Joe Rich just sent this through:

“Six weeks, 1 regluar sized back pack for each of the 2 of us, 1 super 8mm camera, 1 DV video camera, 1 35mm film photo camera, 2 bmx bikes, $400 in train tickets each = 1 amazing adventure. We had the most basic of plans . . . Leave Malaga, Spain by train, and arrive in Prague (Czech Republic) six weeks later. No day was ever mapped out before hand. We’d take a train to a new city, leave the station upon arrival, and see what we could get into. Some cities we stayed for days, others just over night. “Chance” and “Wonder” were our co-pilots. Exploration and adventure go hand in hand, add in our loose schedule and we had ourselves one amazing journey . . . .

This trip was taken by myself and Ruben Alcantara almost 5 years ago. It was put out along with an Etnies Road Trip video that came with Dig issue number 52. Because it was being burned on a hard copy, I had to use different music for the second half of the Train Trip. This was the music I originally edited it with. This played all last year on the Bicycle Film Festival Tour around the world. I’ve gotten a number of requests to put this up online. So here it is, Freaky Friday February 19th, 2010. Enjoy !”

They played this at the Bicycle Film Festival over the Summer before they played the FBM documentary and I was shocked by how good it was even all these years later. If Ruben isn’t in your discussion about the best riders of all time, you have a problem. This video holds a little place in my heart too because it was the cause of the first “Take down that video” email I ever got, courtesy of someone at Dig, I can’t really remember who.

Here’s the latest Freaky Friday featuring Ruben. I wonder what Ruben’s been up to. I know he’s got a real bad back and is having surgery, that’s gotta be the one dude I wish we could see footage of on a regular basis. I slacked on posting last week’s Freaky Friday featuring Garrett Byrnes last week due to a combination of alcohol poisoning (almost!) and bad wireless, so check that after the jump.
Continue reading Terrible One Freaky Friday 10/02/09. >

Joe Rich hit me up with a really awesome video of Ruben and some friends out in Spain… check the description and then watch the video after the jump.

“This was something fun I had an idea for when I went to Spain to film the Fox Andalucia series. This idea came to me one night while lying in bed. I thought it would be a cool way for people to see Ruben’s hip for the first time. I thought that the matador was fitting due to the fact we were in Spain. Then, I heard this song by Beruit and it fit together perfectly in my mind. But due to music rights issues, I never got clearance, therefore the idea couldn’t be used for the Fox vid. For those of you that have seen the riding in the 3rd part of Andalucia, this contains a few clips from that, plus one pretty funny ending one. These clips never get old to me. We laughed for awhile with this one. Hope you dig it”
Continue reading “The Matador”. >

Here’s the 3rd of Joe Rich’s Andalucia series, spotted on Defgrip. Features Chase Hawk, Ruben etc.

Previously: Andalucia 2

Joe Rich just hit me up about the first of 3 edits he’s doing for Fox. This one features Chase Hawk, Ruben, Garrett Byrnes and others all riding some amazing spots in Spain. Amazing quality and the riding is ridiculous.

I saw this on Vinyl too. I’ve posted Nigel and Daniel Dhers’ “Firsthand” features in the past, this one’s Ruben Alacantara’s. This is worth watching solely to see Ruben ride street with no chain.

You probably can’t watch this if you’re outside the US, but you’ll live.

Previously: Ruben Alacantara In “Grounded”

Ruben has a bike check up on Data (scroll down a little and you’ll see it). Discuss in the comments: Ruben is one of the most underrated riders of all time.