You’ve already seen this video. Your mates have seen the video. In fact, there’s a good chance that your mum, your dentist and your dog have all seen the video too, but what makes the guy behind the YouTube hit that took trials mainstream tick?
First up, tell us your name and a little known fact.
My name is Danny MacAskill. I like eating cakes.
What’s your job?
I worked in bike shops for about six years but recently riding bikes has become my full time job. Which is quite amazing.
Has that started since the video went viral?
No, last year we did quite a few demos so I had the whole summer out of the shop. Riding, doing shows at schools. I left work in March and started working with a team called the Clan. We were very busy with that and then, well, we released this video and things certainly changed.
Which riders do you get your inspiration from?
When I was younger living on the Isle of Skye, we didn’t have the internet so it was riders like Martyn Ashton or Ryan Leech who were in the magazines. I think it’s probably still the same people. Also Chris Akrigg. They’re just doing what they want on a bike, which is how I try to ride.
Do you have any special bike setup?
My bike’s fairly close to a normal mountain bike, there’s nothing special about it. I run normal handlebars with the front brake on the right. Trials kit is too light and I break it.
Do you do any competitions?
I’m not particularly competitive. I might start racing more because I’ve potentially got more time off now. Previously I was working all the time and doing demos on my day off, or going back to Skye to do thatching. I raced the Megavalanche last year, which was absolutely amazing.
How has the viral fame of the video changed your outlook on what you want to do?
It’s been very strange. We made this video with no expectations and I never once thought that it would get this kind of reaction. I’ve never had any goals with my riding, not to be sponsored, or even to ride for a living, I was happy enough working in a bike shop and getting to ride my bike on a night. Now I have to think about things that I want to do and places that I’d like to film. I want to travel and see the world and hopefully ride in some cool places.
Was it a shock to the system?
It was definitely odd. When I’m out riding people come up to me for autographs. And I get recognised without even having a bike. That’s weird. Sometimes people see me riding in Edinburgh and I’ll often say I’m someone else. It’s a bit strange to deal with.
Read the full interview in the new issue of Singletrack Mountain Bike Magazine – on sale early September.
Pre-order your copy NOW and we’ll post it as soon as we get it back from the printers
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its impossible to pre order anything you either order something or you dont order it, you cant pre order something.
that vid sends chills down my spine no matter how many times i see it! AMAZING.
Definitions of Pre-order
* A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came when people found it hard to get popular items in stores due to their popularity.
Hhmm looks like you can preorder after all
… a opposed to a post-order. When you get something and then ask for it ?
Anyway – nicve mini interview with weatherman Ian’s son (I started that rumour).
‘nicve’ is my own word for ‘nice’, by the way.
one word….AWSOME !