This years annual FBM open house went down a little earlier than previous years. With reports of possible rain in the forecast, the crew pushed on getting stuff together for an awesome day. Things started off with people rolling in pretty fast and soon enough the place was hoppin’ and people were already warming up and sending bangers. After the heavy warm up session by everyone and their brother, it was time for the DIY rail jam—featuring a rail a lot of you might recognize from the ghetto street jam. Once it was time for people to send it, unsurprisingly, things did not start off lightly. And it only got more out of hand as the day went on. The most impressive thing wasn’t really what these shredders were doing, but what they were doing it on. Once the DIY jam wrapped up, the crowd went inside the FBM shop for a quick ramp demo and a tour complete with a frame building demonstration from the head welder at the FBM shop, John Corts. To round out the day the group made their way down to the local skatepark in Ithaca, NY, where hip trains followed by hip trains and even more until it was finally time to hit the sleep cycle. I hope to provide even a glimpse of how awesome the day was with these photos from throughout the day. Thanks to Crandad, Mike Erbles, John Corts, and John Lee for making this happen and continually giving back to the BMX community.
Words and photos by: Tom Beckman
Nathan, seat grab. Garret Ginch blasting a table Davey Osgood. A fresh top tube pad on the red stallion. The man, the myth, the Crandad. Steve Crandall has been on a red bike for literally as long as I can remember. A showcase featuring some of Crandall’s artwork. John Lee and Mile Erb laying out some of the parts FBM has to offer. Trophies, FBM style. If you’ve ever seen footage from the Belmar dirt jams, then you know a lot of those kids definitely needed the crossbar pad Sam Weber, stoked on bikes Kyle Dolan from Syracuse, NY. Pete and Kelly Baker having a laugh. Sam Schrage of Grindworks BMX. Kaleb Bolton of The More Gooder documenting the day via video. John Corts, stoked on watermelon. Declan Murray collecting his prizes from the day. A beer and a cigarette in true FBM fashion Nathan Halahan whippin’ the bars over what could only be described as the most sketchy box jump ever. James Lukas, pegs up the rail to no-footed cancan. Crandall on the megaphone is a guaranteed laugh. Dan Foley can jam on the sketchy chain link “quarter”. The crowd looking on as the ramp demo kicked off. Conor Mckeon, barspin. Joey Hanusiewicz, fully cranked turndown on the spine Handplant champion of the world, Declan Murray The whole Halahan family is truly the next generation— Lucas, juicing the quarter Steve Crandall, explaining how Americamn made frames are born. John Corts at his craft. John Corts laying down a few tacks during a quick frame building demonstration Ithaca local Ben Jones. Crandall leading an eager pack of rippers in a big train on the hips at the downtown Ithaca park. Kyle Dolan bump-to-barspin. Ben Garlington 180 bar. James Lukas, downside pedal slide on the roller. A true crew of shredders. Nathan Halahan with the style. Dillon Leeper and Kaleb Bolton-Trains. Ben Jones and Nathan Halahan. There’s a good reason why the Halahan boys are progressing so fast, they shred together constantly—always having fun ripping all things with two wheels. Crandall with the infamous flex. Ryan Button cranking an up rail to turndown. Ryan Button up rail to cancan. Seamus Mckeon went to war to get this done. After a grueling display of determination, he stuck this gap-to-crankarm grind for the win. Seamus Mckeon taking home the win and a custom painted Alfbm helmet. Totally deserved for the drive he displayed on the rail Little group photo.
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