Frankly Friday with Ben Rafferty
How old are you?
37
Where do you live?
Between Queenstown, New Zealand, and the rest of the world. Kinda like a biking nomad at the moment. Roots in many places.
Who makes it possible?
Friends and family.
First bike?
Age three and a half, had a wee fold-up bike that didnt have stabilisers. Learnt skids that first summer.
What can you not live without?
A bike of some sort.
When youre not riding bikes you are?
Depressed. Actually no, when Im not riding bikes I take pictures. Like a semi pro.
What are your favourite five albums?
Blondie – Parallel Lines
U2 – Unforgettable Fire
The Specials – The Specials
Bad Brains Rock for Light
Take That – Take That And Party
What are your favourite five video parts?
Joe Kid on a Sting- Ray The whole movie gives me goosebumps. Its like all my heroes from a kid there on DVD.
The Matrix Opening Scene. The repercussions of watching that movie for the first time having no idea what it was about at 6am on a Sunday after a very big night out in London. The brain was not all there and that movie took it to new places. I always take the red pill and Im still here… I think.
Props 4 or 5 – Section from Pennsylvania trails where they are all doing a train. First time I ever saw something like that.
Taxi. The French movie. This kid rips it up through Paris on a pizza delivery scooter.
Looking for Eric… Just watched it. If you love life then youll love this.
Whats wrong with mountain biking?
Nothing.
Whats right with mountain biking?
Everything. It does it all. Scares me shitless, makes me laugh, cry, hang with friends and takes all my money.
Who do you look up to?
Actually everyone I meet whilst out biking. Theyve got the passion, the energy and the get up and go to get out there.
Ever worn Lycra?
Errmmmm occasionally. Though I cannot bring myself to sit in a café wearing it.
What are your vices?
Manyana manyana.
