Chris Doyle

chris_doyle
I still maintain that no-one else should even bother doing these, even if CD’s sick of doing them himself. Chris Doyle, turndown 360, SoCal trails. Photo: Rusty Holeswatter


1. What is your very first memory of BMX?
Watching RAD on HBO.

2. How did you feel when you got your first bike – do you have the same feelings now when you set up a new bike?
I got my first BMX for Christmas when I was ten years old. I was so happy that I didn’t unwrap any other presents for like five hours. I gotta be honest, I don’t think anything could ever compare to that feeling of being a little kid and walking out of your room early on Christmas morning to see a sweet BMX bike with your name on it.

3. What was your first bike like?
A chrome Diamondback Assault. I remember being really stoked on the freewheel because all of the other guys in my neighborhood had coaster brakes. That thing was fast!

4. What is your latest bike like?
The DK CDL V.2, green. It’s so good... I run 8-inch rise bars, a long toptube, 21.25 inches, and a high seat. It’s comfortable and practical.

5. When & what was the first time you saw a rider do something amazing on a bike?
One of my early BMX heroes, Scotty Clevenger, did a superman at our local dirt spot and I lost my mind! I believe that was ‘94 or ‘95.

6. When & what was the last time you saw a rider do something amazing on a bike? Last week I was in DC riding with Brad Simms and he tailwhipped down a huge five stair straight to flat and somehow managed to make it look smooth.

7. If you hadn’t discovered BMX, what do you think you’d be doing now?
I’d likely be one of those guys who just got out of college trying to figure out where to go from here... Lost. On the flip side of that I could be successful as a pro soccer player or something like that, I’d have a healthy body and all my original teeth... you never know.

8. When it comes to riding, do you go for style or tricks?
I don’t think you can ‘go for it’ when it comes to style. You either have it or you don’t. And, I’m not a real ‘go for it’ guy when it comes to tricks either. I try to be graceful and fluid on my bike. I like trying to think through a trick and break it down into tiny pieces, that way it doesn’t feel like you’re just hucking yourself.

9. Do you have to work on progression, or does it just come naturally to you?
I think it’s something that’s natural in all of us. You progress every time you ride even though you may not realize it.

10. What state of mind enables you to progress your riding?
Self-confidence plus Happiness plus Commitment plus Determination, minus Self-doubt.

11. What one rider has influenced you the most?
Cory Muth. His style was – is – so natural and graceful, nothing he did was ever forced and everything looked good. He showed me how to be loose on my bike, to keep my knees bent and my nose down. Probably 85% of my style comes from riding with Cory.

12. What goes down if you have a bad day?
I push it aside and move the hell on.

13. When was the first time you tried something big/burly/scary?
Probably the first time I did a barspin over a ‘real’ set of dubs. When I was younger, barspins were the craziest trick you could do.

14. When was the last time you scared yourself on your bike?
Today. Will Stroud and Chad Shack have been in town filming for an up and coming project they’re doing together called Quattro. I filmed a couple things that I’ve been wanting to do for years now, things that make your belly churn with butterflies... it’s been a while since I’ve had those feelings.

15. What was the last bike part you bought?
Bought? Dude, I’m so sponsored! Nah man, I bought a packet of zip ties yesterday. Does that count?

16. What is the greatest BMX product in the last ten years?
Integrated headsets.

17. If you could choose two riders to go riding with daily, who would they be?
Barrett snake lizard hips and Greg R Mortis the safety tortoise.

18. How would you describe your riding?
Dated... but I like it like that.

19. What is your favourite type of riding?
Anything that enables me to go fast, high, and far.

20. Describe an ideal day…
Wake up early and hit the concrete park for a couple hours. Set the bike down and make it rain from the three-point line against an unworthy opponent in a heated game of 21. Hit up Moes for a burrito of mass proportions then on to the trails. Do some kick outs for a couple of hours then round everyone up for a barbecue at my place. Play some ping-pong, maybe some pool and then go to bed in the arms of my lovely lady.

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