Hi Alex! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. To start: who are you and where do you live?
Hey! I’m Alex and I’m an MTB rider from Southern California.
When did your love for mountain biking begin? Was there a specific moment, event, or person that inspired you?
I grew up around bikes and motorcycles but I picked up mountain biking through the highschool XC league.
Have you always been more into the technical side, competitions, exploring… or a mix of everything?
I’ve always just been focused on having fun, which can come in many forms. Bikes are my outlet for self-expression, exploration, and spending time with my friends.
Let’s talk about your Klunker! How did the idea of getting one and modifying it come about? What inspired you?
For those who don’t know, Klunking is the origin of mountain biking, I was definitely inspired by Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, and those early pioneers, but i think what really inspired me was a video from some of the guys at Transition bikes, showing what was possible with a rigid frame and a coaster brake!
Can you tell us about your first downhill ride with a coaster brake? What was it like?
I had initially rode more cross country type terrain with the klunker, but over this last summer I started riding a lot steeper terrain on my mountain bike. Riding steep and loose terrain taught me how to focus on bike control when my rear brake is locked up. I found a zone that seemed manageable with only a rear brake so I decided to give it a go. It was sketchy forsure, and I definitely misjudged my ability to manage my speed on the steep chute!
"Bikes are my outlet for self-expression, exploration, and spending time with my friends."
What was the strongest feeling: fear, freedom, excitement?
Dropping into a steep chute knowing you wont be able to slow down til you get to the bottom is definitely a scary feeling, but it gets the blood pumping that forsure!
Compared to a modern MTB, what surprised you the most (both good and bad)?
You really notice how important a front brake is when it’s no longer there! But besides that, the geometry was surprisingly comfortable.
Do you plan to keep using the Klunker for your adventures, or was it just a special experiment?
It’s something I’ve kept in the garage for years and it only gets ridden from time to time.
Is there anything you’d like to improve or try next with this bike?
I’d really like to build something with modern brakes just to see how much I could actually push it!
Is there any advice you’d give to someone who wants to explore the vintage side of mountain biking or get into Klunkers?
Just start out with a simple cruiser and put some knobby tires on it. You don’t need much to have fun!
Would you like to leave a greeting or a free message for those reading this?
The whole idea around the klunker is that you can have a lot of fun with something super cheap and simple. Go out and ride your bike!
