Vintage Rules BMX is all about bringing those mid and old school BMX bikes out to the track to race them against like minded fans of BMX. In some ways it is like bringing a BMX to the tracks to share the history of the sport. My guest, Chris Bird, is the driving force behind the concept of the Vintage Rules Series. After completing the inaugural season last fall in Connecticut, Chris continued with the momentum he created and planned the 2025 season with an even greater following. This episode dives deeper into what Vintage Rules BMX is and how you can get involved, or just be a fan from anywhere in the world. Special thanks to Foothills BMX in Torrington, CT for the use of their registration building to record the podcast. Be sure to check out their new rebuild when it is completed and running for the opening of the season in late April!

The Fids, 1970-2024

When people said that BMX lost a good one on December 8th, they couldn't have been more right on. As you will hear on this podcast, recorded back in 2019 at Swampfest, Fids was as transparent and hilarious as one could possibly be. He has so many stories and affected so many during his time on earth. Nearly 5,000 people listened to this episode when released. I hope just as many of you all listen this time, maybe with an even closer ear to the recording. I am very humbled by the relationships formed through this podcast so when we lose an icon of our sport/hobby that allowed us to record and hear their story (on any podcast) it can really put you in a retrospective spin. We have lost many and will continue to, that's life. I challenge you all to pick up your phone and record anyone you find interesting. You don't need any kind of special recording set-up, trust me! Having the ability to listen back to these interactions is beyond measure. It could be a friend, family member or someone that you don't yet have a relationship at all! Just do it, don't wait until the opportunity isn't there.

I am truly such a fortunate BMXer and occasional podcaster! I made a last minute decision to head out to Albany, NY to catch a 2nd Nitro Circus show on Thanksgiving Eve before they headed Southwest and South. Because of that choice I was given the tour bus tour by Micah Kranz and met two of the stars of the Nitro Circus tour, Kaden Stone and Brady Baker. Before I knew it we were sitting at the bus table recording episode 153. These two kids were unbelievably polite and welcoming and psyched to do the podcast! As per usual with me and my interviewees, I didn't know much about either of them. And as per usual the conversation was even better because of that, in my opinion. I slowly found out that these modest young adults are decorated Monster Energy athletes that have quite a few accomplishments between them including X Games gold medals and National titles among other achievements. You would have never known it as we got to know each other. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Please excuse my interruptions a few times during the podcast, I get a little excited! Thank you Kaden and Brady, you are two very special guys that should be proud of your stories and how you have found your way. Also, a huge thank you to Micah Kranz for allowing me to experience the shows and be a fly on the wall during the pre and post show in Albany while meeting the entire team including the amazing "Wheelz"!

Micah Kranz is such an amazing hype man. He is also a die hard BMX promoter of BMX with intriguing insights into our sport. He had me so motivated to get this episode posted after taking in the Hartford, CT stop of Nitro Circus! We had recorded the interview the day before so when I took in the show I had a completely different set of eyes while watching the show. He truly is the right person for the job and it is absolutely no surprise that he has also announced so many other events, as you will hear in the podcast. The podcast ran a little longer than usual and is worth every minute, no exaggeration at all. Stick with it, go the long way to work, go for a walk, whatever it takes you to get the full story of Micah and so many laughs along the way. Thanks for listening!

Paul Isbester is a great old school friend of mine that I'm fortunate to have in my life after all of these years. This past rainy Sunday we had planned on meeting up for a ride on a new/old Spooky June Bug mountain bike turned gravel bike that Paul found and built up for me. Since the ride had to be canceled, Paul being the ever giving friend, drove to my house to deliver the bike only to be surprised by my devious plan to record a podcast with him. The day was super special due to two podcast call ins, Eric Brownell and Whitey Williams, along with being the beneficiary of an amazing bike build that Paul delivered. I hope you enjoy the podcast as much as I did! Thanks once again to Todd Breau for the podcast announcement artwork!

