Why did you choose this particular frame fork set up?
The current Standard 250L I ride, has over the years refined itself to a light-weight version of the 250S (which I use to ride) Its responsive. light, slick and clean design, and just works for my riding style, I am not really interested in any of the bells and whistles on some frames out there.
What sort of riding does your F+F set up suit?
So, I am normally found at a skatepark, mini ramp, or more recently a car park, I hardly ever ride street or vert and never dirt (as its gets my bike dirty!) SO, for me my frame offers me the opportunity to able still ride ramps and flat on the same complete set up, I have never had different bikes for different disciplines, so it’s just a perfect fit for my riding choices.
What’s the steering set up like (i.e. Stem, Bar rake, Bar height etc)
Top Load Stem, Bars 8inch Rise, I always have a pretty level rake, definitely NOT Chicago style. If I am travelling abroad, I always mark up the bar and stem, so I know the position to set them back to when I rebuild it after the flight.
Which parts of your set up are “Old man friendly”?
My Profile seat, as its really comfortable, and I use a seat post as it should be used.
Brand loyalty. What makes you run the brands you use?
For me brand loyalty is a massive deal and I love to support rider owned companies. I have ridden Standard Bykes products since 1996 and Profile racing for even longer. I always looked up to Rick at Standard, and admired his riding, so meeting him, going to Rampage and Standard for the first time in 2002 was a real treat, I am very proud to say we are still friends to this day and I still get totally stoked if he likes a photo or a video I post.
Seeing the frames being made in house is an awesome experience. I like to see the end to end journey, it’s not a massive outfit, just Rick, Jess and their inhouse welder. If you lookback over the years so many great riders have ridden (just watch Style Cats) or still ride Standards look at Jamie Bestwick who has been riding custom trails bosses for a number of years now, and he can choose any bike he wants. So, it’s safe to say I am SBC Forever. The same with Profile, Matt at Profile does a great job with the products, they are all well-made and last the test of time.
Is there a part of your set up that’s stayed fairly consistent with over the years?
Pedals for sure with the exception on a few times running MKS graphite I have always run Shimano DX’s pedals. And brakes for me nothing comes close to a classic Dia Compe Brake Set Up (AD990 & Tech 77’s) with Odyssey cables
Is there one that has changed a lot?
Ha-ha, Innertubes, I don’t go for any of those fancy ones, the cheap ones from Poundland or wherever have always worked for me.
How has your perfect set up changed throughout the BMX eras?
Well my set up hasn’t really changed much over the last 22 years, with the evolution of A Headset, integrated cups, mid bottom brackets etc. For me these changes have made for the most part bike maintenance a thing of the past for my style of riding. Bikes just don’t break anymore. Before that bikes were crap, I was always changing parts, looking at pictures of Hoffman to see what he was riding, I got a GT mallet stem and Landing gear forks because I saw Mat riding them, thinking they would last me, Wrong !!!!!!, I still broke the stem bolt and cracked the forks. Going to 14mm rear axle was a real game changer, I was so sick of breaking peregrine rear axles on an ice pick and using an adjustable spanner to bend my rear dropouts back in shape. I went through a couple of free coaster periods playing with backwards tricks, but again early 14mm free coasters were always known to break, or worst engage when you didn’t want them to, I have a fully laced wheel with one of Rob Ridges bullet proof custom design free coasters, housed within a Profile shell, which he very kindly gave me for my 40th birthday a few years ago. I run this every now and then, it reminds me how much fun a good free coaster is and how it opens the doors for so many other tricks.
Any custom made or custom mods on your bike?
Currently, not really, only things I do is cut down the bolts on my rear brake blocks, so they don’t catch my shoe, and bend my levers to give my fingers more reach on my brakes.
Set Up
Frame
Standard Byke Company 250L 20.5 Bullitt Green with Metallic Flake and MIKEOBMX stamp
Fork
Standard Byke Company with Brake Lugs
Bars
Standard Byke Company 2 Piece 8-inch rise
Stem
Standard Byke Company Top Load
Grips
ODI Longnecks
Seat
Profile Pivotal
Seat post
Alone Bigger C
Seat Clamp
Profile Slim Jim
Pedals
Shimano DX
Cranks
Profile 175ml
Sprocket
Profile Ripsaw 28 tooth
Chain
BSD 1991 Half Link
Tires
Odyssey Path 1.85
Front Wheel
Sun Big Baller Rims with Profile Mini hub
Rear Wheel
Sun Big Baller Rims with Profile Mini hub 10 tooth
Front Brake
Dia Compe AD 990
Back Brake
Dia Compe AD 990
Levers
Dia Compe Tech 77
Gyro
Snafu Mobeus
Pegs
Snafu Titanium
