What’s Inside - Ride BMX Issue 155, May 2009
FatTony
- March 25 2009
- 2,747 views
- 33 comments
In this issue we have an amazing article with Stephen Murray and Mike Aitken about the crashes that changed their lives, a full-length Darin Read interview, and articles with Garrett Reynolds, Colin Mackay, Edwin DeLaRosa, Dustin Griess, and more. Keep reading for the issue’s full contents.
Subscriber’s Shipping Date: March 26, 2009
Newsstand On Sale Date: April 14, 2009
On The Cover: When Chris Doyle got to this spot he figured he’d either do a 180 or a superman—two completely different tricks, and Doyle is one of the only dudes we could picture doing the latter one any justice. Chris “BD” Doyle, superman personified in Long Beach, California. Photo by Jeff Zielinski.
- Departments -
First Words
Editor In Chief Keith Mulligan reflects back on the serious injuries Stephen Murray and Mike Aitken have suffered and adds in his two cents about the helmet issue. Here you go…Ride has finally addressed “the helmet issue” and it has never been so personal.
Start
A generator and a few sets of work lights can go a long way.
Up Front
Sponsor Block, Disabled List, Fine Print, What’s On Ridebmx.com…they are all there, and thankfully Disabled List is short this month.
Pro Q&A - Garrett Reynolds
You’ve seen him annihilate every contest in his path for the past two years or so, you’ve seen him put out one of the most intense video parts in BMX history, and now you’ve asked him a slew of questions…and he answered everything from the Toronto BMX Jam to small town living to zebra stripes.
Products
We couldn’t ride without products, so it’s no wonder why so many of our readers are psyched on the pieces of metal and plastic that make our bikes go. New pedals, bars, frames, forks, completes, and more are all featured this month.
Soft Goods
Animal, Fox, Vans, Diamondback, Nike 6.0, Volume, Colony, and Skavenger all have new apparel and accessories to show off this month.
Diversions
We caught up with Odyssey’s “Web site Guy” and asked him a bunch of geeked-out tech questions about his day to day and the work he does. We also found out what Davey Watson is listening to these days on his iPod.
Pro Shop - Post
Edwin DeLaRosa and Troy M. recently opened a shop in Brooklyn, New York, that invites riders to “Post” up and chill, so we interviewed Edwin about his new business venture.
Glimpse
Sure you’ve all seen Rad (we hope), but what other silver screen movies have shown BMX over the years? Well, according to this month’s glimpse, there are at least 23 more and we give you a quick peek at the memorable riding scenes from each of them.
Focus
Street, dirt, and vert are all covered. Go ahead and rip them out to tape up in your school locker or on your bedroom wall.
Bio - Dustin Griess
The man behind interbmx.com is not only a computer whiz and entrepreneur, but also a very good rider.
Letters
Everything from the typical kid asking for industry advice to a poet with a few haikus made it in this month’s letters section.
Finish - Colin Mackay
After making the move from Australia to the U.S. ten years ago, Colin Mackay has plenty to talk about for his Finish interview.
- Features -
The Crash Factor - The Two Falls That Shook BMX
Stephen Murray and Mike Aitken both talk about their accidents like you have never heard before. Then their friends all chime in to tell how the horrible ordeal affected their lives, too. Brian Foster, John Jennings, Alistair Whitton, Chase Hawk, Chris Doyle, and a few others all speak on the crashes.
Fast Forward - Dizz Hicks, Art, & Freestyle Collide In Queens, New York
Dizz Hicks may very well be the king of the kickturn ramp, but also is a talented artist who had an art show in a museum complete with ramps that were sessioned throughout the night.
Sidehack Love - Greyboy & Truly Odd Revamp The Hack
You may have noticed an increase in sidehack action lately online, but we went a step further and met up with two of the modern day sidehack gurus for a photo shoot and interview.
Darin Read & The Northwest: Til Death Do They Part
After a tape recorder malfunction with the first interview, we sent Darin a blank tape and told him to fill the tape with random thoughts over a two-week period. The thoughts he laid out compliment the Northeast trails, park, and street photos of his first interview in the magazine.
