Eighth Inch Team Rider Will Gibbons
Detroit, Michigan, USA
1) What is your name?
Will Gibbons
2) What city do you live & ride in?
I have spent the school year in Detroit, MI, which is where I’ve ridden in for the past year and a half. I’ll be back in Holland, MI this summer though.
3) Tell us all about your bike- all of the components (bike check)
- Frame: 50cm Eighthinch Butcher
- Fork: Allcity Dropout
- Bars: Eighthinch Freestyle
- Barends: Eighthinch
- Grips: Shadow Conspiracy Locals
- Bar Ends: Eighthinch Freestyle
- Stem: Eighthinch Freestyle
- Rims: Mtx33 (26″), ’bout to test out the new Eightinch Beuller 26″ wheels!
- Front Hub: Shadow Conspiracy Raptor bmx
- Rear Hub: 14mm Unknown
- Hub Guards: Shadow Conspiracy
- Tires: 1.85″ Michelin City rear/2.1″ KHE Mac2 front
- Cranks: Eighthinch Splined 160s
- Sprocket/Cog: Eighthinch Splined 39t and 15t Cog
- Chain: Eighthinch Half Link GOLD CHAIN
- Pedals: Eighthinch Platforms
- Seat: Shadow Conspiracy Slimmer railled
- Seatpost: Eighthinch (came with the frame)
- BB: Eighthinch
- Headset: Stolen Bmx
- Foot Retention: GWN prototypes made by FInn
- Pegs: Eclat 3″ machine slotted
4) How long have you been riding fixed gear?
I rode a couple fixed conversions a couple years ago, then I got into freestyle riding the November of 2009.
5) What got you started riding fixed gear?
I had seen the Macaframa slow-motion videos that were about a minute long. Thought it was the cat’s pajamas. I’ve been hooked since then.
6) What kind of riding do you do- (FGFS, Polo, messenger, etc)?
I have a track bike for longer rides, (nice and light and it actually fits me) and I spend most time riding freestyle.
7) Best memory on your bike?
This one’s hard. Thankfully I’ve had lots! All the big trips have been priceless. I’ve been able to meet riders from around the country while spending time with my homies from the DPH crew, who are really like family to me. Any of the days when my friends talk me into doing something I’m hesitant to try or someone else tries something they’re having trouble with, the motivation just becomes contagious.
8) Worst crash on your bike?
This is where I get lucky. I’ve hardly had any big incidences… yet.. Worst was for sure when I was at the RVA trick jam last February if I remember that right. There was a grind box set up down an 8 stair and I didn’t have pegs or know how to pedal/crankarm grind then… I gave it a try, missed, and ended up scooting my butt down the stair set and …. let’s just say there was blood… Riding around the rest of the trip was so painful. After sitting for a few hours on the 12 hour drive home, a scab would start to form, then we’d get out to stretch the legs and the real pain would begin again…
9) What do you do when you are not riding?
Up until May this year, I’ve been a full-time college student at a super-rigorous school and I’ve worked every summer in the past, so I keep really busy. I’m a product designer, artist (watercolor, illustration, graphics) runner, bonsai artist. I love to spend time with my parents and brother when I can, cooking, hiking, backpacking and camping.
10) Any accolades (Have you won any tournaments/contests, been in a movie/edits?
I won the first place amateur comp. at the first Midwest Mayhem in Miwlaukee, WI, Honorable mention at RVA trick jam in Richmond, VA. I’ve got quite a few videos and edits online on the DPH vimeo or My Vimeo and I’ll be posting regular riding-related media on my blog this summer.
11) Favorite food and drink?
Favorite foods: (cuz 1 aint enough) salad, granola, curry, grapefruit, omelettes, good home made pizza… I’m a vegetarian. Coffee 3,4 or 5 times a day, a good, dark beer (Founder’s Brewery’s Breakfast Stout) ; ) Have one if you get the chance!
12) Personal notes- anything you want the world to know about you?
I’m a product designer who has an incredibly useful skillset who would love to design bikes and components, *hint *hint.
13) Any special thanks to anyone out there?
Definitely. I owe the DPH family a thanks for getting me into fixed freestyle. Shea, Chris, Keenan and Casey for pushing me. Eighthinch for the incredible amount of support as well as Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop. You guys are the only way I could have kept rolling while having to attend college. All my BMX-riding friends back in Holland for being some of the most solid, dudes I know: Pat, Sneller, Joe, Zach, Rudy, Tyler, Justin. My brother John for being encouraging and my parents for respecting my love for bikes and riding. My friend Jon who makes fun of me for riding fixed.