Let’s get this interview going, Tom.
Ok ok, interview? Always a strange thing – I said I don’t do interviews way back to Paul Roberts for Dig but I had just bent my forks jumping the snake at Rom! Interviews are cool but this time I will try and get a few names in, apologies if someone’s left out. It would be impossible to get you all in, if you need a name then contact the oracle Carole Gosling. So let’s just fill the void until Marchy and Ruffs key the words anyway?
So from the start more than 30 years later you have me reminiscing, what would the old school want to know? Ok……. spoke to the agent and the sponsors are happy to roll so back on the payroll, full factory deal!
The classroom window has been swapped with the commuting train, picturing the perfect race, again and again. Still got the snap but people looking at me a bit strange nowadays. Visualization always wins, don’t you know I am a bmxer? Can still pull a 360 on the flat, rollbacks and curb endos…. you with me yet?
Difficult to get across what BMX is unless you live it, dream it, hate it or loved it. It is a lifestyle right here and always has been a bit ‘rock and roll bmx rock star’ no matter how good you are. When the gate drops it can be all yours. We have shared the common interest, the fun, the progression, the challenges, success, failure, friendships, experiences, the pain, bit more pain, learning, growing, riding the ‘whoop de doos’, tabletops and berms at supersonic speeds, watching the powder puffs (Duffy, Vauvelle, Holmes, Murphy, Nichols, Wright, Madden even my sister got squirrely) and making sense of the 4130, 44/ 16, 20″ bullet proof wonder.
To be a successful bmx athlete you have to become a product of many – especially in the early days as it was still evolving, learning all the time from mimicking those who you aspire to Tim and Andy (early days Cav Strutt in the mags/ Carl Alford JMC before he quit & came back / Daryl Gibbard factory Kuwahara look/ Keith Wilson jumping in the mags, later Shooter/ Clayton/ Holmes and then finding your own path with what you have or how you are going to lay it down. You could of course not copy anyone but as a child you need role models as natural ability can only take you so far, anyway bmx was about heroes, no play station yet or internet.
Racing Prep
Scotland 1977 to 80 brothers Raleigh Chipper, Chopper (from the school of hard knocks when mart/ ged took me on my first ride), sisters Raleigh Eighteen with a cello taped wooden cross bar added to bars, mums shopping bike, big air and wheelies! The bikes did not last long and my skateboard did not work on mud. Fan of motorcycle Speedway, Trials (Kickstart) and Motocross (lucky to have a few motorbikes to rip it up). BMX not known yet to me until Trials and Motocross news warms up to it and then Boom! Local newsagent imported: BMX Plus and Action in 1980.
London, England Bike 81 Earls Court Exhibition first sighting of a BMXer, Stompin Stu Thompson practicing (signed photo later) and then discovered BMX was here! You could actually race a moto cross bike without an engine! Next, you will be telling me phones will have no cables and you can communicate with people if you have a computer! Although, the first satellite phone I saw was one Marchy had. Anyway, the most factory of factory teams – Alan Woods was there and Jane Windle of Hotshot who would a few years later be my sponsor and my surrogate family with her brother Steve and mother and father, thank you. They all gave a great deal to the sport. Merrys at Hotwheels did also. House of Escalus – House of Capulet – House of Montague who’s who? Let me know, just for fun.
BMX ing immediately with my school friend Hugh on our Team Murrays, over the bars with the coaster brake we go on first curb jump, got talent spotted by the Lambert family (bmx pioneers) whilst messing about practicing jumps, getting air (seen in the mags) with my friends which I often think of as the soul of BMX when we all do this. This was on my Kuwahara KZ with my Bill Walters Leathers on and z rims that gave me and invincible feeling. Ring gnarly MK BMX (Bleakhall & later Club Rays Radicals with Wycome, Kirby, Titmus, Keachy, Driver & Linslade Locals Godfreys, Richards, Blundens on so on). That was next to the speedway track and then the new one at Pineham. I was racing by 1982 until 1994.
Made a coaching comeback to establish a BMX coaching environment, 1999 to 2002 or thereabouts training Liam Phillips and Shanaze Reade now Olympians and World Champions (Charlie P, Mapps, Fry, Clayton & others). Made possible by Uncle Buck, Carole Gosling, Pete Phillips, Keith Duly (KOD), Kona Lisa, Rich Townsend, Bernie Mapp and Blooms as were all integral to the training camps of Team GB BMX Junior Squad, groundbreaking.
