for. I just switched back to metal pegs on this bike. Feels good to hear grinds again, but plastics allow you to do some things metal won’t. Either way, it’s fun to switch it up, and I can see going back to plastic. Other than that, my bike is set up for a tall person, fist-full of post [laughs].
How do you place your bars?
I’m picky about this one—just past my headtube/forks. I take a flathead and etch an outline through the paint on my bars to save the spot.
As a musician and a fan, how has Whitney Houston’s death affected you?
Not at all.
How do you like your grips—thick, thin, new, or worn-out with holes in them?
Broken-in, for sure. But I wear out my grips in strange places, then I have to switch them out with some spots still new and other spots totally bald.
Does green make it mean?
Lean, mean, fun having machine.
Some might notice the grease on the middle of your pedal bodies and wonder why it’s there. Explain why there’s grease along the seams and how you like your spindle tightness.
These pedals open up like a sandwich when you take all the pins out, and the tighter you run your pins the less the pedal will spin. They are loaded with grease due to no bearings and only shims. I love running my pedals tight, so the pins are cranked, thus pushing out all the factory grease.
What’s your seat height rule?
Fist-full of post.
How do you like your brakes to feel?
Minimal tension on the springs, tons of rifle oil for the cables.
What’s the secret to having good front brakes?
Odyssey Slic Cable, and tons of lubricant. I use rifle oil—cheap and dialed.
If you were in the “Send Me An Angel” scene in Rad, what tricks would this bike be best for?
All of them!
What tire pressure do you run?
95 psi.
How do you like your chain tension and crank tightness?
Tight chain and tight cranks, no bearing spacer.
Are you concerned with bike weight? How much does this bike weigh?
I am, but I need a bike that’s practical. Everything on my bike is a good balance of strength and being lightweight. I think it’s 24 pounds.
Do you build and do all the work on your bikes?
I build my bikes. Wheels are hard to build for me. I had Kore Bikes in Tempe build these wheels. Thanks Kore.
Any thanks you want to give to anyone?
Sure, all my sponsors, Ramsdell, Bauer, Kyle Carlson, and friends everywhere that I have fun riding with. Ride BMX for the Bike Check.
Same trick, different angle. Watch out for those thorns. Photo: Mulligan
TAGS: Adam Banton, Eastern, Eastern Bikes, Odyssey
