In cycling, having the right tools to keep your bike running smoothly is as important as having the right bike. It’s no use training hard and using quality componentry if what you use to maintain it isn’t up to the same standards. That’s why Love Not Money are delighted to announce a partnership with Pedro’s, makers of expertly crafted bicycle tools for over 20 years.

Thanks to UK Distributor 2Pure, the LNM riders will have all they need to keep their Redlines running during the race season. Pedro’s as a company have values close to our hearts here at Love Not Money; they believe the bicycle is an instrument of good and strive to ensure their manufacturing processes and composition of their products minimise harm to the environment and potential harm to users! 

As well as tools ranging from the tough as hell Pedro’s tyre lever to more specialist stuff like bottom bracket extractors, the LNM team will be using Pedro’s Go! a vegetable/synthetic lube that reduces friction whilst also being biodegradable.

Dave Ives is nearing his 30th year of racing BMX without interruption. Considering the fact he only turns 35 in April, that’s an early start and a lot of experience. His career spans periods where the sport was popular and when it was in decline and he’s competed at all levels from club races to the World Championships.

Career highlights include winning the Masters National Series title in 2008 and clinching the runner up spot the following year. Dave is a fierce competitor and his considerable experience of being part of a team is a real asset for the younger riders on the LNM squad.

                                                                                                                   Dave’s the one on the right…

Over to Dave;

2011 was a cruiser year for me. I wish I had done more 20″ racing but I had won 3 or 4 Nationals and thought I may aswell carry on and get the National title. I also won the Brits so 2011 was a good year for the cruiser. I don’t really plan on racing cruiser this year other than the Worlds and Brits, so its 20″ all the way which is what I prefer. I’m feeling good about this year, for both on and off the track. Good bike, good team, my son on the same team and my brother has got the racing bug again so I’ll have good friends and family with me all year. Plus with the olympics and worlds coming up I can’t help but be excited. The only downer on this year is having to spend time with Rooster. Love ya really.
See you on the gate!

Josh Nicholas, better known in BMX circles as Peeebz, is new to the team but not to racing, with a couple of seasons of experience in the tough 17-24 class. A full-time mechanic at Evans Cycles (based at the National Cycling Centre) Peeebz is just as happy ripping round the velodrome as he is sessioning the BMX track.

Where did you finish in 2011?
I finished 22nd last season, I was kinda happy with it as I’ve finished a lot lower and done all the rounds. I’m happy I’d say!

What are your goals for 2012?
My goals are just to try and train as much as I can around my work hours stay on my bike and hopefully qualify for the worlds and place better in this years British Championships!

My non-racing goals are to be happy, enjoy life and get back what I had and most of all enjoy riding my bike!

Nottingham Outlaws rider Mike Njuguna is the latest signing to the Love Not Money team, a talented young racer coming off a season that saw him challenging for a top spot in the 15s class before suffering a broken arm.

Mike’s riding in the first six rounds, which included a win, was good enough to earn him 7th overall in the tough class, a placing he’ll be looking to improve on as he moves up to 16s where he’ll join LNM rider Matt Saunders to give us two exciting prospects in the class.

To say Love Not Money rider Shaun Issitt is well known in the BMX racing community is understating things a bit… Not only has he been around for what seems like most of his life (we currently have him starting at age 3, either that or he’s actually a remarkably well preserved 35 year old) he’s popular because of his friendly, never taking himself too seriously personality. Witness his performance off track and in front of camera presenting an edit of the 2011 National Series and you’ll see what we mean.

Shaun has top-level talent on the bike but has been dogged by injuries in recent years, factors which have delayed his move to the Elite class. When healthy he’s a threat to take the top step of the podium, as long as he’s not busy running the now famous sweepstake!

Where did you finish in 2011?
In the Nationals I finished 18th in 17-24 and crashed in the semi at the British Champs. Managed to get a 6th & 8th at the Euro rounds in Birmingham.

Were you happy with it?
Mixed really, No as this now means I have to qualify for the Worlds in the first few rounds of 2012. After 20years of racing 18th is also my lowest National rank but on a positive note I was out injured for the majority of the season only competing in four Nationals and getting a 2nd at the Braintree National. I was happy with Euro rounds making the main both days, always love making mains at Euro rounds and it’s been a while since the last one! Brits was a mix, with it being my 20th British champs was a good feeling, the day was going well until crashing out whilst in 3rd in the semi but these things happen!

What are your goals for 2012?
First qualify for the World Champs. It’ll be mint to race in the Worlds in England again, 1996 in Brighton was the last time and I can still remember that clearly. Also aiming for a full season without injury, if this is the case I would be expecting top 5 in 17-24.

