Signal BMX

Bad luck Shanaze (Reade), but huge props from us all for getting so far and looking so strong to the bitter end.  Next time eh! Mend well and congratulations for being our best. Amazing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/cycling/7575960.stm

The latest issue of Ride (UK) just dropped through my letterbox.  Chuffed to see the new TWOAND8 / Crucial BMX advert in print at last.  Its got a sweet picture by Kung of Levi who rides for 2&8 and Crucial.  We had to shoot this real quick and it was a hastily put togetther photo and artwork havin left it to the last minute as usual.  Levi took a heavy slam just before he pulled the one in the photo, taking a big slice of flesh out of his palm.  Somehow he managed to still hold the bars (before givin em a spin obviously) enough to get the job done. Hence the bloody handshake. 180 bars at the Deaner Band Stand.  Nice one Levi.

I just finished this painting of our buddy Taliban Tom.  There’s another in the works of his bro Super Ted. Hopefully I’ll have that done by the end of the weekend.  Here’s an old pic of Tom at his old trails, by Kung

Beautiful Losers film trailer from beautifullosersfilm on Vimeo.

A bunch of artists that were hugely influential on me many years ago were part of the Beautiful Losers project / show / collective.  The book documenting it all hage pride of place on my shelves and now they’ve made a film.  I can’t wait to see it when it eventually gets screened in the UK.  The trailer looks sweet.

Forgive me for being random but this made me laugh.  Its friday y’all! Have a good weekend

Get it? Genius!

(Riding Photos by Kung)

So EOD has been and gone.  Was it worth the wait? The blood sweat and rain drops? Hell yeah! Possibly the best BMX event I’ve ever been to, and there’s been a few.  With the whole Forte family at the helm, the uncompromising support of Red Bull and an army of trails builders, shit got done proper! 

The course was amazing, seen in the flesh (so you can even feel how steep the slope was) it was mind blowing.  The riding was shock and awe and the atmosphere was electric. Red Bull and Decoy crew know how to throw a party too and that was something else.  So much fun.

Thanks to the Forte’s, diggin crew and Rebull for making a very special event a reality.  Thanks also to Toby and Jess for the accomodation, breakfast and non stop good will. To all those I met and had good times with, I salute you!

The bar has been set. Throwdown, Decoy style.

Kung took some amazing photos. (all riding photos seen here are his) Check more at randombmx.  He’s holding some special ones back, cant wait to see them.

I took pretty much nothin but party pics.  Here they are for your amusement.  Good times

Shabaz! I’m dead chuffed to say that Toby is now officially back on 2&8 Clothing!  Toby was with us when he was a little shredder but got snapped up by the mighty Addict Clothing.  Since he’s got back on his bike this year (after head injury recovery) I’ve been hoping to get him back in the fold. Seeing we spend so much time with him and seein as he takes up most the news I thought it seemed about bloody time! hah.  Welcome back old bean, I know you never left really.  Toby is pictured above with the lovely Jess at last years Murray jam at Alianos. Talkin of which….

There’s no TWOAND8 Jam this year but, the Stephen Murray Jam is back at Aliano’s. …please spread the word.

The 2008 Stay Strong Stephen Murray Trails Benefit Jam @ Alianos Trails

After the overwhelming success of last year’s Benefit Jam for Stephen
Murray, we’d like to invite everyone back to Alianos trails on
Saturday August 30th 2008. As the one year anniversary of Stephen’s
accident has just passed, the whole BMX community is invited to come
along and ride some of the best trails in the UK and help raise some
much needed money for Stephen and his family.

The venue is Aliano’s trails which are normally on an invite only
basis, but for one day only (Saturday August 30th, 12 - 6pm), these
trails will be open to anyone and everyone. This is the place where
Stephen first started to ride trails over ten years ago and are
considered to be one of the top trail spots in the UK. The after Jam
Party will take place at The Marrs Bar in Worcester from 8pm til late.