Sponsors
Factory of mum and dad (quote from Chris Carter). It was a community and still is. So, from 83 onwards – Patterson, Redline, Amev, Vans, Uni (Hotshot, apologies on leaving), Mother’s Pride (Bakery/ Dad), Robinson (apologies on leaving, Hoffman was a visionary), SCP (Scott Clark Products), ASR (apologies on leaving), Haro, ELF, Kovachi, Harrods (that’s right Harrods), Nike, URP (signature plate, still on royalties years later, thanks to the Hassells for the opportunity and a cool plate with a name on it), AGV (signature helmets), Uvex (shades/ facemask), Jive (coolest plates) then Med (French), and SE Racing as a comeback coach (Shiner, what an emporium, was still finding things years later that had come my way back in the 80’s on Haro for example gold ripper in the box!). Bikes dialed in by Edwardes, Clive Gosling, pedigree cycling family as in when the bicycle was invented and bmx guru/ trivia. He started to build them and trick them out from Campag hubs, super tight wheels, cutting my bars down to Specialist one-off rims. Even took off my Unit seat and tried clips! A great deal owed to those who invested in me and Edwardes (Carole BMX Legend and in other spheres of life). Always sad when leaving sponsors as the journeys were good but you have to move on.
Results
Missed a moto at Redditch once, never missed a moto again as it was a long chase to the finish line and the look on Lambert’s (Brian) face. Immediate regional no 1’s (South East/ East Anglia), I remember the London boys seeing my 1 SE plate and having a laugh, they stopped laughing on the first moto. About 6 National no 1’s (NBMXA, UKBMX, GBBMX, EBA) including Superclass then British Champion and Champion of Champions twice. Most Wins Kellogs Track Wars TV series (Dale Holmes drafted in as a younger expert, working my way through the pack and clipped him on his 1 & 3/8ths and I went down costing me the overall).
European Champion (Spain – we ruled with Howells, Ray, Hayes, Nichols, Gill, Gilmore etc), European Challenge Cup (Holland), Ireland Invitation Win, Final round of Superclass European Championships Tour win (Germany), Final round of Superclass European Championships Tour second (Belgium), Final round of Superclass European Championships Tour 3rd (Switzerland) which led to 5th overall. Final round of Superclass European Champions Tour top 16 (Denmark & Italy). Paris indoor there is a shot of me racing Stompin Stu Thomsen but I am informed it may be practice, the original Joe Kid on a Stingray, but remember brake-checking Todd Corbitt and hitting the dirt with Gary Ellis. Finally, raced the Pros in front of 18,000 spectators was awesome.
Coupe du Monde des Nations Masters with Dale Holmes and Clive Gosling in Perpignan, France. Pre Worlds Slough (86) Win, World 3 (UK), Pre Worlds 2nd, World 5 (USA), World top 16 (France), World top 16 (Holland) all Superclass and World Team Trophy Winner (IBMXF/ Canada). Disappointed I missed Japan & Australia.
Lots of winter series, notable: Tours/ Toulose Indoor Open results (then onto the Alps early snowboarding with my brother and Rob Stobart).
EBA riders rep with Clive Gosling and IBMXF riders rep.
Year 2000 and 2001 – 20th Century Hero , Ride BMX Magazine, European Hall of Fame Pioneer, Member of the University of BMX (many other talented riders also). Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Honor (MBE) for services to bicycle moto cross racing, coaching and ambulance service cycling.
Rider’s Oaths IBMXF presented the USA with the opening of the 91 Worlds in France.
Game Changing Influence
(Other than March, Ruffell, Shooter, Schofield, Middleton, Vince, Salisbury etc …. watching the UK pros was so exciting and I wanted to be one as soon as I could). Let us not forget Geth and Charlie jumping the Dollies in 84, took us all up to another level.
1. Las Vegas in 84 (Worlds USBA) and meeting the Patterson brothers; Brian/ Brent and then later, Richie ‘Avalanche’ Anderson whilst riding for Patterson (courtesy of Hotshot as if you became national no1, you were going Stateside, of which I am thankful.
