Two years after the first Clean video was released, Clean 002 is here! Put together after almost 15,000 miles of travelling and nine months of filming, this is the latest in the Clean video series. Filmed throughout the UK (with a couple of trips to France and the Netherlands), Clean 002 features riding from Flipp, Carl Hopps, Mark Westlake, and Alastair Clarkson. Covering a range of styles from super tech brakeless riding through to huge gaps and drops, video 002 is full of innovative and creative riding. Taking inspiration from BMX, trials, and mountain biking, this video shows the new direction that riding is being pushed by these four riders.
If you'd like to see some extra clips, crashes and random events that went down while filming for Clean 002, check out the '
B-Sides' edit.
Music: Drifting Down Streams - Dead Meadow; Getaway - Dr. John; The Whale Song - Modest Mouse; The Contender - The Menahan Street Band; and River Styx - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Anyway, For almost 5 years solidly I rode trials(20" wheeled 'Monty' and a 26" wheeled 'Megamo') and on and off for the last 10 I've rode both MTB's and BMX - so I think I have a license to view my opinions on what looks cool or not.
If there was a 'cool-wall' for bikes/riding styles, 20" wheeled trials bikes wouldn't get a look-in.......neither would XC biking come to think of it. Just saying.
It's obvious we all ride bikes for the fun, the thrill etc but one way or another Biking in any form(well almost) is about display/showing off etc etc...And there's nothing at all wrong with that. It's just from a spectators point of view some disciplines look better than others.
Agreeably the term 'Twat' was a bit harsh...Apologies!
Anyway let the hatred commence!
How much of it did you watch BTW?
Good on people for " looking out for their brothers" but cut the shit.
Get off your goddam stroppy high horse and listen up you idiot. I don't give a flying whatever if you do or not wish to wear a helmet when you are riding etc etc etc, but what I do object to is people like you telling the world around them to shut up and get a life blah blah blah when it is those very people around you who will be caring for you for the rest of their goddam lives should you have an accident. Yep, read that agin you idiot. Your parents, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, kids or whoever that should "get a life" will have just that, their life, taken away from them whilst they are looking after your sorry arse. Wear a helmet idiot, period. If you don't you lack basic respect for those around you who have to pick up the pieces.
I realize this is the internets, but do you honestly think these riders are invincible and you're not accountable for watching them perform for you? Riders uploading videos of them hitting shit without safety gear never get my respect(not that you or they probably care, but hey it's a free country) and i'd never host or popularize that type of riding(again it's a free country i can pick what i want to host on my website). Which is exactly what i'm against in the instance. Hosting this stuff in a way glorifies rolemodels who engage in dufus behaviour and legtimizes the idea in some heads it is OK and "just" a personal choice to do shit without safety gear. I've read that same sentence a thousand times around here already. Maybe it's not a big deal in this particular video, but who knows what the effects are?
I also wonder what is pinkbike's policy here? They play a large role in creating an image for many riders, I want to know if they've even thought about it? I know i'm ranting now, so i'll stop myself.
Happy New Year, and give trials a try. It'll kick your but and teach you new skills! That brakeless riding humbles me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to come down there like your mommy and put a lid on your head. I am certainly going to voice my opinion here when I see a video promoting it to the masses. By hosting it on the front page the site is essentially giving the riding styles inside a nod. It's important if we want to improve our sport not to just sit around with our hands in our pockets shrugging about the differences that matter not only to getting your trail/park insured, but to people's quality of life when the screw up a stunt. How many views is this up to, how many people watch it and see un-helmeted aggressive riding as normalized and have it reinforced that "pros" ride without helmets. Do you think Leech rides without a lid in front of all the school kids when he demos at them... Why not? This is why it bugs me.
