Features

BIKE CHECK: Dan Coller

Words by Robin Pearson
Photos by Michael Carnrike

Dan Coller is a rail man. He slays all handrails in his path, big and gnarly or tech and awkward. I met him out in America 12 months ago and was stoked on his skills both on and off the bike – he’s also a badass videographer. You can check his most recent video, that he directed and edited, at the end of this article.

Dan rides for Kink and Éclat and he trusts both companies’ products through and through. They see a lot of abuse on a daily basis, just watch Dan’s part in Kink Intervention for proof of that…

For now, take a look at Dan’s fresh steed as seen out on the streets of Rochester, NY.

– How’s the bike feeling?
“My bike feels damn good. I built this from scratch with all new everything and it’s so solid. This bike feels like its ready to be put through hell haha.”

– How do you personally like it set up?
“Tall and long. When I got my signature colorway in the Kink Titan frame I wanted a bigger size and it was the first time I ever rode a 21.25 and I will definitely never go back down to a shorter toptube.

I also run 9.5 rise bars and a high rise stem to keep it feeling tall so I don’t feel bent over when I’m riding. I’m somewhere between 6’1 and 6’2 so I’m going to do what I can to keep my back from hating me!”

– You were set on the dark trans red frame for a while. How do you like the black and gum now?
“Man I love that dark trans red. I worked closely with the Kink art director to get the exact shade and finish and it was exactly what I wanted.

“Being stoked on the look of my bike is really
motivating to go ride every day.”

I really went back to black because they sold out of the trans red! But changing it up makes me even more stoked on my bike. I’ve never been a huge fan of colored tires for myself but when I saw the Éclat Predator tires came in that sick sand color I knew I wanted a pair.

I’ve only been on this bike for a couple weeks but actually being stoked on the look of my bike is really motivating to go ride every day.”

– That’s a healthy amount of seat post going on there… Is that the Chris Doyle influence coming through?
“Haha, I don’t know where it came from so it must be. Every time I go on a trip with Doyle my seat gets a little higher each time. I don’t remember when I started putting it up so high but being tall I do like the look and feel of where it is. I had to lower my seat a little for this bike because the last one was definitely a little more post than necessary.”

“Every time I go on a trip with Chris Doyle my seat gets a little higher…”

– What have you been doing on this bike since building it?
“I built this bike right before Christmas so it’s only seen the streets of Rochester, NY along with the skatepark and Kink warehouse but I’m about to hop in my car and drive down to Texas. I have a feeling this bike will see many handrails all over.”

– What’s coming up next for you?
“I’m driving down to Texas, which isn’t a short trip from New York. I am working on a cool project with Darryl at the moment that is going to be different than anything I’ve done. I have a signature product in the works and I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling this year between doing things on my own and exciting trips with Kink and Eclat. I’m hyped for 2017!”

– Any last words?
“Thanks to Kink and Eclat for all they do to keep me running the best stuff and stay loving what I get to do every day! And thanks to TheFreshPress for keeping me fuelled and healthy!”