What is your name? Glenn Mehltretter
How old are you? 33
Where do you live?
Oxford Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati
Oxford Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati
What do you do for a living?
I am the sales manager for Ket-Moy Printing, Inc. a large
commercial printing company in West Chester Ohio.
I am the sales manager for Ket-Moy Printing, Inc. a large
commercial printing company in West Chester Ohio.
What got you into BMX Flatland?
I started riding bikes in 1979, but I had never heard of flatland until a kid named Marty in school showed
me a magazine with someone doing tricks in it.This was around 1984 or 1985.
I started riding bikes in 1979, but I had never heard of flatland until a kid named Marty in school showed
me a magazine with someone doing tricks in it.This was around 1984 or 1985.
Who are some of the riders you competed against?
Lets see, (looks at old scan from 1990 NBL magazine with
points thru Spartanburg SC contest) In 1990 I was tied with
Rob Compton for 1st place in the 18 & over expert flatland
class. 3rd place was Mike Yeager, 4th was Patrick Smith, 5th
was Derek Schott, 6th was Leonard Foster, tied for 7-9th
was Chris Bentley, Hiro Tsuchida, Mike Rybokowski, and 10th
was Danny Regenye. Before that I rode in the novice classes
against Keith King, Mike Sarris, Bobby Horwell, Terry Tolbert,
Scott Sharp, Rob Creech, Greg Overstreet, Chris Harris, Mike
Butcher, and many others including the guys I rode with
everyday, John Herlacher, Jon Byers and Greg Requate.
Lets see, (looks at old scan from 1990 NBL magazine with
points thru Spartanburg SC contest) In 1990 I was tied with
Rob Compton for 1st place in the 18 & over expert flatland
class. 3rd place was Mike Yeager, 4th was Patrick Smith, 5th
was Derek Schott, 6th was Leonard Foster, tied for 7-9th
was Chris Bentley, Hiro Tsuchida, Mike Rybokowski, and 10th
was Danny Regenye. Before that I rode in the novice classes
against Keith King, Mike Sarris, Bobby Horwell, Terry Tolbert,
Scott Sharp, Rob Creech, Greg Overstreet, Chris Harris, Mike
Butcher, and many others including the guys I rode with
everyday, John Herlacher, Jon Byers and Greg Requate.
What is your favorite memory from those days?
Man, there are so many memories. Just thinking back on the endless summer days, riding all day in the
lot, skidding on trays, trying to learn a new trick before the other guys you were riding with. Lake
jumping, bunny hopping, all of it was great. Back in 1989 Jon Byers was sponsored by Bully bikes. RL
and Perry Mervar came down to Raleigh to start the tour. RL had a red surburban with
black tinted windows. We all piled into it and went to downtown Raleigh with our Super Soaker Squirt
guns. Downtown Raleigh has lots of clubs and tons of students walking around because of all the
colleges there. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating areas right next to the road. We
soaked anyone and everyone we could find. I will never forget piling into gas station rest rooms with all
of us fighting over the sink so we could refill our squirt guns. What fun.
Man, there are so many memories. Just thinking back on the endless summer days, riding all day in the
lot, skidding on trays, trying to learn a new trick before the other guys you were riding with. Lake
jumping, bunny hopping, all of it was great. Back in 1989 Jon Byers was sponsored by Bully bikes. RL
and Perry Mervar came down to Raleigh to start the tour. RL had a red surburban with
black tinted windows. We all piled into it and went to downtown Raleigh with our Super Soaker Squirt
guns. Downtown Raleigh has lots of clubs and tons of students walking around because of all the
colleges there. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating areas right next to the road. We
soaked anyone and everyone we could find. I will never forget piling into gas station rest rooms with all
of us fighting over the sink so we could refill our squirt guns. What fun.
When did you stop riding?
