Tinchy Stryder Turns BMX Rider and Takes to the Ramps

by Shabana Adam | 29 July 2012

Tinchy Stryder is Encouraging kids to Learn BMX skills

MOBO award-winning artist Tinchy Stryder has launched the Halfords BMX Sessions, free summer skills workshops taking place around the country that fuse local music talent and BMX coaching for children aged 9-14.

The ‘Number 1’ star has teamed up with the UK’s leading cycling retailer to encourage kids to take to the ramps and learn basic BMX skills this summer.

Tinchy wasn’t bad after a few practice runs...but he’s going to have to work hard to keep up with some of the kids that were there - they caught on seriously fast.”

Halfords will host free skills workshops at indoor skate parks across the country throughout the school summer holidays with each session featuring live performances from local music artists.

Tinchy Stryder said: “BMXing is really cool. There's a lot of skill involved and you need to be pretty confident. So the Halfords BMX Sessions are going to be a great place for kids to learn this over the summer."

Tinchy spent a day honing his riding skills on a Halfords Voodoo bike with the Halfords BMX Coach John Lee and Dean Cueson, a professional BMX rider with the Radio team.

They took to the gruelling gradients of a South London skate park where local schoolchildren also got the chance to try their hand at learning the fundamentals of BMX riding, including carving, basic jumps as well as dropping in to some of the skate park’s renowned indoor and outdoor ramps.

“Tinchy wasn’t bad after a few practice runs,” said Cueson, “but he’s going to have to work hard to keep up with some of the kids that were there - they caught on seriously fast.”

The Halfords BMX Sessions start on 20th August and will feature demonstrations by professional Radio BMX riders. The session will be accompanied by live sets from local bands and DJs, giving home grown talent in the area a chance to perform at a unique location.

Taking place at skate parks across the UK, Halfords coaching sessions are designed to build confidence in cycling and teach basic BMX skills. The sessions will include: checking the bike is safe for daily riding; carving and turning both ways; riding and pumping over driveways and obstacles; dropping in on quarters and roll ins; jumping the bike and exiting quarter pipes or bowls.