To upload photos or videos, 
»
March 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
aiken was not wearing a hemet at pinters jam but needs loot$$$$$$ for him??????????????????????????????????????????????not trying to be a dick but come on!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
this is one issue i wanna read for sure!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
yeaa i agree with the first comment, we shouldnt have to pay for someone elses mistake…its like someone getting in a car accident, and the citizens having to repay the person…it doesnt make any sense…
March 25th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Dustin Griess!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
It’s not the same, at all. You’re not a citizen that has to pay to either Mikey nor Stephen. They’re both just fellow people, riders who are in need of help, whatever help it is anyone is willing to give them. If you’re not willing, noone is forcing you to be. It’s completely up to you.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I also wanted to say that this seems like an interesting issue. Looking forward to reading it
The cover is also awesome. Doyle rules. What do those initials “BD” mean?
March 25th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Not sure which video you watched, but Mike Aitken was not riding at Heath Pinter’s jam two weeks ago. And he has already said he will be wearing a helmet from now on when he rides. (Just like I do since I fractured my skull.)
March 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
wow alex ur a fuckin dick u would never say that in front of true bmxers cause they would probably beat the shit out of u instead u say it on the internet like the fuckin pussy u r bmx is a clos tight family so if one of ur freinds or ur self got injured like that wouldnt u want help or to help them out? think about what u say before u say it dumb shit
March 25th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
davey watson kicks ass yeah doe!
March 25th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Alex, that has to be the most insensitive thing I have ever read on a BMX thread. I have never said this, but I wish you would just quit riding at this point. There is a reason we are helping these guys, its because they have given EVERYTHING they had for us and our passion. That honestly made me sick to my stomach to read… I hope I never ride with you and I certainly cant say I look forward to ever conversing further with you… unbelievable amounts of stupidity dude.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
im just suprised that more people didnt get involved when chad kagy or gary young got hurt. now when cory nastazio got hurt that was his own falt to drink and drive
March 25th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Bike riding is dangerous. Wearing a helmet is a good thing. Should be a good read.! I almost watched Jennings die taking a bar to the gut on a truckdriver gone bad. Not too many people know that. Bike riding is DANGEROUS!! fuck it, im buying a scooter
March 25th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Alex, be careful what you say man!! That’s pretty low and really disrespectful. Mike and Stephen have given everything they have to BMX, and they do presently. Stephen still attends and supports big competitions, and Mike is giving 110% to be back on a bike… but then you say that!!? C’mon man! Things have progressed because of what they’ve accomplished.
Although, I think if it would’ve been known to more people that the other pro riders got hurt doing what they love, more riders would help. I didn’t know Gary got injured until it was printed in Ride, same goes for Kagy. I respect both of those riders just as much as I do Mike and Stephen.
Otherwise. Doyle, you’re a bad ass! Nice shot man! Good job on the shutter too, Z! I’m excited to see this issue!
March 25th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Really think this issue should have bumped it up to 3 crashes and mentioned Jeff Crawn.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Should be an interesting issue for sure, looking forward to it in my mailbox next month. Have those 2 crashes changed BMX? I still see the vast majority of riders with no helmet on, pros included..
March 25th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
hahaha alex is going to get his ass beat. what an idiot
March 26th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Big Dick Doyle
March 26th, 2009 at 12:56 am
“Really think this issue should have bumped it up to 3 crashes and mentioned Jeff Crawn.”
Jeff Crawn is mentioned in this issue in an editorial Keith Mulligan wrote. The article itself is centered around interviews with Mike Aitken and Stephen Murray, and how their crashes affected their peers. Jeff Crawn had a terrible accident riding his bike, so did Ron Wilkerson, and so many other riders (professional and not). Seeing as how recently both Mike Aitken and Stephen Murray’s crashes occurred, they directly affect this generation of riders. I hope that makes some sense to you, Mr. Ghost of BMX Past.
