A big garage is a cyclist’s dream. With room for multiple bikes, a repair stand, spare parts and a trainer setup, it’s something we all aspire to. With all the space, however, also comes the risk of inquiring one too many bikes. You know, those impromptu purchases because you might start time trialling again or because that vintage frame is a ‘classic’ or simply because you can’t let go of your first race bike. You get the gist. It’s the bike that rarely gets ridden and mostly just gathers dust.
In our garage, that bike is a BMX bike. Purchased with the intent of working on some skills, it saw some initial lunch time sessions and early mornings outing to the skate park (while the more youthful crowd was still sleeping) before retiring to the hook in the corner — only to be looked at occasionally with the brief thought of selling it to make room.
But when these Vans x Mongoose collab shoes landed on my doorstep, it was the perfect excuse to go out and test these for their intended use: standing around awkwardly in a skate park. Erm, I mean, riding the BMX bike.
The bike that never gets ridden
(Image credit: Vans)
Two heritage brands, one iconic shoe
Dropping on August 12, the special edition Vans x Mongoose Bicycles shoe is a celebration of the two iconic Californian brands’ shared heritage in BMX riding and pop culture.
Designed with Our Legends, the shoe is a modern take on the 44 DX shoes that put Vans on the map in 1966 and would become a classic for skaters, BMXers and sneakerheads alike. Today, Vans, Inc is part of the footwear and outdoor apparel giant VF Corporation, and has far surpassed its skate-brand image. With dozens of models ranging from sandals to platform and kids shoes, Vans, Inc is now a billion-dollar-brand.
Less successful but no less iconic, Mongoose entered the bike scene in 1974 with its groundbreaking MotoMag wheels, the first cast aluminum bike wheels that were stronger, more durable and more reliable than the traditional (steel) spoked wheel. The durability and aesthetic revolutionized the action sport of BMX and till this day, MotoMag wheels have been among the most popular BMX items ever produced in the history of the sport.
Mongoose soon expanded into mountain biking, and enjoyed a multi-decade stint on top of the two-wheeled action sport market. Over the years, however, the brand perception struggled as the company was sold and bought numerous times. These days, Mongoose makes everything from BMX and…