For years the design of Flatland bikes has followed a very independent evolutionary path, diverging further away from the traditional BMX. With an ultra responsive geometry, modern Flatland bikes have become almost useless for riding anything but car parks and basketball courts. Despite years of fine-tuning of the Flatland frame design, it is surprising that world champion Flatlander Matthias Dandois rides a Street frame. We spoke to Matthias to find out more.
As a Flatlander, why do you ride a Street frame opposed to a Flatland-specific frame?
I ride Street as much as I ride flat. I don't want to have two bikes that would a pain to switch bikes all the time. Also, Street frames look way better than Flatland frames and you can definitely ride Flatland with a Street frame.
I ride Street as much as I ride flat. I don't want to have two bikes that would a pain to switch bikes all the time. Also, Street frames look way better than Flatland frames and you can definitely ride Flatland with a Street frame.
Is it harder to ride Flatland on a Street frame?
I don't think so. I hate it when I try my friend's Flatland bikes now. They just feel too small and fragile. I love the way my bike feels, I can actually ‘feel’ every trick I do better because I ride a big bike, you can also get more speed and it looks better. The thing is, I'm pretty tall and I look f**king stupid on a small bike.
I don't think so. I hate it when I try my friend's Flatland bikes now. They just feel too small and fragile. I love the way my bike feels, I can actually ‘feel’ every trick I do better because I ride a big bike, you can also get more speed and it looks better. The thing is, I'm pretty tall and I look f**king stupid on a small bike.
Nowadays street riders are doing Flatland on ledges and Flatland riders are doing Street tricks on basketball courts
What are the main differences in the geometry of a Flatland and a Street frame?
The biggest difference is the length of the top tube and rear end. Flatland frames usually have a 19-inch top tube and 12.5-inch rear end. A street frame has a longer top tube around 20.8 inches and the back end is longer also, usually around 13.5 inches. Also the top tube is lower on Flatland frames, so you have more space to do tricks.
The biggest difference is the length of the top tube and rear end. Flatland frames usually have a 19-inch top tube and 12.5-inch rear end. A street frame has a longer top tube around 20.8 inches and the back end is longer also, usually around 13.5 inches. Also the top tube is lower on Flatland frames, so you have more space to do tricks.
When did you make the switch to a Street frame?
Two years ago and I won’t go back. I think it's great that companies still make Flatland frames for the people that want to ride them.
Two years ago and I won’t go back. I think it's great that companies still make Flatland frames for the people that want to ride them.
The bikes need to evolve as quickly as riding evolves
What do you look for in a frame, do you have a preferred head tube angle, standover and length of the back end?
I love the way bikes with big standovers looks, They look like actual BMX bikes, not scooters... for the head tube, the steeper it is the better it is for nose wheelie, so I'd say between 75.5 and 76 degrees, and I don't really worry about the back end, anything between 13.4 and 13.8 is fine!
I love the way bikes with big standovers looks, They look like actual BMX bikes, not scooters... for the head tube, the steeper it is the better it is for nose wheelie, so I'd say between 75.5 and 76 degrees, and I don't really worry about the back end, anything between 13.4 and 13.8 is fine!
In recent years, Street riders are doing a lot more Flatland-influenced tricks. Has that effected the frame design?
Of course, the bikes need to evolve as quickly as riding evolves. Nowadays technical Street riders are looking for short, reactive frame with a steep head tube and Flatland frames are becoming longer and you don’t have bent tubes anymore. Street and Flatland frames all pretty much look alike now. It's not even a question of style anymore, you need a bike that fits your riding and that's it.
Of course, the bikes need to evolve as quickly as riding evolves. Nowadays technical Street riders are looking for short, reactive frame with a steep head tube and Flatland frames are becoming longer and you don’t have bent tubes anymore. Street and Flatland frames all pretty much look alike now. It's not even a question of style anymore, you need a bike that fits your riding and that's it.
Where do you think the future lies for the growing influence of Flatland on Street riding and vice versa?
Well let's see what happens. Nowadays street riders are doing Flatland on ledges and Flatland riders are doing Street tricks on basketball courts. When you look at Stevie Churchill for example, he can do hop 360-whip to manual to 180-halfcab whip all on the ground. He would definitely make the final at a Flatland contest with those kinds of tricks. I guess it will just merge together in the future, like skateboarding did before and it's going be amazing!
Well let's see what happens. Nowadays street riders are doing Flatland on ledges and Flatland riders are doing Street tricks on basketball courts. When you look at Stevie Churchill for example, he can do hop 360-whip to manual to 180-halfcab whip all on the ground. He would definitely make the final at a Flatland contest with those kinds of tricks. I guess it will just merge together in the future, like skateboarding did before and it's going be amazing!
Matthias’s Bike
Frame: Haro SDV2, 21’ toptube
Fork: Primo Strand
Bars: Eclat Ashley Charles
Stem: Haro Lineage
Headset: Haro
Grips: ODI Longneck
Bar ends: Soul BMX Mag
Cranks: Haro Lineage
Sprocket: Haro
Chain: Eclat Halflink
Seatpost: Haro
Seat: Odyssey Principal
Front Tyre: Odyssey Path
Front Wheel: G-Sport
Rear Tyre: Odyssey Path
Rear Wheel: Odyssey
Pedals: Premium
Hub Guards: Salt
Pegs: Demolition Dumbchuck with grip tape on
Fork: Primo Strand
Bars: Eclat Ashley Charles
Stem: Haro Lineage
Headset: Haro
Grips: ODI Longneck
Bar ends: Soul BMX Mag
Cranks: Haro Lineage
Sprocket: Haro
Chain: Eclat Halflink
Seatpost: Haro
Seat: Odyssey Principal
Front Tyre: Odyssey Path
Front Wheel: G-Sport
Rear Tyre: Odyssey Path
Rear Wheel: Odyssey
Pedals: Premium
Hub Guards: Salt
Pegs: Demolition Dumbchuck with grip tape on
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