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John Lee Bike Check     Interview     Photo Gallery
 
Date of birth, and years riding
7/15/1978 and 13 years of BMX I think?
Current residence
"Binghamton, NY
What are some of your interest outside of BMX?
Mountain Biking (mountain, road, tandems cruisers), R/C Cars, Camping, all you can Eat Buffet’s
Who are some of the influences on John Lee?
In life I would say My Mom, Dad, and Jeff Rosen, Jeff is the owner of the shop I worked at growing up. He taught me a lot about life and respect.
Who do you work with?
John Paul Rogers, Chunk, the FBM machine shop, Steve Crandall, Mike Erb, and Bmxer’s who have questions
What can you tell us about your job?
It is the other side that most bmxers don’t get to see. I work close with shops, riders, and manufacturing and get to see the products from start to finish. It is awesome to see ideas that start as small talk on the way to the bathroom develop into something legit
Frame you are currently riding:
My Frame is basically a FBM Joint frame minus the tapered chain stays; I was talking to Dave about what I wanted in a frame and poof he made it happen. Then a few months later we have the ability to taper tubes, so I am stoked on that, and I love my bike
How did you start Riding?
I was just your average curb jumping kid, watched the move Rad, tried flat land tricks had a subscription to BMX magazines, but it wasn’t until I was in 6th grade I found out what BMX really was. A friend of mine (Chris Watson) brought me to some trails; I was stoked and started riding. My front wheel fell off and busted me up, so I kind of dropped the BMX for a couple of years. Then in 8th grade met another dude who was into BMX, We went to Sterits trails on LI saw Robbie Morales and Keith Mulligan riding and was stoked, then watched S&M 44 something, picked up a shovel and start building jumps and riding BMX.
Who do you ride with?
Who ever wants to have fun on a bike. Chris Hancock, Cruz and Chunk, when they are into it. Jeff Harrington and Who ever is at the public park, but I would say I ride 90% of the time alone
Who do you hate riding with?
There isn’t a particular person that I do not like to ride with mainly just kids who try to judge you based on your bike set up, or are throwing there bike cause they can’t pull a trick, or are bad mechanics so there bike is falling apart.
Top 5 current favorite riders?
Brian Yeagle, Mike Corts, John Corts, Dylan Smith, Clint Reynolds
Top 5 all time favorite riders?
Keith Terra, Mike Tag, Chris Moeller, Mark Spegal, Brian Foster
What music are you into lately?
The Decemberists, Explosions in the Sky, Broken Social Scene, Ghost Face, Bobby Digital, MF Doom
Where do you ride?
I have a private ramp set up, Binghamton public park, we build some trails by the river when the weather allows
What are some of your favorite spots?
Ramp Riders in St. Louis, My local trails, ramps and the Binghamton area (the grass isn’t always greener) I tend to make what I want to ride instead of complaining about not having anything to ride
What are some of your all time favorite bands?
Sonic youth, Rainer Maria, Mates of State, Coheed and Cambria, WU Tang (all wu affiliates), Bad Brains, Superchunk, Run DMC
Interview from April 6, 2007
Favorite Videos?
"BMX??? Um… Anthem, FBM 10 Year DVD, and Scum video, and Road Fools 1 and Euro Road Fools. Anything by Stew Johnson or Dave Parrick
What can you tell us about the greater Susquehanna Valley?
It is one of the most beautiful places to live, Seasons have rapid change, there is a lot to offer if you are into outdoors lifestyle. There are good communities of people but they take a little work to find
What is up with House Party?
Everyday is a House Party, every night is a pajama jammy Jam
What tricks do you like doing most?
On a bike, table tops, turn downs, no footed tricks, 360’s when they go right. Anything new I can learn, just learned foot jams so I am happy when I pull one
What gets you stoked?
Smiling, Girls with a jump off booty, people having fun. Bikes, VW Beetles, Sunshine.
What pisses you off?
Lack of respect, people getting taken advantage of, close minded people. And people talking to me about how awesome the trails are going to be when I am trying to build and they just stand there talking when I want to listen to music
Worst Injury?
Damaging the ligaments in my hands from washing out on a deck Manuel. My hands are so delicate now.
Most recent injury?
Got a little shiner last night.
What kind of riding do you enjoy most?
I like all bicycle riding, sometimes I want to ride trails, or some form of BMX, other days I like pedaling around town not doing a single trick or wheelie. I enjoy riding Cross Country MTBs and riding rode bikes in traffic.
Favorite Movies?
Coming To America, Back to the Future Trilogy, Star Wars Trilogy, Rad, House Party Trilogy
Most Fun place you have ridden?
Minersville Trails (RIP) Hurrican Rim MTB Trail, NYC traffic
What can you tell us about John Tillman?
He is a good roommate, one of the funniest people around, not a bad bone in the dude. You can freak him out easily.
Who is Jeff Harrington?
Jeff is the owner of the Take, Likes death and dismemberment, dead baby jokes, and anything that will freak me out or scare me to death. He is a great dude to be friends with great to ride with.
Any good road trip stories?
I like the time Tag choked Crandall, in the back of Ram Van with a cowboy mural on side. That was my first fbm road trip.
What does FBM mean to you?
FBM is what I want it to be, good friends, good bikes, good peoples. It is a collection of individuals coming together for a common love. It is about supporting those who support you and your interest.
Describe an ideal day
Wake up next to my lady and get some, watch Judge Mathis, ride 20 miles of MTB single track before lunch. Have some good food, and hit the trails. Have a family BBQ, at night go see a band, then dance with my lady, got home and get some again. Watch house party and fall asleep
Comments
BMX is what you make it, If your riding scene sucks it is most likely because you kind of suck