Oh, and thanks Jason E. I’m glad you’re psyched on the Doyle cover photo.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I mentioned Jeff Crawn in my editorial in the issue. While Jeff’s crash and resulting injury was horrible and tragic, I think it’s safe to say that it didn’t have the impact on the BMX community as a whole that Stephen and Mikey’s crashes did. No disrespect to Jeff whatsoever. Many riders/people never knew about it. One could say that he wasn’t as known as Stephen and Mikey, and it could definitely be said that at the time of his injury the world wasn’t as connected as it is today with our current online world of instant information and constant contact. Thanks for thinking of Jeff and bringing up his name.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:04 am
You’re right, a majority of riders haven’t started wearing helmets. Some have—especially in Utah and Pennsylvania—but not everyone. You’ll even see pros in the article (unfortunately) not wearing helmets. But crashes like Stephen’s and Mikey’s can cause different types of change. Let’s not judge an article by it’s title alone.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Wow. Must say that I haven’t ever anticipated an issue of Ride as much as this one. I’m in a full face now after smashing my face 2wice.
…Glad to see Daniel Dhers wearing a mouth piece now.
…Watching Scotty Cranmer’s teeth slide across the floor after his crash on that box jump makes my skin crawl like no other.
And… quite possibly my most favorite cover ever.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I can’t wait to get this. I’m definently going to read everything.
But seiously people, no body is making you pay for Aitken’s mistakes.Just do it if you want to help a fellow Bmxer out.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
i wanna get this soo bad where can i get it at?
March 26th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
You can subscribe here:
https://secure.palmcoastd.com/pcd/eSv?iMagId=08915&i4Ky=HB2D
A safe bet for finding Ride BMX on newsstands is in Barnes & Noble and Borders. Other newsstands are hit and miss, so you might have to look around. Subscribe and it will be delivered right to your mailbox and it’s a lot cheaper.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I think RideBMX has some disproportionate influence in this area. The % of riders on the cover wearing a helmet is extremely low (the recent issue notwithstanding). You guys have to realize that you have influence in this area. There are thousands of head injuries that go unreported because kids associate being on the cover of RideBMX with not wearing a helmet…kind of an “if it ain’t dead-man, it ain’t shit” attitude being promulgated by your staff.
A simple rule “no helmet, no cover” would go a long way.
Admittedly you could make the argument, “we just photograph the riders, and if they don’t wear them, we don’t care.” That said, like affirmative action, after 15 years of the rule, the rule itself becomes obviated.
Just my $0.02. I’m throwing it in there not because I want you to fail, but because I want you to succeed. Your own marketing data indicates that ’serious injury’ is one of the three primary reasons kids stop riding bikes (and stop buying parts, which reduces revenues for manufacturers who advertise with you).
Really looking forward to this issue (as always).
Sincerely,
John Dale
RedEndo BMX
Curbrider LLC
Tucson, Arizona
PS - still waiting to hear back from your advertising staff about doing a spot…what gives? You guys forget about me or what?
March 26th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
They deserve all the help that they can get, and all the coverage they can get to spread their thoughts. I’m proud of have 2 guys like that as fellow bike riders (even I don’t know any personnaly). First time I heard about Jeff C. was in the first Taj interview in RIDE, 1995, I guess. They all deserve our respect and help.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I dont think that they forgot about you, im pretty sure they dont want to advertize scooters because thats not what bmx is about
March 26th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Cool deal, Keith.
Totally agree with your point, and am glad Jeff got a mention.
Looking forward to this issue in the mail.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Yeah, it did.
I was brought up in BMX believing Jeff’s deal kinda influenced stronger parts being made, but I could be wrong. Totally didn’t mean what I said to come off negatively. If I did, my bad.
And yes, the cover is $$$$$.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
man its suck what happened to Murray and Mike. But most of my fellow riders still say that those were freak accidents. like i still dont ride with a helmet so i dont get joked on but damn. i’m really considiering just buyin one.
March 27th, 2009 at 1:57 am
“I can count on one foot how many helmets have been featured on the cover of RideBMX in the last 12 months. Often times, your opinion pieces and responses to reader letters recommend violent, dangerous, criminal behavior. Your rag promotes a culture of sexual abuse to women (as the father of two little girls there is no quicker way to incite me to aim my metaphorical sniper rifle square between your eyes), alcoholism, drug abuse, and daredevilism. You flaunt these social attributes proudly like a badge of honor, like our culture hadn’t already discovered the danger of these self-destructive bahaviors in the 1960’s.”
