What's up with "Crews" in BMX?
by Mike Hinkens
May 5th, 2019
See further below for updated crew surveys.
May 5th, 2019
See further below for updated crew surveys.
Hey man, here’s a sticker.”
“Thanks. What’s it for? Is it brand? What do you make?”
“Nah, nothing. We’re just a crew.”
In the more than two decades I’ve been riding BMX bikes, I have had this conversation an innumerable amount of times. And I am willing to bet, so have you. As a matter of fact, I would bet that almost every bike rider reading this has probably been on both sides of it.
The “crew” is one of the most common social constructions in BMX culture. The exact things they produce and the specific activities they partake in are all slightly different, yet they almost all can be defined as:
A group of riders who have given themselves a name and aligned to produce one, a few, or all of the following: stickers, clothing, videos, trips, or events.
Anecdotally, it seems as if there are more crews in BMX than ever. It’s hard to say for certain, but one could argue that it is just easier to see them now that anyone can make a logo, start an Instagram account or a YouTube channel, organize an event, and start sharing media for all to see.
Regardless of the amount, I would argue that crews are both important and worth paying attention to. They often have been the glue that has held BMXers together as well as the motivating force behind videos, events, and various projects.
On one hand, I think many of us have a general and basic understanding as to why crews form and why they have been a part of BMX since its inception, but on the other hand, I think we need to hear from actual crews themselves about the reasons they formed, what they actually do, and what they are all about.
To that end, I have compiled a list of as many crews as I could find that have been active in BMX in the last 12-18 months and reached out to them to hear their thoughts on the concept of “crews” and more. I have included crews on that list if they had a name defining them and had produced some sort of media or event. I excluded groups that made hardgoods (parts) or groups that were extensions of bike shops, bike companies, or content aggregators. In addition, I did not include organizations/websites along the lines of media companies, advocacy groups, unions, or organizational bodies. I did this in an effort to keep the study as narrow and therefore as accurate as possible. The definition of crew is loose though, and there are certainly blurred lines in a list like this. People should understand that I have strived to be inclusive as opposed to exclusive, and that any crew not mentioned in this series was most likely not avoided intentionally. If you feel you should be involved, please reach out to me.
That being said, the following is a compilation of surveys of as many crews as I could find that fit the criteria above. I reached out to each crew with a set of questions that I think will help define the idea of “the crew” more solidly in BMX, help explain why they are such a big part of BMX in general, and also shine some light on the multitudes of riders out there working hard to do awesome and constructive stuff.
“Thanks. What’s it for? Is it brand? What do you make?”
“Nah, nothing. We’re just a crew.”
In the more than two decades I’ve been riding BMX bikes, I have had this conversation an innumerable amount of times. And I am willing to bet, so have you. As a matter of fact, I would bet that almost every bike rider reading this has probably been on both sides of it.
The “crew” is one of the most common social constructions in BMX culture. The exact things they produce and the specific activities they partake in are all slightly different, yet they almost all can be defined as:
A group of riders who have given themselves a name and aligned to produce one, a few, or all of the following: stickers, clothing, videos, trips, or events.
Anecdotally, it seems as if there are more crews in BMX than ever. It’s hard to say for certain, but one could argue that it is just easier to see them now that anyone can make a logo, start an Instagram account or a YouTube channel, organize an event, and start sharing media for all to see.
Regardless of the amount, I would argue that crews are both important and worth paying attention to. They often have been the glue that has held BMXers together as well as the motivating force behind videos, events, and various projects.
On one hand, I think many of us have a general and basic understanding as to why crews form and why they have been a part of BMX since its inception, but on the other hand, I think we need to hear from actual crews themselves about the reasons they formed, what they actually do, and what they are all about.
To that end, I have compiled a list of as many crews as I could find that have been active in BMX in the last 12-18 months and reached out to them to hear their thoughts on the concept of “crews” and more. I have included crews on that list if they had a name defining them and had produced some sort of media or event. I excluded groups that made hardgoods (parts) or groups that were extensions of bike shops, bike companies, or content aggregators. In addition, I did not include organizations/websites along the lines of media companies, advocacy groups, unions, or organizational bodies. I did this in an effort to keep the study as narrow and therefore as accurate as possible. The definition of crew is loose though, and there are certainly blurred lines in a list like this. People should understand that I have strived to be inclusive as opposed to exclusive, and that any crew not mentioned in this series was most likely not avoided intentionally. If you feel you should be involved, please reach out to me.
That being said, the following is a compilation of surveys of as many crews as I could find that fit the criteria above. I reached out to each crew with a set of questions that I think will help define the idea of “the crew” more solidly in BMX, help explain why they are such a big part of BMX in general, and also shine some light on the multitudes of riders out there working hard to do awesome and constructive stuff.
Crew Surveys
Use the buttons below to learn about the crews who have submitted responses.
Responses
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Click the button above and get involved in the conversation.
Click the button above and get involved in the conversation.