TCU Exclusive: Mike Ardelean Mini-Interview.
I sent Ardelean 5 questions about the new iPath BMX program, of which he is the team manager of, and he answered them. I was going to write some more but he pretty much filled me in, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind answering some more in the comments or his Q&A thread if need be. Read on.
So today it popped up on the Odyssey Twitter that Jim Bauer is on iPath. I heard you’re the TM. Can you confirm or deny both of these?
Confirmed.
What involvement are iPath planning on having in BMX? Are they doing a full team and everything?
Yes, full involvement, but IPATH is a smaller company so we’re starting small. There will be a BMX section on their website soon, as well as some travel for the team. Most important is a solid crew of riders with style on top of skills.
How did you get picked to be involved and what are your duties going to be?
My longtime friend Tim Swart asked me to do it. Tim and I share a similar outlook on things, and we’ve both spent time working in different aspects of apparel and action sports, Tim more than I. Also I feel that Tim is partly responsible for the fact that a lot of more discerning and stylish non-BMX industry types are taking an interest BMX. I guess we sort of agree that the physical act of riding a BMX bike is one of the best things in the world, and that there are things that can be done to reduce the amount of awkwardness and goofiness that sometimes goes along with that. So we like working together.
You and Rich Hirsch go way back and I know you have been a Lotek supporter in the past, does this effect your friendship at all? Was that a concern going into this?
It most certainly does not affect our friendship. I spoke to Rich about this before anything happened and confirmed that. The world is bigger than this stuff. We’re cool.
Who else is lined up to be on the team? Someone mentioned Brian Yeagle in the comments.
The team is Andrew Jackson, Jim Bauer, Brian Yeagle, and Dave Thompson. Basically I didn’t want to go out and pick a predictable team of “hippie” style riders. I picked four guys that believe in the product, who all have their own style. I think this will bring a wider audience to IPATH. And there’s a bit more “earthiness” to the guys in this crew than many might realize.
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wow pick a team of non-relevant people, sweet!
Yeah, Brain Yeagle is really “non-relevant.” Get with it man!
who are you to say brian yeagles non relevant…?
pussy.
I have always supported Timberland, I mean Ipath, since living in Japan and seeing that the Ipath guys threw shoes at those boys out there. I worry about their cred after gettin bought out by T’land, but love their Cats, G’hoppas and Galls so I’m beat.
timbs are the most gangsta shit you can rock and the toughest shoes out you aint know check the shook ones part II video mobb deep rocks them shits so you know they go hard. pause
^ “then you dropped shook ones, switch you demeanor.” you are ridiculous.
Andrew Jackson is not dope
i take that back a little, Andrew Jackson is good, still seems liek ipath would pick people that get a little more press.
and what is a brain yeagle? I’m sure he’s a nice guy but i have just heard the name a little, and i read this site all the time, if he had a half-decent media presence I’d have seen him. Dave Thomspon I’ve seen but another guy that people dont see much of. and JIm bauer is a sweet dude but only videos i see of him is about painting his bike, not riding it.
who brought the dick?
go fuck your self, YEAGLE…BEST APE IN BMX
ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?
ARE YOU REALLY BEING FUCKING SERIOUS?
HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU NOT KNOW WHO BRIAN YEAGLE IS?
You need to fuck off out of bmx lad!
I hate the word and everything but Brian Yeagle is a true BMX Legend. I dont think anyone who has half a clue and has been riding longer than a year would dispute that!
go watch “Who Brought The Dicks?” and then come back and tell me who Brian yeagle is you cock
im sure mike chose the team of people that had certain aspects in thier lives that others didnt..
fuck yea yeagle is the man cause he goes faster than 5 mph and does nose dived suicide no haders over 30 foot dubs
dude brian yeagle is legend
i loved his clips rythem!
This team is the shit
except for Ardelean. get the corn rows back pastey boy!
dave thompson kills it..unless you have rode with him you have no idea. except his 50/50 part was awesome
Yeah Dave! I wish you got more more exposure, chill cat and amazing rider.