What are your non-racing goals?
Continue to bring sweepstakes to the BMX scene, the fans love a sweepstake!! Maybe help Corinne with presenting a few more edits! Start saving for a house with Rachel, maybe going on a few holidays.

The new year is a great time to think about the future and reflect on last season. We’ve asked our riders to review their 2011 and give us their goals for this year.

We kick off with Mark “Ferg” Ferguson, ace graphic designer behind the lovely designs on our clothing and committed racer. He’s also a proper petrol head having driven round Le Mans in a rather nice Ford GT40! Rumours that he eats crayons have not been confirmed…

Where did you finish in 2011?
I finished the National Series in seventh position in the 30-34 cruiser class. I came fourth in the South Region.

Were you happy with it?
At the start of last year I set my self the target of a National Series top eight finish, having just missed out on getting on stage to collect a trophy when I finishing 9th in 2010, so I was really happy to finish seventh in 2011. I didn’t really have any regional targets having just moved to a different region and not knowing the standard — the South Region actually combine all the cruiser classes which makes for really good racing, I think we had 60 cruiser riders at one round!

What are your goals for 2012?
In 2012 I’d like to go one better than 2011 and get a top six finish in the National Series and top 3 in the South Region. This year I will be riding at a World Championships for the first time, this years event takes place in Birmingham so I didn’t want to miss out on that. I don’t really know what to expect results wise, but I’m looking forward to wearing the Great Britain jersey with pride, representing
Love Not Money and generally having a good time. I’d also like to stay injury free in 2012!

What are your non-racing goals?
I’ve been self employed for the last two and a half years, which is going well. I’d like to see my graphic design firm Very Own Studio continue to grow in 2012. I’d also like to have a nice holiday with Jenny at some point (obviously between or after all the racing). We’ve got tickets to the BMX final at the Olympics, which I’m really looking forward to, but I don’t think that counts as a holiday for Jenny!

It may not have a UCI World Cup Series anymore, but 4x is alive and well and the UK dates have been announced;

Schwalbe British Four Cross Series

Rd 1: 1 April Leamington Spa

Rd 2: 29 April Penshurst (PORC)

Rd 3: 24 June Redhill

Rd 4: 14 July (Saturday) Bridgnorth

Rd 5: 12 August Harthill

Rd 6: 15 Sept (Saturday) Afan

National Four Cross Championships

15 July (Sunday) Bridgnorth

It’s all gone a bit festive at Love Not Money HQ, with 12 fantastic Flight frames arriving and a large consignment of O’Neal kit coming in too!

It wasn’t exactly Santa (FedEx to be precise) but result is still the same; excitement, frantic unwrapping then sitting admiring the item with a hazy look in the eyes….

A big thank you to the team at Fli Distribution for the O’Neal kit and to Shiner for the Redline Flights!!!

The already positive offseason for Love Not Money has been getting even better with the signing of Josh “Peeebz” Nicholas to ride for the team and the return of the second ever rider to don the LNM colours, Joe “Average” Davenport.

Peeebz is an experienced racer and was representing The Ride Nation (brainchild of good friend of LNM, Rich Eames) balancing racing with working full time at Evans as a mechanic. He’s passionate and committed about BMX racing as well as other forms of cycling, having recently tried out the velodrome!

Joe returns to racing for Love Not Money after time away from competing whilst running a local bike shop. Joe won the first race for the team with a come from behind victory in the Payback main at the Preston round of the North Region series in 2010. Seemingly able to ride anything on two-wheels well, Joe joins Peeebz and team riders Shaun Issitt and Chris Potter in the ultra competitive 17-24 class at National level.

With new sponsors onboard and new signings, the future for Love Not Money is bright!

For the second time in Love Not Money’s short history, we’re proud to say a rider is leaving us. Matty Glynn has been selected to join the Steve Peat Syndicate and will be racing downhill for them in 2012.

Andy Clucas was the first LNM rider to move up, following a strong 2010 he joined the Redline UK team for 2011 and won the National Series title in 17-24. Matty will be aiming to transfer his bike handling skills to 26″ wheels and follow Andy’s lead in having a great year for his new team.

Everyone at LNM wishes Matty the very best of luck with the move; he’s always given 100% and really understood the team values and what we are working for. It’s a positive reflection on Matty’s abilities and personality as well as all we are doing at LNM. You can keep up to date with Matty’s progress by following his blog – www.matthewglynn.co.uk