I tried to learn every trick i saw in magazines. Andy Ruffle came to our town to do a demo around 82, which was amazing and within two weeks my mates and i had learnt every trick he did on the day.
Jason Boyd
Age?
51
Location?
Barnstaple, North Devon, UK. since 2005. Originally from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire
Never stopped, New Starter or Comeback King?
I don’t think I`ve been without a BMX since Christmas day 1980, but there have been a few quiet periods along the way.
Getting too much into cars, girls and partying during the late 80`s and early 90`s.
The settling down and having kids era, Plus the inevitable time off for bigger injuries.
Bike?
I ride a 21” Mankind Getaway, (The Issac Lesser model), with Alone Hitchforks. James Hitchcox (Zeal bmx) has very kindly helped me out on most of my bike setups over the last 6 years or so.
I run 2 brakes, 4 pegs and a freecoaster. I`ve rode a freecoaster for nearly 3 years now. It took a few months to get used to it, but I love it now.
Where do you ride?
Mostly at my local concrete, Rock Park, Barnstaple. The infamous “Bogey Trails” are about 50 metres from the park, which is great in the summer months. There are a few other decent outdoor parks and a couple of ramps within a 40 minute drive. Plus Toby Parker and Kye Forte have just built a good sized tarmac surfaced pump track, 10 minutes drive from me. I managed to smash myself up on it before it officially opened. My nearest decent indoor park is Mount Hawke, just over a 2 hr drive away and I try to get there at least once a month in the winter. As well as a few trips in the summer tied in with a trip to the awesome “Track” in Portreath.
Whats the scene like there?
The scene here is good. My local park is always busy and has a fun community vibe. BMXers, skaters and scooter kids all getting along. Most of the rad older teenage skaters and riders were on scooters 10 years ago so its been cool to see them all use scooters as a stepping stone to greater things. (if they haven’t naturally moved on by 15, I start to take the piss a bit and explain to them that if they continue to play on the scooter, they will struggle to get a girlfriend.) The trails are starting to get a good regular crew of riders and helpers too. Some young guns coming through and a decent number of older comeback kids from Barnstaple`s original dirt jump crew.
Tell us little about your trick team days in the 80’s? Who did you ride for? Where did you do shows?
I tried to learn every trick i saw in magazines. Andy Ruffle came to our town to do a demo around 82, which was amazing and within two weeks my mates and i had learnt every trick he did on the day. My dad had become chairman of our local bmx club, “The Hemel Rad Riders” He made us a quarter pipe and a kickturn ramp and i rode them a lot.
A few of us started representing the club doing demos at local fetes and fayres and i suppose I started to get pretty good. In 1984 there was a big BMX event at Pontin’s in Morecambe. It was predominantly a race event sponsored by BMX Weekly and Freestyle BMX Magazine. Loads of riders, teams and clubs from all over the country turned up for it. I wasn’t going to enter the freestyle comp as i didn’t think i was good enough but my dad assured me that i was! The comp followed a demo by Mike Pardon and Andy Preston who were judging. I tied for 1st place in the 14 and over category and Stewart PEPI Winder won the under 14s. A week later i was asked to ride for the Peugeot/Levis freestyle team. They had secured a demo contract with a lot of the big uk holiday camps. Butlins, Ladbrokes and Warner, as well as many smaller private ones.
I think there were 6 pairs of us covering the whole uk coastline. I was paired up with the amazing Pat Robinson from coventry. He was team captain, a superclass racer (still racing at 56!), with a decent bag of tricks and cousin of big Trevor Robinson, the Birmingham Wheels legend. I think Pat was 20 or 21 at the time and i was 16. We’d start in Gt Yarmouth on a Monday and worked our way down to Margate by Friday, doing 3 to 4 demos a day, on tennis courts etc if dry or it was raining we’d do demos on the dancefloor of the clubhouse. We also managed to squeeze in visits to Rom and Gillingham parks on a weekly basis, We had a sign written van with a bolt together 6ft quarter pipe and wedge ramp in the back. We were’nt getting paid much but we were living the dream and i’d have done it for nothing to be honest. I learnt a hell of a lot that Summer.
How and why did it all come to an end?
I think it just faded out over the next couple of years once the holiday camp stuff finished, we also did demos on ice rinks as our french tyre sponsor, Wolber had developed a super soft compound that did actually work on cut up ice. I also continued to do more local demos with some of my local riding buddies and wanted to get myself a better bike. I purchased an Eddie Fiola GT Performer in late 85 and went back to privateering.
Do you mostly Ride Solo or in a crew?
I’m happy to ride solo as i’ve done so for many years, but theres usually someone to ride with everywhere i go. There are few other older people to ride with locally but most of the local riders are much younger. I love riding with those guys as they push me a bit more to try new stuff.
How often do you ride?
If its dry I’ll try and get at least an hour or so after work most days. Winters are tough and wet here and i suffer so much from cabin fever that i will often ride in the wet, just to keep me sane.
I love the fact that you and the Harrow crew are always up for a road trip to ride. Do you think it’s important to get out there and visit new places to ride?
Its so important and so much fun to cruise up to a new place and ride with your buddies. Especially if its on a weekday and all the kids are at school. I’m more than happy to take days off work to have fun and make memories. I only work to live these days. I’ve had a few good friends die very young and this and a couple other events in my life, have made me change my ways.
Do you think the kids these days seem less into the whole “road trip vibe”? If so why?
