half-baked or more than likely total baked tourist getting lost. One tip I can give from the years of popping over to Amsterdam (first trip in 1996) is when the red lights in the windows are no longer visible turn back as you have gone too far! So turn back we did, with Falko at point we made our way through the red light district back to base camp where more herbal remedies and beer was consumed. Well one of us was consuming more than the others, lesson learnt don’t share with Josh Cox, Josh you owe me 20 Euros you git! 
Where day one’s weather was sunny but slightly damp, day two was sunnier still and dry but extremely cold!The day started around 2pm and progressed with a familiar vein to the previous evening, which wasn’t probably the best of ideas when you have to do some filming for Mark’s latest film and take some pictures for Case BMX Mag. With Grandpa AKA Mike Netley woken out of his daily nap we set off to take pictures of Mark get some huge air at some speed of an incline in a kid’s play area. That would be if Mike can work out how to set up his lights, never have I seen someone so confused with their own equipment. With some prompting from the guys, or was that piss taking? Mike finally works out which way up the lights goes and we are ready. Mark takes his run up and boosts his kid’s bike over the incline for what seems well over 20 feet, skidding on landing on the gritty tarmac surface, foot down trying to stop him from joining the city traffic. Everyone gathers round Mike to check the picture, he excels himself capturing Mark mid-flight,
his We are Level limited edition I Love BMXING t-shirt flapping in the cold breeze. Did I mention that the t-shirt is available from our website? Only £17.99 whilst stocks last. Apologies for that outrageous plug, let’s get on with the report. Whilst in the area Mark Vos spots a large handrail outside of what I think was a Bakery, like I said earlier we had started the day like the night before. As usual Mark picks somewhere which isn’t going to be easy and if it goes wrong is definitely going to hurt.
The rail is high, a difficulty in itself is but also quite long and horizontal, so full speed will be needed, for added measure there is also a city bike chained to the rail. With an audience now gathered watching from the Bakery window Mark takes his first run up, makes the rail but falls short hitting his leg on the city bike, more speed will be needed to grind the whole length of this rail. Take two and this time the call to Scotty has worked and warp speed is dialled in, Mark leaps, makes the rail, and successfully grinds the length of the hand rail leaping off at the end. There is a huge cheer from inside the Bakery and a rather well-endowed young lady comes charging out (think Pamela Anderson running along the beach in Baywatch and you won’t be too far off) and rubs her breasts in Marks face. Maybe that last bit didn’t quite happen and it might have been Justin that did the rubbing, but you get the sense of the occasion!The final photo opportunity was a huge set of stairs with a rail running down the length of them. I am pretty sure Daniel Tielkes had joined us way before this (apologies Daniel),
but I definitely remember him at this point. Marks plan is to over double peg the whole set at his usual warp speed. The run up taken is way over 50 metres so Mark is going to be going at some speed when he hits the rail, lucky there is loads of run off with this set. Mark takes his run up makes the rail but loses his balance slightly and crashes hard on the cobbled floor below the set of stairs; there is concern in the group that he has badly hurt himself. When Mark crashes he usually springs up, swears a bit and gets on with it for another go, but this time he is staying down. He has badly hurt his right knee and has successfully activated his swellbows. With blood pouring from his knee, he gets up, grabs his kid’s bike, brushes himself down and limps off to have another go, according to Mark pain is weakness leaving the body, nutter! 
This time the run up is even faster, there is a clang as he over pegs the rail and happily grinds all the way to the bottom with a perfect landing. There is a deathly silence as the crowd waits for the adjudication, all judges give perfect 10’s! We pack up for the day as Mark is limping badly from the previous crash and with the loss of blood finally knows he has had enough. Well this is the end of the road trip report, you never will find out how we came up with the saying “he’s got a hard on- she’s got a hard on” or any other hi-jinks that
happened along the way as some things are best left to the imagination. Maybe see you at Marks Premiere of his new film, preview is available online, the event is being sponsored by Jameson Whisky on the 22nd January in Amsterdam and you can ask him then.Special thanks go out to Mark, Falko, Boy, Mike, Louie and the two Daniel’s. Josh, Justin and I had a blast!
-Nathan Barrow/www.wearelevel.com
Tour report 1
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.