Jay Miron: A Story of Willpower - Sunday Comics with Taj Mihelich
For today’s comic, I decided to treat y’all by making the pictures move.
Over the years I have been blessed to ride with a number of the world’s most amazing bike riders. They tend to have very different takes on riding and what they are trying to accomplish, but one thing they seem to have in common is a drive to test their resolve. Their skills have reached such a high level that I think the real challenge for them is being able to follow through with what their mind knows they are capable of.
They have an ability to clear their minds of fear and self-doubt, which allows them to consistently perform at a level the rest of us might only touch once in a blue moon.
It isn’t just some gift they are born with, they work for it, and they work hard. When there’s something they want to do and the voice inside tells them that they can (probably) do it, they focus everything on making it happen. The legendary Jay Miron stands above the rest at this skill, so this silly cartoon is intended to be a tribute to his determination and something we can all hopefully find inspiration in.
If you don’t know about Jay, there's simply not enough time in the day for me to tell you about all the groundbreaking things he did on a bike. First double flips in '97, first flip over a spine while we were doing shows for GT in like ‘92 (inside Twelve Oaks mall in Novi, Michigan). He did some 360 tailwhips in Chicago during that tour and they were certainly the first I’d ever seen. Oh yeah, curved wall rides on that trip too!
Well, I don’t trust my abilities as a historian too much, but Jay never stopped progressing during his long career (540 tail whips were bonkers!). Suffice to say that many of the limits of what is possible on a bike were pushed by Jay. His influence and impact have trickled down through the years to all of bike riding.
More than firsts though, what always struck me about Jay was his determination. It was more clear to see in his riding than anyone I’ve ever seen touch a bike. When he put his mind to something you could see and feel the intensity.
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the only negative with scotty was he was super robotic and not smooth, pretty much polar opposites of chase hawlk who does minimal tricks and goes HUGE HUGE with such style and grace.
But how bout the flow amd speed of the mousey lookin chase hawlk
We used to ride Liegh on Sea skate park in the mid 90's, a rickety wood with metal surface park. Thre was a scary, huge,12ft bacon slicer of a vert ramp (where the metal surface panels didn't line up and flexed so if you crashed you could get sliced like bacon) When riders aired,you could feel the whole ramp flex even when on the other deck. Something insane like 2ft of vert! I dropped in once... that was it never again!!!
One day. Gerry Galley (Jelly Garry) shows up with King bikes/bicycle union crew an rides up to the vert.
Drops in.. within a few pumps He's built up to 6ft out, 8 ft out 10ft out!!!
SMOOTH AS SILK. Landing in the vert on re'entry Every pump, silent ,effortless. Only the slightest d'dum on the coping
One of the most Beautifull things I've ever witnessed in real life.
Straight outta the van, no warm up
He stops, rides off the ramp an says
"Suppose I better put some pads on"
Also, really nice guy. Came and took me for breakfast a hangout while I was in rehab for a broken back, relearning how to walk.
Thanks Jay!
But, I always put Taj in the same camp. I remember watching him (on video) pull the first 1 handed tail whip!! That seemed to take the same kind over strength of will as this video of Jay describes!
Looking forward to more from Taj!
www.instagram.com/jay__miron
Really cool stuff^
Was Sooo cool to see 540s & tailwhips LIVE!
Got their autographs to boot;
Very down to earth guys.