I’m happy to say my local young guns do get it. I’d like to think i’ve inspired /nagged them to get out there and try new places. They have not long come back from Barcelona and have been heading to Corby, Hastings, Cardiff and alike.
I do more miles on road trips than i do for work. The Ride On ones are always the best of course. Its so good to ride with so many like minded souls, regardless of their skill level. Everyone leaves smiling.
Every time I see you recently you seem to have progressed riding wise – How do you approach riding? And why do you think you’re still progressing?
In the last couple of years i’ve had a few people that i respect greatly, come and tell me that i’m riding better now than ever.
I think this is purely down to spending more time on the bike and approaching things with more confidence in my ability. I try and set myself a goal of learning a couple of new things a week, no matter how small. Also riding with some of the Ride On crew has definitely pushed me forwards. If you have a day out Mike O’Connell, you will head home with a new trick in the bag.
Ive definitely been continually inspired by many of the Ride On members edits. An endless supply of new ideas and challenges.
Whats the story for you and injuries now that you’re an older dude?
Ive had some big ones. Broken neck C5, Open fracture of right lower leg tib and fib (twice), left knee rebuild and repair including synthetic PCL replacement, both wrists a couple of times, ribs, fingers, concussions, stitches etc. My most recent injury worthy of a mention, was last year, when I fractured my heel and broke a toe in Reubens park, in Malaga on the last day of a family holiday.
If you’re going to skate or BMX, you will be going to hospital on a fairly regular basis. My family and friends gave up asking me to give up many years ago.
Do you always pad up?
I wear a lid a lot more now than i did a few years back. Ive seen too many big head injuries since the number of concrete parks has risen. I’ll also wear kneepads at the bigger parks or on the trails. I should put shin pads on more but they have been hit so many times in the last 40 years I hardly feel a thing on impact.
You also Skate and surf (you’re the whole package!!!), How did you divide your time between BMX, skate and surf? Which comes first?
Hence the nickname…The Grandad of Rad!
These days BMX comes first. 10 years ago the answer would have been surfing, but i don’t do as much of that lately as the cold winter days don’t seem so appealing. Ive been a skater longer than a BMXer. I don’t go mad on the board but always like to roll around on it first to get a feel for a park and get the old limbs moving.
Do you do any exercise or stretching to help with BMX fitness and/or injury prevention?
I always have a good stretch before riding especially after a long drive. My job is active so that keeps me fairly fit and in decent shape. I do often try and ride the mile and a half to the local skatepark instead of driving, doing a few manuals and bunnyhops along the way means you’re warmed up before you get there and its a fun ride.
My girlfriend gets me doing a bit of yoga which helps a lot. I also use an indo board. Great fun and helps strengthen muscles around the knees and ankles as well as aiding balance and core strength.
I also have an old pair of bars strapped to the roof of my garage. If my back is sore or something feels out of place, I literally just hang off them for as long as possible and let me spine straighten out and shoulder joints etc pop back into place.
Personally I think that the best way to prevent injury is to ride more, as the better and more confident you become, the less likely you are to crash.
Do you sometimes struggle for motivation to get out and ride?
I’m hardly ever short of the desire to ride. Sometimes the body says no but not very often. When you get to your fifties, you realise that it could all end tomorrow, so I am going to grasp every opportunity.
What about Eating and Booze? Do you try to watch these so you can keep on riding BMX?
I eat pretty well, not strict, but fairly balanced. I have a sweet tooth but i seem to be able to burn it off through work or play. Plus, I don’t spend much time sitting on my arse in front of a TV.
I’m not much of a drinker, but i’m partial to a smoke to unwind and relax with. Each to their own, but I believe in the medicinal values and its benefits to the immune system and healing process.
What do you miss about the BMX scene of times gone by?
I don’t miss anything. I relish all the memories, friendships and amazing moments I’ve had along the way. There have been so many, but I sit here now, looking forward to the next time I get to ride. I don’t get people who get stuck in their past. The ones that still only listen to bands from their era of growing up, the ones that say they’re into BMX, but are actually only into collecting and profiteering from a time gone by. It’s nice to see an old bike from your past, or finding the dream ride you could never afford as a kid. Ive recently got hold of a Peugeot freestyler frame and forks and I’m going to enjoy putting it together and actually riding it. I know it will feel awful compared to my current bike, but I’m looking forward to seeing what’s possible on a bike from my past.
What’s next for you?
I’m just gonna keep on keeping on for as long as i can and hopefully get a few nemesis tricks done this coming year.
I might get a full face helmet and dabble in the foam pit and on the vert ramp.
You always seem to ride with a smile on your face. Do you think riding as an older guy helps keep you positive and happy as you age?
100%. I am just as excited turning up to a new skatepark now as I was when my dad took me to my first one on a skateboard in 1975.
I see some dudes riding, looking so serious, and beating themselves up over not making one trick. I’m baffled by that attitude.
Normal life can be absolutely mundane and shit a lot of the time, so when you get that chance to escape from it and go to a park and do what makes you happy, how can you do it without a smile on your face?
Any last words?
I have to say thank you to you for creating this page and organising the events. So many of us were just riding our bikes alone before Ride On existed. When I joined and drove up to Nottingham for 3 Feet High and Rising in 2016, I had no idea what a game changer it would be for me and for so many others, So many rad people.
Good times are ahead, so Love the life you live and live the life you love.
Jason Boyd is an ambassador for The Old Guys Rule