2. Meeting Greg Hill around same time and the impact of Greg Hill’s Professional BMX Skills book on me (signed copy by all the Pros). Read that book every day and even ordered the hackey sack.
3. Meeting Bob Haro around same time, mastered the kick-turn from trick tips, the smoothest kick-turn, The Godfather of Freestyle, what an inspiring fellow, later raced for Haro and met him again at the 2012 Olympics – Legend, still on it.
4. Racing with Mike King when he was 15 expert on Huffy and then Superclass on Haro, what a competitor, so stylish and led the clips movement much later. Best wishes to Eddy, his bikes were my style, so expert.
5. Practicing with Harry Leary at the Kelloggs. Third win on how to take last doubles at an angle and later on in years with Scott Clark whilst on Robinson. Legends. The ‘Leary’ one of my favorite jumps equal with the ‘tabletop’, classics.
Who did you look up to?
My early role models and heroes inspired my bmx career and evoked development of new skills and attitudes. I learned from all of them. In addition, the continuous study of BMX Racing by watching others and knowing/ assessing the terrain (Motocross) assisted in the consolidation and improvement.
Early eighties superstar pioneers (between 1982 to 86): 1. Tim March – essence of pure moto-cross and dirt jumping – lateral thinking (few stories there and thank you). 2. Andy Ruffell – all-around bmxer including Freestyle and great media personality – professionalism. 3. Geth Shooter – breaking racing boundaries and urban riding – non-conforming. 4. John Stockwell – application of mental attitude through training, coaching and in competition – dedication and self-discipline. 5. Dave Dawson (and his Dad, Pete team manager who signed me up) – leading teams to success and team support as they led the hotshot teams – team ethics.
Additional: Craig Schofield, holeshot king (picked me up from a # collar bone stack 2005 reunion), nothing like what a little Dr Pepper can’t cure (see what I did there) and Sarah-Jane Nichols – steely determination and domination in the girls. Euro – Phil Hoogendoorn, Claude Vuillemot, Xavier Redois. USA – Patterson bros Brent/ Brian, Ritchie ‘Avalanche’ Anderson, Bob Haro, Mike King and Stompin Stu Thomsen. Had the pleasure of meeting all of these stars! The photos from the pages of BMX Action, BMX Plus lined my walls! Still got some magazines as well as BMX Weekly, OBMX and Action Bike etc. I am on a roll, digging out the memorabilia as we speak. Most Factory inspiration: Clive Gosling and Darren Wood (Matt Boyle, David Maw RIP needs to be mentioned, even though younger so cool).
Also Barford, Hearne, Paul Wright, Ready, Noble, Stupple, Higginson, Baggs, Archibald, David Wright – adventurer, Staff – power, Sir Chris Hoy also younger but always wore the Scottish flag and I the union jack as even though I am Scottish I raced and qualified in England. Guys like these make it happen.
You came through the ranks in a deep talented age group. Who were some of your rivals growing up?
They don’t know this yet but I trained to beat all of them one by one. Yes….. training/study set aside to concentrate on them individually 13 through 15 expert (Diggins, Wood, Print, Alexander, Godfrey, Haynes, Hayes, Stobart, Gosling, Watkins, Craig Campbell, Morris, Ramsden, Parkinson, Bass, Andy (maximum rider), Grice, Greaves, Hill, Freeman, Gaunt, Stock, Wallace, Roberts, etc… few motos right there) and that of any up-and-coming and then same application when I jumped to Superclass. Not all of them needed the full-drill mind you. My father, Tom Lynch Sr., was athletic and had boxed and all the training that goes with it including a psychological approach (just watch early Rocky films and you should get it, if you do not then the edge will not be yours).
When did you realize you could win?
Already new it but with self-discipline and dedication it becomes a reality and with support from family as home/travel support team it was then achievable (thank you to them, especially my sister). My father asked me how far I wanted to go with it, we then agreed on the terms: train hard, show good sportsmanship and always win. Three to four years to peak, then do something else. That’s it.
Who did you ride and train with at home?
Several guest visitors John Stockwell ( Haro/ UK BMX Number 1), Darren O’Neil (training before sunrise), Will Smyth Dig (big big air), local friend Mark (Tot) time keeper on all road rides – he was my secret weapon as he did not go to the races (thankful to him), Paul (Erky) RIP for pushing the limits to the max, I mean the max.