I officially stopped riding in the fall of 1991. I was the flatland instructor at
Woodward for the summer of 1991 and that was some of the best times
in my riding career but it also helped me realize that to achieve the
lifestyle that I wanted I would have to go outside of freestyle to make
money, so I focused on college and my career after that. Plus, I went to
college in Oklahoma, and my riding buddies were in NC.
I officially stopped riding in the fall of 1991. I was the flatland instructor at
Woodward for the summer of 1991 and that was some of the best times
in my riding career but it also helped me realize that to achieve the
lifestyle that I wanted I would have to go outside of freestyle to make
money, so I focused on college and my career after that. Plus, I went to
college in Oklahoma, and my riding buddies were in NC.
What brought you back to riding?
I never got rid of my flatland bike, My wife and I bought and sold houses for the past 9 years, so I was
moving it from house to house, and my wife kept asking me why I still had it. Once every year or so I
would hop on and do some tricks and then put it away again. With small kids and a full time job and
redoing houses in my free time there just was no time to ride. Well, last year my wife designed and we
built our dream house. It was on land so I was looking for a 4 wheeler to use on the property. One of the
kids I know came over to my barn to pick up some old lawn mowers I gave him and saw my flatland bike.
He asked me if I could still ride it and I showed him some tricks. A few weeks later he offered his Suzuki
230 quad to me in trade for my bike. I traded him that week. But, I still had the desire to do some tricks.
So I picked up a bike on ebay and since it was winter I started
doing some tricks in my basement.
I never got rid of my flatland bike, My wife and I bought and sold houses for the past 9 years, so I was
moving it from house to house, and my wife kept asking me why I still had it. Once every year or so I
would hop on and do some tricks and then put it away again. With small kids and a full time job and
redoing houses in my free time there just was no time to ride. Well, last year my wife designed and we
built our dream house. It was on land so I was looking for a 4 wheeler to use on the property. One of the
kids I know came over to my barn to pick up some old lawn mowers I gave him and saw my flatland bike.
He asked me if I could still ride it and I showed him some tricks. A few weeks later he offered his Suzuki
230 quad to me in trade for my bike. I traded him that week. But, I still had the desire to do some tricks.
So I picked up a bike on ebay and since it was winter I started
doing some tricks in my basement.
How does your wife feel about you riding?
She thinks it is silly.
She thinks it is silly.
What would you tell some one that is thinking about
getting back on their bike?
It's like riding a bike you never forget. I am amazed how
many tricks I can still do after all these years. But, most of
all it's a blast, it sure beats running on the treadmill.
getting back on their bike?
It's like riding a bike you never forget. I am amazed how
many tricks I can still do after all these years. But, most of
all it's a blast, it sure beats running on the treadmill.
Who are some of your favorites of the riders you looked up to BITD and Now?
Martin Apario, RL, Scotty Freeman, Dizz Hicks, Craig Grasso, Pete Augustine,Kevin Jones, Terry Adams,
Matt Wilhelm and Chase Gouin.
Martin Apario, RL, Scotty Freeman, Dizz Hicks, Craig Grasso, Pete Augustine,Kevin Jones, Terry Adams,
Matt Wilhelm and Chase Gouin.
What is your favorite trick or link to perform?
Hang 5. I love that trick because it just feels so free to have
the bike just glide in that position for as long as you want
Hang 5. I love that trick because it just feels so free to have
the bike just glide in that position for as long as you want
What was your worst accident on a bike?
I was learning cherry pickers as a kid and the cranks turned and
locked my foot in the frame. I felt them on my leg and realized I was
in trouble. I fell that direction and I couldn't get my foot off the bike
to catch my body. All my body weight landed on my wrist on the
slanted curb. I broke it and had to wear a cast. But that was about
the worst thing flatlanding. Jumping and street riding now that is a
different story.
I was learning cherry pickers as a kid and the cranks turned and
locked my foot in the frame. I felt them on my leg and realized I was
in trouble. I fell that direction and I couldn't get my foot off the bike
to catch my body. All my body weight landed on my wrist on the
slanted curb. I broke it and had to wear a cast. But that was about
the worst thing flatlanding. Jumping and street riding now that is a
different story.
