We will bring you exclusive interviews with gravity MTB riders whenever possible, from around the globe. Get the latest information and advice from some of the people already involved in the four-wheeled MTB scene.

We aim to publish the most up-to-date attitudes, opinions and developments within the worldwide gravity MTB community. News and views from both UK riders and also some of the biggest names in the sport today� so watch this space!

Canadian born Stacy Kohut, a leading light of the gravity MTB scene, talks exclusively to Rough Riderz about his life and his passion for the sport. An accomplished skateboarder, he also had a successful early career in BMX racing and motocross events. After a fall in 1992 left him paralysed he then went on to become the first Canadian to win a Gold Medal and World Championship Title racing in a sit-ski.

Now co-owner of R-ONE, with his business partner and team mate Johnny Therien, they spend their summers competing on the North American and Canadian downhill MTB circuits. Winter is spent building the R-ONE Fourcross bikes for a growing number of new enthusiasts.

So, here in his own words, the remarkable Stacy Kohut gives us a glimpse into his world�

Adam is a regular presenter on BBC1�s Countryfile and has worked for Sky TV, Central News and Top Gear. He presents weekly for Radio Gloucestershire and has presented On the Farm for Radio 4. He also writes for the monthly Countryfile magazine.

Running the Cotswold Farm Park, which pioneers rare breed conservation and is part of the 650-hectare Benborough Farm, has given Adam a wealth of experience in British farming and led to his expertise being highly sought after for TV, Radio and public speaking.

�I thoroughly enjoyed my days filming on the Whinlatter's MTB trail. Having struggled around the red run I was in awe of Phil and Dave launching themselves down the hillside in their four wheeled bikes, trying to ride at the maximum speed possible from the very start."

"I had no idea that these four wheeled bikes even existed, or that there are trails suitable for them. The whole Rough Riderz concept seems absolutely brilliant. I fully agree with what the guys said during our interview: 'why shouldn't we enjoy the sport alongside the two wheeled bikers, experiencing the same adrenaline rush, along with the freedom of the great outdoors and the magnificent views on offer."

"This sport will surely grow quickly as more trails are suitably designed and opened up to Rough Riderz. I really admire anyone brave enough to throw themselves off a mountain strapped into one of these amazing bikes, but let's face it- they must be either very brave, extremely skillful or just plain nuts!"

Best wishes to Phil and Dave and everyone at Rough Riderz     Adam Henson

When you speak to Stacy Kohut you realise that some people just will not be stopped, no matter what life throws at them.

An 'extreme' sportsperson in every sense of the word, Stacy rode motorcycles, bmx, skateboards, anything fast and dangerous. In 1992 he had an accident which left him paraplegic...for Stacy a minor setback. By 1994 he was wearing an Olympic Gold Medal that he won on his sit-ski. This guy drops into 14ft half pipes in his wheelchair! He's jumped 76ft and hit 100kph on a sit-ski, he has graced the pages of Dirt magazine, had a 6 page interview in Bike magazine, has appeared in bike videos & races his 'R-One Fourcross' bikes all over North America and Canada.

He retired from skiing in 2002 and downhill bikes are his full-time world now.

�I live, eat, sleep and breathe 'fourcross' downhill bikes they are pure gravity powered machines that rip! You can be able bodied or disabled, it doesn't matter, just get in and rip it up. I guess riding the 4 wheeler can be pretty hard, if you kill a little too much speed for a jump or turn you'll never make it back up. So its all about hitting everything as fast as you can! Riding the 'Fourcross' is one of the raddest things I have ever done, with or without the use of my legs.

�Riding one is kinda like snowboarding in that, to get down the hill is fairly easy. To rip it up and with style takes so many more miles and so many hours of seat time. You're managing gravity, you're looking so far ahead it's silly. You learn how to set up for corners, because you have to! Setting up is the key, and like any bike sport, its really not how fast ya come into a corner, its how fast ya exit the damn thing! Exit speed baby, it's all about exit speed.

�The bike can get to speeds into the high 30s or low 40s (yes that's mph), it's a real adrenaline buzz. My favourite place to ride in the US is Mammoth, and in Canada, it's gotta be Whistler! I really wanna hit up Europe too though. I wanna ride some of their MTB parks, I really feel it's the future of the sport. I love the motocross and bmx influence in the downhill scene, and the parks seem to foster that.

(Extract from an Original Interview by Gary Millings)
Descent-World.

Eric Lindsley worked for Santa Cruz, as a test engineer, after graduating from University in 2003. In January 2004, Eric was riding home from work with his girlfriend. They were riding across a railway trestle near the �Santa Cruz Boardwalk� when his girlfriend called for him to stop because her chain had fallen off. So, Eric stopped and turned. He lost his footing and fell 20ft onto a concrete support below.

With severe bruises around his vertebrae, several broken ribs and a fractured skull, he woke up from a coma 9 days later to find he was paralyzed. However, this did not deter him from trying to get a new four-wheel downhill rig for himself, when he had recovered. Parapros Racing came to his aid and built him a bike. This new machine makes the average bike look like a piece of crap!

"This bike has 12" of travel with Fox Racing Shox. A set of four 26" Mag 30s laced up to Sun Ringle hubs and wrapped in 2.5" Kenda Nevegals keeps her railing around corners. Pilot inputs are made via ODI grips, Easton Monkey Lite bars, Race Face Stem, Chris King headset, and a custom tie-rod linkage. In the binder department, she sports a set of 4 four-piston Hope calipers hooked up to 2 Hope master cylinders. This gives me 1 lever for the front and 1 for the rear.

�I have nothing but good things to say about Parapros Racing. The principles, Brad and Sal, worked for over a week straight to get me something to roll in time for my first competition. Since then, they took it back to make some final tweaks for me. So I now regularly enter DH events on my finished ride. I imagine you'll be able to catch me on it, every now and then, up at Whistler too. So watch out Stacy� you have some competition on your hands now.

�I just love to strap myself into my custom made Parapros seat, get towed to the top of a hill behind an ATV, and then let 'er RIP! I am stoked to find someone else actively promoting the sport. I have raced in the US, Canada and Japan, but I would love to race in the UK too. I am now working with the Active Force Foundation, developing a new four wheel bike. This will be one of the most advanced DH machines the world has ever seen� so watch this space!

(Extract from an Original Interview by Dave Tolnai)
NSMB Magazine.

FEBRUARY 2007: Interview with Stacy Kohut - Published by Wheelchair.
Click here to read the full article.

----------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 2006: Quadruple X - Published by LA Weekly.
Click here to read the full article.

----------------------------------------