The job title of ‘International Sales and Marketing/International Ambassador (Man of Mystery)’ pretty much sums up Lyle Barton. He is out there travelling the world and spreading the word about new US bag and clothing company ACRE. Nice work if you can get it!
DIRT ISSUE 147 – MAY 2014Words by Mike Rose. Photo by Simon Nieborak
Who is Lyle Barton?A cool dude from California traveling around the world and living the dream… and promoting a brand that he believes in.
Where do you live?I recently made the move from San Francisco to LA and am having a blast. It’s truly California dreamin’…
What do you do?I spend six months of the year jetting around the world and growing our business. Searching for and managing our dealers, having events, meeting with media, and riding bikes on some of the best trails in the world.
How long have you been working for Acre/Mission Workshop?Just after the company started in 2009, but I had been friends (and worked) with the founders for years. As soon as I took the job they basically put me on a plane and sent me to Europe for four months to run our London pop–up. I haven’t looked back.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?Telemarketer in high school.
Where’s your favourite place?Impossible to answer, but if I were to pick a city it would have to be London or Berlin, but the outdoors side of me would say the Swiss Alps. Or perhaps this little village in the north of Thailand called Pai.
Where’s your favourite place to ride?Riding in the Trans-Provence region of France. The Basque region in Spain is also outta control fun!
When are you happiest?When I’m healthy and accomplishing my goals, or after a long bike ride.
What makes you angry?Too much coffee!
What makes you happy?The feeling of accomplishment and riding my bike.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?Sometimes you have to slow down to go faster. I’ve been able to apply that in so many different aspects in my life.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?Find what you love and do it as much as possible.
What are your extravagances?Clothes. I spend a lot of money on clothes when I’m in Europe.
Who do you admire?People who inspire others to go after their dreams or to just to be better people.
What’s the most important thing in your life?Happiness and health. If I have those then everything else just falls into place.
What would you never throw away?My first passport that I filled with stamps. Sooo many good stories in that thing!
What’s your greatest fear?Losing my health or somehow getting stuck in life and not being able to do the things that make me happy.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning?Check to see if the sun is out.
What would be your dream meal?I’m a meat and potatoes kinda guy, so I’d say the best steak and baked potato that money could buy.
What things do you always carry with you?Wallet and iPhone.
Do you have any regrets?Not yet.
What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learnt?It’s OK to occasionally make mistakes, just don’t make the same mistake twice.
If you could have dinner with three famous people who would they be?Penelope Cruz (still a babe!) and Lewis and Clark (famous American pioneers/explorers).
Who is your favourite rider?Cedric Garcia still rips hard.
What’s your favourite bike product of all time?Currently SRAM XX1.
What’s your least favourite bike product of all time?Electric mountain bikes.
What’s your favourite motto or saying?“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
What saying do you use too much?I use “dude” and “like” waaay too much.
What bike are you riding at the moment?Santa Cruz Tallboy LTC with all the SRAM bits.
What was the last magazine you read?Monster Children.
What are you listening to at the moment?The Suuns.
What one thing would you change about yourself?I tend to procrastinate sometimes.
What are your weaknesses?Girls with accents!
What does the future hold for you?Further exploration of the world and hopefully to buy a house close to rad trails.
What does the future hold for mountain biking?I like what the UK is doing with trail centres. It’s a step in the right direction in giving people land access and great stuff to ride their bikes on.
How would you like to be remembered?As a guy that lived life on his own terms and inspired other people to live the life that they want.
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