Internet sensation Danny MacAskill has put his unique trial bike up for auction as he looks to raise cash for the 2009 Children in Need campaign. The 23-year-old from Edinburgh, who is a pro rider for Inspired Cycles Ltd, released a five-and-a-half-minute stunt cycle video on YouTube in April and has subsequently hit the headlines for the amazing 12.5 million hits it has received.
Speaking to the Extreme Sports channel at the December premiere of Kenny Belaey’s Big Time, the Scot spoke openly about the impact of his recent fame:
“Since April my life’s been pretty unbelievable, the last eight months for me has been absolutely ridiculous it’s amazing what the internet can do; one minute you’re messing about with mates making a video and the next you’ve got offers coming in from all over the world to perform this amazing stuff no one’s seen
before.
“I’ve kind of been on a rollercoaster, making the most of it. I’ve got a chance to ride professionally, so I wanted to give something back... so I thought I’d raise money for Children in Need and give others a chance to change their lives as well.
“The bike’s the same one I used in the video that half the world seems obsessed by!”
Asked how he came to become such an expert trickster, MacAskill continued:
“My progression’s been going out and playing on kerbs, and slowly those kerbs turn into bigger and bigger walls. I started sort of focusing a little bit more on trick riding; I’ve never ridden BMX at all, but I just go out and try different things, trials is great for doing your own thing.
“My advice for starting off; start small and learn the basics, it makes you a much more all round rider. You can get on a bike and focus and learn to do the biggest stuff you can, but quite often you won’t be able to do the basic things.
“Knowing the basics quite often gets you out of trouble when you’re trying the bigger stuff.”
Speaking of his own admiration for MacAskill’s panache on two wheels, world renowned Kenny Belaey stressed:
“It was great to meet the UK street riders, and especially Danny MacAskill. I noticed he was doing different things than the usual riders are doing, and then a couple of months later he got this huge hit on YouTube.
“In just one word; ‘respect’ for what he’s doing. It’s crazy, he’s off limits... you know, there are things I was thinking to do... but then he’ll just got and do it, making it look so simple. He mixes BMX and trials... he’s the perfect person to promote the new style of street trials.”