With RedBull Empire of Dirt back and a Bike shop/Cycle centre set to open soon Kye Forte certainly has a busy year ahead. We’re stoked that he took some out his busy schedule to chat to us about life in The Shire, exciting new projects and living the dream!

So Kye...

How’s Winter been in Devonshire?
Wet and cold. But not to bad really, been riding a lot of MTB motor trials which you can do in any weather and going to the gym a lot. Managed to get away snowboarding in January. I’m currently in NZ for 2 weeks riding a couple RedBull contests so I have managed to keep active. Winter is a good time for me to plan and work on new projects as well…

Is that the Red Bull Roast it trip in Queenstown?
Yeah been here a couple days now. The Gorge Road jumps are really good fun. Really smooth with loads of lines! Only had one day riding so far although the jet lag is wearing off so hopefully do some stunts today. It’s my first time to NZ and Queenstown is amazing!
Toby is coming over from Australia next we are going to shred the jumps and hopefully get up the mountain on some full suss bikes as well…

Have you had a legendary Fergburger yet?
Not yet it’s on the list of things to do, by the look of the Que they must be the nut’s!!!

You and Leo have been busy with MBE events, tell us a bit about that?
MBE is something that I set up to enable me to put on events and other projects I like to organise. The company is growing quite quickly and we now have a mobile ramp, sound system, etc…
We have also been doing a lot of trails & track build projects. We have some quite big clients and I think 2012 will be out busiest yet!
Check the link for more info http://www.mbe-limited.com

So what other big plans do you have for 2012?
Lots haha… it’s actually a bit mental! Firstly I am in the process of opening a bike store in my home town! Pro Cycle Centre. It will be a 5000 sq. ft premises offering all kinds of cycling goodies, along with a skatepark, showers, ride to work storage and eventually a Cafe!

Empire of Dirt is back this year in london so that in itself is a huge project, really excited about this as you can imagine…
MBE have already quite a few show bookings at some massive events too! ….all this I will be doing whilst continuing to represent my sponsors, traveling, riding & filming!!

Empire of Dirt is back! (woop) What took you so long??
Basically a project like this takes a huge amount of organisation and money. I have been pestering Red Bull since the last time to do it again. We decided if we did, it would have to be more eye opening than last time, keep it exciting ya know! We have a location and it’s going to be very different. We’re aiming to open it up to a larger audience but retain the core empire feel that the 2008 event had. More details & ticket information will be released soon.

Who is the driving force behind the whole project, the main people?
The event is my vision and I am kinda the go to guy for how I want the event to run. Leo and a handful of guys from last time are involved too. We also have a massive team at RedBull taking care of everything behind the scenes. There is just so much to do when putting on an event of this scale!

Any other sponsors other than Redbull?
We are working at the moment to secure the co-sponsors, United, DC & Oakley are likely to be involved again as they support me anyway.
United are looking to release some event specific colab items too.

Can you let us in on any course design secrets?
I can tell you it is every bit as gnarly as last time. Some original features remain. The hill is very different this time around, it opens up for some new features. A big clue is there is a Robbie Maddison inspired element!

Sounds exciting! So it’s in London? Does this mean the Ally Pally rumours are true?
Can’t say! One way or another..that would be sweet!  Although I think hosting Empire in a palace would be a logistical nightmare!

If so does that mean its indoors or on the hill outside?
It will certainly be outside, wouldn’t be the same without worrying about the British weather would it!?

Rider invites have gone out, are we going to be seeing Foster grace these shores again??
Yes Foster is on the rider list along with Ruben. Legends are an integral part of Empire of Dirt

Have you got a bunch of treats lined up for the week before?
Yeah we are planning on keeping the riders entertained throughout the week. We’ll be hitting up all the good trail spots around the M25 along with some secret trail sessions with the riders.

How’s the spectating gonna work? Is it open to everyone, tickets or first come first served again?
Its going to be ticketed, this time they will be for sale. There will be plenty to go round due to the bigger more central location.

So, what else have you been up to? We’ve recently seen you shredding in some woods on a MTB?
Yeah been riding quite a bit of MTB with the misses and Leo has just also got a Charge. I really want to do some downhill racing actually! Just love being out on a bike whatever the weather. Its a good mix of BMX & MX really…and being form Devon theres plenty of spots to ride nearby. We’ve also Dartmoor, Exmoor & The Quantocks are within 40 mins drive…Spoilt!

Definitely!

What other trips do you have lined up?
Hopefully being going out to the states for RedBull Dream Line in June, Kill The Line in south of France and perhaps some trips to film an edit with Leo. It’ll be mostly UK stuff as there is so much happening here this Summer!

