News

Jack Gruber has been riding for the shop since he was a young 16 year old royal rat. He's 23 now, and despite his phenom abilities on the BMX, he has developed quite the eye for photography. Quite the eye, indeed.

Starting down the route of photos of BMX, Jack's subject matter has expanded to his other passion; music. Jack has found himself a gig shooting photos of gigs. And his photos are nothing short of epic.

Jack's photos even found their way into the finals for the Monster Children photo comp late last year - I wouldn't be surprised if that happens again this year.

It's cool to see someone pursue the things they love while still maintaining their love for BMX (and tearing it pieces).

Jack thought he'd share a couple of photos from his world travels, plus a page from his journal, all handwritten cause he's nifty like that.

Long icepick. Portrait and riding photos by Anthony Bowler.

Midnight Oil.. Photo: Jack Gruber

Living.

Thanks to Brendan Boeck, we have a dose of Chris Harti tearing up his freshly upgraded spot that lives in the outskirts of Canberra, all on his new rig.

Harti and his trail digging partner in crime Raine Turnbull have been working on their spot in Wamboin for 10 years now and just when you thought it couldn't get more intimidating, they've added a 9 foot step down lip three sets in and jacked up a bunch of other sets.

Chris is just about to leave (tomorrow) for a 2 month trip across the world, heading to Budapest and the USA to get his fill of east coast trail riding.. lucky dude! If you're not following him on the gram now might be the time to see his antics go worldwide. 

Keep scrolling to see what Chris Harti runs and some epic shots out at his trails..

CHRIS HARTI FIT HARTBREAKER BIKE CHECK

• Frame: Fit Hartbreaker, 21.5" matte Black
• Forks: Fit Blade V3
• Stem: Fit Homan
• Headset: Fit Integrated
• Bars: Fit Vandlebar

• Grips: ODI Longneck
• Cranks: Fit Blunt, 175mm
• Sprocket: S&M Drainman, 36t
• Pedals: Fit MAC, unsealed
• Chain: Shadow Conspiracy Interlock

• Seat: Back Bone railed
• Seat Post: Fit I Beam
• Seat Clamp: S&M XLT
• Hub (front): Profile Elite
• Hub (rear): Profile Elite Cassette, 12t driver
• Rims: Fit
• Tire (front): S&M Mainline 2.4
• Tire (rear): S&M Speedball 2.1

Photos: Brendan Boeck

Chris Harti, late August, 2019.

This jump is TALL and stepped down. Chris poppin'.

Chris oppo tabled on the big lefty.

Chris, heading back to the top.

Jason with that crazy pull-back flip transfer that secured him the win in Mexico. Photo: Rob Dolecki courtesy of VansBMXProCup.com

A quick highlight the fact that Cult crew shredder Jason Watts is 100% on a tear at the moment; not only did he just go back-to-back with another win at the last Vans BMX Pro Cup in Mexico, but he has also just been nominated for NORA Cup transition rider of the year!

It will no doubt be very rad if he pulls it off the NORA, but either way, Jason is showing that it is possible to ride at the highest level, while keeping it fun at the same time.

Jason is also just about to shred as team captain at Battle Of Hastings; keep your eyes out for that.

The Vans BMX Pro Cup winner Mexico, 3 years in a row! Photo: VansBMXProCup.com

Rhysty, the Steel Panther, and the aim of the game..The finish line. Photos: Tyson JP

Rhysty jumped back into BMX racing a few years ago and has been making moves across the east coast, travelling to races like the Australian titles earlier this year, as well as the recent state round at Southlake BMX track last weekend.

Rhys recently dialled in his latest race rig, an S&M Steel Panther, so we thought it was a good chance to show what gets him snapping out of the gate and across the finish line.

