Daniel Dhers: I've been traveling before I even rode BMX for a reason or another but my bike has definitely gotten me places I never been and today is my tool to go to new places, so yes! In Venezuela, how did you get around before you had a drivers license?
Daniel Dhers: To go outside Caracas I used to travel by bus for the most part, around town none of my friends had cars or driver's licenses so if we wanted to ride a spot anywhere we would have to pedal sometimes a couple hours to go ride some stairs, back then it was crazy.
What was the most people you had in a car to go somewhere? Daniel Dhers: I think it was 9 or 10 people and their bikes on a 2 door car, we were driving from spot to spot and collecting people. We put 3 bikes on the bike rack and stacked them all the way to the front of the roof.
Even if you don’t have to travel to a BMX contest, you seem to get on the road by yourself traveling the world. What made you decide to take a trip to Europe in November?
Daniel Dhers: I travel to events for the most part and I never get to see places or just chill so I decided I wanted to visit a few different places and do a little adventure, I asked one of my best friends if he wanted to use his passport for his first time and he was in so we just drove around Europe to ride and visit places.
Where did you go? Daniel Dhers: We ended up hitting Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Germany.
Do you mind doing shop visits, demos, public appearances or do you use those opportunities to meet new people and see new places?
Daniel Dhers: Not really, I visited Front Ocean BMX and Calle Marconni in Italy, also did a demo in Italy at the Ski Pass, filmed in Slovenia with Red Bull, went to the RB headquarters in Austria, etc on this trip and that was a "Vacation" trip. I always try to do something everywhere I go, sometimes the scenes are small and I try to visit their local spots or shops to support it.
What airlines do you usually use? Daniel Dhers: Well US Airways is the only airline who flies from Greenville so that one for the most part, Im usually on the Star Alliance since is where I got the most miles but I recently just got moved to Gold on American so I guess I've been using that one somehow without noticing.
Do you put the hoodie on and lean against the window trying to sleep or do you chat with your neighbor on long flights? Daniel Dhers: I usually try to just go to sleep or mind my own business, sometimes there's random people on planes who just want to chat so I always try to look pissed off, unless you are a rider, a girl or have the craziest story I'm not trying to chat on the plane.
What are some of the things you bring on board to kill some time during a long flight?
Daniel Dhers: Ipad, Ipod, Itouch, rubiks' cube, chinese puzzles, books, sometimes PSP and a travel guitar while I'm on long connections.
How long does it take you to pack your bag to go on a trip? Daniel Dhers: Bike 15mins, clothes 10mins, backpack it's always ready. So around 30 mins max for everything?
Is your bag packed the night before you go, or do you do it last minute hoping you will finish the job in the morning before you need to leave?
Daniel Dhers: I've do both, If I'm at a contest I pack my bike once I head back to the room before going out. If Im not leaving at 6am Ill do it next morning before leaving but I also have not gone back to the room and sometimes I have to pack at 4am or 5am and pull an all nighter.
What’s your trick to avoid paying for your bike on (American) flights? Daniel Dhers: Golf bag, plain and easy unless you are flying out of State College then you are doomed no matter how you pack it.
Do you panic when your bike doesn’t show up when you arrive?
Daniel Dhers: If I have to ride that same day then a little bit but for the most part it just pisses me off I have to do a line for the claim more than the fact the bike is missing.
What has been the best trip you’ve taken? 
Which one was the worst where everything just went wrong? Daniel Dhers: Probably the first time I went to NASS in England which it was somewhat a riot back then in a random cow field, clothes didn't show up, cold and rainy, with the same clothes for 3 days, sleeping inside my bike bag on a random trailer, showering when possible and the best part was my credit cards didn't worked so I had NO MONEY! The bag showed up the last day after everything was done and it was chilling outside the event so anybody could have taken it. I gotta thank everybody who helped me out that weekend, I was losing my mind.
2011 season is coming up, any international travel on the
schedule for Daniel Dhers? Daniel Dhers: Yes! Im going to Sweden, France, Germany, Croatia, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and the US, Im sure more stuff will be added up once the season kicks in.
Any travel tips/advice to the rookies out there?
Daniel Dhers: Always pack extra socks and underwear!
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.