The point I wanted to make above is that those here (and elsewhere) who say they are for 'free expression' in word or action, are not consistent in espousing that position when confronted with opposition to something they feel is important. To my way of thinking, it is precisely the ability to acknowledge that a perspective is valid to the holder of that perspective and is as worthy of expression as my own, that bears this notion out. What does it say about me if I claim 'it's a free country' but refuse to hear dissenting opinions, and lambaste those who don't see things the way I do. I negate my own claim and lose out on the opportunity to either grow personally, or to have any chance to engage the other in meaningful discussion.
I've not talked with Ryan Leech about helmets, but am planning to have him present to the school at which I teach when he comes through in March. I know he will wear a helmet, but his message is strong because of his character, and willingness to meet each person where s/he is. He is, in my experience someone willing to engage in dialogue and work to come to mutual understandings. Just one of the myriad reasons I have so much respect for him.
1
Do you feel "irresponsible" for Ali riding in a non-CPSC certified helmet (the Protec Lasek Classic), proven to offer over 10 times less protection than a CPSC certified helmet? What about feeling "irresponsible" for Flipp wearing a helmet that doesn't fit him well due to the padding in it and the fact he has the main strap super loose (if you check the '002 B-Sides' edit you'll see Flipp's helmet move on his head when he's lying on his back, proving it won't offer much protection for certain falls and in some could actually make a neck injury more serious)?
I'm not trying to deflect criticism from myself, as clearly wearing a helmet is better than no helmet at all. However, I do find it 'interesting' - for want of a better word - how the 'Helmet debate' is portrayed on here. The wording used and the sentiments expressed appear to be mainly an attempt to posture rather than actually informing or trying to change people's attitudes.
If there was genuine concern then surely wearing a helmet incorrectly or wearing a helmet that isn't safe should cause comment too? Flipp's helmet strap can be seen swinging around showing that it's not really doing much, and Ali's helmet is specifically worn by many riders - both pro and am alike - due to it not having the CPSC certified hard inner and therefore having a lower profile. If this crusade is going to continue it seems like it'd make more sense to promote general helmet safety and usage rather than simply making it into a black-and-white 'Helmet vs. No Helmet' issue. Helmet safety doesn't end the moment any helmet fits over your head; lulling yourself into a false sense of security through the use of an ill-fitting or ill-constructed helmet is a problem too, and - again - if there was genuine concern then it seems that these issues should be being brought up too.
As some more constructive feedback to try and further the efficacy of the "Helmet Crusade", attempting to belittle people who choose to not wear helmets by describing them as being 'idiots', doing it to 'look cool', and all the other usual 'reasons' do nothing more than to alienate the people who aren't wearing helmets and make those pushing for their usage to look massively out of touch. I'm not going to explain why I don't here because essentially I'm aware that I'm deluding myself with my justifications or preference for not wearing one, but to try and suggest that I'm doing it to 'look cool' would imply that when I went out riding on my own with no-one around that I'd instantly wear one as I didn't have the pressure of trying to 'look cool'. This isn't the case. Similarly, I don't film, edit and upload videos to gain 'respect'.
The type of riding I do is a niche within a niche within the small sphere of the bicycling world. I'm aware that the riding I do isn't 'cool' as it's generally low speed, not that impressive and is usually met with the classic "get a BMX" comments (thanks again for the proof, Pinkbike). Seeing as someone mentioned it, having been called the equivalent of a 'dufus' for simply riding a bike whether I do or don't have a helmet on, I imagine that it's the act of simply riding a bike in the manner I choose to that's going to formulate the general public's opinion of me rather than what I choose to wear. I enjoy the whole process of going out filming and working with riders to get clips they're happy with. I edit because I enjoy the challenge of doing it. I don't seek to get fame and fortune from doing it, and I don't seek to gain respect or admiration from people I will never meet or to try and get a 'Favs' number to rise. In relation specifically to this video, I'd imagine that the few riders likely to take inspiration from what I do will tend to be older, free-thinking riders who are therefore likely to be able to make their own decisions about whether they'd like to wear a helmet. I would imagine anyone will a mind malleable enough to be made to not wear a helmet simply on the basis of seeing me not wear one would probably see Ali's section - which is ridiculous - and see him doing bigger, more impressive tricks whilst also wearing a helmet. I'm under no illusions as to the level of my riding, and as such I'd be very surprised if anyone impressionable enough to use me as a basis for their actions would even remember my riding - let alone what I am/am not wearing on my head - having seen Ali destroy everything in his path.