RHYS WILLIAMS (RHYSTY) S&M STEEL PANTHER BIKE CHECK

• Frame: S&M Steel Panther frame, 21.75" Black
• Forks: S&M Race forks
• Stem: S&M Credence Turtleneck
• Headset: Back Bone
• Bars: Back Bone Kicked Out bars
• Grips: ODI Ruffian grips
• Cranks: Profile Elite, 177.5mm
• Sprocket: Profile Elite chainring, 46t
• Pedals: Crank Brothers Stamp 7 pedals
• Chain: Shadow Conspiracy Interlock chain, 3/32"
• Seat: Tioga D-Spyder Pivotal
• Seat Post: DRS Pivotal
• Seat Clamp:Salsa quick release
• Hub (front): Profile Elite
• Hub (rear): Profile Elite Cassette hub, 17t cog
• Rims: Sun Envy rims
• Tire (front): Tioga Powerblock, 1.95"
• Tire (rear): right now, a Tioga Powerblock, 1.75"
• Brakes:  Promax P1
• Brake Lever: Promax P1
• Brake Cable: Promax

Give me a bit of a rundown of your race bike:

This bike compared to the 38 Special feels a lot more stiff. The Steel Panther frame is sleeker and I'm loving the in-built chain tensioners. I went for a longer length for a bit more stability at high speed. I guess I just really like CRMO bikes so I can bike rack a few doubles and not have to worry about it too much [laughter].

Plus I'm just trying to hold onto my roots as much as possible. I've got nothing against the dudes running alloy and carbon frames - it just makes my bike look even better [laughter].

I have another bike for riding the trails and skatepark, but lately I've had some really good sessions at the skatepark on my race bike, which might just become more of a thing for me in the future. With the setup I've got the only thing that you'd have to change is the tires.

While I'd love to run a 44/16 gearing, I quite like the 46/17 combo with the rear tire I'm running now. I'm not the most powerful dude to the first jump but that gearing is a good in between for me.

I have always run Profile products. No doubt there's lighter products and hubs with quicker engagement, but personally Profile hasn't ever let me down.

I also love Sun rims, I've run them forever and I'm just sticking with stuff that I know is quality gear. I'm too old to have a part fail on me at high speed.

When I was younger I snapped the head tube off some alloy frames. While I'm sure alloy frames are made a lot stronger now, I don't want to risk it.

I bolted on a set of the (just about to be released) Back Bone handlebars which have a traditional sweep compared to a lot of the flatter bars that racers run. I just like a good feeling set of bars that feel good to jump, rather than get a slightly better gate with flat bars that feel horrible to me. 

I run a slightly wider front tire than most on the track, I just like the way it feels and I don't think it makes too much of a difference for rolling resistance.

I never thought I'd get back into BMX racing like I have. All I really want to do is ride the trails full time, but now that my two boys race, racing has taken on a different meaning for me. I get share the experience of travelling to BMX event with them, and cheer them on. I'm less worried about my results and the competition has become more about doing the best that I can, rather than what position I ended up in.

I want to say a big thanks to Chris Moeller and Scott Shepherd for helping me out with this badass bike, Andrew Mapstone at Vans for keeping my feet fresh and BentSpoke for keeping me hydrated after the race.

Back Bone BMX shop owners Rhysty and Tyson, July 2019.

This is one of those moments in time that we've been thinking about for a long time and now, it's finally going to happen.

Rhysty started the shop 15 years ago with the intention of being a pillar of BMX, a place that you could come to get the parts you needed, but also a place helps to build the BMX scene and create strength within the BMX community. Being more than a shop, which is why the name Back Bone seemed so fitting to Rhysty.

We have no intention of stopping supply of all the best BMX bikes and parts that there is!

However, one thing about being a physical store is the limited time you have to create stoke and build a scene out there in the BMX community, when you're in the shop all day.

As I've said, our goal has always been to create and build a strong BMX scene here in Canberra, as well as in Australia (and beyond!).

So what's going on?

We are changing things up, and it's getting us psyched. We'll be able to offer better service than ever, a better product range and more focus to giving back to the BMX community.

Starting Monday 22nd July 2019, we will be offering BMX coaching for both freestyle and race, four days a week, every week, from here on out.

Rhysty and I are both accredited BMX coaches and have coached for many years through government programs and over school holidays. It's something that we love to do and it's something that, until now, we've rarely had a chance to do, timewise, while running the shop.

But with better use of our time, we will now be out almost every afternoon during the week at skateparks and race tracks, getting to know local BMX riders better and help them along with whatever it is they might want to learn to become a better rider.

In order to make this happen, the amount of hours we will be open as a retail, physical BMX shop will have to change.

