https://en.khebikes.com/

Re Print: Inside Story - Paul Horan

"Life on the outside might get shitty from time to time, but you have no idea..."

27 Nov 2014

Paul HORAN BMX van RD

Paul Horan at 'home'. Summer 2011.

Words by Paul Horan Photos by Rob Dolecki / First Published in DIG Issue 65 August 2008 (Photos published in DIG 85 Nov 2011)

I won't forget the day that changed my life. Waking to a gun in the face, followed by cuffs on the wrist. My mind clouded with unrealistic thoughts of what laid ahead. I felt as if my life was over. Little did I know, it was just beginning. After giving 16 months of my life to various state facilities, I was given time to review my life. And I arrived at a few conclusions. For one, I cannot take back my mistakes or change the past. but I can take my experiences, the mistakes I've lived through, to better myself and others. maybe even you.

Paul HORAN BMX gap RD

“VAN HOMAN THINKS I HIDE SPOTS FROM HIM. I KIND OF DO”. This is a good example of some of the gems Paul stumbles upon while lurking around in the backwoods rustbelt towns of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Paul loves doing gaps too.

Throughout history, man has always battled for freedom. Freedoms I had taken for granted. And for 16 months, I wasn't allowed the freedoms I was raised upon. I gave my life to another man to do with as he saw fit. What a bad idea that was. I wore the same clothes as everyone else, ate the same food and used the same shower. I didn't even get to pick where I worked or even who my roommate would be. I would much rather have been traveling the world to an unknown place, eating strange foods that I would have never found in my hometown and riding new places. but I had the chance to do that and I missed out. So I'm just going to spread the word instead. but I'm going to tell it in a different way. I'm going to tell real life stories from the inside. Not some made up shit. Not something to scare you, something to change you. Something to give you an understanding of what the wrong decision can and might do in the future. And the lengths that a man can go to for the freedoms we take for granted.

Paul HORAN BMX first aid RD

Homemade Animal fork box first aid kit. Here in my van.

They called him 'Hogan' cause he looked like Hulk Hogan. He stood about 6'2", with a shaved head and goatee. Hogan also had some tracks marks on his arms. “From his youthful days," he would say. And this is how I came to know Hogan. It's day eight of being alone in my cell, even though millions of people have been here before. There's a dime-sized light that never goes out. No television, no books and no radio; just a boredom that could drive anyone mad. As I sit on my bunk, which is only 24 inches wide, I stare at my cell waiting for my next tray of mush to slide through the slot on the door. Today was going to be different though. A low buzz from the door caused it to open. And then, In wanders my new cellmate. A man I don't know and have never seen. consequently, I'll be forced to live with him till we're told otherwise. He drops to the floor while the cell door shuts behind him. Without hesitation, he starts rummaging through his few belongings, mumbling over and over again, “I'm sorry I got to this." With each syllable spoken, I become more alert to the fact that I may have to fight this man in the approaching minutes. And by this time, I'm on my feet with my back towards the wall. “Finally," he shouts, holding up a roll of toilet paper. And with that, he drops his pants, plops down on our stainless steel throne and pulls open a cabinet door to slightly block my view. Hogan explains that he has been holding it for hours, and my worries slowly fade away. but almost immediately, my worries flood back faster than ever. Hogan reaches into the muddy-colored water of the toilet and feels around as if he's playing with cake batter. “There it is baby, there it is!" he shouts, as he drops something into the sink. He goes back in for round two and throws something else into the sink, then begins washing his find. When the cleaning process is finished, Hogan stands proudly in front of me with two packs of crushed-up Newport cigarettes and a lighter all triple-bagged tightly. The contraband had been jammed up inside his rectum for 12 hours prior to this event. my new cellmate had gone to great lengths to smuggle cigarettes into the cell - one small freedom that most people take for granted. Life on the outside might get shitty from time to time, but you have no idea...

Paul HORAN BMX wall RD

Even after a bit of involuntary time off the bike and with or without riding buddies present to cheer him on, big moves are still boiling in Paul’s blood. Wildman wallride, Philly.

I have so many people to thank for giving me a second chance, hope, and most importantly, the ability to ride again. To these people, a thank you may be all they ask for. However, I just don't feel that those words will ever give them what they have given me, Tunney, Dolecki, Navaz, everyone at Animal, Jim C. from Sunday, Ben Ward from Odyssey and Leigh Ramsdell. Thank you. Seriously. Thank you. Ok, I'm off, faster then a prom dress in June...

Previous

Rekindled

How Case Magazine's Mike Netley fell back in Love with Trail Riding...

Next

WTP NOLADAZE PHOTO STORY

Dillon Lloyd, Ed Zunda, Mo Nussbaumer, Pat Morse, and Brett Silva get swamp ass.

