What do you think separates your 2021 signature complete from previous years’ releases?
There are 3 bikes at 3 price points, and each have 3 aspects that have evolved which I’m hyped on. 1) Go ahead and “judge a book by its cover” this time around. Lol. Upon first glance the first difference is the paint/colors for this year. Each model has something that “pops” color-wise, especially in the sunlight. I’m really hyped on the silver/black shimmer the Team model has specifically. I’ve never seen a bike exactly like it. 2) Durability. From double wall rims to Power Series 22mm cranks, these bikes can take a beating. The Complete Story trips/videos we did (pre-Covid) were proof of that. Plus, they come stock with 4pc bars which are both tough and tough-looking. 3) Personality. The graphics on this year’s models are very special to me. We have the digital maps and transit theme, which perfectly fits my relentless spot hunting ways but there are a lot of little surprises hidden within the different portions of the maps/decals.
How similar is your personal bike to the latest high-end signature complete?
Well, I rode one for a few days & nearly forgot I was on a complete. That being said, It’s not far off. My personal bike has Real Steel pegs and I chop the bars down to 27” but other than that. It’s really similar. The quality and strength of these completes is unprecedented for the price.
How did the frame graphics come about?
I feel like a good amount of my “prep time” for riding is looking at digital maps and hunting for spots. I literally do it instead of watching TV or a movie or whatever. I love finding new spots and also just love exploring the city, country and globe in general. I feel like travel and exploration has taught me more about the world than any book, movie or class could ever teach me. Oh…and I’ve found some of world’s most ridiculous spots to ride along the way. There are some other jokes and cool personal bits hidden inside the map graphics as well.
Any specific signature parts on your complete that you’d like to elaborate on?
The seat for sure! Going along with the theme of the bikes and graphics I mentioned earlier, the seat is a map of the Chicago CTA train system (Chicago’s elevated train/subway system). It’s subtle but it’s embossed into the top of the seat cover. What most riders will notice, however, is the grippy/durable material and the fact that it’s perfect size/padding. I’ve been around long enough to see seats be both obnoxiously big and painfully skinny…I’d say right now is the “golden age” for seats. Haha!
It’s been a wild ride for almost the entire planet so far in 2020; how have you been coping?
It’s difficult to put 2020 into accurate, encompassing words…but I’ll say this: I’ve never been so thankful to ride a BMX bike. The isolation is something our society hasn’t endured before. Luckily with a phone and a bike, I always had a way to channel and cope with everything. I wish everyone had something positive they could focus on through this mess. I miss traveling. I miss jams. I miss contests. All of it. But I have my health so I am lucky and shouldn’t focus too much on what I miss but rather on what I currently have. Lots of love to my friends, family and the GT group chat to keep motivated, level-headed and positive.
Plans for the rest of the year?
If the rest of 2020 goes as planned, there will be several small road trips happening around the Midwest once it’s deemed safe. I’m also working on some video projects, some bigger, some smaller for the new GT BMX Freestyle YouTube channel. I’ve also been exploring some new parks and streets in the area which has been a bit of a blessing in disguise since traveling is impossible at the moment. I’ve found some absolute gems! Stuff that’s been there but Chicago is so huge and vast that it just never got discovered or appreciated. Off the bike, I’ve been working on a couple skatepark projects and another potential project to get more kids on BMX bikes. All of that will at least be in the beginning stages before years end. As summer begins to wane, I’m also excited for fall…aka Banger Season. That time of year to get stuff checked off your list before winter hits. We’ll see… after all it is still 2020. Haha!