If anyone is interested in joining me at Foothills BMX in Torrington, CT I will be at Foothills on September 7th at 9am for my annual birthday laps followed by birthday road miles, 54 of each. Any money donated that day will go directly to Foothills BMX, a track that is near and dear to me as I am one of the founders of the track/organization. Contact me through IG at @gromdad2000 with questions or to shout out encouragement for the day! Thank you to Tasha Lindemann @tjl.creative on IG for the flyer artwork!

Enjoy!

Joe

Robbie Miranda was the perfect #thebmxinourblood podcast interview to cap off my quick 36 hour stop in SoCal a couple weeks back. Robbie is a true professional in every sense of the word. He took his sponsorships seriously and absolutely gave each company the best ROI they could possibly have. Instrumental in these sponsorships was Steve Buddendeck of 2B, DK and Verde fame (among others). Having Steve call in and reconnect with Robbie made my heart full! We talk about a bit of everything from the Vans Triple Crown, XGames and his days as an amateur and professional BMX racer. Afterward we got into his transition into his current job as a sheriff where he has worked since his last BMX race over 17 years ago. Enjoy the podcast and take a moment to appreciate Robbie for his service. We couldn't do without people like Robbie working hard to protect and serve the public.

#bmx #bmxpodcast #robbiemiranda #dkbmx #1800collect #vanstriplecrown #xgames #nblbmx #ababmx

Episode 149 - Jerry Bagley With Biz Jordan by Interviews with the BMX community

I have a pretty cool podcast for you all this week! It came up as an impromptu opportunity that made for a recording that surprised me and Chris Moeller of S&M/Fit Bikes. My intention was to say hello and drop off two letters that Chris had written back to me in January 1988 in response to my requests to buy an S&M Mad Dog frame (a brand new company at the time) and to invite Chris to a trail jam at the Sunnyside trails in Connecticut. We also talked zines since Chris was putting out the Soul Zine at the time. What we ended up recording was a full hard goods production tour that was so interesting! Chris's passion for the shop and creating product is amazing. We finished the tour off with Chris reading the letters he wrote to me in 1988. It was a trip down memory lane for both of us! Just a couple of 17 year olds in love with BMX and dirt jumping along with side hustle passion projects to support our mutual hobby.

Enjoy the podcast and look forward to two more from that day, Jerry Bagley and Robbie Miranda! Special thanks to Sean from Vans for providing a home base for me for my quick visit! Lastly, thank you to my son Joe Jr for letting me tag along for the cross country truck camper trip to his winter job way up at June Lake in the Sierras of California. If not for his adventures none of this would have happened. Love you Joey!

If you would like to support the podcast please consider a monetary donation of any amount through my PayPal or Venmo. Message me through @Gromdad2000 on Instagram.

Thank you! Joe

It's been a while since the last The BMX In Our Blood episode but as it goes, timing is everything. I am forever grateful to have been asked by Base Brooklyn (Enos Colombo) to be a part of what became more than a bike show, reunion and tribute to Eddie Rios at the Coney Island Brewery on Sunday October 22nd. Unbeknownst to him the event WAS Eddie Rios and it was truly amazing. Eddie has been a staple of the freestyle BMX community back to his days ruling Mullaly in the 80's, 90's and beyond. Everything I learned about Eddie through the mini interviews and conversations off the record were absolutely a testament to the love the NYC BMX community has for Eddie and Eddie's incredible personality. Although Eddie's time with us is limited he will have an impact on all of us for the rest of our lives. There was one sentence in Eddie's speech that was so emotional and so incredibly impactful in such a positive way, "I'll miss you guys but I'll see you." Listen closely and think about it as you look at the photo used for this podcast announcement (by Norman Blake) as Eddie raises his arms as the King of New York, one more time.

Here are the interviews in the order of the episode:

Enos Colombo

Roy de Guzman

Nito

Brett Irrgang

Eddie Haller

Mike Ick

Jimmy Mac

Glenn Milligan

Richie Poole

Eddie Rios

Ralph Sinisi

Edwin DeLaRosa

Bob Scerbo

Tyrone Williams

Robbie Morales

George Gallo with Eddie Rios

Until next time....

Episode 146 - Chill Phil Downell by Interviews with the BMX community