The other day my buddy Mat got ahold of me to try and locate some bottom brackets and headtubes for a bike he wanted to make…
He explained to me that after 2 years of being disabled from a bad car accident he was trying to ride again. His injury had left his shoulder virtually un usable, but that the weightlessness of riding a vert ramp, getrads were still possible, and pumping the ramp worked. He then explained how he outfitted a brace, attaching his elbow somehow to his hip, and could ride, even though he is essentially doing it one handed. Further explanation, brought him to the point where in testing his limits, and having to think new about it, and unlearn, and relearn, and that a regular bike would confuse him into thinking he could ride like he used to…. Solution? make an alternative bike out of bamboo. Bamboo has a high tensile strength, and way different qualities than chromoly, so he would basically have to be real careful, in order to enjoy the ride…
These are a few pics from one of my favorite, and most inspiring pioneers of free thinking and awesomeness, Mat Hoffman. Below Is Mat shredding the ramp at his home in Oklahoma, and A Doctor Seuss inspired Poem about his Bike, that he wrote for his children, and shared with me….
Thanks Mat…
– Steve Crandall
