Live chat with Nico Vink transcript

Peer inside the head of one of the world's greatest freeriders.

Here's the transcript from the Feb. 24 live chat with Nico Vink on Cane Creek's The Lounge. (Vink talks about getting his head right before hitting big gaps and what happened to his teeth.)

http://www.canecreek.com/products/suspension/lounge/forum

Live chat with Nico Vink
(02/24/2014)
Monday February 24, 2014

Cane Creek: We want to welcome everybody. You can send your questions to us and we'll get them answered.
10:06

Cane Creek: Here's a first question for Nico: How do you prepare psychologically for big event like the Red Bull Rampage?
10:08

nico: You Just need to be willing it hard enough. That's the only way you get past your fears.
10:08

Cane Creek: By the way, we have to give Nico a little bit of time. He's broken a bone in his hand and he's a little slow on the keyboard.
10:09

Cane Creek: Another Red Bull Rampage question: Do you plan out your runs - how do you do it?
10:10

nico: I plan out my runs, My line choices are depending a lot on how much time I need to build them.
10:12

nico: Also depends How big your building crew is.
10:12

nico: This year I joined Forces with Andreu and Makken.
10:14

Cane Creek: This is from Caleb Richardson: How much time and effort does it take to be world class? If you start at the age of 16 how good can you be by the time you are at peak age?
10:15

nico: Peak Age has a pretty wide range. You Got guys turning pro at 16 and others at 25 or something.
10:19

Cane Creek: Nico said there's more of an answer coming. He's just struggling a little with his thumb in a splint.
10:19

nico: If you Start at 16 and you are really motivated you could go pro pretty fast. It took me 4 years.
10:20

Comment From BGartham
Hey Nico!!! You've been around the scene long enough to see a lot of things come and go. In your opinion what technologies have had the largest impact on DH/Freeride? Examples: brakes, suspension, tires, carbon, frame geometry, wheel size, bar width, POV cameras, energy drinks, etc?
10:22

nico: I Guess bikes in general got allot better. suspension, brakes and geometry.
10:22

Comment From Guest
Yeah!!! The Double Barrel for sure!
10:23

nico: Indeed;
10:23

Comment From Guest
By the way you have the best signature look out there.
10:23

nico: Bars and tires also changed allot.
10:24

Comment From GnarTar
Where in the world do you have the most fun riding?
10:25

Cane Creek: While Nico is answering, we have a comment from Malcolm, our Double Barrel guru...
10:25

Cane Creek: Nico, you know since you have a Double Barrel, double back flips are required - in each run!
10:25

nico: Utah is really good but I like to change things up and travel around. The crew I go riding with is more important then the location.
10:26

Comment From GnarTar
Do you have a lucky piece of kit? If so what? If not, how are you still alive?
10:26

nico: Haha, No Double flips for me.
10:27

Cane Creek: Malcolm says it's OK, he'll amend the contract.
10:27

nico: Don't know how I'm still alive. Mostly my helmets are for good luck.
10:28

nico: After a few good crashes I change them and I'll get a new one.
10:28

Comment From Guest
Be honest with us Nico, who does the best whips???
10:28

nico: I would say Makken and Andreu.
10:29

Comment From 275BFoSho
When you are going to do something new do you practice it over and over or does it just happen?
10:30

nico: It mostly just happens. but there's certain things I need to do over and over.
10:30

nico: I had to do flips over and over before I dared doing them on dirt.
10:31

nico: My Buddy from Fmx4ever has a moto foam pit where I learned them.
10:32

Comment From 275BFoSho
What are you planning for 2014??? Your new videos are rad.
10:33

nico: Thanks! I'm planning allot of stuff for 2014. I want to do my own Freeride event in Belgium.
10:34

nico: Also plan to make some more edits. Want to push it a little more and go bigger.
10:34

Comment From BenThom6
What did you do to your hand?
10:35

Comment From 275BFoSho
Cool
10:36

nico: We where riding in Spain and I hit a slippery berm a bit too fast.
10:36

nico: And smashed into the second berm.
10:37

Cane Creek: Darn those slippery parts.
10:37

Comment From BenThom6
OUCH! Sorry to hear! "a bit too fast"...I bet you were mach 10.
10:38

nico: Haha, Maybe
10:38

Comment From Malcolm
Hey Nico - how are the Double Barrels working for you?
10:39

nico: They are my favorite, I think there easy to adjust.
10:40

nico: They saved me from some big case's.
10:41

Comment From Guest
Nic, which DBs are you riding, Coil or Air?
10:42

nico: Mostly Coil. I prefere the sensitivity of a coil.
10:42

Comment From Malcolm
Are there any up and coming riders that you see out there that are killing it??
10:44

nico: There's a few. One of my favorite riders is Nicola Pescetto
10:44
nico: He's Italian.
10:44

Comment From BurlT
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
10:45

nico: I'm not sure, but making it to Rampage Finals made me really stoked.
10:46

nico: Sometimes it could be small things. Just Jumping a new jump or gap stays with me longer than winning a event.
10:46

Cane Creek: Now we have a question coming from Cane Creek's very own rider/engineer Brandon Blakely (also a friend of Nico's).
10:46

Comment From Brandon Blakely
Nico! How did you lose your tooth?
10:47

nico: Haha, Long story, First I lost 5 Riding skatepark on my Bmx
10:47

nico: I fixed it all crashed again and lost two more.
10:48

nico: Fixed it again and then one of them died on me and the dentist had to remove it.
10:48

nico: My mom did not like it too much. :-)
10:49

Comment From Guest
Riders seem to be pushing the envelope with tricks. Why do you think this happens? Is it for the sponsors?
10:50

nico: The basic level of riding is getting higher and higher so if you want to stand out you need to go bigger than everyone else.
10:50

Comment From Guest
Go bigger - you do that for sure!!!
10:51

nico: If you go to a skatepark these days your local kid is on the level Pro's were 15 years ago.
10:52

Comment From Guest
What is your favorite wheel size??
10:53

nico: 26 inch
10:53
nico: Its what I grew up riding MTB and feels the most playful to ride.
10:54

Comment From Dan
Will you join Red Bull District Ride?
10:55

nico: I won't do Red Bull district ride. I'm more into DH bike riding.
10:55

nico: Don't have enough tricks in my book to do slopestyle.
10:56

Cane Creek: So, this has been great. But we have to let Nico go soon. So, we'll be asking one last question.
10:56

Comment From Cane Creek
What seat do you recommend for the giant hard on you get every time you ride a Double Barrel?
10:57

Cane Creek: (We have to thank Pinkbike rider SweatyPants for first coming up with this question.)
10:57

nico: Haha, I started using my Ktm 450 seat.
10:59

nico: Thanks to all of you for joining us in this chat.
10:59

Cane Creek: Yes, and thanks to Nico Vink and all of our posters - we're out of here!
11:00