You are pretty much living the dream right now but do you ever just wish you were just chilling at home with the missis and the cats?
Yeah, sometimes it gets a bit much. Coming somewhere as nice as NZ without Gem is hard. She has a pretty full on job as a financial adviser although we do get to travel together a fair bit. We try to do a lot together, but even when I am at home I can be busy working until late on the businesses and projects I have on the go. And obviously riding takes up a huge chunk of my time! Its not uncommon for us both to be working till 11pm week nights. As with everything, If you want to have the lifestyle, you have to put in the effort!

You are a country boy through and through, your whole family live nearby, but do you think you’ll ever up sticks and move abroad like Toby?
I don’t think so, Gem and I thought about moving to California a few years back but decided against it as family is a big part of both our lives. I like the seasons of the UK and there is more to life than just BMX for me. Living in Devon I get to do loads of other things to keep myself busy. I have a good thing going and have made as good a life for myself as I could anywhere I think. I am happy, sometimes attitudes of the British and weather get me down but I love Devon.

Thats great news, I’ll leave you to get back to the jumps now, take care, enjoy yourself
and look forward to catching up with you soon!

EMPIRE OF DIRT - 19TH - 20TH MAY 2012

In a press release, White said Blunderbuss is “an album I couldn’t have released until now. I’ve put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas.”

Listen to it now the first single ‘Love Interruption’ NOW

They really are the seat for the refined gent.

We fully expect to see these darting all over Dalston in the very near future!!

Currently Alden Seats makes custom brogue style hand made seats to order for small shops and individuals. Our saddles are made from top quality leather for incredible durability and longevity.

Check out their Kick Start project here

Bicycle Union: Circling Spain from Channel 4Down on Vimeo.

VANS Let it Ride 2011 – Team Two edit from Vans Europe on Vimeo.

Today Tuesday December 20th 2011 sees the final video release for Professional Freestyle BMX rider Dane Searls which sees him successfully ride the biggest dirt jumps in history, clearing distances up to 60 feet (18 metres) on his BMX.

The Giants of Dirt Project began in 2010 when Dane brought the idea to his sponsor Unit Clothing. Over the next 12 months, together they built and tested the line of jumps in Queensland. Australia. Sheer determination saw Dane push through many painful crashes and set backs, including the devastating Queensland floods of 2010. Dane finally completed his life long goal in November 2011, by riding and pulling tricks through the entire set of jumps. Giants of Dirt 3 is the realization of Dane’s dream.

Two days after fulfilling his dream, Dane was involved in an accident and suffered critical head injuries, placing him in a coma for five days. Dane passed away on November 25, 2011 in hospital due to his injuries.

Ride In Peace Dane.

ODSY VISION: TRAVEL LOG – IDAHO / MONTANA from ODYSSEYBMX.COM

So no one listens to guitar music anymore? Well Kill It Kid are not overly concerned with your listening habits, more honing their craft of infusing classic blues, folk and progressive hard rock to create soaring hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck tingling music in the form of monster like delta-blues tunes.

The third single from the much celebrated sophomore album ‘Feet Fall Heavy’ (One Little Indian), double A side ‘Wild and Wasted Waters’ continues much in the same vein as ‘Pray On Me’ and ‘Heart Rested With You’ in the sense that the New Orleans spirit of Robert Johnson flows through this slice of sorrow laden electric-blues. More up-tempo than the two previously mentioned offerings ‘Wild and Wasted Waters’ sees the gorgeous attitude loaded vocals of Stephanie Ward take somewhat of a backseat as Chris Turpin’s sincere voice takes the lead to tell a tale seemingly full of regret. Not that this track is any the less for it, studio maestro Leo Abrahams really seems to have developed a powerful understanding of the Kill It Kid sound and all that comes before it, enabling the group to really flourish. As always the guitar arrangements point to some musicians who really understand their instruments and the piercing stabs of piano slice through the verses to ensure the melody is ingrained in memory. ‘Wild and Wasted Waters’ gathers pace throughout reminiscent of a journey nearing its end and as the lyrics suggest, it sounds like somewhat of a homecoming.

Harking back to the tradition of honouring single purchasing followers with a non-album appearing number, ‘All To Me’ is a real treat and the perfect tonic to ‘Wild and Wasted Waters’ heavy heart. Unashamedly raw and dirty, Chris Turpin demands ‘bring it all to me’ as this track exhibits Kill It Kid’s raucous side and really wastes no time going about its business. For want of a better word, this track is ‘big’. Big dirty bourbon soaked sticky floored rock to get the heads banging. Overall another very impressive release from a band that are fast becoming the gem in One Little Indian’s crown, accompanied by an almost brutal like touring schedule this band really deserve the chance to stake their claim and continue doing basically, what they do.

Frank Kruyer