Workshop Wednesdays: 2010 Re-Posted 10: Workshop Wednesday Episode Six: Steve Crandall

Name: Stephen Barrett Crandall
Hometown: Ithaca Ny/ RVA

You've always been a creative type, from painting to making videos, building bikes, creating 'zines, organize new events, etc. is there any family background that lead you this way?
Steve Crandall: My family is awesome, so maybe that helped, but no one stands out in my family history as being artistic or anything.  Growing up poor helped out I think though, because it teaches you to be creative, which is something I learned from my folks.... I think being of a short attention span though, it forces you to entertain yourself because you get bored easier.

What does it take for you to create something?
Steve Crandall: Caffeine, laughter, friends... Some of my favorite Ideas from within FBM are inspired from cooped up car rides with buddies after doing something totally kooked, and talking about it with the guys. Just Life I guess....how you choose to live dictates that process.

How many new projects go through your mind on a weekly basis?
Steve Crandall: I have no idea.

Do you have an atelier where you paint?
Steve Crandall: What the fuck is that?

Do you have a special workshop where you work on your motorcycle?
Steve Crandall: If you call my back yard strewn with parts I couldn't figure out how to put back on, special, than hell ya!

In what way have the FBM facilities (welders/benders etc.) helped on some of your projects?
Steve Crandall: Those guys define creative, resourceful, smart, dedicated, and crazy, and that is art. One time Big Dave welded a vice grip on my cycle as a shifter....

How are your welding skills?
Steve Crandall: I do not weld. I leave that to the professionals.

Can you operate the pipe bender?
Steve Crandall: I can do that, but setting it up is not my specialty.

You got a new red BMX bike, does it have any special modifications like a bottle opener or something?
Steve Crandall: Its fucking awesome I'll tell you that much, and its future primitave 3/8"s axle slots and chainstay brake mounts are a lifesaver. It has a cool badge on the head tube I like a lot too! I have been riding BMX since at least 86 and this is my FAVORITE BIKE EVER!

How sketchy is it to put on a ghetto-style jam in the USA?
Steve Crandall: If someone gets hurt real bad like in 2003, it's not good. Aside from that, I think we have some good practice. Cleaning up afterwards is a different story.

When you are building the "ramps" for a ghetto style jam, do you have an idea of what to build before you go to work or do you just start and see what happens?
Steve Crandall: A little of both. You never know how garbage will go together though, it's not like typical supplies for a skatepark. Weirdly enough, it's also kind of difficult to acquire enough junk to build a ramp/course when you really want to...

Can you tell us something about the newly created website Least-Most?
Steve Crandall: It's a new project, myself, and several other people are working on (Jason Of BMXFEED, Stew Johnson, Derek Adams, Nick from Holeshot, Rob Tibbs, Brien Kielb, Evan V. Tony Foresta from Municipal Waste, etc..), based loosely on original web content, music, bikes, underground culture, and a basically just being stoked. No re invention of the wheel, and no ill will towards other media sites in BMX, just good times, from another point of view. It's more fun to work with, than against. Music Bikes, and adventure....

Would a 9-5 job ever work for you?
Steve Crandall: Un officially, I think part of the reason FBM exists, was to avoid that. I'm dysfunctional, and mildly retarded.

Last words?
Steve Crandall: I really like bikes, riding them, the friends I've made because of them, and the life I've had so far as a result! So if these are my last words, I just want to say thanks!