The most bizarre country of my travels
You have travelled the world as a bike adventurer. What was the most bizarre country - and why?
Mongolia! In 2012, I travelled by car from the Czech Republic to Mongolia as part of my ZAM project. Anyone who claims to have seen something big but has never been to Mongolia is lying. I think I was probably even the first freerider there.
Bucket list: Still open
Which country is still on your bucket list?
Socotra Island - the Galapagos Island of the Indian Ocean. It belongs to Yemen.
And the Nyiragongo volcano in Central Africa is also on my list. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
But you never know where life will take you.
The toughest adventure: Pico do Fogo
What was the most difficult thing about realising the Pico-do-Fogo adventure?
The logistics: Getting an e-bike to a remote island outside Europe is almost impossible. I would never have thought that either. But thanks to our trip, even the laws on Cape Verde are now changing. And then, of course, getting there in the first place - and, above all, getting away again. I managed the longest volcano descent on Cape Verde. From the summit down to the sea. You would think that the action itself would be the most nerve-wracking. No, it's the logistics, the authorities who get in the way and suddenly block everything. You are at their mercy, powerless. During the actual action, on the other hand, you are the one doing it, you can take action. That's always so much better.
The funniest moment
What made you laugh during your volcano adventures?
When Mustafa forgot us after a day of filming. I had to ride off on my bike to get help at the Casa Marisa base camp. In the end, we confiscated a school bus with pupils and drove up to the volcano to pick up the film crew. We all thought it was great fun, as did the pupils.
Why I ride high-riser handlebars
You ride high-riser handlebars. Why?
When I switched to e-bikes, I got a lot of pain in my lower back - because of the increased weight of the motor and battery. When you jump, you lift the bike as if you were doing uncontrolled deadlifts. So I raised the handlebars and together with FUNN, with whom I have been working for 24 years, I developed handlebars with a higher rise. I'm even preparing a small study with sports physiotherapists. Incidentally, an e-bike is still easier to control downhill.
My sacred bike parts
Which bike parts are you most picky about?
The cockpit - handlebars, grips, stem - and the pedals. These are my points of contact with the bike. I'm not joking, they have to be exactly the way I like them.
Another dream: surfing
Is there another sport you would like to learn?
Surfing.
The most difficult stunt of my life
What was the most difficult bike stunt you've ever done?
The Wall of Death with an e-bike. This is a huge wooden barrel in which motorbike stuntmen ride along the wall. I had to learn in two and a half hours what motorbike stuntmen need half a year for, namely to switch perception from vertical to horizontal. Switching your brain in seconds - and still achieving the impossible - is tough!
Red Bull Rampage: Fascination and doubt
You've taken part in the Red Bull Rampage several times. What do you think of the last edition?
I was glad for the riders that it wasn't too windy and there were no delays. Some lines are now exceeding the limits of what is possible. I don't know how much longer this can go on. I'm deliberately not talking about injuries - but the development is extreme. Maybe I'm looking at it too much through the eyes of a Rampage pioneer. Nevertheless, I'm already looking forward to the next event.
The dark side of adventures
What is the most annoying thing about bike adventures?
The responsibility - not just for me, but also for cameramen, photographers, the whole team. They take the same risks. And we all have families.
The best trails in the world
Where in the world have you ridden the best trails?
Many would expect Squamish or Moab - but no: Azerbaijan. Incredibly diverse natural trails. I like to think back on it.
A day in another life
Which person would you like to swap lives with for a day?
With a worker in the sulphur mines. Then I would value my own life even more.
My last bad purchase
What was your last bad purchase?
A Hungarian motorway vignette - including a 400 euro fine.
Films that make me laugh
Which film makes you laugh?
Tais-toi! - a French film.
Secret crush
Which celebrity were you secretly in love with?
Samantha Fox. For a boy growing up in a communist country, a busty American woman was the ultimate.
My dream home
Which country would you like to have a second home in - and why?
Italy, Sicily to be precise. I have friends there, Mount Etna with endless freeride opportunities on volcanic ash - and I simply feel at home there.
Good and bad habits
Which habits should you get rid of - and which should you acquire?
Look less at your mobile phone and more at life. Otherwise you'll miss the important moments.
My greatest test of courage
What was your biggest test of courage?
When the Grim Reaper sharpened his scythe on my tongue - and I had already resigned myself to death.
The most impressive stunt I've ever seen
What was the most impressive stunt you've ever seen?
I saw this one on Vancouver's North Shore: Dangerous Dan Cowan, a specialist in skinnies, was riding on a brutally narrow four-metre-high Northshore ladder. His front wheel slipped on the ten-centimetre-wide bar. I watched together with shaper Todd "Digger" Fiander. We clenched our arse cheeks so tightly we could have cut through steel cables. Because we could already see Dan falling. But Dan somehow managed to hold on.
My favourite action edit
Which action edit has impressed you the most recently?
Wind skin by Gee Atherton.
The best way to relax
What's the best way to relax?
With pencil or brush. Painting and drawing beat snowboarding, hiking and everything else. As an artist and designer, this is my best balance to the physical challenges of being a professional biker.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