So, what you waiting for? Trails, music, raffle, prizes, good times
for good causes. Get a crew together and head to Worcester on August
30th, its gonna be special….

www.myspace.com/ukmurrayjam - for Jam updates, details and directions
www.myspace.com/murraystrong - for updates on Stephen’s condition
www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com - for how you can support the cause

More BMX Videos >>

Colum got some exposure in this months Ride UK.  Photos by our kung.  Nice one boyz. There are more leftover pics from the article on kungs very own randombmx.com and here colum pt2

Man I am so excited I can’t sleep.  This friday is the long awaited Red Bull Empire of Dirt in Devon.  Put together by the Forte clan and their army of trails builders with Red Bull, this is gonna blow everything else this year out the water. I went down last year when it was tragically washed out by the English Monsoon and I can tell you, nothing prepares you for what that course looks like when you’re stood at the start ramp looking down. Oh my days…..

Here’s a wee clip I took as the rain fell last year just before it was all packed in.  This is a tease cos its just the top set of trails just before it starts to get crazy…..

empire07

Here’s a couple of pics from last year too…

Curved wall ride.  Its half the Redbull vert ramp!  Theres 2 so you have to do one opposite

Launch rail.

The Godfather, Kye Forte airs the dirt half pipe. This is at the top section too, just before the wall rides and an express elevator to hell, going down.

See you there if you know whats good

This is Craig and Petes idea of a ‘blueprint’ for a pump track. It aint no Empire of Dirt eh. hah.

Theres a very insightful and thought provoking article about Stephen Murray over on the Washington Post Website. Its just over a year now since he had the life changing crash at Baltimore and while there’s been good progress theres still so much to do.  Stephen and his wonderful family need all the help they can get so please spare a thought for them and any money that you can to their fund (http://www.stephenmurrayfamilyfund.com/)

After the success of last years Stephen Murray Benefit Jam, its been decided to plan another. This will be held on Saturday 30th August at Aliano’s Trails (Nr Worcester, UK), then a night at Marrs Bar in Worcester.  More details on that to follow.  Stephen needs our continued support.  BMX unite. 

TWOAND8 team rider Craig Stevens has a signature frame coming out on German based Country Bikes……

I got to see the prototype the other day at its looking sweet.  Some real nice detailing especially the jolly roger gusset.

The prototype was in a raw finish. More details to follow as and when I know more. The frame sticker is gonna be sweet, so good infact, its already been committed to flesh.

Pictured below, 2&8 stable mates Pete Marselle (left) and Craig Stevens (right).

moments after these were taken we witnessed a violent and brutal Spider VS Large Moth battle in my shed.

I mentioned them before but I thought I’d give some more.  Our brother in hangin-ness Phil Woodward (AKA Ghoul) is in a punk band called Rat Bones.  They’ve started giging and have recorded some tracks which I highly recommend.  The song about Andy Ruffell is genius. According to Craig (Stevens) who saw Phil the other day, the Rat Bones shows have developed a phenomena known as the “rat dance”. Cant wait to see it in the (rotting) flesh. Pictured above is a photo of Phil (by Kung) riding one of his favorite lines at our local Dean Lane park. sick. Check out Rat Bones true orribleness at there Myspace page

Our good friend at Profile Racing, Matt Coplon is in a sick band called Light Yourself on Fire.  If you’re into Thrash / Hardcore you should check em out, you can hear a track on their myspace.

This is pure genius.  The Neon Clans mission is to turn off unnecessary neon lights and shop signs at night to reduce energy waste and light pollution.  They do it dressed in bright wigs and white coats without fear of attention because they cause no damage (the lights are turned off with their own switches) and have nothing but ethical intention.  Maybe if we all followed their lead and did our bit the stars would shine more brightly.  Spotted on juxtapoz (my daily inspiration for life).  Visit the Neon Clans website here

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Colum flew off to the BMX Masters in Germany this morning.  When we flew last time ole “One Gin” lost his wallet. This time he’s lost his bike! Its the airlines fault mind you.  Hopefully he’ll get it back before the comp or ideally before he blows his stack and destroys das airport.  You’ve been warned ya.  Good luck Col

Absolutely chuffed to announce that our very own little (well not so little these days) ripper Levi Rogers has been picked up for the UK Subrosa Team!  Amazing but thoroughly deserved. Nice one Levi, more power to yer elbow.  Yet again, I’ve nicked the images from Levi’s myspace.  I think they’re either Buzzo’s or Jays.  I’ll confirm.  Sorry

Ah man, I am lamenting the end of this years Glastonbury.  We had so much fun in the mud and sun I cant tell you.  Wish I was still there. Very wonky…..