https://bmxdirect.asia/

Rekindled

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

25 Nov 2014

Villij trails BMX 04 mn 1

Words and Photos by Mike Netley

I've not put pen to paper in over 3 years. I also haven't shot a BMX photo with any intent for almost as long. By 'with intent' I mean put much thought into if or where it might end up and given any more than a minutes worth of time to consider exposure, composition and lighting…

Since Case Magazine was laid to rest in the spring of 2011, I've honestly had very little interest in BMX and specifically BMX media. In fact, my interest throughout 2012 and 2013 didn't go much further than hitting the occasional concrete park or set of trails and that's assuming I so happened to even feel slightly in the mood. BMX however is contagious, and unless you've ever ridden a BMX bike then you might not be aware of the joyful feeling one can experience. Its something only a small percentage actually knows and is a feeling that doesn't easily diminish. Although the actual amount of time spent with 2 feet on the pedals was minimal, I'd often daydream of flowing a bowl effortlessly and with such power and style as your Brian Yeagle's and Chase Hawk's or simply taking a run through one of the many lines at Posh on any given day throughout spring, Summer or Autumn. I've even dreamt of filling wheelbarrows full of dirt on cold Winters' days. Like I said, BMX is for life, no matter how big or small the involvement.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Robbo seatgrab BMX 1 MN

After Case, I felt like I needed a break, so took a class at a local college and within a few months I had gained the required qualification to dismantle and perform pruning operations on trees. It was a simple path to choose and this path I'd chose stemmed from BMX. I wanted to be in the woods surrounded by nature, with like-minded people. Nothing more, nothing less. I work with people that ride or have previously ridden BMX, and we're forever outdoors talking about what an amazing woodland this would be to build a hut and a set of trails in. The scenery around the New Forest and the Southern Downs is quite spectacular too and I'd often ponder the thought-process of image making. Suffice to say, it didn't take long for me to relight my fire and to get back to the things I love. BMX, trail building and photography.

2014 has been a good year. Besides moving into a new home with a great girl, I'm running a team for a local Tree Surgery firm, I've ridden at more sets of trails this year than I'd ridden at trails in total during 2012 and 2013, a couple of new concrete bowls have popped up locally and I've also found a new digging home and a great sense of companionship with the locals at Sheet trails in Petersfield. I bought another Hasselblad after regrettably selling my old 503CX a few years ago and dusted off my remote flashes and light meter. Before I knew it, it felt like everything was back in place and I finally felt at home within my self and what I was doing with my life.

These photos you see here are the result of a weekend spent at Villij trails from September just gone. Said weekend involved riding with friends and camping. It was a loose plan but with a plan like that, why complicate things?

The date of my trip was set, my bike was running well, I was feeling good and I was itching to shoot some photographs at perhaps the best set of trails this country has to offer.

Villij trails BMX 03 MN
Villij trails peaker MN

The story associated with this weekend is both frustrating and yet funny.

Although I'd been shooting a little more this year, it wasn't until the Villij weekend arose that I'd considered external lighting. I charged my old Norman battery packs on the Friday night, bought new AA's not long after sunrise and set off on the 3 hour journey to Loughborough at around 9am on the Saturday morning. We headed straight to Robbo's shop to say what's up before heading off to meet up with Cambridge. (Tom) Cambridge is an OG War trails dude who'd moved to Loughborough a few summers ago in the pursuit for a consistent digging and riding routine. Imagine if you will a late 90's Standard 'Trailboss' with 990 lugs, a 44tooth chain ring, comp III's front and rear, jean shorts and baseball cap. That's Tom… style never goes out of style. Did I mention he can shape a mean lip and dug more than anyone ever has done in the UK? Unfortunately a turndown gone wrong stopped Tom and I from shooting a few images together.

Saturday afternoon was spent, meeting and greeting, sharing stories, reminiscing, shit talking, and getting used to the lines at a set of trails that I hadn't visited in over 5 years. Suffice to say, Robbo, Frog, Cambridge and the other frequenters had been extremely busy during my absence. We rode all afternoon and long into the evening before putting the bikes down around 8pm in need of hot dogs, beers and a dialled campfire.

Like I said, BMX is for life, no matter how big or small the involvement.

Sunday morning started off with a few hazy hungover runs before presenting its self with the opportunity to expose some frames. Along with everyone's hangover sweating out and some much needed water runs. I fired off a few shots of the landscape with the available light and then proceeded to set up flashes near to where the action was happening. I turned on the battery packs of my Norman flashes and in front of my eyes appeared an illuminated red light. LOW BATTERY. Well there goes that idea I muttered to myself. With a feeling Frustration and the thought of “what a bastard my luck can be" turns out those battery packs were knackered after laying dormant for a good couple of years.

