Bike Check interview: 2019 UCI BMX World Champ Twan van Gendt (NED)

Jul 20, 2020

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4598 times

Name: Twan van Gendt
Sponsors: Redbull, N.Adriaanse transport, Team Oegema TVE, Meybo bikes, Shimano, HT components, Tubolito, Vee tire, Van Tilburg Bastianen group, LSKD.

How does it feel to have a special paint job on your bike?
Twan van Gendt: It feels amazing when a long term sponsor who already tries to be ahead of the field by giving us custom fixed rear end bikes comes up with the idea to paint a bike with a gold-plated logo and surprise me with it at Eurobike. Thanks again guys!

Do you always run the same gearing?
Twan van Gendt: I think these days, I'm not the only one anymore who tries some different setups on different tracks. Mostly I'm changing my my gear cause it's too big to get 4.5 cranks in before getting compressed at the bottom of the ramp.

What is the geometry and length of your frame?
Twan van Gendt: Honestly, no clue what the sizes are of my Meybo XXXL. I only know my back end of the bike: 15.5", the other dimensions I looked up for you: Top tube is 22.24" and down tube is 22.77".

Do you think you're missing out not riding a carbon frame?

Twan van Gendt: I've ridden a carbon bike in the past. For me it's hard to say if it's faster or slower. I think in our sport it's also partly preferences since we are 50% of the time in mid air and you still want to have a bit of flex in the turns.

Do you experiment much with sizes of your frame, stem, bars to find the right set-up?
Twan van Gendt: Quite a bit actually, I was running the same parts and set up for a while in the Dutch team but if I had an off day or something didn't felt good. I'm the guy who is changing gears and crank length mid race day. But after quitting the Dutch National Team I did change some parts on the bike because of the team and personal preferences. It took me some time to get the right adjustments again. But now things are on point and I love it.

Do you have something customized to make your bike more personal and perfect for you?
Twan van Gendt: I started this year with a custom matte black paint job on my Meybo and exchanged it for a custom rainbow bike half way through the 2019 season. The only thing I do to make it perfect for me is running my stem upside down to get that extra aerodynamics in ;)

Can you explain the chain device that you run?
Twan van Gendt: As most of you know I'm running a fixed back end. It allows me to change gears without changing my geometry on the bike so the bike always feels the same when I gate or doing skills at the track.

Usual tire pressure?
Twan van Gendt: Mostly I run the same tire pressure unless the turns are really flat or the tarmac is loosening up a bit. I put in 5.5 bars in the front and 6 in the rear.

What's a bike part you change on the regular?
Twan van Gendt: Chain, tires and gears for different trainings.

When will we see the bike part that you are working on?
Twan van Gendt: Good question, there is a lot involved during the process and testing but I hope somewhere in the next few years.

Please take us through your parts list:

Frame - Meybo Holeshot XXXL
Fork - SD Pro Tapered 1.5 Carbon fork
Bars - Renthal moto 20
Grips - Renthal ultratacky compound
Stem - SD
Headset - SD integrated headset
Brake lever - Shimano XTR
Brake - Shimano XTR
Cranks - Shimano DXR
Pedals - HT components SX
Sprocket - Renthal
BB - Shimano
Chain - KMC
Seat - Box
Seatpost - Box
Seatpost clamp - SD
Front hub - SD
Rear hub - SD sniper
Front rim - SD -X M58 Rim Carbonfiber
Rear rim - SD-X M58 Rim Carbonfiber
Spokes - SD
Tires - Vee tire Factory V1 and V3
Tubes - Tubolito Tubo BMX 20 inch