You looked so clean riding for Robinson then onto ASR you were riding for such high profile teams at the time.
Yeah 86, I felt pretty factory (undisclosed transfer fees, signature plates/ team bus, little fan club, media team, full support crew, no expense spared) and at my peak, Euro Final win 3 weeks before Worlds, Pre Worlds win week before Worlds then switched teams before Worlds when all the UK pro stuff was going on. Should have stayed put and maintained the balance (apologies to Tony Hoffman, such a visionary, don’t know what happened there). The looking clean bit was to always be out in front and to bunnyhop the puddles in the motos. Anyone notice me crash a lot in practice sometimes, pushing the limits, see how far those tyres can go in a corner? Like a wakeup call, once out of the way by tasting the dirt I could perform a bit better and maybe wear a fresh uniform (fresh and white thanks to sponsors Persil bio and my mother who really took care of my stuff).
You turned Superclass at 16 and went straight to number one, did you expect that?
Yeah, from 15 expert to Superclass, I was hungry for it in 1985 after euro win. Spoiled Maloney’s comeback at Buckmore Park (sorry about that) when I was still in the 15x year (first superclass race as now 16yrs old) but now was getting paid. Was on a roll and on tour for over 6 years. No mainstream job until 1991. What a blast! I Might have intentionally came from the back also now and then, as you have to, to practice working through the field for when you really need it. At this point only wore a helmet whilst racing, looking back pretty dangerous as we were trying some new stuff on the dirt jumping front. Not wearing pads and actually cutting any pads out of uniform enabled me to be unrestricted.
You even won the 86 European Championships finals in Germany against the Dutch Army (Amev Team)
What an outfit, led by Gerrit Does the Godfather of Europe. I so wanted to be on that team. I had been chasing them all year round Europe or rather bouncing off them! Winning one year after my European championship win in 15 expert was special. If you were in the pack with Amev you would not survive (even before Bas de Bever/ Nico Does etc).
Did you feel so young you could beat them? They seemed like grown men at the time?
As I said, 2nd place does not exist and still does not.
1986 World Championships Superclass Slough England. So close with a 3rd. Tell us about that Final?
What people maybe do not know is that I had been on tour racing all the same competitors in this class and had beaten them all and was on top of my game at this point. So disappointed with the 3rd, I knew this was my peak three years on from the agreement with my father. It was hard to stay in the zone, TV crews, magazines, home crowd, on a new team and concerned about the UK Pros and what impact this would have.
Third was not in the plan. Some big hitters in the race including X World Champion and all the Amev team. Stock and Fleming also who have always supported me and have been great fellow competitors.
Gate was ok, got busy over first jump, could have got a pedal stroke, and again in first corner, to deep before table top, just clipped lip, could have pedaled more down the back going into the second turn and took Addie v.d. Ven up but as I said, you bounce off them, had the pro section dialed so knew this was where I would take him and Phil Hoogendoorn (Multi World Champ). My thoughts, Amev knew my lines, they were so professional. I had a perfect line to rail, Addie v.d. Ven got in my way and actually slowed me down, he slowed down, I can remember pulling my brake and still pedaling, jumped when maybe I should have manualed last jumps but I could get more power down sooner, needed a longer last straight and I would have got it. Needed 10 to 20 meters.
Met Steve Pollard as fan when it was over, he asked to have a go on my bike as I was debriefing with John Stockwell, good friends and founder of the LRP (London Rocket People).
With a Superclass class and Pro Class both running in the UK at the same time. You never really went against Tim March, Andy Ruffell and the early 80s UK Stars. Seemed like Andy Welsh, Darren Stock, Winnie Wright were your early Superclass rivals. What was your take on the class the first few years and not getting to race the Pros?
They kept away from me in practice which was always funny, mind you when you are on top of your game everyone wants to take you out even in practice or even a moto as I found several times. So I don’t blame them. Fear is a choice.
Looked up to the Pro Class very much as I knew I would join them. The demise of the class propelled me to the top of UKBMX as the number 1 Superclass rider. From jumping over Eddie Kid in Covent Garden to launch UK BMX season sponsorship to becoming riders representative nationally and internationally with IBMXF Superclass – would later become Elite which is Pro. Thanks goes to the early Pro stars, they gave us a great start and sacrificed a great deal to establish the sport.
