Matty Aquizap: S&M Black Magic Frame

Matty's riding is the sort of thing that makes trails look good before you even think about the trick. He carries speed, lets the bike move and makes big sets look natural. That no-fuss style is a big part of why riders still rate proper trail riding so highly. Proper trail riding exposes everything. You need enough speed, good timing and the confidence to let the bike move without trying to correct every little thing in the air. The jumps only work because people have spent time digging, watering and keeping the line alive, so the riding and the work around it are tied together. A good trails rider makes all of that look simple. The shape is right, the bike stays calm and the whole line carries on instead of becoming one trick followed by a panic pedal. That style never really dates. BMX changes, bikes change and tricks get bigger, but someone flowing through a good set of jumps will always be worth watching. That is the bit we wanted to celebrate with Matty Aquizap. The riding has a clear point of view and you can recognise it without needing a name slapped across the screen. Plenty of people can copy an individual trick. Copying the way somebody sees a spot, carries speed or puts a line together is a completely different job.

S&M Black Magic Frame. Long enough and mellow enough to stay calm when the speed comes up and the sets get proper. A frame is the part that sets the basic mood of the whole bike. A few millimetres at the rear end, a slightly different head angle or a bit more room up front can completely change how it behaves. Short and steep can feel lively. Longer and calmer can feel far better once the speed comes up. Neither direction is automatically right. The point of a signature frame is that the choices should make sense for the rider behind it. That does not mean everybody needs to copy the exact setup. It means the product has a reason to exist beyond a colourway and a name on the sticker. None of that means bolting on Matty Aquizap's parts will suddenly give you the same riding. Sadly, BMX does not work like that. What you do get is gear shaped by somebody who knows exactly what they like. Use that as a reference, compare it with your own setup and make the call from there. Watch: Credence and Friends in PDX Hero image: S&M / Credence video still.