Mike Ardelean has a signature hat coming out and this video shows a little bit of the design process along with the first riding footage we’ve seen of Ardelean in a long time even though it’s just him riding The Heights (which, by the way, I hear has ceased to exist).

Mike has an interview on Breaks Of 10. I always like to hear Ardelean talk about working since he seems so motivated:

“I got busy with having jobs and just living a total 180 from where I was in ’06. Working hard was a novelty to me back then… I idolized guys who did it, but I didn’t know how to do it. Eventually I learned. I took every opportunity that was given to me and I ran with it. Doing work put all my fears to rest. It feels good.”

It’s cool to see someone who puts their all into their career even if it doesn’t have anything to do with bikes.

Mike Ardelean runs through the last of his sponsors, talks about Lavar, working for Giant, and more.

Mike runs down his old sponsors and the good times he had while with them.

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.

Also I know iPath have been around longer than the Ipod, but I still feel like I’m talking about something Apple makes every time I type the name.

Previously: Jim Bauer’s Defgrip Exclusive