Ali Clarkson is a man bringing trials to the masses with a group of friends in the form of The Drop and Roll Tour, but there’s far more to Ali than just shows.
Pete took a spin out to North Third Reservoir and the trails overlooking the infamous battle site of Bannockburn to talk shop with Mr. Ali Clarkson.
Who is Ali Clarkson?
Ali Clarkson is a Yorkshireman pretending to be a Scot, whilst riding bikes in the streets and up mountains, annoying friends by constantly pointing my vlogging camera in their faces.
When did you realise riding bikes was what you wanted to do?
I guess it was when I was around 12 or 13. All my friends and I had just your standard bikes from a young age and we all would challenge each other to see who could do the longest skids, wheelies… You know, the usual kids stuff.
It wasn’t until my brother who is 6 years older than me went on a cycling trip to Bolivia and got a half decent bike to do it on that the seed was truly planted. I was obsessed by his bike and that’s when I vowed to one day have a bike as cool as that, the bike geek in me had been unleashed!
I started getting bike magazines and tried to absorb as much information about bikes and riding as I could, meanwhile the challenges with my friends had progressed to see who could get up the highest curb, then small wall, then bigger wall, then who could do the biggest drop etc.
I didn’t know we were actually riding trials until I saw a magazine article about a trials competition that had happened over the hill from me and it finally gave me justification that the riding we were doing was a real thing with real people doing it and even specific bikes! After that I knew that all I wanted to do was ride bikes for as long as I could.
What was your first mountain bike?
My first “good” bike was a 1996 GT Avalanche I got for a reduced price in 1997. This was just before my discovery of trials so my purchase was more based on the type of bike my brother had. That bike had an 18” frame, long 120mm stem, narrow flat bars, cantilever brakes, 1.9 tyres and bar ends…
Not ideal for trials but beat the hell out of that bike trying to get it in places it wasn’t designed. I did a years worth of trials competitions on that bike with no modifications against bikes purely made for trials, I even remember getting laughed at by a couple of riders…I ended up coming third overall in my category which I’m still pleased with. I have that frame at home still, one day I’d like to do a retro build and see how it rides.
What’s your background in cycling?
I am a trials rider at the core, as mentioned previously I was riding trials before I even knew it was a thing! I do love all types of bikes though and I’ve dabbled on and off with downhill over the years even entering a few races. Unfortunately bikes aren’t cheap and to own both a trials bike and a downhill bike was too costly, especially once you take into the event entry and travel costs.
I stuck with trials riding as I liked the fact I can ride anywhere, I can pop out my front door and be riding instantly, it was a good bang for your buck. Despite growing up in Hebden Bridge with some great riding in the steep valley I just didn’t like the pushing to riding ratio DH gave…
I still consider riding a good bit of DH one of the most fun things you can do on two wheels though! I continued with trials competitions, becoming Regional Champion a couple of times, I’ve been British Champion, 4th in Europe and I even won a World Cup round once!
What’s your background in the cycling industry?
I’ve worked in a couple of great shops, Blazing Saddles in Hebden Bridge were great to me (despite me being difficult at times) and they taught me a lot on bike maintenance, customer care and general ethics. I then worked at a trials-specific shop in Preston called Tartybikes (named after Adam “The Tart” Read due to his always pimp specced bikes) which was one of the best places I’ve ever worked!
The guys there were super nice guys, I was working around bikes and parts I obsessed over and I got a neat discount (though the tab did get a little out of control at times haha). It was at Tartybikes I learned more about building wheels, servicing hydraulics and a few other trade secrets (I picked up one of my favourite mottos from there, “under promise and over deliver”). It was also my first half-decent wage and I enjoyed the freedom that gave.
How did you get involved with The Clan?
Luck! Well maybe but the story goes like this. I was working at Tartybikes when the Clan had already been going a couple of years with trials riders Duncan Shaw and Danny Macaskill doing the hopping stuff. Danny and I had met only very briefly but we were mainly aware of each other mainly from videos.
Danny then shot to fame with his April 09 video and quickly became too busy to commit time for Clan shows, he then out of the blue contacted me if I’d like to take his place. He said he’d seen some of my videos and would be a good rider to take his place. I was flattered and agreed to start riding for The Clan. It’s been nearly 10 years and I’m still doing them!
How did you get involved with Drop and Roll?
This one was more organic. The Clan are based in Scotland so most of the shows are naturally in Scotland, I’d been living in Preston and commuting the 6 hour round trip most weekends which was fairly tedious. I was in Scotland doing a show one time when Duncan mentioned one of his flatmates was moving out and there would be a spare room in the flat he and Danny shared, I made a snap decision and moved in.
It was a little while after that when Duncan and Danny started working on the idea they’d had to start their own demo team. I knew the guys pretty well by now and they said they’d like me to be one of their riders (Fabio Wibmer being the 4th). We’ve now been going a few years and we’ve had some fantastic shows and adventures!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done on a bike?
