Video: Hans Rey Tells the Stories Behind his Classic Bike Frames

Mar 16, 2021
by Sayer Danforth  

Words: Sayer Danforth

Very excited to showcase an idea I've had for a long time now. It all started for me when I came across (the late great) Robin Williams collection of bicycles. They were up for auction and he had so many insane bikes! I thought, that's a missed opportunity to see what this guy had, and hear his stories about the bikes. Someone should do something about this!

Quiver Collective is a series that invites the viewer to look into a collection we might not otherwise ever get to see. From professionals to enthusiasts these collections might be fit for a museum someday, but for now here is the visual archive. Join in as we go to private homes, garages, closets, backyards, vaults, even shoeboxes. These are the stories of collectors of memories because it's important to them. Maybe the collections are important to you too.

In this first episode we get to see @hansnowayrey collection of trials bikes and hear some stories about his life and memories. His skills on a bike truly changed the ways we think about what bikes can do to this day. Still a pioneer and always a collector. Enjoy and watch "Quiver Collective with Hans Rey" on my YouTube.

If you or someone you know has a collection they want to feature please reach out. Tell us about it.

follow:
@hansnowayrey
@sayerdan4th
@d4pictures

Posted In:
Videos Hans Rey


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40 Comments

  • 21 0
 Hans was one of the first riders who really inspired me when I got into mountain biking all the way back in 1997 - 20 odd years later he's still inspiring me! What a Legend!
  • 2 0
 I still have his book 'No Way' laying around somewhere Big Grin
I would read it up and down and mark things everywhere in it as a kid, then try to apply his tips in my mind and go out to finally nail that new trick haha. Good times!
Oh man did I dream of riding one of those shiny polished GT Zaskar hardtails...
  • 1 0
 @mazze: Thats awesome! I feel I need to try get hold of a Zaskar now ha
  • 9 0
 I'm a simple guy, I see Hans I click. Myself and a lot of friends would prolly never have picked up a MTB when we were kids were it not for Hans. It means something to us Hans. We appreciate it. We appreciate you!
  • 4 0
 thanks! so glad you enjoyed
  • 2 0
 cheers mate
  • 1 0
 @sayerd: In 1992 took a pilgrimage from San Diego to GT factory, by bike, got there at 5am & was still dark & could not think straight about why I was there
So turned round & cycled back
  • 6 0
 Met Hans Rey once when i was about 12 or 13 years old on a bike festival in winterberg, germany which felt like meeting a godlike dude... Today i would say i was "super stoked". Back then i was just super excited
  • 4 1
 Nice! We celebrated his birthday there at DirtMasters one year at the iXS set-up. Wow, that was 10 years ago. Ride on!
  • 5 0
 I still have all of his VHS tapes squirreled away in my own collection. He was inspiring when I was a kid, and years later now that I'm a dad in my 40's, not much has changed, he's still inspiring. #legend.
  • 7 0
 childhood idol...zaskar was the frame i wanted the most! had a poster of it in my bedroom. damn i miss the 90ies
  • 5 0
 thanks for all the nice comments - it means a lot, I promise I make sure these frames and bikes end up at a place were they will be appreciated.
  • 3 0
 No way! The very definition of living legend. I met Hans in Livigno a few years back, shared a couple beers and some laughs. One of the best human beings to ever exist, and his charity is such a great one too.
  • 2 0
 I went to see him give a talk at the Sage in Gateshead where he had intended to show off some of his classic bikes, but unfortunately they were nicked by some thieving scumbags. I wonder if he ever managed to track them down... A great evening nonetheless, some fantastic stories, a true legend of MTB!
  • 2 0
 Thanks for the video. It’s great to see Hans has kept much of his gear. I hope some of it ends up in a museum or with a collector. Hans inspired me to ride trials and I learned from many of his videos. To me the Level Vibes frame is the most special. Ricochet too - I didn’t realize they were handmade by Gary Turner. Every Zaskar of his was something to envy. I’m thankful he and GT had such an important partnership to build the sport over so many years. I still need to meet Hans!
  • 4 0
 @hansrey if you get bored of this old stuff, Jeroen of the MTB museum in Arnhem still have some space...
  • 3 0
 That was what I wanted to say to! The Mountainbike Museum in Arnhem the Netherlands. As a volunteer I can say it is very impressive! We are categorizing the bikes and document them. Well over 650 bikes, and an abundance of parts. Look it up, it’s insane!
  • 2 0
 doesn't sound boring! sounds amazing
  • 2 0
 Incredible: www.mountainbikemuseum.nl/HOME 700+ bikes
  • 4 0
 if you don't like Hans Rey your probably a dick....
  • 3 0
 Can I ask about the one clip one flat on the GT in the opening shot?
  • 1 0
 I saw him talk about this in another video, maybe riding ebikes with Rob Warner? Worth a search.
  • 1 0
 @bldiamond: That's the video. They're larking around on e-bikes, IIRC.
  • 1 0
 #halfwayrey best of both worlds
  • 2 0
 Bring back a lot of sweet memories while watching this.
Need more of this please :-)
  • 3 0
 the Zaskar was such a beautiful frame
  • 1 0
 it was hardest to decide which colour to get! ball burnished was the classic but that ano colours back then! turquoise or the purple one. ink blue and ano red. frost blue and frost red. black, yellow, acid green...my all time fave hardtail frame of all time.
  • 2 0
 Just to add; I can probably still recite the music and audio to Level Vibes. ????
  • 3 0
 HANS
  • 2 0
 Legendary - also love his travel videos!
  • 2 0
 True legend in biking and especially in the field of freeriding!
  • 3 0
 Super cool stuff
  • 2 0
 Hans is a real one. Met him a few times around my local, very genuine.
  • 3 0
 LEGEND
  • 1 0
 Trials got me into MTB, and Hans video in the waterfall was a key moment. Thanks Hans.
  • 1 0
 Well done Sayer. May have got me a little misty-eyed for my old thermoplastic LTS!
  • 1 0
 Back then an inspiration. Today a legend.
Thanks for what you‘ve done for biking!
  • 2 0
 Love this guy.
  • 1 0
 Level Vibes was a huge inspiration for me as a youngster. Thanks Hans!
  • 1 0
 Such a good fkn vibe





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