JMC - 15 years today

[sjg]

As a MTB-obsessed, MBUK-reading teenager in the early to mid 90s, Jason McRoy was a hero to me. The first brit to really break into the US/world racing scene, and one of the first to really do it with style - he made photos and the early videos MTB videos like Dirt look exciting in a way few had before.

If he'd not died (far too) young at 24, he'd probably be up there as one of the all-time greats in the sport.

I remember getting the issue of MBUK with this story in, and being in a state of shock for days:

http://www.jasonmcroy.com/jmc/the-jmc-story

RIP.

[SuperBaaaad]

I remember him well! Another true fan, I actually drew a picture of him for my GCSE Art final at school and got an A for it. I'll have to dig it out, scan it and post it.

[martin mrt]

Christ it's hard to believe it's that long ago, I remember it well, and can remember reding in MBUK that he died, I think I watch DIRT (I'm sure that was the video he done) just after reading about it.

He was a true talent, and this tragic passing helped influence my new bike purchase in 1997 a Specialized S Works in red.

RIP

[v8 jago]

He was a true sportsman. He fought hard to do the things he loved and seemed to be top class at every sport he did, And always trained to the max. Jason coming big into the mtb scene and him dying happend in the few years i stopped cycling and feel i missed out on witnessing such skill from a great guy. Its sad when you read the story. I started back up cycling again in 2000 and he is now one of my heros i never knew. Only from reading about him and watching the few vids.
RIP. You will always be with us jmc.

[anonymous-user]

unbelievable, going to have a beer and watch "dirt" tonight.... JMC, Rob Warner and Dave Hemmings are the reason I ride a mountain bike....

[Dunk76]

Blimey, an obituary of lunacy and dedication!

I do like this penultimate statement;

My belief is that Jason had somehow completed all his allotted tasks on this plane and was moved on to level two for better things

[optimax sniffer]

Still have a JMC beanie somewhere

[ccr32]

pablo said:

unbelievable, going to have a beer and watch "dirt" tonight.... JMC, Rob Warner and Dave Hemmings are the reason I ride a mountain bike....

Big big influence on me too - watching the 6 minute clip from Dirt on the JMC website certainly brings back a few memories... that's how you ride a hardtail!

[nessiemac]

I echo everyone else's thoughts here. He was someone i really looked up to back then.

I'd just started DH racing that year properly doing the BMBF national series among others and had been at Hopton in Shropshire only a week or two before and standing at the edge of a conversation (trying to look cool!) between JMC,Peaty and Warner at a tricky corner.

Picked up Cycling Weekly on the Thursday which reported his death and it was a huge shock,really upset me TBH and even now,reading this brings so many memories of "back in the day".

RIP JMC.

[dr_gn]

Drove past his 'shrine' on the Woodhead pass last week. Always glance over at it on the way to Manchester Airport.

[Zippee]

I remember meeting Jason at Plympton (Plymouth heat of the worlds) when he was riding the Salsa Jelly Bean, really nice bloke and a fantastic ambassador for the sport. I also remember chatting to his then girlfriend Sophie at the same time - they made a great team both on & off the circuit.

Edited by Zippee on Wednesday 25th August 14:27

[paulrhodes]

Just saw this. JMC was my biggest influence in the early nineties. Amazing energy and drive.

Met him a couple of times at the Malvern classics and at Bike 95 I think which must have been just before he passed away.

RIP JMC

[dr_gn]

paulrhodes said:

Just saw this. JMC was my biggest influence in the early nineties. Amazing energy and drive.

Met him a couple of times at the Malvern classics and at Bike 95 I think which must have been just before he passed away.

RIP JMC

1990's? have you seen this:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/

I could put my bike in there!

[Chris71]

Quite an inspiration. Never knew he was battling a heart defect.

[paulrhodes]

dr_gn said:

paulrhodes said:

Just saw this. JMC was my biggest influence in the early nineties. Amazing energy and drive.

Met him a couple of times at the Malvern classics and at Bike 95 I think which must have been just before he passed away.

RIP JMC

1990's? have you seen this:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/

I could put my bike in there!

Funnily enough I saw that site earlier today. I'm salivating over all the ancient stuff at the moment.

[LDN]

A legend. Still remember watching the Reebok Eliminator in USA where he went up against all the big names and came second. No-one had heard of him before and all of a sudden he was amongst the best of the best. That's when Specialized started to nose around. I worked at a shop run by his mechanic and he came in a few times; I even bought one of his old bikes and it remains in my mum's basement in bits.

Eliminator clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX4qkAbDyyk

[neil_bolton]

RIP Jason - he moved the sport on hugely at the time and was an
inspiration to thousands - including me.

Keep shredding up there Jase....

[paulrhodes]

LDN said:

A legend. Still remember watching the Reebok Eliminator in USA where he went up against all the big names and came second. No-one had heard of him before and all of a sudden he was amongst the best of the best. That's when Specialized started to nose around. I worked at a shop run by his mechanic and he came in a few times; I even bought one of his old bikes and it remains in my mum's basement in bits.

Eliminator clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX4qkAbDyyk

You should build it back up in whatever state the parts are in. Clean them up as best as possible but leave it as it was.

If you don't fancy it, I'd be interested in doing it.

[LDN]

paulrhodes said:

LDN said:

A legend. Still remember watching the Reebok Eliminator in USA where he went up against all the big names and came second. No-one had heard of him before and all of a sudden he was amongst the best of the best. That's when Specialized started to nose around. I worked at a shop run by his mechanic and he came in a few times; I even bought one of his old bikes and it remains in my mum's basement in bits.

Eliminator clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX4qkAbDyyk

You should build it back up in whatever state the parts are in. Clean them up as best as possible but leave it as it was.

If you don't fancy it, I'd be interested in doing it.

I used some of the bits on another bike but I still have the frame: FSR with FOX shock, carbon fibre Judy DH's with 3 inch travel.. still have the Avid brake levers and set which was V expensive back then but the wheels went onto another Specialized that I had, They were Mavic rims with DT swiss spokes and DT swiss hubs. XTR shtuff too. Back then it was the dogs danglies and treasured it. While I say it's in my mum's basement; it's being kept very nice and maybe I will build it up to be ridden again... even if it's with lesser parts. Either that, or it will go on my garage wall; (once I get my dream garage) as a centre-piece.