Bike Check interview: Tom Tucker's RADIO Solar (AUS)

Oct 05, 2020

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4046 times

Name: Tom Tucker
Sponsors: Factory Full Tilt, Radio Raceline, Fly Racing, Promax Components, Tioga, HT Components, BMX International.
Mechanic: Tsquared Bike co

9 times world champion at age 15. Where (what countries) has BMX taken you so far?
Tom Tucker: Countries I have raced in so far are New Zealand, USA, England, Colombia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Netherlands and Australia of course.

Congrats on winning the 2020 Sam WIlloughby Medallist award. Did it come as a surprise?

Tom Tucker: Thank you. It definitely came as a surprise. The line up of nominees was very strong.

How was testing one of the first new Radio Bikes carbon frames. Were you nervous?
Tom Tucker: No I wasn’t nervous only excited to test out the Carbon frames.

How long did it take you to be comfortable on it?
Tom Tucker: Within my first ride I was comfortable riding it. Before my carbon I rode a Radio Quartz which has almost identical geometry to the Solar frame so I was only getting used to the stiffness of the Carbon frame.

What is the geometry and length of your race frame?
Tom Tucker: Pro XXL 21.75tt

Do you ride with flat pedals when you're just messing about or are you always clipped in?
Tom Tucker: When on the race track I almost always wear clips but I do a lot of mountain biking and I also ride dirt jumps and things like that where I wear flat pedals.

Are you picky about how much your bike weighs?
Tom Tucker: Doesn’t bother me too much. I just like a proportionally weighted bike.

Do you like bike maintenance including the cleaning?
Tom Tucker: Yes I clean my own bike and do basic maintenance quite often.

How do you like disc brakes, are they better for manual control than V-brakes?
Tom Tucker: I run V-brakes on my race bike however I do run hydraulic disc brakes on 29inch Radio Legion wheelie bike to make it easier for doing wheelies and manuals.

What's a bike part you change on the regular?
Tom Tucker: I don’t change parts very often, only parts that wear down such as grips, tires and chain.

What Radio Bikes part do you like the most?
Tom Tucker: My favourite Radio part would be the new Radio Solar frame and fork.

Please take us through your parts list:

Frame - Radio Solar xxl
Fork - Radio Solar fork
Bars - Box tapered
Grips - Box
Stem - Funn
Headset - Promax
Brake lever - Promax
Brake - Promax
Cranks - Promax HF
Pedals - HT Components
Sprocket - Rennen
BB - Promax
Chain - YBN
Seat - Tioga D-Spyder
Seatpost - Tioga D-Spyder
Seatpost clamp - Promax
Front hub - Onyx
Rear hub - Onyx Ultra ss
Front rim - Tsquared Carbon
Rear rim - Tsquared Carbon
Spokes - Straight SS
Tires - Tioga Powerblock
Tubes - CST
Chain tensioners - Radio 10/15mm

Number plate - Any

Weight - 7.15kg

Thanks to: I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career and have given me the best gear, parts and opportunities to achieve everything I have.