People commenting that they have never heard of these riders need to do a little research. When they have, they will have no choice but to shut up.
its truly ridiculous that there are people commenting, questioning brian yeagle. If your knowledge of bmx is only as deep as what has been presented on the come up, then you my friend know nothing, and therefore should shut your mouth. I’m sure adam22 can agree with that.
jim bauer, brian yeagle and dave thompson…that sounds like a good mix. not sure who andrew jackson is, clearly he’s got some skills to be of the same calibre as these guys. as for the yeagle bashing, his ‘Who Brought The Dicks?’ is my favourite trails section of all time, and my favourite trails rider. HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!
oh, he’s a trails guy, that’s why I don’t know. And for the other guy, I’ve been in bmx for 10 years, so my knowledge of bmx is more than just the come up. I just don’t care much about trails. While I respect people that do I wouldn’t know people’s names that do it outside of the locals in my area.
it makes sense. skate companies business is down, so they have to start bmx teams so now finally the bmx mailorders are cool enough to carry them.that’s what osiris did.Fallen will probably be next.DC,duffs,and etnies have all had bmx teams forever. the others can suck a dick.more importantly, ipath shoes look good, but fall apart.
Osiris have come and gone before. Fuck them.
i really don’t think it’s crazy to not know who brian yeagle is. yes, he has put out some good trails sections and done some rad things, but who brought the dicks? is he on the team based on a part that came out 8 years ago? its and amazing section and he’s one of the best trails riders ever, but gets a very small about of coverage and has done so for the past 5 years. there’s no argument there. also, i don’t think companies are starting teams to get in bmx mailorders. the only bmx mailorder big enough to make any money is dans and they’ll sell anything. they sold osiris long before they got back into bmx, along with other companies like dvs and adio. osiris has a sweet team too. they came back in a good way.
Obviously yeagle doesn’t need any of us to come to his defense, but if you want to talk about relevance ask anyone who was at Empire of Dirt or read the media coverage. Your “big name pros” stopped what they were doing to watch Brian shred the course. Dude is your favorite pro’s favorite trail rider. Go watch Who Brought the Dicks and realize he has done a million tricks, crazy transfers and excelled at all parts of riding and still does mindblowing stuff. Like Ruben he has done it all, moved on and found new stuff that matters to him. Once Anthem 2 drops no one will be asking “who is Brian Yeagle?” Also, there is nothing wrong with not knowing BMX history, unless you try to weigh in on stuff and stick your Galls in your mouth.
“Yes, full involvement, but IPATH is a smaller company so we’re starting small. ”
They are owned by Timberland you lying sack of shit.
“Also I feel that Tim is partly responsible for the fact that a lot of more discerning and stylish non-BMX industry types are taking an interest BMX. I guess we sort of agree that the physical act of riding a BMX bike is one of the best things in the world, and that there are things that can be done to reduce the amount of awkwardness and goofiness that sometimes goes along with that.”
Coming from a guy who wore a Huffy jersey with Pepsi logos…while rocking corn-rows. GO FUCK YOURSELF. Go fold your t-shirt collection while your at it, cock sucker. Why the fuck do you think you are so much more discerning when it comes to making BMX “look” good from a fashion standpoint. FASHION STANDPOINT. Go away for good, please.
who honestly gives a fuck about any of this shit? its dope that some ones hooking up yeagle but if its like every other thing ardenlean is involved in it will shit the bed within a year. making bmx less goofy and awkard? thats what i love about bmx fuck being accepted and fuck mike ardelean go back to quicksilver
Ardelean has the opposite of the Midas touch.
IPATH = small company owned by big company, doesn’t make them a big brand. Still have budgets.
I never said “fashion standpoint”, don’t know where that came from.
Never said “discerning” in reference to myself; was referring to brands that consider getting into BMX, and some of the reasons they choose not to.
Got a chance to hook up some underrated guys who rep BMX well, happy to do it.
Thanks for reading
Peace
So much HATE! Where’s the love guys? Remember these are wee little 20″ bikes. If you had the chance to get some free stuff and maybe even make a buck doing what you love, RIDING BIKES, you would be foolish not to jump all over it! And hating on people who do, or have, is just stupid.
P.S. Yeagle is the man!