Our new shop opening hours will be: 

Monday: 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Tuesday: 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Friday: 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Saturday: 11am - 3pm
Sunday: Closed

These hours will still allow customers and riders to come in, browse, purchase goods, pick up orders, drop off repairs, shoot the breeze, say g'day and get expert advice. In a world where everything is online, it still allows us to remain a physical place for Canberra and travelling riders to make homebase, and that's important to us.

But, the shorter opening hours will give us more time in between. To organise more jams, make better events and of course, plan coaching. 

It will also give us more time to work on improving our online BMX shop and service. We've been sending BMX bikes and parts to fellow riders via our online shop since 2007 and our aim for 2019 and beyond is to expand our product range, provide faster turn around and even better service.

Sending BMX products to riders worldwide through our online BMX shop is more meaningful that you can imagine; I've been riding BMX for 20+ years and Rhysty for 35+ years. To know that we can help out more BMXers with what they're after is the whole reason why the shop opened and why we're so passionate!

So expect to see some changes and an expanded range of more of that good BMX proddy available on our online shop over the coming weeks.

This change is HUGE for us.

We are no longer operating as JUST a BMX shop. Our goal is threefold.

1. We will help to build the BMX scene in Australia by having more time to organise jams and events.
2. We will be a part of growing the BMX community in Canberra through coaching.
3. We want to help more riders get what they want by offering a bigger range of BMX products on our online shop.

These changes are coming thick and fast. This will all be up and running Monday 22nd July, so hold tight, we'll be updating our site and socials as more things (like online booking for coaching) roll out - this is gonna be sick and we are beyond stoked.

- Tyson

Jason Watts and the crew at Stuttgart, Germany. Photo: Rob Dolecki, taken from the Vans BMX Pro Cup website.

You gotta be frothin on this (cause we are!), Back Bone team rider Jason Watts just won the second Vans BMX Pro Cup in Stuttgart, Germany! Watch the official highlights video now below, as well as the moves that got Jason the win aboard his freshly built up Cult Walsh Hawk frame. Add to this the best trick win at the Vans BMX Pro Cup in Five Dock and you've got a heck of a year getting tee'd up..

Stoked for you Jase!

The official highlights video from the Vans BMX Pro Cup in Germany

Jason Watts coming home with the win at the Vans BMX Pro Cup in Germany! Video: Our BMX

Thought we'd celebrate one of the pillars of the Canberra (and Australian) BMX scene, Russell Brindley, as he turns 35 today! Russell has been shredding since day one and the fact the he keeps getting better, even at 35, is exciting to watch and inspiring for all. 

Russell's heavy stoke for building and riding trails is always firing, this video is a few of sessions caught on film and here for you to salivate on. Full blown trail hesh.

Kris Fox is a 10/10 human and the new Demolition Mental Exodus video shows his 10/10 bike riding skills in what I think is the most accurate depiction (AKA mind-blowing) to date.

Sometimes more 'simple' riding can be hard to grasp over an internet video - it just doesn't put you there, looking at the spot, appreciating the difficulty of it all, compared to a video with more trick-centric moves that I (and many of us) can't do and by definition are difficult. 

Mental Exodus does a great job of putting you into that real life perspective of Kris' riding; he really does ride that fast, he really does jump that far. Some of the manual lines in particular are ridiculous and really captures just how much bike control, speed, and precision Kris rides with 'in real life'. 

The old adage runs true with Kris; take away the shared interest of BMX and if you still want to hang out, then you're in good company. Kris is a top bloke and friend and I'm stoked on this vid (as you can tell).

I can't wait to see this Fast & Loose vid!

- Tyson

Kris whipped way past sideways at last year's ACT Jam. Photo: Tyson JP

If you've been to an ACT Jam in the last few years there will be no denying, it is one hell of a time!

ACT Jam 2019 went down a couple of weeks ago and we are blown away with how it all went down this year. If you were there, you know already!

This is the biggest year so far and we feel that it's already shaping up to be bigger next year..

A big year deserves a big recap, so we're breaking these down into days.

Want a recap of what went down on day one of ACT Jam 2019? As well as some things you didn't know happened?

Keep reading..

This year marks the seventh year since it's reincarnation from the OG ACT Jams that happened from 2001 - 2005 and this year we were able to join forces with BentSpoke Brewery, who came on board as a major sponsor to help to give away a whopping $8k prize money.