Disappointed that I did not get to race the legends of the Pros but on reflection they went out with integrity and at the top of their game. Ruffell finished with a win later -unsure how else it could have been. It would have been a shame to have taken them on when I was at the top of my game. Maybe I should have turned Pro at 16 and not Superclass? 15 expert to Pro?
Superclass was tough as was up an expert age group or two or three by the time my 15 x caught up, Darrin Stock, legend Winston Wright, Riviere bros, so many others and later Andy Welsh (he was younger and strong, later it would be Wood, Holmes, Revell and Sharp). What was tough was UK BMX making us tour the UK to reinvigorate the local scene BMX racing for our rankings, great idea though. It felt good winning and retaining the crown for a number of years and representing Team GB overseas.
Tactically, I think just being a Pro gives you a 15 percent uplift on speed, some Pros technically and on skill level were maybe not so good but they were strong and experienced. When the Pros were allowed to race back in Superclass (some of them chose to), I hit them hard and still retained No 1 for a while I am sure. Although hitting them hard physically meant hitting like a brick wall (Charlie Reynolds).
Geth Shooter paced himself back in to the game – I think I can even remember in Denmark Europeans he was protecting my position and I am sure Fleming did also at some point. Legends.
Thoughts on UK BMX?
All the organisers made it happen for all of us and kept it going. Carole Gosling, Sue Jarvis, Bridget Hayes (Simons mother), Cynthia Murray, Val Hyde, Mary Iddiols, Vince, Sam Woods, Amanda Dowson, Babs, all the finish ladies Maureen, Mandy, June, commentators Irish Tom, Paddy Duly, John, starters Vic Roberts, Sonny Ives, Refs / Officials / Board members Stormin Norman, Murphy, Spurr, Bill Baggs, Terry Beasley and Mr Arthur Woods etc. Sorry if I missed any, very much appreciated and we often don’t appreciate it at the time.
After Winning?
You do not stay champion forever in any game even though the spirit remains – maybe I will go over this for part at a later date and how we race makes each generation better with continual progression. Things changed with the new breed – Minozzi, Bas de Bever, Neal Wood, Dale Holmes, Jamie Staff then Christophe Leveque, Dylan Clayton in different relationship to the track and bikes, gearing other than 44/16 and 180mm cranks.
The agony of defeat versus the enjoyment of racing and getting together with your friends. Difficult one for a champion as there are certain pressures and responsibilities that come or had come with it. Then the LRP formed and so did our Bicycles & Dirt BMX Club: Carl Alford, Steve Bardens, Steve Pollard, Keith, Rob, Marcus, Jon Beckett, Sean Boyle, Jon B, Ross Hill rip, Steve Bell, Manfred Stromberg, Oliver etc and even Mat Hoffman.
A career had to be chosen as there was a BMX slowdown, this affected one’s performance also especially with shiftwork and study in the ambulance service, over 20 yrs now.
I was with the LRP at an event racing when at 12 yrs in competing I decided before a first moto at a National that I did not want to do it anymore and asked my buddy Jon Beckett to get me out of here.
I was at a track that I won a National there previously from last to first place and now I was at a race just making up the numbers, might do well, might not, but having such a cool time over the whole weekend just having fun. Had to work all that out, so we had a great big breakfast somewhere, which I never have on race day. Didn’t work it all out just had a better understanding of the need to retire would have to be very soon. I did not make a big deal about retiring, no glory in that and always like to leave the party while its still rocking anyway.
Backyard Jams followed which were awesome and it was great just cutting loose on the jumps with the Bexhill, Mad Dog, Gosling, McCoy, Duly, Fuzzy, Clymer and many others. I just loved getting rad and actually loved it more when everyone had left and we were still jumping, was even better even with a fractured ankle until it would not bend anymore.
Played with MTB a bit downhill/ duel, mainly PORC (love that place), was I going to commit to that and get serious? Would have to actually not do it as was still so competitive, but not my thing anyway, not accurate enough as the tyres and suspension allowed mistakes. The MTB guys did not like so much the BMX guys coming over for downhill duel/ 4 cross etc but Dave Hemming was cool and still is. In fact, the MTB was pretty easy (except for CX) as the BMX attitudes to it were of a killer instinct, full contact and explosive power. Those guys did not know what hit them.
