#the yea

I like this. I’ve always had a thing for stem pads ever since I saw Hamilton rock one on his old green Federal. It was just this unexpected flair that really brought the bike together. I’m a sucker for a cool looking setup and it seemed like the perfect accessory. I can justify it cause it’s also functional, there’s nothing worse than kneeing your stem and I’m about 5′10 and always rocked a 20.5 until recently. Before that 20.25, 20.375 and a few other 20.5. I say that cause I’ve kneed my stem more times than I ever wanted to. I’ve always wanted a stem pad but it was never really that readily available. I missed my chance with this one they sold at Empire called “Le Cig” and as a bike nerd I never felt right about rocking an S&M one when I have never rode any S&M products in my life.  I’m weirdo about bike parts like that. When I saw this on the @mattheyea Instagram, it really resurfaced that old want for a stem pad. I run 21″ now so it’s not gonna be as functionally useful than a few years back when I was on a 20.25″ but still. 

It’s weird. I’m more excited for a stem pad to come in the mail than any hard product in the past five years. I like it when smaller brands try to produce something different. For a second, everyone made wax. Then dad hats. Before that track jackets and Castro hats. I don’t know how many of you remember that era. When a small brand takes the time to hand create an item and puts real thought to it, it’s instantly noticeable. Like this stem pad has a matching bar pad and frame pad but it’s not like you can go buy a BMX pad set at your local wholesaler. There was thought, effort, experimentation, to get this work. That’s something anyone can respect. Plus it’s a stem pad! People like retro stuff. It’s cool. It’s so annoying to see major brands and smaller brands bite the same recycled stuff that skateboard brands came up with. Not to say skateboarding isn’t cool but when enough people in our culture do it, you might as well tell everyone hey BMX is culturally wack, just skateboard. Stuff like that matters. It’s like making a copy of a copy. You make copy of a copy of a copy long enough. It’s just crap. But this stem pad, while not the first, it’s great. It doesn’t even try hard to be which is the best part. It takes a unique part of BMX history and culture and reintroduces it to a new audience. Sure some other high brands offer frame pads or pad sets but it’s the showcase in a way where it’s an item of importance and not just something you stumble upon while on their webstore. 

But yeaaa... I definitely copped this. It’s a stem pad! I’m finally completing a dream of mine since I was a young mid schooler who learned that nosemanuels brakeless were possible. Personally to me, it sounds pretentious but I don’t like to support brands that are established. Not cause I want to be super underground or anything like that but I truly like the idea of people trying to create something new and different in this culture of ours. And helping push that along anyway I can. Cause a lot of these older brands had their day and age, they have their purpose and the people who helped make it what it is. And there is no shortage of people who like support something like that but I’m antisocial so I gotta do the opposite.  

This is Eeshond, He’s one of the most genuinely nice dudes I know. He puts hammers down and can get down with the techery as well.