I’ll be sure to tell our ad guys about your opinion of our magazine. Like I said in the Cranks Buyer’s Guide, your two cents have been spent, man. Disconnect your computer.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
John,
Over 30% of Ride covers have had riders with helmets on. Not a huge percentage, but close to one out of every three. We don’t do specific “cover” shoots, we pick the cover photo considering a number of variables. Riders are going to do what they want to do regardless of what we suggest or tell them. If seeing some of their own friends and heroes paralyzed and fighting for their lives doesn’t give them enough motivation to wear a helmet, us telling them they may or may not get a cover based on helmets surely isn’t going to influence them.
We had a helmet rule with Snap magazine years ago and it just didn’t work. I don’t need to explain the minutia of it all.
Please don’t put words into our mouths or assume our attitude (“we just photograph the riders, and if they don’t wear them, we don’t care.”). You don’t know any one of the Ride BMX staff personally. If you did you’d know that we have suggested that riders put on a helmet for things we have shot, and we’ve also let riders know when whatever they wanted to try was probably over their head and should be reconsidered. No one here wants anyone to get hurt, especially not for a photo in a magazine.
As for advertising your Curbrider pedals in Ride BMX, sorry, but we’re not cool with promoting them in the magazine. The comments from the post on them back up our decision:
“What the fuck is this? Is this a joke?”
“I originally thought this was a joke…and I just realized it’s real..wow…huge thumbs down on this product.”
“This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen. I hope I never see anyone with these on their bike.”
“This is a great injustice.”
“That is definitely the dumbest product EVER.”
“Wow. Fuck that.”
“What the fuck is this shit? If I wanted a push scooter I’d buy one.”
“Jon you are a loser please get away from BMX! I knew it from the beginning, now look what you have done. You have become the laughing stock of BMX.”
“Low top tubes are tolerable but this is ridiculous.”
“Stupid idea.”
“Yeah I have to say say, umm, stupid fucking idea.”
“This is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. This isn’t innovative in any way, this is a joke to the whole BMX world, I say get out of BMX if your gonna come up with retarded stuff like this. Or at least keep it to yourself.”
“This is the gayest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“What the hell??Are you kidding me? This is so stupid but anyone that runs these pedals or even rides a bike with them is an idiot and should get as far away from this sport as possible.”
“Isn’t pedalling a huge part of bikes? This product is just a bad idea.”
“That is horrible. Kick yourself in the ass.”
“Not to be a prick, but why was this even dignified by being posted?”
—Keith
April 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
“Riders are going to do what they want to do regardless of what we suggest or tell them.”
I first want to point out how you want John Dale to not put words into your mouth, while at the same time you have no problem putting them into riders mouths by your above quoted statement.
The strength of the stance taken in this statement can be equally applied to your magazines standards in the way that if there is no helmet there is no cover. You just have to be willing to take that position. As long as you agree that your magazine has some effect on the bmx community (obviously disagreeing would give you no reason to publish it and should result in your immediate firing) you have to assume SOME responsibility for the injuries to riders like Mikey and Stephen, as they were undoubtedly influenced by other riders and publications like yours and clearly your average position is no helmet=better cover chance. This influence puts you in a position of great power, and with power comes great responsibility. I am happy to hear that you have about 30% of your issues covered with dome-protection but I think excusing your promotion of the helmetless standard with the statement I quoted above is little more than your typical political cop-out and has truly damaged your reputation with me… a PAYING SUBSCRIBER. If you would have chosen your words better you could have come across as the activist who is eager to do something about it….. “We have improved from little helmet covers to nearly 30%…” “We are working on ways to make using a helmet more popular…” …but instead you spent over half of your space lashing out a potential customer and sounding more like the person who could give a rip less about more of his readers wearing helmets.
I love your magazine, I am happy to see it in my mail box each month, but as both a journalist and business person, the above post was an EPIC FAIL.