DRAW, DRAW, DRAW. —Mark Kistler
1. If you had to leave your lasting impression on the world with just one quote what would it be?
Jeeze! That's a tough one. My personal motto lately is, "Think up cool things and make them real." What that means to me is that good ideas I daydream about can become real things if I learn the skills and put in the work to create them.
2. With all the Titanium out there now for bmx, how do you think the quality has changed since you had your custom T1 made back in the day?
Is there a lot of Ti in BMX now? I don't think the quality has likely changed much, but maybe understanding of the material has? When I had the Ti T-1 frame built, I just picked an off-the-shelf tubeset used for building road and MTB frames. Bikes aren't built from pure Ti; they're always an alloy of some kind. Different "mixes" of Ti have different qualities. The stuff I used was for ride compliance and it wasn't a good choice for a BMX where I wanted stiffness.
3. I Feel like you were ahead of some things that are very popular now like the Ti frame, guarded sprocket (the one you had on your maroon Ti bike), and even the multi-tool you made from a fork leg. Do you think you played a part in inspiring others to produce those things?
- All those things were feeding off things before me. Props creator Marco made MasterGuard sprocket guards in the early 90s.
- There's something about Ti that is undeniably desirable. Fairdale makes a beautiful Ti frame, and I really want one, but I know I'd never ride it (not much of a roadie). I can't really think of a good reason for Ti in BMX, though. Too expensive, no real benefit that I can see. Most Ti products I've had failed very quickly, or like Ti spokes were too flexy.
- Multi-tools are awesome design challenges! I love all the gadgety ones out there! And, it is a testament to BMX that you need so few tools to work on one. We're lucky to have relatively solid standards in BMX compared to the rest of cycling with all its goofy proprietary tools.
4. If you could go back in time and change any event in world history what would it be and why do you think your change would have made a difference
Oh boy, I am not well versed enough in history to make that weighty decision for the world. I quit school to bounce my head off ramps!
5. (Bagz question) What was your all-time favorite trick to do & why?
I never really had a favorite. For me, it was more a feeling-based thing. Certain ramps or jumps had lines or sensations that felt really good. I guess it was probably something that sent me into the air and a landing that could handle a nice nosed in smooth landing.
Taj illustration from www.tajmihelich.com
6. Out of all of your sponsors you had, who would you say surprised you the most with how they treated you? Like they supported you beyond just a rider.
Pretty much all of them, really. Honestly, from my first sponsor (Airwalk and Albe's) to my last (many who still support me today for no good reason), I had amazing relationships with sponsors. So many of my team managers ended up being the dads I never had, and all of them went above and beyond just making sure I had products to use. Looking back on my BMX career, I had people taking care of me and supporting me every step of the way.
7. To me you have always been a riders rider. You never seemed to let money dictate why you rode for who you rode for. What did you look for in a company to make you want to ride for them?
I for sure turned down deals that would have paid me more so that I could do what I wanted to. BMX started out as the most amazing vehicle for me to express myself and pour my creativity into. I was determined through my whole career not to lose that. I would make it pretty clear to my sponsors that I was going to ride and do whatever I wanted. If that didn't fit their plans, then it wouldn't work out.
8. From when you started riding until today, what have you seen change in the trail scene that you wish was back when you started?
I started before there were "rhythm jumps." Meaning, BMX jumps would be just one single dirt mound you had to pedal at. When multiple jump lines started to be the norm at trail spots, everything got better! I've been happy with trails since then! They each have their own character and feel, and that is a good thing.
9. (Tim's question) How does it feel having Hoffman re-release the Taj frame and have it so popular again?
Was it popular? I have no idea how it sold. Cool to see the old thing again.
10. So, you have some icon tricks (to me anyway). Tailwhips, the most tweaked out can-cans and the sickest looking Grizzly airs ever. Which of those tricks were you most stoked on?
My first photo was a one-footed grizz (I called it a one-footed Hannah after the trick's inventor) in BMX Plus. That was a pretty cool moment for me. It felt like a trick I could do with feeling... throw my energy into it. Can cans always felt like a bit of a joke to me, but they were fun. Tailwhips were always a gamble, and I kind of tried not to have them on lock, so that each one felt different.
Taj Collection shirts for PinkBike click image to purchase
11. Are you still playing Bass? If so what's your RIG setup like?
I am a bit. I recorded some bass for my recent Paul Buchanan and the Church Gap animation. That was really fun. Simple little riff, but it still feels good to play. I have a Fender Acoustic bass that I keep next to my drawing desk. I pick it up and pluck at it to break up the day or get the creative juices flowing.
12. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment so far on a bike and off?
I don't know how to answer that, really. On a personal level, I guess just following what feels like the right thing to do to me. Sometimes I'm not so sure where my internal direction comes from, but it's there, and I try to be brave enough to follow it.
13. Though you don't ride BMX like you use to, I am sure you still follow it. How do you think BMX measures up now compared to back in the early 2000s?
I really don't follow it too closely, but I get to see a bit. It is bigger and more wide open than it used to be—more corners of BMX where different styles are progressing in different directions. There is still plenty of getting rad going on, so that is cool with me!
