We Were Rad... a 3 year bmx project
Discussion
Hi all
Over the last 3 years 2 friends and myself have compiled over 10,000 unseen images and interviews from all over the BMX world including Martin Apajio, Tommy Brackens, Andy Ruffell, Maurice Meyer, Craig Schofield and a host of others as well as editors/contributors from the leading magazines from the era with a view to releasing the greatest BMX book ever!
The ethos of the book is to tell the story of BMX from the average joe on the street. Ramps in their back gardens, hanging around parks, wheelies in the street etc. and how the larger bmx world influenced them including chapters on music, fashion, shops and media.
It has been a massive labour of love but we have amassed a huge archive on BMX and are in the midst of compiling chapters with a view to launching our book early new year.
The book is primarily about British BMX, the photos we have alone are phenominal and all have never been seen before. We also have loads of great insights and revealing conversations with the great and good of BMX
Once the book is out we plan to follow up with a massive exhibition of BMX ephemera, film, photos etc aswell as applying for long term funding for an archive. We are painfully aware that as every year passes, we lose legends, photos get lost or destroyed, stories forgotten and important relics lost forever.
We thinks its easy to underestimate the impact BMX had back then and are keen to save as much as we can for future generations.
We humbly invite you to check us out on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/161890204418162/'r...
On Instagram : https://instagram.com/we_were_rad_book?igshid=f8q2...
And if you would like to be kept up to date on things please check out our website : https://www.wewererad.com
We are chuffed that our huge project is nearly ready to roll and we think you will enjoy the RAD emersion in BMX as much as we have these last 3 years
Over the last 3 years 2 friends and myself have compiled over 10,000 unseen images and interviews from all over the BMX world including Martin Apajio, Tommy Brackens, Andy Ruffell, Maurice Meyer, Craig Schofield and a host of others as well as editors/contributors from the leading magazines from the era with a view to releasing the greatest BMX book ever!
The ethos of the book is to tell the story of BMX from the average joe on the street. Ramps in their back gardens, hanging around parks, wheelies in the street etc. and how the larger bmx world influenced them including chapters on music, fashion, shops and media.
It has been a massive labour of love but we have amassed a huge archive on BMX and are in the midst of compiling chapters with a view to launching our book early new year.
The book is primarily about British BMX, the photos we have alone are phenominal and all have never been seen before. We also have loads of great insights and revealing conversations with the great and good of BMX
Once the book is out we plan to follow up with a massive exhibition of BMX ephemera, film, photos etc aswell as applying for long term funding for an archive. We are painfully aware that as every year passes, we lose legends, photos get lost or destroyed, stories forgotten and important relics lost forever.
We thinks its easy to underestimate the impact BMX had back then and are keen to save as much as we can for future generations.
We humbly invite you to check us out on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/161890204418162/'r...
On Instagram : https://instagram.com/we_were_rad_book?igshid=f8q2...
And if you would like to be kept up to date on things please check out our website : https://www.wewererad.com
We are chuffed that our huge project is nearly ready to roll and we think you will enjoy the RAD emersion in BMX as much as we have these last 3 years
Consider me signed up. I adored the The Complete Book of BMX by Bob Osborn as I grew up, but stupidly gave it to charity in a clear out while moving as a young adult.
Somewhat downbeat, but this is a good read too.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.desertsun.com/amp...
Somewhat downbeat, but this is a good read too.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.desertsun.com/amp...
Well, its been a long time coming but im pleased to say that the book is now finished!
It will be a massive 450 pages, 1300 images and over 100,000 words!!!
Subject to the availability of our printers, we will be taking orders very soon.
If you havn't done already please sign up for further updates and priority on orders when the book is released
https://www.wewererad.com/
In the mean time sit back and enjoy a short film featuring a small slice of the content of the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
It will be a massive 450 pages, 1300 images and over 100,000 words!!!
Subject to the availability of our printers, we will be taking orders very soon.
If you havn't done already please sign up for further updates and priority on orders when the book is released
https://www.wewererad.com/
In the mean time sit back and enjoy a short film featuring a small slice of the content of the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
allegro said:
Well, its been a long time coming but im pleased to say that the book is now finished!
It will be a massive 450 pages, 1300 images and over 100,000 words!!!
Subject to the availability of our printers, we will be taking orders very soon.
