Name: Merle van Benthem
Sponsors:
Team: Meybo, Box, Tioga, HT Pedals, Nederlandse Loterij, WLM Design, Pro-Gate.
Personal: Van Benthem Metselwerken
Mechanic: Willie Meijer
When's the last time you raced your BMX bike?
Merle van Benthem: The UCI World Cups in Shepparton were my last races and they were at the first weekend of February.. Hopefully the world gets all healthy again so we can go back racing!
Name: Alise Willoughby
Sponsors: PROMAX, GW, TOYOTA, XFINITY, KLEAN ATHLETE, TROY LEE, IRC, ODI, HT, ONYX, PARK TOOL, BROSKI, KMC, OAKLEY, BOX
Mechanic: As a Park Tool Ambassador, I’m my own #truebluemechanic for the most part, but also get to work with some awesome friends on the World Cup circuit through USA Cycling.
When did you get picked up by GW?
Alise Willoughby: 2017
Can you tell a little about the GW brand?
Alise Willoughby: GW is a Colombian brand. I’m sure many people have seen the star Colombian BMX riders aboard these frames on their way to Olympic medals, but maybe aren’t aware of how large the brand is in South America across all disciplines ranging from very entry level products to the elite level. They have professional road teams, mountain bike riders, BMX race, freestyle, trials, balance bikes, commuter bikes, electric bikes, you name it… After Redline’s exit in 2016, it’s been a pleasure getting to work with another powerhouse bike brand that has welcomed me to their success-filled family.
Name: ANDREA ESCOBAR
Sponsors: MY FAMILY. @gw_bicyles @sand_shoes11 @answerbmxusa @shimanocolombia @bellbikehelmetsco @zuppra_store @sportfitness.shop.latam @jimmygraphics
Mechanic: LEO, from @ciclotales store he is the best! And when I'm not in Colombia, my boyfriend, Romain Racine is my mechanic! He is always helping me with my bike! I don’t know what I would do without him! But he is always trying to teach me how to do my mechanic by my own! But there are things that are just a little too complicated to do haha! But I’m getting better every day.
How long have you been riding for GW Bicycles?
Name: Jessie Smith
Sponsors:
Team TVE sport sponsors:
TVE sport BV, Jee-o Unique bathrooms, Shimano, Renthal, Meybo, SD components
My sponsors/support crew:
-High performance sport NZ, -Cycling NZ, -Affco NZ through Adastra foundation, -Winger MG, -Winger Hamilton, -HT components, my parents and always number 1 supporters!
Mechanic: Jan Segers
How do you like the looks of your current bike?
Jessie Smith: I love the look of my current bike! Have never really ridden a frame with much colour so the red gloss is actually a really nice change!
Is it a challenge each year to get a good racing bike together for the new season?
Name: Rachel Jones
Sponsors: Remix BMX
Mechanic: Myself
Remix, for those who have no clue, can you tell us a little about that brand?
Rachel Jones: Remix BMX is a wheel company that is owned out in Reno by Dale Robsinson. However, it is a little different to your standard carbon wheel brands. They’re complete carbon wheel sets, fixed with a 32h Remix carbon rim, a Remix straitpull sealed bearing hub and aero blades spokes, weighing in at around 3lbs. The idea behind Remix is bringing the current innovation from MTB and Road into BMX Race (That is essentially where the name Remix comes from). If you really take a look into it, the engineering is pretty awesome.
So for a frame, could you choose whatever you wanted to ride on?
Rachel Jones: I can choose whatever frame I would like to ride on, this season I went for a Speedco Pro (white/black)
Did you really want to race on a carbon frame, or would aluminium work just as well, you think?
Name: Emilio Falla
Sponsors: J &R Bicycles, Speedco, Avían, Odi, Tioga, TroyLeeDesigns.
Mechanic: I try to do everything myself, I still have to learn how to build a wheel.
How long have you been riding the SpeedCo frame that you are currently on?
Emilio Falla: I’ve had this bike since February
How many BMX bikes do you think you've had during your career?
Emilio Falla: That’s a good question, so I’m going to say around 30 to 35. I started young in the sport.
You have probably gone from Cro-Moly to Aluminium to Carbon. Does weight matter much to you?
Emilio Falla: I believe weight matters the most when you are a kid, now for me the most important thing is trying to get comfortable and the right setup.
Name: Jayce Cunning
Sponsors: Speedco, Avian, Seven MX, Ethika, Carters Transport, Cardiff Earthworks, Casual Fridays REI, Bell Helmets
Mechanic: Me, Myself and I
How does it feel to build up a new Speedco bike?
Jayce Cunning: It feels great. Building up my latest Teal Speedco was super exciting as it is my favourite colour of the Speedco’s and I was fortunate enough to be in Florida with the Speedco team whilst building that one. It is always super exciting to get a fresh bike that is new and shiny.
Does anybody need to help to get the bike together and tuned in?
Jayce Cunning: My latest bike I built on my own but had moral support from my Team mate’s Anderson Souza, Rico Bearman and Team manager Derek Betcher, haha.
Is the personal tool box well equipped?
Jayce Cunning: I’d say it's well equipped, I got what I need to rebuild my entire bike. Nothing more, nothing less.
Do you take your competition racing machine to the trails?
Name: Vincent Pelluard
Sponsors: GW - SHIMANO - ICE FAST - PROMAX - BOX - UNDER ARMOUR - CYCLES EVASION - RENTHAL - IZUMI - TIOGA - IMPRIMEXPRESS - CALIFORNIA EXTREME - YCF - PWR Club
Mechanic: Myself
How long have you been riding the frame that you are currently on?
Vincent Pelluard: I built up my bike a week before flying to Australia in January 2020.
Can you tell a little bit about GW Bicycles?
Vincent Pelluard: GW is a HUGE brand making 80% of the Colombian market. You can find a bike from supermarket to a really high quality bike for road cycling. GW has around 2000 employees and they make 400.000 frames a year.
Carbon or Aluminium frame. Where do you see the biggest differences and what are the advantages
Name: Carlos Alberto Ramirez
Sponsors: GW, Answer, Fly Colombia
Mechanic: Carlos Huertas
When's the last time you took your bike to the track?
Carlos Ramirez: I've been without riding the track for the most part of the past 4 months, been able to ride one or 2 times.
Have you missed riding your bike during the Covid-19 situation?
Name: Jay Schippers
Sponsors:
-Personal: Berma Sheet Metal Creations, Pro Gate, Crowe Foederer, MetaalFlex, SportsLounge1988, Vision Car Lease, Duisenburgh, BW Rijkers, Lommers tuinbouwmachines, Berkvens
-Team: Meybo, Box, Tioga, HT, Nederlandse Loterij, WLM Design
Mechanic: Willie Meijer
Who picks the frame colours each year? And are you happy with the current colours?
Jay Schippers: The guys at Meybo decide which colour we ride each year. I think the new 2021 colours are looking great!
What's the purpose of the chain device that you guys are running?
Jay Schippers: Because we have a fixed rear end and no real chain tensioners at the back of the frame. They have built a special tensioner that is mounted/integrated to the side of the frame. It is really easy to use if you have to change your gearing, you just slide it up or down.
Do you use the same bike for pump track / trail / jump sessions?
Jay Schippers: Yes I do. I used to have a special trail jump bike. But haven’t used it for a while now.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.