14. Is there one bike part that you wish you would have made for T-1 but never got a chance to? If so, why weren't you able to?
Nothing in particular, but we were limited it off-the-shelf tubing for the frames. It would have been cool to engineer tube sets that were better suited to what we wanted. Of course, we would have needed an engineer on board with us too!
15. What bike part were you the hardest on when you rode?
I destroyed a lot of handlebars. Rarely pedals or cranks or forks. I pretty much just bent bars, and I shredded my grips (twisted my hands a lot while on BMX).
16. Who came up with the Terrible One Barcode logo and why did you name it the Barcode?
I don't remember. Joe and I worked on it, I'm sure. I don't remember where the name came from either, but I still think it sounds kind of cool.
17. When you made video parts, did you usually have free reign on the music for your part? How did you decide on the song if so?
A lot of times, though sometimes the editor would pick the song. If it was up to me, I tried to pick a song that spoke to me, and that inspired me in some way. But, you also have to keep in mind that someone will not have the same reaction to the song as you will, so it was important to work with the video maker and trust their sense of how the video was coming together. A good video maker has a big picture view of how the whole video is coming together and understands pacing and the feel of it all. You have to trust the director's vision.
18. What was your favorite bike setup that you ever had? Why was it your favorite?
I don't remember ever having a favorite. Setups changed and mutated as technology and styles changed. I rode a lot, so my bike felt like an extension of my body; I just adjusted things until they felt right.
19. What are some projects you are working on bike or non bike-related?
Fantastically busy right now. Lots of illustrations are happening for Pinkbike. I'm also doing animation for the 2nd season of Anthill Films Return to Earth TV show. Renovating my house by myself right now too. And doing design work for Fairdale along with some special, bigger projects they have cooking. And, I have a couple of new books cooking.
20. How did you find the process of making Bernie the bike builder? How did the project come about? How long did it take to finish?
I loved it! It felt so cool to make that idea into a reality. I had the basic concept floating around in my head for years. When I finally sat down to make it happen, it took a few months of focus. I started by making the pencils that Bernie uses in the book (like I actually ordered some custom Bernie pencils). I drew all the images using his pencils. I then painted each page in chronological order, and kind of wrote the book in my head while I painted. Going from the earliest sketches all the way to final layout and book production all on my own was a very cool accomplishment.
-Help support and go pick up a copy of "Bernie the Bike Builder" and also, "Back before they invented opened face helmets." Click the image to purchase.
21. Is there anything in bmx you wish you could have accomplished before your injury?
No, all good! I was hung up for years on getting a 360 downside whip, but that never happened, but it wasn't from lack of trying. People do them nowadays, but I've never seen one that looks like how I wanted them to feel. Anyways, I put some real effort and energy into trying to get it, and it never worked, and that is ok. Gotta' leave something for the next generation to figure out!
22. I know you are very humble and super grounded but what do you think you contributed to the bmx world that may not have been the same or created if not for you?
Oh gosh, I don't know! That sounds like a question someone else should answer. I just followed what felt right to me on a bike and tried to stay true to that.
23. Do you still have any of your signature shoes from Etnies? They were amazing.
Etnies bronzed all three versions of my signature shoes as a gift for me. I have those in my bike shed.
24. What are 5 must-have tracks on your road trip playlist?
No idea!
25. What are 5 things you have to have on a road trip?
It has been so long since I've done a road trip, I don't even know anymore. I don't think you need much. Don't forget the bike.
26. What items do you have in your pockets right now?
It's 6 am. I'm still in pajamas.
28. Was there anyone you wish you sponsored for T-1 but couldn't get?
I just wished that we could have done more for the riders we had. Guys like Garrett Byrnes, Ruben Alcantara, Scott Maylon, Elf... I just wanted to see them take riding in their own direction and wished we could have supported them well enough that they didn't have any other worries in life.
29. Who was the biggest star you ever got to meet because of riding a bike?
Mat Hoffman.
30. Anyone you would like to thank or shout out?
I felt like a bit of an orphan when I left home at 16. BMX adopted me and took care of me. I thank everyone who made BMX into the special world that it is.
31. What bike companies did you admire when you were riding and why?
S&M was always a big inspiration. Smartly run business that still stuck to core values of supporting BMX. Later, when I started working for Odyssey I was extremely impressed with them. I've gotten to be part of a lot of brands, but I've never seen a company more focused on making good stuff and bringing about good innovations like them. And a great group of people who simply care a lot about what they are doing.
32. You were in the MTV SMF2 in 1998 correct? You also took 1st place in the street contest. Do you still have the trophy? How was the experience doing an MTV contest?
I think the trophy was a guitar? Ice-T told me to pawn it when he awarded it, but I gave it to Joe Rich because he was interested in learning to play guitar. It eventually ended up in the hands of our good friend (and drummer from my old band) Bryan. He still occasionally plays it on stage with some of his other bands.
Images are resourced from RIDEBMX, Fairdale Bikes, and Transworld.
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