Chris Rye : In the beginning me and Marco would do everything together. We edited linear back then and it was always faster with 2 people. I would be setting up the next edit and he would be finding the next clip. As time went on and after we got the computer, things started changing. Marco'a dad is this big buisnessman and Marco starting taking more of an interest in that. With the computer for editing it was more of a one man job and I could do the editing on my own. Soon I just ended up doing the video making part and Marco did the buisness side. Currently I am responsible for making the videos, doing any graphic design (logos, box designs, ads, etc.), and whatever else. The computer is always a ballup, it's pissy and it's a chore sometimes just to get it to do what you want. It requires a lot of maintenence. Marco does all the sales, plans out our schedule for traveling, and tons more. He's kinda like my team manager, he takes care of me. We own Props 50/50 and we both do our part equally I think. About who had the idea...to tell you the truth, I really don't remember, it just all fell into place. I came up with the name "Props" though. It was origionally supposed to be a print magazine but turned into the videos.
Profiles : Joe Rich, John luc-e Englebert, John Peacy
BS contests : 1993 Final, Chicago, IL : Lionel Cardoso, Alexis Desolneux, Day Smith, Chase Gouin, DMC (360 no foot cancan), ...
1994 Round 1, Moreno Valley, CA
TOOL Time, Music, ...
Ride BMX UK #11 june 1994 : (...) As it's a first issue, you'd expect it to be a tad glitchy around the edges - obviously the Props trio of Chris (Rye), Chris (Banes) and Marco (Massei) will get things more dialled as they go on (after all, the first issue of this mag looked pretty sad compared to recent issues). For my money, Props has got too much mug shots during interviews (with Craig Reynolds, Barry McManus, Jon Peacy, Joe Rich, Luc-E) but their riding's on it.
Contest footage includes BS Finals in Chicago, some ABA National race highlights, and the first video from BS round 1 at Moreno Valley. Check Jay Miron doing double busdriver airs, John Parker trying 540-to-tailwhip airs, and various semi-unbelievable mini ramp tricks from other riders.
There's a flatland how-to, a tech tip, news section, adverts, and that's about it.
Props is very well filmed and finely edited on professional equipment, and uses some high-tech Mac based special effects and fades, all making this new video concept a good one : it's the mid-ground between a regular video and a magazine, and it works.
What's more, a copy of Props is really cheap. They are planning to bring out roughly six issues a year, and with this as the premiere instalment look for greater things in the future.
Brian Vowel interview. 360 tailwhip.
UK comp in North Hampton
Tool Time
GT Freestyle team interview (John Parker, Dave Voelker, ...)
Mike Forney interview.
How to do an icepick.
Ride BMX UK #12 august 1994 : If the first, issue of Props looked slightly dicky and a bit of a rush-job, then issue 2 is a vast improvement. The all round BMX video magazine is bang on schedule with issue 2, and no doubt by the time this magazine hits the newstands issue 3 will just be out. But whatever.
Props #2 is way longer than #1, and contains loads more stuff (there are about 5 contents pages for a start), and it's packed with good stuff like interviews with Billy Griggs, Brian Vowel (awesome fladander/dirt jumper from Arizona), the GT f/s team, Mike Forney, race reportage from two ABA nationals and an NBL national, freestyle comp coverage from the 2B jam at Shimmerville (great footage of mini and funbox riding), a Rampage contest, and even stuff from the recent BFA contest at Northampton (yes, that's Radlands, UK).
All in all, editing, music, camera angles and all-round production is way better than the first, the guys at Props are going from strength to strength.
John Parker. Photo Brad McDonald.
Backyard Jam in Hastings (UK)
Rampage Jam in Davenport, Iowa.
BS comp Overland park, Kansas.
Paul Osicka interview
Allan and Brian Foster interviews.
Ed Koennig interview.
Dirt jumping coverage from the PUSH Kill Yourself Jam in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ride BMX UK #13 october 1994 : Third issue of the popular Props video magazine series. This one is a tad shorter (I think) than #2, but the articles are longer and the footage is better. Fast stuff comes from three NBL Nationals, an ABA National, and UK racing from the Super Grands at Coppull even. More UK stuff comes in shape of a Backyard jam section, and the KOD at the Super Grands - racing camerawork.
