Miron called me earlier (I thought he was going to be mad about this) and let me know that he has decided to leave behind the company that he started and has sold his ownership of the company to Darcy and Jamie, who he started Macneil with nearly 10 years ago. I asked why and he said that ever since he stopped actually riding BMX due to injuries, it has been difficult for him to stay around the sport watching everyone else enjoy BMX so much. He also cited some health conditions that make it difficult for him to travel comfortably or even sit up for long hours at a desk. He said he was going to be taking some time off before he made any serious decisions about his future.
On a positive note, Jay said that Darcy and Jamie are still extremely motivated to move forward with Macneil and that they were already working on finding a team manager to get the company going full speed again. I know for some of you it is hard to imagine Macneil without Miron, but Jay will be the first one to tell you, and I can vouch for it too, that Darcy and Jamie are both incredibly talented guys who care a lot about BMX and that the company is in good hands.
I sent over a few interview questions earlier and I was going to wait until Jay answered them but I have to head out now and figured I’d get this up now before I left, you can expect an official statement on the Macneil site very soon.
Regardless of how much future involvement Jay has with BMX from this point on in his life, I would like to wish him the best with whatever he chooses to do, Jay has always been a big TCU supporter and has taught me a lot about the business side of BMX. All hail The Beast.
UPDATE: Jay’s post about his decision is now live, here:
“I have some pretty big news to announce. I have sold MacNeil Bikes, and Ten Pack Distribution to my business partners Darcy Saccucci and Jamie McIntosh who’ll continue to run them like normal. I’ve also shut down Metro Events. After spending my entire life either on a bike, or working in the bike business I’m walking away from it.
While it’s pretty scary leaving it all behind, I’m super excited for the new life that lies ahead. I haven’t yet decided what that life will be. I’m going to take a while to relax and see what comes up.
I want to thank everyone whom I’ve ridden with, partied with, and worked with over the years. I especially want to thank Darcy, Jamie and everyone else that’s worked with me at MacNeil and Ten Pack. It’s been amazing!
- Jay”
UPDATE 2: Jay just sent back some answers, and as always, he doesn’t hold back, check it after the jump.
So you made the decision to sell your percentage of Macneil over to Darcy and Jamie after all these years. What were the main reasons behind your decisions?
The big one is that I just don’t want to live the lifestyle anymore. I did it for so many years, and it was amazing, but I’m just not into it anymore. I don’t like to fly. I don’t like party so often. I definitely don’t like sitting at a desk sending emails for hours at a time. So I just didn’t see a place for me at the company anymore. Darcy and Jamie saw how frustrated I was. So they asked if I’d be interested in selling the company to them. I was. We finally finished up all the legal stuff in the last week.
Do you feel like Macneil will still be able to be successful without your being a part of it?
Yes. They’re good guys. They’ll handle it fine.
I know a lot of people in BMX over the past couple years have been sort of shocked and in some cases almost offended by the fact that you don’t ride BMX anymore. We talked earlier on the phone about how stupid it is to expect dudes to keep riding BMX into their 40′s just because they were at one time, a great rider… what’s your perspective on that opinion?
In most cases people with that attitude are just shortsighted pussies who’ve never went over the bars on a handrail or woke up at the bottom of a vert ramp asking what city they’re in. I did that shit about five times a year for 20 plus years. I suppose if I had taken it easy and coasted through my career I could still be coasting around now, but then no one would be upset would they?
What does the immediate and long term future hold for you?
I honestly don’t know right now. I’m just going to take it easy and see what comes up.
Previously: Props Issue 11 – BS Finals Daytona Beach, FL| Jay Miron & The First Double Backflip.| Road Fools 5.