Nick Busey

The most popular flatland forum on the internet, Pedalbmx.com, unites hundreds of flatlanders throughout the world, and was created by, a street rider! Nick Busey has provided us flatlanders the largest online flatland community. Around the World on Twenty Inches (http://www.atwo20.com/) is Nick Busey's new online journal and photo-documentary of his journey around the world on his 20" BMX bike.

Bike Flat (BF): Alright Nick, first off, how old are you and when did you start riding. Nick Busey (NB): I'm 18 years old, and I started riding when I was fresh out of middle school at around 14. (BF): Where do you live and how is the scene there? (NB):I live (for now) in a black void. Spanning at least 100 miles in any direction away from my house, is Central Pennsylvania. Let me tell you, in my area, there is absolutley, nothing to ride. Note I say away from  my house because I have a few ramps in the backyard, but that's about it. I don't even have a bikeshop I go to. If I need parts, it's mailorder. There's a few local kids that ride, but as far as a scene?  I'd say there pretty much isn't one. (BF): How did pedalbmx.com start? What did you have in mind when you first started it up. (NB): Well it went through a lot of phases. When I first started riding, I was making websites at the time too, so I decided to make one about BMX. I didn't know much about it at the time, but I went ahead anyway.

The purpose then was a general BMX site, covering contests, part reviews, even racing. After I started riding a little more, I shifted to the 'hardcore' mode, it was all about the underground. It was going to be an e-zine, with no ads, and all just riding. I shifted away from that too after two issues of the e-zine, and I wanted to make a real magazine. Which I did, I made one issue of a zine. It was pretty terrible, but fine for my first try I suppose. There will be more Pedal BMX Magazines! I'm just waiting until I have the resources to do the highest quality publication I can. So right now, Pedal BMX.com is pretty much just message boards, but that wasn't even in the original plan.
 

(BF): Did you ever imagine the site to become as big as it is today. (NB): No, not ever. I remember, I was excited back when we plateued out at around 37 members for a couple weeks. Nev closed down the forums at Backlash (http://www.backlashbmx.com/) which were huge at the time. All the members were looking for somewhere to go, and I suggested Pedal, and apparently, they listened. That week that Nev shut down, we went from 37 members to somewhere around 500 I believe, and it's been uphill since then. We now get over two million page views a month, and  look to pass the 5,000 member mark sometime soon. (BF): Now that you graduated high school what is your daily routine? (NB): Right now is not a good time to ask me that. I try and travel as much as possible, but it's winter, and there's no where to ride. So, when I am home, my daily routine doesn't involve bike riding in any way right now. Which is why I'm working on getting some money, and getting the hell out of this area.

(BF): What is it like working at Camp Woodward?
(NB): It was the most fun I've had on and off my bike, ever. It was a blast, the whole summer was incredible. The people were great, the riding was great, the whole atmosphere is great.

(BF): What was your best/worst experience from Woodward?
(NB): My best experience from Woodward? That's a toughie. There was so many awesome times there it's hard to narrow it down to any one thing. My worst experience is easy, counseling a skateboard cabin. That week almost got me fired mid-summer, and it did get me banned from camp.

(BF): So how long have you been growing those dreads? Are you planning on keeping them for good?
(NB): I've had the dreads since X-Mas of 2001. We took a family trip to Key West for the holiday, and my brother helped me put them in during the car ride down. I've had them ever since. I don't know how long I'll keep them, but I don't have any plans of loosing them in the near future.

(BF): Out of all the places you have travelled with your bike, what comes to mind first?
(NB): I don't know where to begin with this. I haven't traveled with my bike too much to be honest, but every time I have, has been incredible. Ghetto Comp, Roots, Inopia Road Trip, Demos in Jersey.
 

(BF): What are you mainly focused on now? (NB): Right now I'm just focused on getting out of this area. To do that, I need money, so buy T-Shirts! (BF): What are your plans for the future involving your riding and the site. (NB): I hope to ride and travel much more in general, however, whenever and wherever I can. I would like to start riding, and competing more. Maybe do some demos, whatever I can I guess. As far as the site goes, I have plans for it that go on for miles, there just aren't enough hours in the day. There's a lot in the future of Pedal though, don't worry. (BF): What rider has inspired you the greatest? (NB): That's a tough question. I've been inspired by many riders, in many ways. Kevin Jones has always been a big influence on me. Mat Hoffman also, they both did things on bikes before anyone else even thought they were possible.

(BF): Any last shout outs?
(NB): I'd like to thank my parents, for supporting me in whatever direction I choose to go. George at Inopia, the local crew, all the advertisers, everyone who bought a shirt, the Bike Flat guys for this interview, my dog Toby, the Plywood Hoods, and pretty much everyone I've ever met. Except the jerks. Screw those guys.

(BF): Thanks Nick.
(NB): No problemo.