How often do you ride and with whom?
I ride when I have time, sometimes just once a month, sometimes more. I ride by myself, but I try to go to
different places so that I can expose more people to flatland. But, mostly I try to take pictures of my riding so
I can share with my "riding buddies" on the internet. It is a blast to work on the trick of the month and know
that others are trying the same thing.
I ride when I have time, sometimes just once a month, sometimes more. I ride by myself, but I try to go to
different places so that I can expose more people to flatland. But, mostly I try to take pictures of my riding so
I can share with my "riding buddies" on the internet. It is a blast to work on the trick of the month and know
that others are trying the same thing.
What kind of bike are you riding and how is it set up?
I have two bikes right now. I traded back for my old school bike
(thanks to the urging from the guys at vintagebmx.com) It is a 88
dyno pro compe team model frame, GT forks, peregrine super pro
48's on the front and a acs freecoaster on the back, with
prototype 990's, and peregrine q bars. My other bike is a new
school K2 DMC Pro, with custom flame stickers that I had printed
at work.
I have two bikes right now. I traded back for my old school bike
(thanks to the urging from the guys at vintagebmx.com) It is a 88
dyno pro compe team model frame, GT forks, peregrine super pro
48's on the front and a acs freecoaster on the back, with
prototype 990's, and peregrine q bars. My other bike is a new
school K2 DMC Pro, with custom flame stickers that I had printed
at work.
Any last Comments
I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to freestyle. I have been to contests in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Meeting
riders all over the east coast and making great memories. Freestyle taught me to be dedicated, focused and to
work as hard as I could to reach my goals. I know that I would not have the successes I have achieved in life if
I had not started riding flatland.Thanks to my parents for driving me all over, and to my wife for putting up with the
bike. Also thank you to the companies that sponsored and co-sponsored me back in the day; Dia-Compe, Oakley,
GT/Dyno, and Schwinn. To them it was just a small thing, but to me it meant a great deal.
I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to freestyle. I have been to contests in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Meeting
riders all over the east coast and making great memories. Freestyle taught me to be dedicated, focused and to
work as hard as I could to reach my goals. I know that I would not have the successes I have achieved in life if
I had not started riding flatland.Thanks to my parents for driving me all over, and to my wife for putting up with the
bike. Also thank you to the companies that sponsored and co-sponsored me back in the day; Dia-Compe, Oakley,
GT/Dyno, and Schwinn. To them it was just a small thing, but to me it meant a great deal.
Contact me at:
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
How long did you ride in the NBL?
I think my first contest was in 1987 or 1988. I know it was in Hilton Head SC. I could do all the tricks in
the 101 tricks video, so I was sure I was ready to turn Pro. I got to the contest with my friends and we
saw Mark Bell flying around the parking lot doing hang 5's and other stuff. I couldn't believe it. Needless
to say I entered the beginner's class and out of 18 contestants I got 3rd place.
I think my first contest was in 1987 or 1988. I know it was in Hilton Head SC. I could do all the tricks in
the 101 tricks video, so I was sure I was ready to turn Pro. I got to the contest with my friends and we
saw Mark Bell flying around the parking lot doing hang 5's and other stuff. I couldn't believe it. Needless
to say I entered the beginner's class and out of 18 contestants I got 3rd place.
What do you think is in the future for flatland?
I think flatland is about to have another big burst of popularity. More older guys that used to ride are getting
on bikes again and doing tricks. Plus, there are so many ways to learn with the internet showing people how to
do tricks, and reconnecting guys with people they haven't talked to since they were kids. Also the boards like
the one here help people "ride" with other guys all over the world.
I think flatland is about to have another big burst of popularity. More older guys that used to ride are getting
on bikes again and doing tricks. Plus, there are so many ways to learn with the internet showing people how to
do tricks, and reconnecting guys with people they haven't talked to since they were kids. Also the boards like
the one here help people "ride" with other guys all over the world.