Name: Dez Maarsen
Age: 24
Hometown: Haarlem, The Netherlands
Hookups: Orbea, Soulcycle, LostBmx
Frame: Orbea Rude 19.6 tt 12.7 cs
Forks: A Bad Thing
Stem: KHE minimalism
Headset: fsa
Bars: S&M Intrikat 8.5
Grips: tennis grip over normal grip
Bar ends: Arestic Stainless steal
Seat: Kink pivotal
Seatpost: Odyssey
Sprocket: St. Martin Splined 20t
Cranks: St. Martin EVO Splined 155mm
BB set: Mid size
Pedals: Arestic
Chain: half link
Front hub: Khe Geisha
Front rim: 34r
Front tire: Khe in winter/ Odyssey in summer
Rear hub: Mix Ares with Runkai
Rear rim: 34r
Rear tire: Khe in winter/ Odyssey in summer
Pegs: A Bad Thing round caps
Modifications:• Mounted a bold in the dropouts for the chain tensioners that came with the pegs.
• Cut seat for more space and use the odyssey seatpost so the seat is more centered.
• Use tennis grips over regular grips for more grip and thicker grips.
• Switched the clutch from the ares freecoaster for the one in the runkai. Also removed a ring for maximum slack.
How did you end up riding for Orbea, a Spanish bicycle company?Dez: In October my former sponsor A Bad Thing/Koxx went bankrupt. After the news got public I got contacted to join the ORBEA RUDE team. I'm super stoked to be on a team started by Viki who has been a great inspiration for me!
Who else are on the team?Dez: The ORBEA RUDE Team Riders, built up by RUDE designer and team manager Viki Gomez, consist of seven BMX riders, three pro flatland riders, Viki Gomez from Spain, myself from the Netherlands and Trevor Meyer from the US, and there is also the young talent in Flatland, Varo Hernandez from Spain and three young talents in BMX Street, Byron Vela "Seko" from Ecuador, Peter Reckinger and Bijan Kesseler from Luxembourg, representing five countries, and two BMX disciplines, as the RUDE is a hybrid complete BMX bike for multiple BMX disciplines, flat, street, and park, "a real freestyler".
What is your first impression on the frame?Dez: Clean double diamond style. There is a lot of attention on strength. I really like the more basis look!
How do you like the geometry? It doesn't have any weird tube bends either, right?Dez: No weird tubing. Flatland frames are always developing and I really like they are now more street orientated! The frame is 19.6, a little bit bigger then my previous (19) and the top tube is higher. There is more space now and I don't have any disadvantage with the higher top tube, so that's great. The CS is 12.7 a little bit short then my previous so the total length feels almost the same. I'm not so big 176cm/5.78ft so I thought the frame would feel big, but it suits me great!
What are the plans for 2014?Dez: I want to compete in the BMX Flatland World Circuit, visit more grassroots contest in Europe and plan a nice overseas trip. Also working on video projects and push my riding!