This sort of prize money wasn't all BentSpoke's doing though, we had a lot of help from the Australian BMX industry kicking in to help pay BMXers who kicked ass riding.

If you don't know by now to support the brands that support ACT Jam (and hence Australian BMX), then this is a reminder!

The weeks leading up to the jam:

This year we had crew from all over the world spending time in town, enjoying what the Canberra BMX scene has to offer. There was plenty of BMX sessions going down at spots across Canberra by a varied crew of BMX riders. It was cool to have trail riders rolling around the streets - and vice versa.

There was also copious amounts of coffee being sucked down at our humble BMX shop by a bunch of legends.

It was cool to have so many BMX riders in town, there was a real energy in the air and a lot of positive vibes. 

Kris Fox was lighting up Belco bowl on the first day of the jam. Jack Gruber photo.

ACT Jam 2019 stop 1: Belconnen:

There was no doubt going to be some heavy BMX action on day one of the ACT jam. For those who don't know, above Back Bone BMX shop in Belconnen is Lakeside Tattoo parlour, who this year was a sponsor of the jam and stepped up in a big way by freeing their schedule and offering walk in ACT Jam and BMX tattoos to those willing!

Pat Freyne is now a lifer.. Photo: Jack Gruber

The bowl at Belconnen was damn near shut down by the Fast & Loose crew. Jason Watts, Kris Fox, Cody Pollard were blasting and I'm sure I saw Corey Walsh do an air that swung around half of the bowl - I know for certain at one stage he took off 15 feet from the left of the channel and still aired over it.. considering the bowl is round, 12 foot tall, with pool coping, that's as gnarly as it gets.

Corey Walsh voted best rider - Belco bowl for ACT Jam 2019

Guaranteed Corey Walsh swung this table around from far left of frame and will be landing outside of the right frame of this photo. Photo Jack Gruber.

The snake run was destroyed by many, but a stand out was no doubt Boyd Hilder. Boyd has that 'hard stuff done effortlessly' thing going on; he did triple truckdrivers, x-up whips and everything else in the BMX trick list with a smile on his face. Full blown ripper.

Boyd Hilder voted best rider - Belco snake run for ACT Jam 2019 

You'd be psyched to be that nosed in just straight jumping.. Boyd Hilder, cannonball. Photo: Jack Gruber.

 The street course was the last thing to be shut down on the first day of ACT Jam 2019, special mentions to Jack O'Reilly who battled and conquered a nollie tooth hanger the big down ledge, Jacman Hinns who did a bunch of hard moves including an oppo barspin to ice down the rail, and Cal Eggington who rode the bowl like a savage, the snake run, and then busted moves on the street section.

The night and street section belonged to Lewis Mills though, who tore apart the rail both, going both up and down it. Bar-crooks-bar down and up-rail 180 whip were just a couple of bangers from the Fiending shredder from Sydney.

Lewis Mills voted best rider - Belco street for ACT Jam 2019.  

Lewis Mills up the rail and 180 whipping off the end of it! Photo: Jack Gruber

Pat Freyne balanced.. Photo: Jack Gruber

 Belco Post-Jam: 

 It didn't just end at the final trick of the official jam and that's what makes ACT Jam so good; it's three days of real deal BMX mayhem. At one point I was set to leave at around 8.30pm (the official jam finished at 7pm) and as I was driving out, I couldn't help but see a huge mass of ACT Jammers crowded around the deep bowl.

I parked my car and walked up  to find Sean Thompson, Cal Eggington and Brazilian Cauan Madona (who missed the official jam completely) going back-to-back for some of the gnarliest riding of the whole night. I'm fairly certain Madona knows no fear, because he didn't have any issue pumping out a shoulder high double whip among other things that had the crowd going bananas. Madona knows very little English, but I sure hope he understood by the screaming, swearing and jumping up-and-down from the crowd that his presence at the jam was highly appreciated that night.

It was an amazing way to encapsulate just what the ACT Jam is; full blown freestylin' for the love of it.

And we still had Tuggeranong and BentSpoke to go!

Cody Pollard on full blast. Photo: Jack Gruber.

The party kept going and the show went on for two more days..

I'm still jazzed just thinking about it, and there is so much to go through that we'll release part two and part three of the jam separately.. So keep an eye out!

- Tyson