St Georges Day: England’s best riders of the 00’s
On the theme of all things English I thought I’d point out five amazing riders to come out of England. It would be pretty hard to pick five all time great UK riders, so I’d have to limit it somehow. So I’m going to say since the millenium. This decade I suppose?
Now this isn’t going to be everybodies cup of tea, but I’m going to give it a shot. I don’t know what criteria I’m using but if you disagree, just let me know and why! Here goes…
Kye Forte
The older brother of the Forte clan, Kye is undoubtedly one of the most focused and professional riders this country has ever seen. Kye’s racing background I’m told is a great reason for such drive. His bike riding talent has earned him many a contest win, he’s travelled the world and rides everything from street to dirt and all with a style that’s recognizable from a hundred feet away. If you see Kye snap a tabletop, you know it’s Kye. That, as welll as his commitment to actually having fun everytime he rides his bike, is why Kye is in my top 5.
Bas Keep
I remember reading about Bas years ago as this wonderkid who has power and style beyond most peoples comprehension. I think you only realise how true that is when you spend time with a person. I spent a year riding with Bas and he showed me that the impossible is possible. The internet has ruined the spoken word of legends; in years gone by, a pro riders visit to a skatepark would be talked about for months afterwards but in these times if it’s not on Youtube then it didn’t happen. Bas’ visits to skateparks usually result in him doing some lines that’s never thought possible, these visits are still talked about and will be for many years.
Simply and utterly the most stylish rider of the decade, nobody comes close. Mike’s riding is a continued source of frustration for anybody that’s the jealous type. Mike embodies youth and his carefree attitude make watching him ride realise how simple and impressive BMX riding can be. After you’ve sat through an ametuer contest and watched 50 kids hungrily force their way through a street course, it’s quite profound how watching Mike effortlessly flow around can make you feel. In a totally non gay way of course…
What to say that hasn’t already been said. I couldn’t have written this list and not included Harry, especially after his epic web edit last week. I remember meeting Harry for the first time a few summers back, trying his absolute hardest at all the contests throughout Europe. I remember thinking how determined he was to be good at what he was doing. Nobody else was doing back to back 720’s over spines but this 18 years old from the North West of England was. Harry’s now a big name in BMX and it’s perfectly possible that he could become a household name in the future.
Jamie Bestwick
Photo from Facebook – Best photo ever!
Nobody could ever argue with this. Perhaps you could argue that he might not fit into my 00’s category as he’s been riding longer than any of the other guys but then I’d encourage you to sit through just one of his video parts. It’s such a rarity that a BMXer gets to see a vert ramp used properly. I’d never seen it until I went to the states. When you see someone do a 10ft 540, you actually understand how serious it is. I’ve seen plenty of crazy street gaps, enough knockouts and broken bones at the skatepark but nothing in my whole life has been as stimulating as shocking as standing on the deck of a vert ramp and watching it being used by the best vert rider in the world. That man is Jamie Bestwick.
So that’s my top five best riders of the 2000’s… Obviously my opinion, What’s yours?
-Robin Fenlon
April 24th, 2009 at 09:14
1. Stephen Murray
2. Toby Forte
3. Scott Edgworth
4. James Brooks
5. Max Wood
just my own opinion!
April 24th, 2009 at 09:41
the kid above must ride trails or sumin seeing as tho those five names are trails riders max is amazing at park coz i ride alot with him but jesus man mix it up !
jamie bestwick now he is the man he can ride vert park trails and street and make it all look amazing !
April 24th, 2009 at 10:15
There’s a pretty good argument for including webby in here.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:38
if its riders of the 00’s-they should have been ripping it since the starts or mids of the 00’s.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:07
Edgeworth.