Comeback
25th Year Anniversary in 2005 was a reunion race. I had to train for it and get my bottle (courage) back so headed to PORC for trails and downhill. The MTB dudes were laughing at the BMX guy with all the JT gear including body armour and belt, pure moto cross (long term loan from Steve Bardens), after first run then they stopped. Took a supply of tubes for blowouts which were many and full rescue kit. The tubes worked out as the jumps were gigantic but got the flow after a few, however the medical kit got used on some kid, he was from Russia and also on his own. I told him whilst eyeing up the biggest doubles in the trail section, if I went down go and get some help. I did as the jumps were not like the 80’s as I found out hitting the massive lip at full speed, pain returned, bottle back, no fear, ready. He had flown another section and found him unconscious under a bush, don’t worry he survived but it was a long drag up from the quarry.
Flying on race day, full-on Factory Patterson gear (from Brian), great to see the old school, lil kid appears in the step up on my approach, I bailed, broken collar bone. Five years of ops, titanium plates/ bolts etc. Remind me to make no comebacks, just to get it straight this was not a comeback, great support from the old school though, thank you. Good to see them and follow those that are still racing today (Print, Alexander, Stockwell etc).
Thought about bmx a great deal at this time and located some of my old hardware, out of nowhere a boy who I gave a bike to over 20 yrs before gave me a call, he said it’s ready. Steve Keech boy to man (well he was a man when we were still boys) had re-chromed my old PR200 Patterson frame, won the euros on it. He gave it to me via my old coach Brian (Lambert) and Jamie, and in true form Clive built it from the parts I had and the bits from my lil secret stash of SE stuff and my Ripper. It is up on the wall and it is very cool (brand new from box old school DX from Carl, Uni Seat from Woody). I have now unpacked the bmx archives and it is like an 80’s Christmas. That old school show and shine formation is incredible, so accurate, keeps it alive, so anorak, love it.
BMX helped you in other things
The BMX experience and Carole helped me to formulate some new ideas BMX Medic (ambulance cycle response innovated and created) & BMX Coaching, really had to make a career choice (2010) but was able to establish an early sustainable coaching environment with British Cycling. Where the likes of Townsend, Staff, Blooms, Clayton, Stockwell, Holmes, Vince etc took it up.
On the ambulance cycle response in London, everyone thought I was joking and had a little laugh, could talk all day about it but I will leave you with two things. 1. Can I ride a bike really fast? You know, of course it’s going to work, I am a bmxer. 2. People are alive that would have died. The other day one of my team members resuscitates and shocks the heart of a 26 year old female who had a cardiac arrest on Oxford St central London, she goes back to work soon and will enjoy a full life.
Career choice….. the right one? More tea and medals all round?
Would have loved to been with our Olympians but was there in person with the guys and in spirit on the track. Did I say mentioned Bob?
What does BMX mean to you?
Maybe end then on the ‘true meaning of bmx’ I did see the Murray boys do a back flip in races (Rob Indri memorial) and it reminded me of why I started BMX, it was so rad, maybe inappropriate but radical, no rules, non-compliant just free spirit. I raised a poll on BMX Talk about this 3 and it had some good discussion (check out my other posts on bmx talk about Tim & Andy and the Olympics). Murray, to see him fly….. so impressed by his riding and his achievements as well as ruling the X Games (lil boy from powder monkey) saddened by his accident impressed by the Staystrong (nice one marco) movement and his resilience, we all think of him and his family. Staystrong.
BMX in the Olympics, thoughts?
A dream come true, would have loved to have been on that platform, to be an Olympian has got to be the highest accolade. I hope that all of us have done something to assist in laying the foundation to this ultimate achievement and that Shanaze Reade and Liam Phillips bring home the gold and that others follow. It was great to catch-up with the old school Pros at the 2012 Worlds in Birmingham. As Clive Gosling said. it was like 1984 in the VIP box (hosted by Jeff Dovey).
So full-circle riding BMX with friends to riding BMX with friends, with a bit of racing in-between. Would do it all again as long as I could re-race the 86 Worlds!
Kelloggs
EBA Poole 89