Whether experiencing a place for the very first time or revisiting a cherished city and its memory-triggering landmarks, the act of traveling often conjures a distinct emotional response (and perhaps even more so during a pandemic year that has halted most travel). For Dakota Roche, that city is Philadelphia, and those landmarks— both discreet and iconic—were a welcomed breath of fresh air after being homebound for most of 2020.
Together with Vans, Dakota made his way back to the City of Brotherly Love after an eight-year hiatus, and spent some time re-learning the ins and outs of spots that have held a special place in his heart since his pilgrimage there nearly 13 years ago. In Vans’ latest BMX edit by Calvin Kosovich, Seeking
Bonusmaterial - Time Out Ljugarbänken by childstoreTV
Name: Alvin Mullins
Hometown: Bell Gardens, CA. USA.
Started riding BMX in: 1975
Number of bikes in the collection: 42 vintage bikes. Webco, Two Wheeler, JMC, Cook Bros, G-Boy, Dan Gurney, Matthews, Haro, Skyway. Race Inc, SE...
Is your BMX past more Racing or Freestyle?
Alvin Mullins: Freestyle. I rode skateparks and ramps.
Does that reflect on the bikes that you are collecting?
Alvin Mullins: Not really, I do have a couple Haro Freestylers but mostly collect '70s BMX bikes and a few late '70s early '80s racing bikes.
Do you try to track down bikes that you rode in the past?
Mongoose Legion L500. With the Legion Series, Mongoose offers a full line of freestyle BMX bikes for riders of all ages and ability levels. As Mongoose's flagship model, the L500 is designed to take on the raddest ramps and quarterpipes, and handle the abuse that advanced riders can throw at it!
-Mongoose full 4130 Chromoly frame, tapered headtube, removable brake mounts, and mid BB shell.
-175mm 2-piece tubular chromoly hollow spindle cranks with a 25T alloy chainring and mid sealed bearing bottom bracket.
-20” x 2.4” tires mounted on wide aluminum double wall 36H rims with 3/8” female axle front hub and 9T cog and sealed Freecoaster rear hub
Axel Gonzalez filmed and Edited by Juampa Meretti and Agustin Bertolotti.
Name: Aaron Paffenholz
Age: 23
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Kunstform BMX Shop, Cult, Éclat, Traffic-distribution, Fracture
---The FAT favorite list---
-Spot to ride: There are too many Streetspot that I love to ride, but the Northbrigade in Cologne is definitely my favorite Skatepark.
-BMX video: I think everyone’s first thought is Deadline
-Website: Uuuuuh idk..google?!
-Web video: Paradise from Felix & Jordan is such a motivating Video
-Food: Burger or Pizza
-Travel destination: I really want to go to Cali one day.
-Car: I‘m not really into cars but a Campervan is gold.
We made another mix tape, I can't thank all the dudes that came out rode and got clips for this and all you that support us in any way.
A few weeks back we posted the 'Curfew In California' video, featuring United's Seamus Mckeon, Andrew Lazaruk and Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla riding unfamiliar terrain in the Californian sunshine, 90% of which was a selection of top quality pool excursions. Watch the behind-the-scenes action from their time in the deep end.
Bean
William
Austin
Austin
Alex
Dalton
Owen
Jose
Pete
Name: Jason Eley (Jay)
Hometown: Consett, County Durham, UK
Started riding BMX in: 1983
Number of bikes in the collection: 2 bikes, my collection is based on Haro 1984, I have most of the items from the '84 catalogue including the catalogue.
Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Jason Eley: Probably 2001 when I was going through my RIDE magazine and noticed a UK shop selling one of my dream bikes, a complete Haro '84 Sport still in the box, I bought one and never stopped
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.