Steve has a bunch of cool things going on. He recently wrapped up a huge tour, aptly titled “The Gypsy Tour” and there is a full length documentary about the bicycle company he founded in 1993 on tour right now. I thought it was fitting to ask him some questions about those things and some other tidbits that you may or may not care about. Check it out below.

ITG: Steve, where are you right now and what are you doing?
SC: I am in front of my computer, listening to Torche, digesting lunch and editing Gypsy Caravan Twour…( actually typing these answers)

ITG: So the Gypsy Tour ended a couple weeks ago. What’s the deal with the Gypsy Tour for people who may not know or understand it?
SC: 8 teams, all traveling around, adjacent, partying, camping, riding, up to no good, and having a blast. The concept is essentially that if you can get a bunch of groups together, end up at a spot, add the locals, and it’s an instant jam, which is fun. Each team makes there own section on video out of it, and an inexpensive DVD is released…. We also do a scavenger hunt for cash money. The winning team bought everyone Pizza and beer the last Friday of the trip.

ITG: I’m excited to see the DVD, seeing that the teams that were on it have some of my favorite riders, what was the most memorable part of the trip for you?
SC: Hi fiving a priest in NYC, jumping off a waterfall, riding Heathens, Lou Bickle, good times, good friends, and No texting or cell phones in the van while en route.

ITG: HAHA, I don’t think I have any proof for this, but camping with your friends on a bmx trip seems to make it better. Thoughts?
SC: It’s simple, you and your buddies, build a fire, drink some beers, cook dinner, and tell stupid stories, for like 23 dollars, split between however many people. Ecofunomics.

ITG: Maybe that will be a new word like funemployment. Anyway. ESPN. How did that come about and if I may ask, why don’t you contribute more? The Junkfood article was great and the bike tour was real cool. What do you have in store for the people of internet world in the future?
SC: Well, I am friends with Cody and Tunney who work there, and they asked if I was interested. I haven’t blogged a ton, because I wanted to try and do cool features that take more time than just cutting and pasting, and showcase some of the cool things I see in my world, maybe let different people know what’s going on, potentially people that don’t look at the FBM site, you know?

ITG: Yeah, that makes sense. How is everything going at FBM? I assume things must be exciting around there with the documentary. Was it weird to have a documentary made about something that is such a huge part of your life?
SC: Imagine taking over 15 years of the bulk of one’s existence and cramming into 77 minutes of condensed visual and auditory explanation. It’s intense, sparks some serious introspective thought, and can make you feel pretty nervous and insecure. When I went to the NYC premiere, I was scared people would scoff at our lives on the big screen, but people were stoked, and some of the industry’s biggest Icons had really cool things to say. At the Richmond premiere Friday night, some one said, “I’ll never ride anything but an FBM for the rest of my life…” It was a proud moment, and I can’t thank Joe Stakun enough for believing in FBM enough to make a movie about us.

ITG: It sounds intense, I for one can’t wait to see it, On a different topic, I was kind of surprised to see Mickey Marshall wasn’t on the team anymore. With Mickey Marshall now being gone, and without sounding like some nerdy sports interviewer, are you planning on adding somebody new to the team?
SC: We still have a team of amazing dudes, if someone special shows up on our radar, cool, if not, I wouldn’t say I am actively seeking anything new.

ITG: Fair enough. What is Mike Tag up to these days?
SC: I think His abusive riding style pretty much said 20 years is enough to his knee, back, neck and hip, so He spends time playing golf and hustling pool tournaments.

ITG: That rules! Does he still have on sideburn?
SC: I don’t think he shaves regularly…

ITG: I know that you’re a big fan of traveling, can you give me one of the WORST experiences you’ve ever had while on the road? Please don’t cop out and say that it was a learning experience or something.
SC: I have been rear ended by a semi truck, and slammed into a boat on trailer in front of the car, flipped a van on a highway in Florida, had 2 surgeries due to accidents while on the road, suffered through Ryan Corrigan and Gilly’s fart problems, blown up an engine in Texas while on tour, finished it in a Penske, to which well got really sick amidst a 3000 mile drive, been strip searched by customs, kicked out of Canada for ten years, projectile vomited on a flight to japan, left in Massachusetts by Dave Muggleston, 39 degree temps while motorcycle with Derrick Girard, an engine that caught on fire, there are too many to remember, the worst was driving to Vegas one year from Huntington Beach, in the middle of the night, the back of a Toyota truck, while a bmx pro smoked meth, and we arrived real late, to the aftermath of the cops finding a dead women hogtied in a chest, at the house we stayed at. that sucked. I also ended up at a craps table with the guitar player from Metallica on that trip, he had short greasy hair, a tiny baby mustache, and patent leather pants. It was a total bummer.

ITG: HAHA, that was the answer I was looking for. I totally forgot about Dave Muggelston. What’s the story with him? I knew he bought a video that Andrew and I made once, so I thought he was okay in my book.
SC: He’s OK, he just got mad that I made fun of his station wagon, the back windows only went down 1/4th of the way, But he’s got an Iron Maiden tattoo, he’s alright…

ITG: Here are some either or questions:
Tabletops or Turndowns? Both, I can’t do a turndown for shit though.
The Cro-Mags or The Bad Brains? Ooooh, Uh, I am gonna have to say Harley describing Bad Brains- Big Takeover in American hardcore… So Bad Brains.
Perfect or Imperfect? Definitely sketchy!
Yuengling or Budweiser? Bud, better yet, Busch cans…
All Time Low or Albert St? ???
Fast or Slow? Extra medium.
Fall or Spring? Fall…
FOD or Bakers Acres? Bakers acres!
New Hampshire or New York? Live Free or Die is a cool slogan, but my heart belongs to Ithaca in the summers…

ITG: And finally, Could you sum up contemporary bmx for me in 10 words or less.
SC: Too much time on the internet, not enough Kelly Baker!

Photographs by Ken Musgrave