If you havn't done already please sign up for further updates and priority on orders when the book is released
https://www.wewererad.com/
In the mean time sit back and enjoy a short film featuring a small slice of the content of the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
Looks like a great project. Brings back a lot of memories of hanging with mates doing wheelies and jumps, building tracks and pretending we were on Kickstart (the TV trials show). It will be a massive 450 pages, 1300 images and over 100,000 words!!!
Subject to the availability of our printers, we will be taking orders very soon.
If you havn't done already please sign up for further updates and priority on orders when the book is released
https://www.wewererad.com/
In the mean time sit back and enjoy a short film featuring a small slice of the content of the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
Like the mention of Trackers - i remember having breaking many of Raleighs finest frames by jumping them over increasing numbers of friends. Always very jealous of the one kid in the village who had a Raleigh Burner.
I'm an ex 80's racer, Crewe, Derby, Norton Canes, Nottingham etc. I ride BMX once or twice a year and was at the local pumptrack only this weekend!
It's funny you mentioned Martin Aparijo, an old friend of mine moved to the States around 30 years ago to work in the Hot Rod and Custom industry, he now lives in Huntington Beach and often rides with Aparijo and even Eddie Fiola!
It's funny you mentioned Martin Aparijo, an old friend of mine moved to the States around 30 years ago to work in the Hot Rod and Custom industry, he now lives in Huntington Beach and often rides with Aparijo and even Eddie Fiola!
JustGREENI said:
I'm an ex 80's racer, Crewe, Derby, Norton Canes, Nottingham etc. I ride BMX once or twice a year and was at the local pumptrack only this weekend!
Used to race in the East Midlands region in the mid 80's, Bulwell was my local track.Have never stopped riding, only had a few years racing, then it was 'freestyle' with Broadmash hump in Nottingham being the weekly hangout, got back into racing a few years ago but a few too many injuries have put a stop to that, still riding now though, mainly pump tracks but the occasional full size track, and got a great indoor park on my doorstep with The Asylum.
allegro said:
Aparijo and Fiola are lovely blokes. Very down to earth and happy to chat BMX. We have been all over, interviewing loads of people for the book. I can honestly say everyone we spoke to were fantastic
I'm 'friends' with Eddie on Facebook, he does indeed seem a really nice guy and really does live, eat and breathe BMX! He was my freestyle hero back in the day, he just made it look so effortless and was very innovative. The So-Cal BMX scene seemed so other-worldly to me, riding at Birmingham Wheels. It was kinda like Huntington Beach on a sunny day, if you squinted, and turned your back to the gasometers!
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm 'friends' with Eddie on Facebook, he does indeed seem a really nice guy and really does live, eat and breathe BMX!
He was my freestyle hero back in the day, he just made it look so effortless and was very innovative. The So-Cal BMX scene seemed so other-worldly to me, riding at Birmingham Wheels. It was kinda like Huntington Beach on a sunny day, if you squinted, and turned your back to the gasometers!
I'm guessing you have seen his moonwalk trick? Unbelievable!!! We have Pat and Trev from Brum wheels in the book as well as a little background on the project He was my freestyle hero back in the day, he just made it look so effortless and was very innovative. The So-Cal BMX scene seemed so other-worldly to me, riding at Birmingham Wheels. It was kinda like Huntington Beach on a sunny day, if you squinted, and turned your back to the gasometers!
allegro said:
In the mean time sit back and enjoy a short film featuring a small slice of the content of the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
That's properly ace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPo2x-Sb53o&t=...
I can identify with the vast majority of the quotes in there - have similar pictures (god knows where now) too.
Came to BMX via a pedal trials bike, converted to 43t gearing, but too heavy to race. After selling everything I possibly could, I finally got what I considered a proper BMW; Redline 500a. Happy, happy days. As one of the quotes says, we used to ride from dawn until dark in the school holidays.
No longer own a BMX but still get wheels off the ground, albeit on a mountain bike these days.
I gives me enormous pleasure to post this.
4 1/2 long years of hard work and late nights after regular 9-5 work and we are finally here. I would like to personally thank everyone for their kind words, contributions and messages of support throughout. We really couldn't have done it without you
4 1/2 long years of hard work and late nights after regular 9-5 work and we are finally here. I would like to personally thank everyone for their kind words, contributions and messages of support throughout. We really couldn't have done it without you
podcast Interview we did recently with BMX legend Dale Holmes about our book project which is out now
https://www.bmxweekly.com/2021/09/podcast-the-guys...
https://www.bmxweekly.com/2021/09/podcast-the-guys...
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