Q&A: Joe Rich & the T1 Australia Tour

Joe Rich on a trip to Malaga. Photo by Ed Docherty.

Terrible One is setting off on a journey where concrete waves and relaxed vibes flow like the water that surrounds the continent: Australia. When T1 does an international tour, you can only expect good things out of it, so I hit up the Ultimate Male himself, Joe Rich, to get the low down on who, what, when, and why the crew is heading to the land of Oz. Big thanks to David Leep and Ed Docherty for providing images for this article!

Terrible One has been firing on all cylinders lately. Are there any particular motivations behind the sudden resurgence?
Timing! I started getting a bunch of much needed help, at a time when I was both needing it, and open to it. We all know how motivation can come and go in waves. And my long time friend, Ed Docherty, has been a great help in keeping those positive waves consistent. I can’t thank Ed enough for the gigantic helping hand he’s extended to T-1. Ruben as well, has been helping more and more, and my good friend Logan has been more involved as well. I never set out to run T-1 on my own, it was just something that I had to do, because of the circumstance. Having others take part in T-1, is something that I need. It obviously brings more to T-1 than I ever could dream to do on my own. It works like magic sometimes.

Long time T1 member Ruben Alcantara has been back full force on the bike lately, as well as helping out with things on the company side.

The T-1 crew is heading to Australia on the 31st for a two week tour. What’s the purpose of the trip? Will you be hitting shops, or simply traveling and filming?
The main purpose of the trip is to bring both friends, and strangers together, that usually don’t get to spend time with one another…and enjoying whatever the days may bring us. It’s going to be awesome. We aren’t some traveling side show doing demos, we just want to meet, and cruise with some new faces. Trips like this, are the moments that I dream about when it comes to filming and editing…something fun will come of this from this for sure.

One of T1′s more recent and popular videos, shot in Colorado in 2010.

Are there any pre-planned destinations, or will you be going with the flow and letting it play out naturally?
We have a really rough plan that starts in Sydney, and ends in Adelaide. This trip will take on a life of its own, very naturally…and it already has! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

You’re bringing Aussie Russ and Leigh Giason on the trip, who are on folk-level hero status in the BMX world. Will this tour be shedding some light to the skills these boys have?
Being able to spend time with both Russ and Leigh is long overdue ! This tour is about enjoying the days we have together. Wherever we end up, whomever we meet, whatever we do. Good times are all that we are looking for.

Leigh Giason, lookback with style for miles on home turf. Photo by David Leep.

Final question: are Australia’s concrete parks ready for Tommy Dugan?
Of course they are, concrete tranny was built to be roasted. They should be welcoming Tommy D with open arms.

Tom Dugan was unleashed on Chicago’s famous Wilson bowl earlier this year–you can only expect this and more from him in Australia. Photo by David Leep.