Interviewed in this one (longer interviews this time) are Ozzie racer Daniel Sprague, the Foster brothers, and Standard's Paul Osicka (rad flatlander who does hang five's down stairs). A crap interview with band Peach litters up the flow, but to lighten it up, there's som sicko jumping jams going on too. Freestyle contests include Bicycle Stunts from Kansas, Rampage jam, and the infamous York flatland jam.
All in all, this is Props at its finest. Best trick ? Rick Moliterno's fakie to nosepick to fakie. Best interview ? Paul Osicka. Funniest part ? Chad Degroot downhilling on a mountainbike.
Paul Osicka interview.
Races : UCI World BMX Championships - NBL Grand National, Colombus
Profiles : Taj Mihelich - Stuart King - Gary Ellis.
Freestyle Contests : BS Comp, Oklahoma, OKC - Worlds, Koln, Germany - The Fat Jam, The Nederlands - King Of Concrete, England
Knowledge - New Products
Ride BMX UK december 1994 : With every issue of Ride we see a new issue of Props, the awesome video magazine from nearby Chicago. And as with previous Props, the new one exceeds all earlier issues. Props 4 is no different. Content? World Championships from Michigan [racing] and Germany [freestyle] with good futt-length footage from both events. Interviews coming from Taj Mihelich [burly]. Gary Ellis [surprisingly good] and even Stuart King. Freestyle contest footage comes from Oklahoma BS, the Fat Jam in Holland. and even King Of Concrete. Along with some sidelines like tan Morris railing a huge one in Holland and all the news and whatever, this is the best Props to date [as usual].
Dennis McCoy on the cover.
Races : ABA Grand National, OKC - King Of Dirt
Profiles : Robbie Morales - Todd Lyons - Dylan Worsley
Freestyle contests : BS Comp, Chicago, Illinois - Rampage Jam Finals - Mysterious Comp, Prattville, AL
Local Pit Stop : Pinner, UK
Knowledge - New Products
Ride BMX UK : The latest and definitely greatest instalment in the Props video magazine series. Their video toaster must be working overtime in Chicago, 'cause this one's the best yet. Rad in-depth interviews with Robbie Morales, Todd Lyons, Dylan Worsley and more, great footage from the ABA Grands [pro racing alone, on a pretty good track] and King Of Dirt fest [with Fuzzy frontflipping], and even a local pitstop at Pinner spot [filmed during the summer]. Flatland comp section from one of the Mysterious Promotions jams. Rampage Contest [Krt going backwards] and some great ads. Watch Hal Brindley purchase over 520 packets of instant noodles and cart them off in a pickup. The best part by far is the Bicycle Stunts footage from Chicago. If you thought previous comps were big, check this one: huge transfers were going off. Good stuff from Dave Mirra, Matt, DMC [flairs the funbox], Day Smith, Chad Degroot, and Colin Winkelman's transfers. The raddest camera angles, fast editing, good parts, news, and more make this Props a full-on ruler.
Best Part Taj pulling the hugest tailwhip jump ever, in Chicago.
Mark Murphy on the cover. Photo by Chris Banes.
Races : NBL Christmas Classic, Columbus, OH - King Of Dirt
Profiles : Krt Schmidt - Scotty Yoquelet - Dave Mirra
Freestyle contests : The Contest Of Love, Orlando, FL
Knowledge - New Products
Nate Hanson.
PROPS Issue 7
Ah yes, the new Props Video Magazine, number seven in the long run of video megs from the Chicago rulers Marco end Chris. Easily the best issue so far, end also the one video most borrowed from RICE's office from the locals - in fact, I'm reviewing blind right now as some git hasn't given it back yet. Props is that good.
If I can remember rightly this one has some greet up-to-date race reporting in it: Props covers racing really well, so even if you're e core freeetyler it is still red to watch. And if you like racing, you'll love it. The race is the NEIL Orlando race, the one where John Puree won the mid-season truck: all the pro races are covered, with each pro main from start to finish. This is how it should be - damn feet racing from gate to line.
