So big changes for you this year, a move from Kona and on to Nukeproof. How did that come about?

Having over six years under my belt with Kona certainly filled up my passport and I had one awesome time…they were like my family. I felt ready for a new challenge and Nukeproof welcomed me with open arms.

Well I ride when I want. Simple. So I approach riding with an attitude to progress and sometimes get stressed in doing so. I’m so competitive and that will never change. However, I would consider myself as an all–round rider and can’t help but dial in a banger every so often.

Nukeproof won me over instantly with this beauty. ‘The Rook’ is my dream bike, short travel, comfortable length, giro, gears and quite frankly, one bad ass looking bike, you can shred anything you throw at it. 

Jack Fogelquist is the man mostly behind ‘The Rook’ and his input enabled Nukeproof to produce the ultimate slopestyle bike. The internal hydraulic gyro is key to slopestyle, especially if you’re a tailwhip/barspin rider like myself. Tons of riders had to make their own shifter mount on the downtube but Nukeproof have made a specific mount for that reason and give you the option to run both the gyro and shifter mount. Or you can simply run it the normal way!

It is a touch longer, which is also another key factor with tricks. The clearance of the front wheel to the forward pedal has to be a comfortable distance for barspins.

This is a complete custom ride, but you could build up the same bike. I’m not one for slamming my seat and pinching my lunchbox so I run that higher for B’s, Trucks. Tyres are big so I don’t have to worry about changing everything over all the time for jumps to trail riding. It’s a ‘get up and go wherever’ bike.

Not today as I wanted a light front end for trying new barspins variations. It’s going back on when I hit a steeper courses for sure. Plus I personally think not having a front brake on makes you ride better too, especially with cornering.

I’m not gonna try and talk like I know what I’m on about, but coils are just too springy and heavy. Air shocks are easy to use and better for jumping with less buck (pumped up past maximum obviously!). It’s made simply for thrashing about and getting air on.

What do you feel is the most important part on your bike?

Suspension is for sure. It’s all about having enough air in your shock than it is having handlebars! Not having a certain amount of air or slow enough rebound for slopestyle or jumping can change the way you ride every time. It’s all about consistency with both you and the suspension.

Where I live this bike is perfect and definitely the ‘go to’ bike most times. The fact it has gears and it’s a ‘fully’ I can simply fiddle with it depending where I ride and its perfect.

I’m not one for deliberately making things lighter and I’m honestly not sure. I’m pretty old school so it’s a nice weight, ha ha. But yeah it’s pretty light. People have picked this up and have been pleasantly surprised.

Honestly I haven’t and I don’t believe I will as this is one tough bike. If I did it would most probably be the rear mech as I forget I got one on there sometimes. 

Always better with your own name on there right! 

Well, already we are talking about some future products and my input will help for sure.

The only internal hydraulic gyro and purposely built shifter mount frame I know of! Certainly cutting edge being a ‘first one’ and this will definitely get other brands thinking about slopestyle more.

Same reply Peaty would say!

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