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FIDS: Born To Be Wild

Sailor Jerry - The Ride

This summer, the legend that is Fids, took to the road on the ultimate UK motorbike trip. With the usual BMX and skateboard atached, Fids and a crew of other hardcore motorbike mates, made up of tattoo artists, photographers, designers and music promoters, head out on Sailor Jerry – The Ride, following Kingdom of Kicks

leader, James Jordan, from one end of the country to the other. The premise behind the project was simple; take to the open road with a bunch of friends seeking good times, whilst leaving no bar, BBQ, and in Fids’ case, skateparks, untouched.

Photo by James A. Grant -Fashion Photographer.

It’s the sort of trip we can all relate to and appreciate, although I used to do it in the relative comfort of my mates decked out transit van, nothing anywhere near as stylish or rad as a pimped out motorbike.

Fids is no stranger to this kind of stuff, he’s been on many a motorbike journey and in our last Ride to Glory issue of the mag, he gave us this typically wild and hilarious account of one such trip in the U.S:

It was a 1000-mile, 17hr (if you don’t stop), road trip to Texas toast. It was from Louisville KY to Austin Texas, by myself, on a Harley, with my BMX, skateboard and backpack. I left Louisville at about 11pm because there was a big gap in the rainy weather. I hand no map, just a piece of paper with the roads I needed to take written down on and a phone that only worked when I could find Wi-Fi.

So, I set off with one piece of advice, DO NOT STOP IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS, as it’s real ghetto. The Harley will do about 150 miles to a tank of gas, but to be on the safe side, I stopped for gas every 100 miles. Every time I stopped, it was a scene, but in a good way. I mean, it’s not everyday you see an Englishman on a Kentucky registered Harley with a bright yellow BMX and skateboard strapped to the back of it.

Everything was going good, the sun was coming up and I had dodged the rain. I decided to ride through the night and then stop again for gas at a truckers stop. I had some food, and then, when I filling up, I realised a bolt on the sissy bar (the bit that my bike, skateboard and backpack is strapped to) was missing, and now the mudguard was rubbing on the back tyre. I needed to fix this. I got told at the truck stop that there was a Home Depot (American B&Q) down the road. Then I realise, I’m in LITTLE ROCK, where I’ve been told to NOT stop. I find the Home Depot and get what I need. I then find a corner of the car park that’s out the way enough to fix the bike. I have my stuff all over the floor, to access the bit I need to fix the bike. All of a sudden, a car pulls up, all low and hip hop blaring out of it. Two gnarly looking black dudes in it, and I’m literally shitting myself. Then they ask what I’m up to? I have trouble understanding their thick Southern accents and they’re having the same problem with me. So, I tell em what I’m up to and why I have my BMX with me and they have yet more friends slowly showing up. They then Google me, and are luckily blown away by it. By this time, 6 more cars are now there and I see one dude has a gun. Panic is still gripping.

FIDS: Can’t even resist to stunt his motorbike.

But then the next thing is, this huge black lady shows up with home made fried chicken; she was one of the dude’s sisters. The whole thing turned into a sort of party but I’m still having real trouble understanding everyone and they’re still having the same problem with me. Then, the cops show up, but all’s good, as they know everyone and even chill for a bit. It’s so crazy, like something from a movie, I’m the only white dude, with 15 black dudes, and the whole time I’m thinking about the only bit of advice I was given – DO NOT STOP IN LITTLE ROCK!

When I eventually get the bike fixed, I have to hug and shake hands with everyone and some even give me phone numbers so as to let them know how I get on and if ever I’m back that way to give em a bell, Ha! Unreal.

It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had, it went from thinking I was going to be robbed or perhaps worse, to having one of the best street parties. I guess the moral is; life on the road is the best, you never know what’s going to happen. Get out there and explore.

That’s what this Sailor Jerry trip was all about, getting out there to explore, make new friends and party on the way. En route he also managed to catch up with Coxy and even Sandy Carson, so I’m sure this Ride would’ve had it’s tales too. Whenever Fids is involved, you’re sure to have crazy adventures, he’s made a lifetime of it.

Check out more on The Ride HERE.