I'll clarify it again - I'm not saying this to deflect criticism of myself. Reading the incessant "Why is this VOD when he's not wearing a helmet? Think of the children, Pinkbike!" comments has irritated me for quite a while with how superficial they are, but this time being directly involved I feel more right to comment myself.
As a last fun fact, I once got sent over the bars whilst riding and ended up using the corner of the object I was landing on to entirely flatten the bridge of my nose to my face. This also snapped my glasses, embedding one half of them in my eyebrow (for which I now have a scar - for those wondering, yes, having glasses, dark hair and a scar on my forehead did lead to many 'Harry Potter' comments). The whole time I was at the hospital getting my nose reset and my wounds stitched I was constantly berated for not wearing a helmet, despite the fact that I HAD been wearing one. Maybe in years to come a psychiatrist will attribute that experience to be the root cause for me not wearing one now
Mark's, or whoever's husband, wife, mother, son, daughter, father, friends, partner will not have the luxury of a choice if you ever do have a serious head injury. They will feel compelled to care for you. In the worst case scenario, for life.
So, for the sake of clarity, and for your friends' and families' sakes, not yours, because your point of view will not be quite so important if you have a serious head injury, you will be possibly vegetative anyways, is the point I made again just to open your eyes to it because it appears many of you have missed it in a fit of pique.
You lack respect for those people saddled with looking after you if you decide, and it is your choice, not to wear a helmet. Period.
For their sakes, not yours, wear a helmet. Happy Christmas.
This goes back to my original post:
"Unless you are a parent worried about your child, the whole " you should be wearing a helmet" argument needs to f*cking die".
PS: I always ride with a helmet myself.
It's not about letting someone's family worry about you, they will do that anyways because they are your family. It is consideration of what one's own choice not to wear a helmet would have on them, your family, friends etc that makes it imperative we all wear one.
I am a parent but my kids don't ride. I do. And I wear a helmet, but not to protect me, because given the choice personally I wouldn't always wear one. I wear one because if I don't, and something serious happens to me, my wife and daughter would pay for my choice for the rest of their lives. It is basic respect for what would happen to them that I am talking about and why we all should get off our "Shut up people, let me choose, it's my life" attitude. It's your life until something goes wrong, and then it's everyone else's.
As I said before, and will continue to do so. Basic lack of respect for others if you choose not to wear one.
really enjoyed this one !
The anger and jealousy that rise inside me watching this realising I am not even 1% as good though....
Ali's section was particularly awesome!
I can see where you're coming from in a sense, but at the same time it's worth bearing in mind that riding is always evolving. The frames Ali and I are riding are prototype models that are blurring the boundaries between trials geo and BMX geo, and they allow us both to try new things. That progression and merging of different types of moves is what I find enjoying, and is consequently what I do.
Also, more specifically regarding Flipp's riding, the trials moves he does on his bike are basically impossible on a BMX, and the BMX moves he does are pretty much impossible on a trials bike (Flipp's riding a custom JAF build that uses pretty weird geo). Much like Ali and I, he enjoys both styles of riding and rides a bike tailored to suit.
To each their own though, and thanks for the comment about the video
XC - gunning it uphill
4x - angry riding to come first
BMX - hop (insert trick), grind, air
sooooo, any bike style gets 'boring' fast according to you?
Imo the best feelings you can get while watching an edit are getting mindf*cked and surprised. Happened a lot with this vid.
Also, there are 4 riders in the video, each with their own section, if you don't like one then perhaps you'll like some of the others.