For raw bike riding skills.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:41
kye, bas, and jamie have been around forever. as for miller, hes been shredding the pro scene since about 05 i think.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:41
definitely i agree with the four of the five ridres you chose..
i cant definetely agree with posting miller..not to say that he aint a good rider..and his style is sick..but i would prefer someone else..like ben lewis,dan lacey or someone else…
anyway i must say that your picks are too good!!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:53
hary main is god
April 24th, 2009 at 15:04
Seems weird that the producer and star of one of the most influential videos released in the 00’s isn’t mentioned. Joe Cox has done a hell of a lot to further the reputation of street in the UK (And around the world), and has created two amazing DVDs that are still amazing to watch even today. You only have to look at how “big time pro” riders changed how they rode after seeing Voices, and how many of them listed Voices in their “Top five BMX videos” in interviews and the like. Couple that with the fact he’s an amazing rider, and it seems weird he doesn’t get a mention…
April 24th, 2009 at 15:53
Jamie bestwick, stephen murray, dale holmes, simon tabron, kye forte
April 24th, 2009 at 15:54
Joe Cox has made two great videos, he is also an amazing rider, but, those videos were not solely his work. Lots of amazing riders made up voices, not just Joe. I also think that less big time pro riders changed after seeing it than you think, I’d say that joes videos perhaps affected film makers as much as, if not more than, the riders. Joe is rad, but it’s not weird that he’s not top 5. Defo top five film-makers but not riders.
April 24th, 2009 at 16:42
harry main
matt priest
mike miller
steven murray
bas keep
April 24th, 2009 at 16:56
1 MARK WEBB OR MATT PREIST
2 MIKE MILLER
3 BEN LEWIS
4 COREY MARTINEZ
5 HARRY MAIN
April 24th, 2009 at 17:16
1.Harry Main
2.Harry Main
3.Harry Main
4.Harry Main
5.Harry Main
April 24th, 2009 at 17:57
1. Ben Lewis
2. Mike Miller
3. Matt Roe
4. Alex Kennedy
5. Barney
It’s a personal opinion and above is who makes riding seem interesting to me in 00… if it was ten (which i know it ain’t)
i’d have Erny or Bedford, Dan & Joe Cox, Max & Gav.
April 24th, 2009 at 18:01
tbf there are tons of english riders that make the scene what they are just a few who i thourght could easily make the top 5 ben hennon and dan lacey and yeah mark webb shjould definatly be there
April 24th, 2009 at 18:12
1. Barney…rides anything with style, smooth as fuck.
2. Leo Forte…fastest rider at Empire, goes as high as anyone worldwide Foster included
3. Ben Hennon…doesn’t give a fuck.
4. Harry Main….the garlic bread of BMX.
5. Owain Clegg…Probably my favourite all round rider anywhere. Alway good to watch and a general nice guy.
Top 5 Unknowns
Clarke and Kent Bridgett
Larry Lamotey(fuck knows why no-one’s picked up on this kid)
Adam Drinkwater
Jake Norfolk (well I would say that)
April 24th, 2009 at 18:37
I guess what you’re saying is kinda right, the “weird” part to me was that with the fairly big influence UK street has had on the world for the past few years that there’s no-one representing (fairly large…) side of riding. At the end of the day though I suppose it’s your call, as it’s your blog.
April 24th, 2009 at 20:35
Harry Main is a sick rider and definatly desrves to be in this list but surley the slightly better and more experienced version of him that is Mark Webb should be included in this list
April 25th, 2009 at 01:02
1. Jamie Bestwick
2.Stephen Murray
3.Harry Main
4.Matt Priest
5.Nikki Croft
Jamie Bestwick is the epiphany of perfection in bmx. Every trick he does makes you hold your breath at how well its done and then proceeds by landing both wheels 1cm below the coping EVERY time and its no wonder why he wins so much tho it to me is a wonder why his name is not seen or talked about more often
I think even if Stephen is not or has not been riding a whole bunch due to his situation his impact on the world is mentally big
I also think Harry is going to be the best rider in the world seeing as he just brought out that video and half the tricks he does on there hes not been doing for more than a few months and already look spot on aka 3 double whips and such forth.
Matt Priest, One of the new young guns that should just be a kick out boy but instead pushes his rad unheard of style including held no-handers and massively smooth 720’s. He does his own thing and hes also known for living it up outside of bmx and not just being about the competition. Matt is a true bmx rider in ever sense of it.
Niki Croft does street park dirt you name it his style is also wild and highly original and hes a super nice guy that believe it or not he just wants to ride his bike as much as a 13 year old does! Hes great to talk to and hes great to ride with and watch ride. Niki is a great role model
Notice i have no street riders in here. This is becouse no matter what it always seems like they are just doing footjam whips and a bars of a set and what too many jam variations.
