Here’s something interesting from the Blank crew. Read all about it in the press release below..

2014 will mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of Blank as a BMX brand. The original idea was “what you see is what you get”; no clever marketing, no fancy graphics, no bizarre or zany colour options or unnecessary variations on product concepts. As such the prices were able to be set without having to factor-in those additional expenses and as such represented fantastic value for money. Just good, honest entry-to-intermediate-level product. Brakes, levers, cables, seats, grips – all at pocket-money prices. (http://www.blankbikes.co.uk/parts-2/). This didn’t mean the quality was any less; these items were made in the same factories, in the same way, with the same material as most of the other BMX brands, and because the design team at Blank kept a close eye on the ever-changing tastes and trends within the BMX scene, were able to bring in the right parts at the right times.

The brand established itself in BMX dealers across the UK; beginners appreciating the great value the range represented, and the vast array of colour options on everyday replacement parts. Around 2009 the popularity of the completes rose as even greater attention was paid to aspects such as paint finishes, coloured rims, and micro-gearing throughout the range. By 2013 Blank are offering some of the best specced bikes in the industry. Check the spec of the top-of-the-range Blank Diablo 2013 – show us a bike with better spec for the money! (http://www.blankbikes.co.uk/2011/10/24/diablo/) .

Further scrutiny was given to the parts range and a few years later Blank launched the ‘Select’ range, which continued the ethos of great value-for-money but this time for a higher level of spec, aimed at the next stage of rider development. (http://www.blankbikes.co.uk/parts/) . Where the Value range offered basic chromoly forks, the Select range offered forks with CNC’d steerers, heat-treated dropouts and tapered fork legs. Or where the Value range offered amazingly-priced budget £19.99 forged stems, the Select range offered fully CNC-machined aluminium stems, still for less than £50. Throughout this time Blank has flowed parts to a couple of riders on a very informal basis, one being Seb Hejna who people will know as the voice of NASS, Boardmasters, Cycle Show BMX demo etc.

As of 2013 Blank have decided the time is right to provide more support to the UK’s young up-and-coming shredders. The BLANK GENERATION project is a flow-sponsorship arrangement, where BMX retailers can propose a deserving young rider in their area; someone getting a reputation for their skills, but not yet old or established enough to appear on the radar of any core-BMX brands. Someone who may not yet have £1000’s of gear on their bike but can appreciate the great-spec-for-money which Blank represents. These riders will be set up with an entire parts package from Blank of their choosing (except frame, pedals & wheels, not currently catered for in the range). Blank asks nothing in return of these riders other than to just ride! Ride the parts and try to show their peers that good quality parts aren’t the exclusive domain of the ‘core’ brands! The Generation riders will be supported in this way for a year (July – to – June), at which point they will graduate from the BLANK GENERATION, and a new year group will be signed up. It is the fond hope of BLANK that in years to come, the very best riders in the UK will be able to look back and say “I was part of the Blank Generation – they gave me my first leg-up!”. The current roster is;

Cameron Thaws – Crucial BMX, Bristol

Tom Leaver – Grind BMX, Swanley, Kent (http://www.blankbikes.co.uk/tom-leaver/)

Dan Gunter – Ride Hard BMX, Banbury

Dillion Stevenson – Mainline Cycles, Cleethorpes

If any BMXers would like to be part of the Blank Generation scheme, they need to contact their local BMX retailer (who will effectively act as a kind of rider-manager for the purposes of this scheme), who will then need to contact Blank and discuss terms and arrangements.