Podcast - Si Paton (The Cannondale Malverns Classic)

Over in the UK at the moment, so going to knock out some podcasts while here. First up, one of the hardest-working, dedicated guys I know in the UK – and the guy behind the Malverns Classic – Si Paton.Si came over earlier this week and we spent the whole day talking BMX, MTB, and more, and recorded an hour’s worth for the pod.We talk about Si’s early days growing up in Birmingham, riding Birmingham Wheels with local legends Anthony Butt and the West Midlands early-’80s BMX scene. Si talks about skating alongside BMX and getting into the MTB scene when it was blowing up in the early ’90s in the UK.We talk about Si putting on the National Downhill Series for British Cycling, bringing the Malverns back with backing from Clive Gosling and GT, and the ups and downs of running a monstrous event – plus how things are looking for this year’s event, which takes place in a few weeks’ time.We also talk about the Bob Haro / Gumball 3000 – IKONIX Bike Launch London event he was part of last week. We discuss the possibility of a Frogtown or Dirty Fest–style BMX event as part of the future of the Malverns, and potentially even the British BMX Hall of Fame.Lots more covered from mid-’90s Crewe BMX track sessions with Coach/Trainer Bob Fields (RIP), US trip to the States with Nigel Page. We talk Steve Peat, Jason McRoy, Dylan Clayton, Paul Roberts, the Mammoth Kamikaze, We Were RAD, the ’90s UK rave scene, and more.It was great to catch up with Si, and hopefully we can do it again later in the year.