I think that i would need a football shirt for all of them so i could tell who is riding. WHEREAS the people i have chose are totally unique to their riding you can tell instanly who is who when they ride without seeing their face and non of them follow this fashion milarky they ride bmx for themselfs not to look cool.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:40
Also remember this is not a definitive top 5, just some ones opinion. As is “the most influencial video’s”.
April 25th, 2009 at 12:55
1. butcher
2. bob scerbo
3. jason levi
4. edwin
5. tom white
April 25th, 2009 at 12:57
none of them have 4 pegs so its void
April 25th, 2009 at 20:11
where is gerry galley, i know he’s been around along time but co’mon!he’s a rider that turned down numorous sponsers cause he wants to ride for the love of it not to get noticed like alot of the new school clones,or scott maylon.speaking of new school clones didnt harry main say in a recent edition of ride that bmx would be dead if it wer’nt for the dew tour, tossa.
April 25th, 2009 at 23:37
i think personally it should be :
-jamies bestwick as he is a legend
-mark webb he is insane and can do crazy tech shit
-scott ditch sick at all sorts of ridin
-harry main sick at park
-mike millar he is so smooth
but that is just my pick, your choices are great as well
April 26th, 2009 at 08:17
i definetly agree mike miller and harry main are the best in bmx and hary main theres not a trick he cant do but what about mark webb and gary young
April 26th, 2009 at 09:43
its rather strange that you didnt include mark webb in there.i would personally change kye forte to him.he has been out of the spotlight for a bit now, i guess mainly due to injuries but still.
April 26th, 2009 at 14:59
1. harry main
2. ben lewis
3. jamie bestwick
4. Stephen Murray
5. owain clegg
all the above are amazing at what the ride and owain is a amazing all rounder!
April 26th, 2009 at 15:38
1. bestwick
2. main
3. tabron
4. whiton
5. ditchburn
6. miller
7. forte’s
8. lewis
April 27th, 2009 at 01:32
Where is dan mcgeary?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
April 27th, 2009 at 08:05
^^ doing a superman somewhere
April 27th, 2009 at 08:05
mark webb should b in there!!!!!
April 27th, 2009 at 16:14
haha jamie looks just like roy keane there!
April 27th, 2009 at 23:47
WHERE THE HELL IS RHYS MC FLEECE… OH YEAH HE TALKS SHITTY TO OTHER PEOPLE SO NO ONE LIKES HIM AND THATS WHY THE LETTERS AT THE BACK NEVER GET READ ANYMORE…. I WOULD RESPOND IN A WAY BETTER WAY THAT WOULD LIVEN IT BACK UP AGAIN NOT JUST DISS EVERY ONE THAT SENDS IN.
April 28th, 2009 at 18:31
Robin Fenlon
Robin fenlon
Robin fenlon
Robin fenlon
Robin fenlon
Sorry. For my stutter
I meant
Hhhhhhh ary mains amazing.
April 29th, 2009 at 14:46
WHY HAS NO ONE SAID MAT ROE
April 29th, 2009 at 14:48
Because he’s shit?
April 30th, 2009 at 14:35
nobody likes Dan Lacey’s riding?
April 30th, 2009 at 15:34
Rob Ridge and Ant Pearson?
May 3rd, 2009 at 15:55
1.will jackson
2.northern john
3.owain clegg
4.robbie owen
5.chris souter
May 3rd, 2009 at 15:56
1.rob ridge
2.steve bancroft
3.martyn tambling
4.scott malyon
5.ben lewis
May 25th, 2009 at 20:09
1. Mark Webb
2. Harry Main
3. Alex Kennedy
4. Mike Miller
5. Isaac Lesser
July 4th, 2009 at 23:31
What?!? Where is Mark Webb!?!?!?!?!?
July 16th, 2009 at 16:24
thias could on on forever there has been sop many great rider to come from england. it all depend who you have seen ride and spent time with etc,
in no order in teh top 10 should include in mo oppinion
bestwick
whitton
kye forte
harry main
matt roe
niki croft
stephen murray
March 5th, 2010 at 23:55
Mike Miller @_@
August 5th, 2010 at 23:31
mike miller
dan lacey
max wood
alex kennedy
baz keep
chase hawk
chase dehart
matt preist
bob manchester
nathan williams
August 5th, 2010 at 23:33
^^^^^^^i’m such a tard that i forgot the riders all had to be from england…