I think there was some Moreno footage on there too - quality stuff from the California Bicycle Stunts contest, just check out the action going over the spine. Matt Heden gets an interview, as does Mike Ocoboc end Rob Nolli: Mike end Rob totally go off in their respective local spots - Nolli is especially red in his Florida eketeperk.
Jams end contests are covered from the latest Rampage Jam and the Brennen Brown jumping em, end Bo' infamous Trails in SoCel also get e look in during the Props West Coast tour [for the sickest buedriver ever, check Chris Moeller doing one over the hip]. There is more on this issue then any other, there's tone to watch. The editing is getting better the whole time, end even though they've only been going for 18 months Props videos are full of soul.
£11 from decent bike shops.
Profiles : Day Smith - Matt Polkhamp
Freestyle contests : Play Rock the World Comp, Montreal, Canada - Funbox Comp, Appleton, WI. (Colin Winkleman almost pulling a huge double flip) - Backyard Jam, Hasting, UK
Jumping Jam : PUSH Trails, Pittsburg, PA
Local Pit Stop : Mullaly Rink, Bronx, NY - Seven Eleven Trails, Long Island, NY
Knowledge - New Products
Kris Bennett on the cover.
Keith Mulligan on the cover.
Races : NBL Grands, Louisville, KY - Daredevils Of Dirt
Profiles : Dave Osato - Jeff Harrington
Freestyle contests : BS Comp #3, Oklahoma City, OK - Rampage Skatepark, Davenport, IA - Bike Rock the World Finals, Chicago, IL
Local Pit Stop : Sheep Hills, Huntington Beach, CA
Chad Degroot.
Races : NBL Heartland National, Columbus, OH
Profiles : Shawn Butler - Sean Peters
Southern California scene report : BO's trails - Sheep Hills - Flatland Fugitives - Twin Palms ...
Neal Wood.
JUMPING JAMS: The Ravine (Wayne, IN) & The Daredevils Of Dirt (Southpark, PA)
FREESTYLE CONTESTS: Hoffman BS Comp (Chicago, IL)
BMX COVERAGE: NBL Summer National (Southpark, PA)
PROFILES OF THE RICHLY FAMOUS: Aaron Behnke & Danny Nelson.
LOCAL SCENE: Seattle, WA
JUMPING: The Daredevils of Dirt Louisville, KY & Jump Your Jalopy Huntington Beach, CA
FREESTYLE CONTESTS: Hoffman BS Comp round 6, New York, NY.
BMX COVERAGE: The NBL Grands (Louisville, KY)
PROFILES OF THE RICHLY FAMOUS: Chris Breen & Mark Gonzales.
NBL Christmas Classic Columbus, OH - Local Scene Atlanta, Knoxville, & Nashville - The Daredevils of Dirt Columbus, OH - Rampage Jam Davenport, IA (Butcher's superman seatgrab busdriver) - The Pit Rockford, IL - Brian Foster & Rick Moliterno Profiles.
NBL Easter Classic Orlando, FL - Rampage Jam Davenport, IA - BS Comp Providence, RI (may97) - The Daredevils of Dirt Orlando, FL - Alan Foster Profile - Brian Tunney Bio.
NBL Great Lakes National Waterford Oaks, MI - BS Comp Orlando, FL - Play Comp Montreal, Canada - Andrew Faris Profile - Mike Ardelean Bio, and more.
Don, www.bmx-test.com, may 2001 : This video is definitely an old one: it's the type that you sit and watch and say, "Wow, riding has progressed." It's also one that you only watch in a blue moon. The video isn't the most interesting to watch, but there is a Play comp that's probably the best thing in this movie. The Jinx comp is okay but not so hot. The back of the box says "Woodward Camp" but if you consider a 30 seconds clip footage, fine, but it's more like an infomercial. Then there is an old BS comp were the ramps are red and white so you know they're oldschool. An Andrew Faris profile is next where he brags about dressing like a girl. He's a good rider, but if I was a judge, after watching his interview I'd definatlly deduct points. There is also a little profile on Mike Ardelean that takes the cake. Well, actually all the cake's gone by the time the video reaches Ardeleans section because you're so worn out. If you want an old Props save your money and don't get this one. Buy a new issue, or, like in my case, if a friend wants to trade swap him a porno.