Keen to not ruin what had already been a great weekend, I thought 'fuck it', laughed about the situation and proceeded to enjoy riding the trails.

I was fortunate enough to throw an old Canon digital system that I owned into my bag before I'd left Southampton, consisting of a 15mm fisheye and an old Speedlite—which fortunately I didn't sell in those prior years. As the day went on, I grabbed said camera during breaks from riding and managed to fire off a couple of cool ones of Robbo. Not what I had planned but I'm happy with what I managed to put together from what resources I had to hand.

Hopefully this story and these images help to inspire others to keep your head straight and to do what you love. Sometimes it takes a little time off and a pinch of variety to spice up life. At the time of writing, it's 10:00Am on Sunday November the 8th. The sky is clear, it's cool out and Pie has just text asking me to bring an axe to split wood for the fire. I'm off to the trails. Here's to 2015 and a hefty involvement in the UK trail scene. See you in the woods.

Previous

Next

Re Print: Inside Story - Paul Horan

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

Related Content

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
BMX videos vhs

Where's The Love? The Disposable Age of BMX

Stuart Fenton talks of fickle times in BMX and dreams of a VHS resurrection

17 Feb 2015
bobbars2 1

Life After Bob Bars?

Why these riders are sticking with the classics

20 Jan 2015
BoneDeth BMX Bikes AW-2

The Bikes of Bone Deth

Rock N Roll Freestyle Machines

4 Feb 2015
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
https://shop.sundaybikes.com/collections/sunday-frames?utm_medium=banner&utm_source=dig

Latest Content

Watching Paint Dry Thumbnail
Play Button

Watching Paint Dry – Chad Ferch | UNITED BMX

Filmed for a year and a half in Vancouver BC, Nanaimo BC and Calgary AB Canada, as well as a trip down to Southern California.

15 Sep 2025
B Xw MZ19 A3 M4hqdefault
Play Button

Denim Cox - AANGLES™ BMX

released in 2021

15 Sep 2025
F6 Cqd F0 Akikhqdefault
Play Button

The UNITY MIXTAPE Vol. 1 PHX BMX

Over a year of filming and a bunch of homies putting it down for Unity Ride Shop in Glendale, Arizona

15 Sep 2025
I08 i Ad8 G Uohqdefault
Play Button

Weekend Vibes - Cody Pollard

Hangin' and roastin' in OZ

15 Sep 2025
Bristol thumb
Play Button

BRISTOL JAM - CRUCIAL X BNGBNGMCR

Alright Mucker?!

14 Sep 2025
9p3 GB6v LB Fghqdefault
Play Button

John Corts - Almost Forty

DIY frame builder shredding

12 Sep 2025
R Pc8mf Wp VB0hqdefault
Play Button

CHRIS JAMES - BEHIND THE CLIP

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY!

10 Sep 2025
Project xtras thumb corey
Play Button

COREY WALSH - PROJECT X-tras

"Welcome to the fucking van!"

10 Sep 2025
IHQV00wjcc8hqdefault
Play Button

'CANADAMERICA' - JERSEY CREW

Breaking Borders

9 Sep 2025
CZD Wuf Bb Y Wwhqdefault
Play Button

FINALS - DIG HIGHLIGHTS - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2025

"I'm gonna let 'em go and see what happens"

8 Sep 2025
B Dnti8e Xst Qhqdefault
Play Button

VANS 'BEST TRICK' X DIG - BATTLE OF HASTINGS

The madness continues...

7 Sep 2025
Boh 2025 thumbnail park 2
Play Button

MONSTER ENERGY 'PARK SESSION' X DIG - BATTLE OF HASTINGS

"i got nervous, I was like... oh no!" - Daniel Sandoval

7 Sep 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025
Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - "DOCUMENTING OVER 30 YEARS of D.I.Y. BMX CULTURE" PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on our magazine history and the rise of the mid-school

1 Aug 2025
Thumbnail 2

Product Drop - ODYSSEY '85 Splatter kit

Nord, Walsh stems and Hazard lite rims

29 Jul 2025
Shirt swell k0150m back

Product Drop - KINK 2025 APPAREL

For Fall/Winter

23 Jul 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025
LOW Street station Saturday Jarvis 1 copy

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2025 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Another Year - New Locations - Even More Jams!

26 May 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

26 May 2025
Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall

BRUNO HOFFMANN INTERVIEW - 'FOREIGN'

"I think the scene is doing good..."

21 Apr 2025
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025