THRICE: Lima - Ride UK BMX

Features

Above: Signature trousers, signature trick. Lima boosting a skinny Q at Thame.

Words and photos by Robin Pearson

I can’t remember exactly when I met Lima. One thing I do know for sure is that the first time we went out to shoot a photo, it was a bitterly cold winter’s day and he got hurt. Not a great day, but weirdly memorable!

Since knowing Lima I’ve become more and more of a fan of his bike riding. He rides how many dream to ride – with incredible control, precision and style… and height. Always height! Common qualities you’ll notice in these photos are that they’re all boosted and super tweaked. That’s what you get with Lima.

Around a year ago, Lima showed up in London for a day and we rode Frontside Gardens with a good little crew. That’s when we shot the first photo for this feature (of him going to the moon over the spine there) and decided that we would work on it until we had enough photos. Sporadic riding sessions since then have produced what you see here now.

Lima’s been very busy this last year… If you’re a BMX rider with a smartphone then chances are he’s in some way changed your life recently. Read on to find out how.

This hip isn't for the faint hearted. Lima snapping it up and transferring into the Viccy park deep end.

PAST

What’s been going on?

What has been going on? I always struggle to remember. I joined a football team, we won the league and the cup, it was a pretty good season, but mainly it was good fun. It’s nice having another interest which is active outside of riding, it helped the winter go that much quicker.

I never enjoy the winter for riding, I used to always leave for somewhere warmer, but this helps break up the weeks. Last winter I also spent a month in Malaga, with Priesty, Inch, Bas, Hennon and old man Hennon, couple of Tuckers were there also. It was such a good trip, no plans, no commitments. Just wake up and do whatever you want every day. Turned out pretty productive in that way. Riding Ruben’s bowl helps keep you dialled on your bike for sure.

I came home, then went straight back to Malaga on a Profile trip. It was actually kinda hard to film even though I’d just been there for a month. But I had saved up footage, you know.

“Riding Ruben’s bowl helps keep you dialled on your bike for sure.”

In the summer Chris Doyle stayed at mine for a week, we travelled around a bit, went to the UK Dirt Series, chilled, watched football. That week helped motivate me to ride a bunch. Cheers Doyle.

Absolutely HOOFING over the spine at Frontside Gardens, London.

PRESENT

What’s happening now?

I’ve been kinda riding all over. Oxford is where I live so I’m never too far from the bowl there, but I’ve managed to ride a bunch of good trails spots recently too. I made sure I went and hung out at Woodyard a bunch, even though I’m good friends with all those guys I never rode the trails much.

Priest and I have been trying to film some stuff for a Verde Oxbridge LTD promo. Our frame had a bit of a revamp – new colours and graphics, it’s all come out sweet.

My Profile Paisley colourway just came out too, it had been in the works for about 2 years, maybe longer. I never really thought it would happen but now they are running sweet on my bike.

Pumped BMX 3 has just launched, obviously. I’ve been involved doing a bunch of stuff with Adam Hunt, the developer. One of my jobs was to come up with every challenge in the game and every score. So… if you’re struggling that’s either because you suck or it’s my fault and I’ve made it too hard. I tried to find a happy medium.

Classic Lima. Indown over the channel at Thame skatepark.

FUTURE

What’s next?

Coming up… I’m gonna be moving house soon, but that’s pretty boring. We’re currently planning a Verde trip with Priest, Martyn and MJ. Kinda feel bad for MJ as since he has arrived, everyone has been really busy, gone to live in NZ (Jonny Devine), or got injured, so we haven’t been on a team trip for a while. We are looking at Barca… I know, I know… But there are a bunch of really good trails and concrete bowls out there, and the sort of street stuff we like riding is kinda what Barca has (when I say street, anything which looks like a skatepark).

I’m also planning a trip early next year to New Zealand, similar people to the Malaga crew last year. We have been talking about it for a while. Craig Stevens is over there and said he could give us some pointers, Jonny D is still there also. The place looks amazing and we want to have a similar trip to Malaga, where fun comes first, which usually breeds productive riding.