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Photos/text: Kyle Carlson
Name: Caleb Ruecker
Age: 22
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Sponsors: Draven Shoes, Sun Rims, Lady Luck Tattoo, Bone Deth
Clothing, Zack's Shack Hot Dogs
(Click any image to see our Caleb Ruecker Photo Album)
I first met Caleb last summer in Portland. He brought me to a rail down the street from where he was living and within two minutes he had grinded it, grinded it opposite, over-grinded it, and opposite-feebled it—all first try. He was ready to keep going keep going, but some bicycle cops had other ideas. Since then I've had a few more opportunities to hang out with Caleb and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever encountered, inside or outside of BMX. He's one hell of a bike rider, too. However, one time he did threaten to kick my ass for asking him if some classic rock song was The Ramones… I gave him a few topics to see what he had to say, and to give you an up-close look at Caleb Ruecker.
Portland
Portland is amazing! I've lived here my whole life and I'll live here until I die. It has the best street riding a BMXer could ask for. The winters here aren't as bad as people say and it doesn't rain here as much as you think. It's like everybody else's winter. Portland has a lot of skateparks and another one just opened, so that makes like 100 parks in Oregon. Burnside is really the only park I like, though. It’s more of my style.
Metal
I guess there's been a lot of talk about me quitting Metal Bikes. I quit because it was time for a change. I rode for Metal and got to see what they were all about and it wasn't for me. However, I appreciate everything Metal Bikes has done for me.
Punk Rock
All right! I've always been into punk and dressed like this. Living in Portland has made me who I am.
Shoes
When it comes to shoes I'm a shoe whore. I recently started riding for Draven Shoes. My choice of shoes to ride in would be creepers, Converse, and slip-ons.
Ditch Forks
The reason I like Ditch Forks is because they're old school and punk-looking. They look like something out of Mad Max (laughs). What do you think of Ditch Fork Lights?
Influences
I've had a lot of influences and a lot of them have nothing to do with BMX, like the punk scene and music. For example: The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, The Damned, and Sham 69. Some of my biggest BMX influences growing up would have to be Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla, Dave Young, Jeremy Davis (AKA Pizza Dick), and Lou and Lee Rajsich. More recently I've been stoked on Sean Burns, Corey Bohan, Little Jeff Landtiser, Bruce Crisman, Ryan Worcester, Josh Harrington, Brian Kachinsky, all off the Shit Luck and FBM riders, and, of course, all of my friends.
Travel
I really love to travel and go wherever the pavement takes me. One of my dreams is to go to the UK to ride street and ride in the Backyard Jam. I want to see the world, not just the United States. My favorite place to travel to/ride is Boston.
Tattoos
I love to get tattooed as much as possible. My right arm is my punk arm and my left arm is my old school arm. I'm really into hands and neck tattoos. Once my neck, arms, and hands are done, I'm done.
2007
My plans for 2007 are to look for a bike/parts sponsor, go on the Bone Deth trip, hopefully make it to the Toronto Metro Jam, and maybe to the UK for the Backyard Jam.
Thanks
I want to thank Metal Bikes for everything they did for me, all of my friends, S&M for hooking me up with Ditch Forks, Chad at Draven Shoes, Ryan at Sun Rims, Ferbert and Burns at Bone Deth Clothing, Rob Pugh at Ol’ Skool Boutique, and Brian Tunney.
