We are led to Falko Jordans place situated conveniently in the red light district for unbelievable bacon and eggs and some local herbal remedies, mint tea of course. We seemed to spend a lot of time enjoying herbal remedies here, thanks for that Falko you’re a legend. Out and about on a Amsterdam city bike (due to carrying 15kg of tees I had to leave the Old School Aero Reflex at home), which consisted of so much frame flex Josh Cox thought the bike had suspension! After 10 mins of negotiating near chaos, which is the streets of Amsterdam we rocked up at the first spot which Mark Vos had his eye on, it was at least a 10 set with a rail over 1 metre high. Two complications, the first being a tree with overhanging branches and the second being no run off before potential oblivion onto 30 or so Amsterdam City Bikes locked to the fence below. With Josh Cox dispatched into the tree we were ready to roll, lights, camera, action. Mark’s Hub ticks into action, leaps and we are then greete
d with the familiar clang and scraping of metal and before we know it Mark is at the bottom of the steps being manhandled by Boy Jansen, good catch dude!Half an hour later we are stood in front of one of the narliest transfer to wall ride’s you are likely to witness. A ramp (sloping piece of architecture) which started nigh on two foot high and rising to at least 12 foot and covered in glass tiles. The idea being to bunnyhop onto the manmade ramp whilst negotiating the glass tiles, then making another 10 foot gap transfer to wall ride. Of course, there are concrete bollards underneath so if you hang up short on the landing you can guarantee a trip to A & E. Full speed ahead it is then, good job it’s the only way Mark knows how to ride.
Daniel Wedemeijer and Nicky van de Veen turn up to see what the street guys are up to on their kids bikes. Daniel takes up taxi duties and with Falko locked in the boot decides that we should be using the streets of Amsterdam as a race circuit between street spots, which was hilarious for the guys in the car but probably less so for Falko in the boot!We screech to a halt at our next street spot of the day, in front of us is a steep set of steps(12-14 steps if I can recollect correctly) which Mark not only plans on jumping but is going to throw in a wall ride too. You may think this perfectly reasonable (if you’re a nut case) but it’s the run off or lack of that is the concern. The run off consists of a maximum 12 foot of pathway before this runs out and turns into a canal. Our catching mitts successfully installed Mark makes the wall ride but slides on the pathway and is not happy and makes a return run. Second time out he pulls the trick cleanly but nearly wipes out Louie who is holding a lighting boom and the pair teeters at the side of the canal. Time to call it a day before someone goes for a swim!
Nathan Barrow/We Are Level
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.