Related Content

jason enns bmx WM

Re Print: My Favourite Photo

Featuring Joe 'Butcher' Kowalski, Ian Morris, Brian Castillo, Jason Enns and Keith Terra

1 Jan 2015
Ralph sinisi bmx crop BC

Re Print: First Hand Account

That Time Animal's Ralph Sinisi Broke His Femur Filming for Nowhere Fast...

10 Sep 2020
Rich forne roof RA

Re Print: Rooftops... and everywhere down below.

Without doubt, the most difficult article I have ever photographed for DIG...

5 Feb 2015
Alex donnachie bmx graphic

Re-Print: The Alex Donnachie Interview

The most sarcastic BMX interview ever?...

6 Nov 2014
Cam WOOD BMX SLASH SNWBRM UT ADJ

Re Print: Getting Creative With Cameron Wood

"People can call it what they want. We're not really skiing; we're bike riding"

29 Jan 2015
Ruben alcantara BMX face tight VP

Re Print: DIG Legends - Ruben Alcantara

“He sees things very differently, and what makes sense to him, leaves most people scratching their head.” - Joe Rich

22 Jan 2015
hawk-lacey-kennedy-hoder

Re-Print: First Encounters

Recognise these guys? Our earliest photos with some of the best in the game…

2 Oct 2014
adam roye for Dig high res

Re-Print: Adam Roye - Creating A Cult

"I like shit that's a little fucked up" - A true BMX artisan speaks his mind

15 Sep 2014
BOB SCERBO BMX PHL RD

Re Print: One Question - Bob Scerbo

“It pretty much takes my favorite part of riding right out.”

12 Feb 2015
james-cox-dig-94-4

Re Print: James Cox - Committed

“ I don’t ever feel like it’s time to finish the video. ”

18 Dec 2014
anto lille BSD morocco BMX donkey VP

Re Print: BSD - Hippies in Morocco

Our Favourite Travel Article of 2014

26 Dec 2014
https://en.khebikes.com/

Latest Content

67h Y Ud C Xu E0hqdefault
Play Button

CLUUT JAM BXL

Flat out in Brussels

11 Dec 2024
Ck Vgg V Xw Y ohqdefault
Play Button

Matt Miller - Borough Breaker Rally

The combined strengths of two spot gurus

11 Dec 2024
Id K44 Lzm Y94hqdefault
Play Button

JimmAhNIMAL - James Pease - 2024

Throwing it down in OZ

11 Dec 2024
B Ffe Fj A Pb Q0hqdefault
Play Button

FIDS x S&M 4EVER

Mark "FIDS" Findlay

10 Dec 2024
Eyj S Rd FX Ff0hqdefault
Play Button

133 TRAILS JAM

Lyon, France

9 Dec 2024
8kx P Sy Krk Uwhqdefault
Play Button
P1ye57 J1 Ga Yhqdefault
Play Button

BOYD HILDER - NO MORE BETS

BIG MAN COMIN' THRU

6 Dec 2024
6j Ordp SN Btshqdefault
Play Button

ONE MAN SHOW 2 | Township Tour 1

WEIRD & REVERED

6 Dec 2024
Uw Pz UZMD7 S4hqdefault
Play Button

RIXIN BIKES Presents - Jack Hennicke 2024

From NJ to Mexico City

5 Dec 2024
Joe fragments thumb 3
Play Button

JOE RICH - DIG 'FRAGMENTS' - Episode 2

Burning with creativity and D.I.Y. BMX energy

5 Dec 2024
I S Qv Q o Xlqkhqdefault
Play Button

GUTTER GEMS - Full DVD

Upstate New York

5 Dec 2024
7k P79 XH i88hqdefault
Play Button

FERNANDO LACZKO - 'EL SITIO PERFECTO'

FOR MONSTER ENERGY

4 Dec 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024
SUNDAY Silvawave Frame 3 Q web

PRODUCT DROP: Brett Silva's signature SUNDAY 'SILVAWAVE' frame

"It was only a matter of time before Brett got to call the shots."

26 Sep 2024
Osomatsu 4

SETUPS - Kazuei "Osomatsu" Oimatsu - ALIVE INDUSTRY

A Ben Lewis signature frame stacked with Animal parts

12 Sep 2024
20240907 BOH 019 perris

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024 - Everything you need to know

Schedule, livestream links, highlights, results & more...

2 Sep 2024
Garrett ss24

SIMPLE SESSION 24 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Highlight videos, schedules, results and more

24 Aug 2024
Volume frames 2

PRODUCTIVITY - NEW VOLUME JASON WATTS & KRIS FOX FRAMES

Certified for roasting - THE SMOKO & THUNDERHOOF

6 Aug 2024
Efise leader results

WHO WON THE €22K at E-FISE 2024 WOLVERHAMPTON?

The results are in!

12 Jul 2024
Kink 2025 bikes

PRODUCT DROP - KINK 2025 BIKES

That New New!

12 Jul 2024
DSCF5547

MIKE MASTRONI AND THE STORY BEHIND THE 'TELOMERE' VIDEO

Backstories behind the clips

24 Jun 2024