Chris rides an awesome Chopper on his commute and with his 6 year old son and says it’s all great fun. Catching up with him on King’s Way we discover why. He blasts the 3kms from Southern Cross station into South Melbourne, past the Crown Casino receiving thumbs up from tradies and in his words, ‘I love it’.

He’s had the Chopper we saw him on as well as a range of Choppers and Dragsters. While the Chopper pictured is his normal bike, on Fridays he’ll ride one of the others.

Here is the West Coast Chopper, with 20” wheels it offers a low centre of gravity so he can ‘swing it around everywhere, over gutters.’ It’s only got a front brake so a times red lights see him locked up, wheels screaming, ‘everyone looks around thinking what a freak. All the MAMILs (middle-aged men in lycra) hate me. They come screaming past me, dinging their bells. I guess I’m too slow for them but stuff it – it’s all for fun and it gives me the hugest smile when I get to work’. We love the rearview mirror or peep mirror as Chris calls it – ‘it’s a life saviour, keeps me safe’.

Chris rode bikes as a kid, before helmet laws, with a chrome BMX with yellow Skyways on it. Then if graduating to skateboarding until he got hurt too many times. Now he has a 6 year old son who has just started riding with pedals so he wanted to show him that Daddy rides too. The Chopper seemed a great choice – it’s nice and low allowing him to be closer and able to stick by his son’s side while riding – it fit the bill. Then he found this one on eBay for $120 and ‘bam’. It has a nice, lightweight front tyre on it so it’s ‘a bit easier to manoeuvre. I’ve been modifying the hell out of it since I got it. Really fit for purpose. The next step will be the 3 speed hub – once I’ve got that on, I’ll be rocking. Maybe I’ll add a tacko too’.

He has already (after a few tries) replaced the seat – ‘it some with an unstrung saddle with a rise at the front – harsh on the boy jewels. Then I tried a Brooks one but it didn’t work cause the frame is so rigid so now I’ve got like a cruising saddle. A mate of mine thinks it’s as big as the seat on his Harley’.

The next modifications include a Shimano 3 speed hub he’s got and 2” spokes he’s ordered. ‘They are ready to be laced. I’ve never done it before but how hard could it be?’

Tell us about your other bikes

Chris has a stretch frame Chopper with black Skyway ‘tuffs’ on it and 19” ape hangers so ‘my hands are over my head’.

Then there’s the purple Dragster – one of the original ones with all the stickers of stars and smiley faces all over it. It has a Springer front end and 24” ape hangers – ‘Reach for God kind of thing – great fun’.

Both are really wide bikes due to the ape hangers whereas the ‘normal, day-to-day’ bike is much more compact and easier to nip in and out. ‘With the other ones I take up a whole lane of traffic but that’s half the fun’ he laughs (and laughs).

What’s the reaction from other riders?

‘When a pod of MAMILs go past you can hear them swear at me, like I’m sullying the good face of lycra’.

Chris was to work in local government and the sustainability aspect of riding inspired him. What do your colleagues think of your daily ride? ‘My colleagues love it. One of the guys rides a Harley and loves parking his next to mine. He thinks it’s hysterical’.

These days Chris often throws a bike in the boot and displays it at car shows. He son might think he’s a nutter (in a good way) but it fits the lifestyle – muscle cars, drumming, chopper bikes.

Your ultimate bike?

‘A Nirve Switchblade Chopper – it’s the better version of this one. It’s got 26” rims which might be hard for the everyday commute, fitting it on the train, in the lift or up and down the stairs’.

See them at http://www.nirve.com/switchblade-gloss-black.html

Learn more about Chopper bikes at http://www.chopperstylebicycles.com.au/home/

UPDATE
Chris has now laced his Shimano 3 speed hub