Move Over Chris Akrigg, Hello Leo Smith

Two northerners in one day? It’s almost like oop north is the centre of the mountain bike universe… While Chris Akrigg might have been the poster boy of your bedroom walls when you were younger, Leo Smith – or LandoSteezy – might be more likely to be adorning the walls of your own kids’ bedrooms. (Do kids have posters in this digital age?)

This up and coming Mancunian rider combines BMX and street style with mountain bike skills, pulling some impressive shapes whatever the terrain.

Often to be found riding or coaching at Graystone indoor skate and bike park, or at Farmer John’s bike park, Leo rediscovered riding during lockdown. He’d previously ridden BMX, but let his riding lapse. It seems the adage ‘it’s just like riding a bike’ is true… this guy’s got skills.

Leo Smith is a bodge job. And a proud one at that. Hailing from the streets of Manchester in the North of England, Leo—known to his thousands of Instagram followers as @Landosteezy—is a self-proclaimed helper of the people. Forging his own path in the bike industry, Leo is creating space in the sport for everyone.

Shimano

The PR says…

There’s no avoiding the elephant in the room: Lando Steezy is larger than your average athlete. But this doesn’t stop him from doing insanely athletic things on his bike. Lando’s logic-defying tricks are a big reason why he’s amassed such a huge online following. Still, his disarmingly down-to-earth, positive and genuinely likeable personality in real life is what really sets him apart.

We imagine online “influencers” to be somewhat contrived, self-absorbed and perhaps a little entitled. But that couldn’t be further from Lando’s truth. With no interest in competition and solely driven by creative expression, Lando’s approach to the sport is whole-heartedly grassroots. Bringing people into the sport through social media and coaching, he’s lighting the spark and encouraging others by being himself.

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A post shared by Leo Smith (@landosteezy)

While you’re here…

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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