A sub-subcultural flatlander from the Athens scene.
September 30, 2009, 4:29 PM
By: Brian Tunney
Darin Wright
Cross-footed head band switch.
Flatland is a strange one. It's technically part of the BMX scene, but at the same time, it's definitely not on the same trajectory as the remainder of the BMX scene. The bikes are set-up drastically different, the contests resemble more of a break dance battle than a BMX comp, and the fashion trends lean more towards dance floor/late night workout chic than anything related to the subculture of BMX. More succinctly, it's a subculture within a subculture. A sub-subculture, made up of extremely small bikes with unique tubing configurations.
Yet, within that subculture, there exists a few flatlanders that still aspire to be good ole regular BMXers. And Dane Beardsley is one of the very few. Technically, Dane is a flatlander, but he's also a part-time trail rider, street rider and for lack of a more accurate term, bike rider. You might've spotted Dane's Props bio earlier this year. In between some of the most difficult flatland links were lines through trails and manual to 180s on stairs. Granted, Dane does spend the majority of his time riding flatland, but he still makes time to ride everything.
Dane at rest between sessions.
Dane discovered BMX in his early teens. Growing up in Lake Orion, Michigan, Dane balanced riding alongside lake effect snow laden winters. His first summer riding was spent at his trails, not at the parking lot. Eventually though, he discovered flatland, and following high school, Dane attended Western Michigan University. He graduated in 2005. And in the time since, Dane has taken to the road, riding whatever might be in his way and producing his own line of sub-subcultural flatland videos under the Same Thing Daily tag. Dane's first video, Flatcrap, was released in 2003, followed by Video Name in late 2005 and Same Thing Daily in 2008. Currently, Dane lives in Athens, GA, where he enjoys eating at The Grit and riding flatland. Like most flatlanding residents of Athens, sometimes he does flatland demos, and sometimes he takes way too long to answer e-mails. Dane is also working on the fourth installment in his video series, which should be available in early 2010. And before we get any further into Dane, it should be noted that he was a top 5 nominee for the 2009 NORA Cup Flatlander of the Year award.
Clearly, the sub-subculture seems to be growing.
Dane rides for DK, Catfish and Same Thing Daily. He keeps a blog, which is always good for a laugh. Darin Wright took the photos and Dane filled in the blanks on the following Top Fives.
Top 5 Things About Riding
1. It's fun.
2. It's fun.
3. It's fun.
4. It's fun.
5. It's fun.
Top 5 Things About Athens, GA
1. Weather
2. I can ride my bike most places.
3. Southern People
4. I can be irresponsible and seem responsible.
5. Mexican grocery stores
Darin Wright
They do can-cans on flatland?
Top 5 Things About Living with Members of the band Of Montreal
1. Peanut butter crackers
2. A box labeled "BP Wings" in the living room
3. Backstage passes to a sold out ATL show
4. Go Redskins!
5. Good music coming from every room in the house.
Top 5 Reasons for Making Your Own Flatland Videos
1. No one else will give me a part in their videos.
2. I like videos.
3. Not too many people make them.
4. I need something to do with my time.
5. Cause that's how I pay for my Hummer.
Top 5 Reasons for Not Riding Flatland Like Everyone Else
1. I'm a tiger.
2. I need to be able to bunny hop when avoiding broken glass.
3. I like triangles.
4. I suck when I ride a bike like everyone else's.
5. My bike feels good.
Top 5 Reasons You Don't Wear Nylon Tear Away Pants
1. I wore some to school one time and my friend ripped them off me.
2. They are hot.
3. I'm not working out.
4. Buttons piss me off.
5. Too easy for people to see when I'm excited.
Top 5 Riders
1. Kevin Jones
2. Catfish
3. Ted VanOrman
4. G-Unit
5. Kale
Top 5 Tricks
1. Fun ones
Darin Wright
Opposite Dave Duster.
Top 5 Movies
1. Death Race 2000
2. Grumpier Old Men
3. Batman
4. Mr. Mom
5. National Lampoon's Vacation
Top 5 Foods
1. Beans
2. Rice
3. Tomatoes form the garden
4. Greens from the garden
5. Venison
Top 5 Bands (for now)
1. Foxy Shazam
2. Mos Def
3. The Gossip
4. Puddin Tang
5. Madonna
Top 5 Things To Do This Year
1. Ride Bikes.
2. Have fun.
3. Travel.
4. Don't become a father.
5. Don't lock my keys in the truck again.
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Contributors
Brian Tunney
This is Brian. He lives in Jersey City, rides BMX bikes often and somehow ended up in the X Games a few times. Facebook him if needed.
Cody York
From Cleveland, Ohio, Cody was raised on a steady diet of backyard jumps and skateparks and his photos have graced the pages of Ride BMX, BMX Plus!, Ride UK, and Dig magazines. Got something to share? cyorkphoto@me.com
Mark Noble
Mark is from the U.K., and has over 28+ years experience in BMX. He has launched, published, edited and written for more BMX mags than you can shake a bike at. He also runs Deluxe BMX.
Nick Ferreira
Nick Ferreira is a BMXer, photographer and zine maker from Taunton, MA. He has been extolling the merits of tucks and tabes in print and online for the better part of the past 10 years.
Pat Nugent
Born and raised on Long Island, the only outlet to BMX that Patrick grew up knowing was racing. For a while, he got into all those weird forms of BMX, but eventually returned to the race scene. He enjoys shooting races and snaking practice laps.
Steve Crandall
Hails from Ithaca, NY, created FBM in '93, paints pictures of eggs, soup and pigeons in his spare time, throws down a mean tabletop.