Hmmm, I’m not actually too sure! I think after living and riding with Danny you get a little desensitised so I don’t really think I’ve done anything that crazy really. I guess the one thing that comes to mind is trying to backflip out of a sculpture/children’s play thing in a play park. It was a perfect half circle with two foot of decking on each side and then tilted on its side a little.
You had to bunnyhop over the decking into the circle then instantly get shot into the air and do a flip. Bravery isn’t my biggest strength so after bottling it for hours I decided to comeback with crash mats. I managed a couple of perfect flips into the mats so took them away for the final flip. I went for it but bottled it going off the lip and narrowly escaped a 8ft fall onto my back. I was mentally scarred on doing flips again for about a year.
Best trail you’ve ever ridden, and why?
I really like steep, natural and rocky trails, being a trials rider my leg fitness isn’t that great so the less I have to pedal the better. I’ve enjoyed riding at Dunkeld and despite the long push up I always get a smile heading down Ben Lomond (even if my arm pump does go nuts!). So many trails I’ve yet to experience though, ask me again next year.
You must have seen some crazy things over the years, is there something that stands out? A favourite moment or when you wanted the ground to swallow you up?
It’s great riding with Duncan and Danny so often, they constantly amaze me (both on the bikes and with some of the parties they put on haha), Danny’s road bike loop in Manchester still stands out as one of the more crazy things I’ve seen though!
As for a stand out moment…Winning the French round of the Trials World Cup was an amazing moment! My parents were there and a lot of my friends, I won’t be forgetting that in a hurry.
Bad moments? I think it’s pretty good I’m struggling to think of one. I feel bad that I used to pinch brake cables and other stuff off my family’s bikes if I needed a part and then not replace them… Dangerous and stupid, sorry!
Any disasters?
I guess the only disaster I’ve had was breaking my foot just before the show season started, denying me of nearly a years wages and financially crippling me for quite a few years… That was a bad time. Fortunately things usually work out and it eventually did.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to career in riding bikes?
It’s a tough world to make a living in but if you’re truly passionate and willing to sacrifice a guaranteed income then you can make it work. I can’t deny that I’ve been quite lucky, I had great parents who supported me and I’ve got into places because I knew the right person but I think with the right attitude most people could make some kind of living from bikes.
My general advise is to ride as much as possible, never be rude, encourage riders of any ability, network, get out and film (even if you need to do it yourself) and most importantly, do it because it’s fun!
What did you have to sacrifice to get to this stage?
Mainly job security, I don’t have any paying sponsors so my income is solely based on me riding shows… No show bookings means no pay!
Did you have day jobs that you had to give up?
I had to give up my job at Tartybikes, as I mentioned I was working with The Clan in Scotland most weekends in the summer, this meant I had to work 9-5 in Preston during the week then on Friday after work drive at least 3 hours north (often much more if it was in the north of Scotland), sleep in my van, ride the shows over the weekend, drive home on Sunday evening and start my 9-5 week again on Monday…
It was exhausting and straining my relationship with Tartybikes. It was one particular moment when I requested time off to do 4 days of shows (more than my monthly wage at the time) and was told I’d already taken more than my allotted yearly leave. The thought of giving up a months wages was too much to handle so I took the time off without permission anyway.
When I got home I had to make the tough decision, I either stay at Tartybikes and have a guaranteed monthly cheque and other perks or I take a gamble and chase my dream of being a full time rider… I got home after those shows and handed in my notice to Tartybikes the next morning.
Where next for you?
I’m now concentrating mostly on my YouTube channel. I started doing weekly vlog style videos to help me with my confidence, give me a weekly goal to aim for, learn new skills, force me to think of new ways to ride and to help attract sponsors… Purely selfish reasons.
I’ve been amazed by the response from fellow riders and now I realise I can make videos to encourage new riders and help get some promotion to some of the younger guys too…. It’s been win win win so far! As part of growing my channel I want to get out on the MTB more, enter more races and do more travelling… Just could do with a little more help sponsor-wise, wink wink.
Anybody to thank at this point in the journey? Long suffering spouses/parents/friends?
Yes! Super mega thanks to my parents for being the best ever! Always taking me to competitions and standing on a rainy hillside while I go and trash my expensive bike they helped me get. I was definitely difficult at times but they have been super patient with me and I owe them so much!
Big thanks to my Brother and Sister too, they’ve helped me along the way with either inspiring me at the very start or accompanying me on trips to France so I can ride in the Alps…that was awesome!
Lots of loving thanks to my girlfriend Jane who sees the potential in me even when I don’t!
Gotta say my thanks to my friends who I’ve ridden with through the years, you are all part of why I kept on riding, thanks to Blazing Saddles for taking me in and to Tartybikes for the sweet job!
Huge thanks to The Clan, Iain Withers, Danny Macaskill, Dave Mackison, Duncan, Fabio and Henry.
Massive thanks to Mark Westlake for teaching me quality control on the bike and for taking pictures/videos and putting up with my tantrums and to Inspired and Orange Bikes for giving me bikes to do skids on!
Lastly thanks to all my fans who watch my videos and to all the nice comments you leave, it’s very inspiring!
Sorry to those I missed, there’s been far too many people to list from the last 20 years!
