We are proud that our rider youngest rider JB is now riding for S&M bikes through 4DOWN (European distributor), it's well deserved and we're really happy for him ! In order to highlight this new we asked to him some questions, illustrated by some photos of his bike we shot during the RBP jam (action photo by Max Rabiller and other by Simon Cassol).

Could you summarize in some words this offer from S&M bikes ? How does it happen ?
I met Alex Valentino during the Apache trip in Bordeaux in 2019, when he filmed some guys of the French connexion for the web videos serie "La belle endormie ". Alex is in charge of distributing S&M brand in France, he was looking for a rider from the area to represent the brand. Alex got in touch with me through Simon Cassol from Manual bmx shop, voilà voilà. During winter, Simon called me and asked if I was sit down as he had something to tell me, obviously I didn't expect that, because French riders are far from the BMX industry and the whole business of it, without to mention an American brand, it's not everyday that an offer like that occurs. 

What did you feel and what did you think when you hear about the offer ? Proud to represent this legendary brand ? 
To represent this famous brand is gratifying, I think, now people look at me like a rider who is sponsored by a famous brand, I have a fresh new bike with quality parts, I'm so pleased ! As a result me and Simon are motivated to film some clips and make a good video, we hope ! ;-)

Could you present to us your new bike ?
S&M bikes MOD frame 21,25, Credence bar 9,2, Pitchfork, Shield seat, Shape front load Team stem, Shape Martine garde 28T signature sprocket, Shape bar ends.

Our rider from Toulouse, Jems Muller has officially announced the last jam at la Source trail, on September 11th and 12th. This is why he told us some words about it : "so here it is, the end of la Source trail. After 17 years of passionate work and eventhough the current global situation, we wanted to meet with our friends from everywhere (as much as possible) a last time. A sort of collective farewell to our beloved spot, as the trail's fate is now settled, we will have to leave the place at the end of 2021. For the occasion, Richie from Trailife has made a dedicated flyer to the event, with his own art feeling. A batch of tee shirt is also in the pipe, with the same design, in order to get money for the upcoming spot...

Last year was complicated, shared between lockdowns and restrictions, the only event I attended was the Max Rabiller's RBP jam. So it was a pleasure to take the road to Vendée again, to attend the 2021 edition.
I arrived on site Friday afternoon, a look at the place was needed, the trail has evolved, still a beautiful surroundings. I was able to ride in the sun with the riders already there, even the big line was riding for some. Unfortunately Max hurt himself at the bottom of the trail (nothing serious). What better to end the day than a fire and some music ?
Waking up in the rain on Saturday, fortunately weather improved and we were able to enjoy the trail with lots of riders who arrived during the night. Throughout the afternoon, the different lines were attacked, on the menu : JB (Shape represent) who rode with style all the trail, the Noyal crew was there, some Parisians, Shogun and his versatility, the Belgium crew was also there (Foerske was injured), Noé rode higher than everyone else, Gillian and some guys from Normandy, some riders from the Gramone woods, Titou threw a 3-6 on the big line, Dimitri from Holland rode all the trail effortless...etc. Max had made a giant ring of fire (like the one on the flyer), after setting it on fire, he was the first rider to jump through it, followed by others. Titou threw a 3-6 and a flip through the fire, also Sergeï made a flip (rider et drummer of the Lord Gallery band). The day ended with a big fire, a giant paella and a show of the Lord Gallery band. Another very good event made by Max, thank you to him and see you next year for sure !

For those who have read the Shape bicycles book, especially the introduction, we announced that a new milestone would be reached in 2021. In fact, after a first step was reached in 2017 with CAM (machining tool paths) of our Fusion sprockets, we are reaching a new milestone with the manufacturing in the aim of being 100% autonomous for the production of our sprockets and other custom parts.
A decade after the creation of the brand (2011), we have bought a milling machine (CNC) a week ago, in partnership and in the workshop of our friend "the magician" (a big thank you to him). After a risky move (never easy to move almost 4 tonnes), instillation and restarting came well without a hitch, we were able to produce our first 30T Fusion sprockets (this model was out of stock). It's a real pleasure to take your bearings on a milling machine (after some years without practicing) and the setting that goes along (for those who knows : tool length, part origin, program loading...etc.), at last we will be able to answer quickly your answer.

Jems Muller took part of the latest episode of the first season of LiveLive BMX, which has been available on Twitch for a couple of weeks (yes, we are a bit late...). We warmly advise you to take time to listen to these two hours of discussion about (among other subjects) : how Jems started riding BMX in Paris where he comes from, moving to Toulouse with his brother, his arrival at la Source in September 2004, his choice between continuing in BMX or doing a management training, his hybrid status between his passion for trail and the media side, how important the people are for him (his motto he brought back from his travel to UK and Australia : the faces make the places), parallel he draws between trail and vegetable gardening, his regret not having ridden at the PMP trail (NZ)... When the question is asked about the next generation of French trail rider, Jems think about his friend from the Shape bicycles team : JB Bagnol ! 
In the end, Jems reminds us that this the last year of existence for la Source, everyone is welcome as long as they respect the place and they have the right attitude toward the trail.

LiveLive BMX

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Once again, we publish a new linked to a content from our anniversary book, in which we presented some new products or new offers that we have worked on lately ! This time, subject is customization : this an attractive offer but which could be difficult in production point of view. Working with Bérenger on his custom stem cap in memory of Aloïs Bert, we imagined to offer this possibility of adding an engraving of the top face of our stem cap (only on this face which is suitable for this offering and to restrict the offer a little bit). Below some photos of the Mowgly stem of Jelle from MX trail (Belgium), our first customer with a custom stem !

For those who read the Shape bicycles book, they discovered the CAD images of the new Bérenger Cordier signature stem, here is an extract of the book on this topic : "Bérenger has been waiting for a shorter top load stem (48mm instead of 53mm). To answer his request, we selected our Mowgly stem in order to keep a higher bar position, also because this model is our most advanced one, a sort of summary of our range. Plus, Bérenger wanted a custom one piece cap with an engraving in the memory of his friend and rider Aloïs Bert, by the way one of this signature stem has been given to his brother Béou."
We have received these stems a week ago, to the delight of Bérenger (and ours...), as a result he built up a stem on his trail bike (along with his Shape signature gyro plate), another stem on his race bike, without to forget another one on Béou's bike.

The Shape bicycles book is now available at two exclusive places in France. First of all, on the trail dedicated website Banos Distro with the famous Marc. Also, at the BMX shop Manual in Bordeaux, always motivated to support our activities. For information, a new batch of books has been printed currently, in order to keep on answer the requests.