James Victor Cielencki – 38 y/o – Austin, TX

I have always had a lot of respect for Jim and his company Sunday Bikes. From his skill and creativity as a rider, the image of his company, the quality of his products and the guys that ride for him. I caught up with Jim to find out a little more about his background as a rider and how things are going with Sunday Bikes.

OGWR: How many years have you been riding?

Jim C: It's been so long that I can't remember.  Haha!  Not really, but there isn't really a starting point because riding was in its infancy.  I did race in 1983 and I think I rode a quarterpipe around that time.  Tricks didn't really exist at the point either at least anything like they are today. So, that would make it 28 years on a BMX bike.  I think I took part of the summer off in 1992, but other than that I’ve been constantly riding.

OGWR: Tell us a bit of your history in the sport of BMX?

Jim C: Well, my brother got me into riding around 1983.  I didn't really get fully into it until I got to 6th grade when I met a whole bunch of kids from a different neighborhood that rode.  It was crazy because there was this whole other world that rode around me, but I didn't really know it.  We built tons of ramps and rode flatland.  Once we got to the end of the 80's, riding was dead and I rode mostly by myself unless I traveled.  Had some good riding friends about an hour and a half from me.  These guys basically kept me into riding.  Then during the mid-90's, BMX started to make a resurgence.  There was skateparks coming back and I ended up meeting a bunch of guys who raced and had some trails.  This was the first time I rode legit trails and it was so much fun.  Then by the end of the 90's I actually had gotten sponsored.  Ended up going on Roadfools, went to tons of contests like the Metro Jam and the Backyard Jam, I got to travel all over the place. This was such an amazing time! Then cut to May of 2011 and I'm sitting here doing this interview.  It's been good!

OGWR: What do you ride? – Give us a basic bike check?

Jim C: Well, I ride a 20" and a 24" bike, but both set ups are basically the same.  For the 20", it's nothing too crazy, I like longer back ends, taller bars, medium tire pressure, metal pedals, rear brakes, hard gearing, two pegs, small to medium seat height and somewhat narrow tires.  The same thing applies to the 24" bike I ride as well except I want the back end as short as I can get it.  All my parts are Sunday, Odyssey or GSport.  

OGWR: What type of riding do you enjoy most?  

Jim C: Street riding is the most enjoyable for me.  Not so much the types of tricks to do, but more for the unendless possibilities that it offers.  There's a finite number of trails, skateparks, ditches, pools and vert ramps, but street riding can be done anywhere.  Spots will all be different and each place offers it's own uniqueness.  There is a thrill in the search for spots.  You never know what you'll find, but you will no doubt see some amazing things while exploring your city or whatever city you are in.  You get kicked out of spots, but that's not a bad thing because now you have to go look for new a new place. Ditches have a soft spot in my heart because I never had them growing up and it still seems ridiculous that they can exist.

OGWR: What are your favorite places to ride?

Jim C: The streets!!!  Haha!  I like riding places with the most random spots.  A typical rail spots is cool, but if there's a weird set up around it then it makes it even better.  Plus I really like riding backyard wooden ramp set ups, mostly because that is what I grew up riding and I feel comfortable on them.  As for cities, Barcelona, London, Atlanta, Buffalo, Boston, Austin, Albuquerque, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

OGWR: Who’s riding inspires you?

Jim C: I've always had inspiration to ride and do new stuff.  As for other riders, I'm definitely happy to say that I sponsor or have sponsored the guys that inspire me.  There are definitely some others out there that I would love to sponsor that inspire me also.  I really enjoy talking ideas and tricks.  Anyone who's into coming up with their own take on tricks and spots are the people that inspire me.

OGWR: How do you stay motivated and keep riding at your age?

Jim C: You know, I'm not too sure about this one.  My ankles are a mess, my wrists are a mess and I seem very fragile these days, but I still go out and ride.  I can't learn by failing anymore, so I have to make up for it with my experience and old age wisdom.  If I have any of course.  Haha!  My motivation is that there is freedom in the speed and that exploring the world on a bicycle is one of the best things.  Moving to Austin has been great because there's so many types of spots that I've never really had to ride before I moved here.  That's really been motivating.

OGWR: How do you deal with the fear of getting hurt?

Jim C: It's not so much the fear of getting hurt, it's just dealing with how long will it take to recover and if it's permanent.  I'm not made of rubber any more. Usually I take baby steps towards something.  I'll work on an idea in a safer environment usually at a skatepark or something like that.  I make it so I understand the trick and the only issue is that I am just doing it at a different spot.  So in reality there's just this little unknown part. I won't really just go out and wing it because I want to continue riding.

OGWR: What do you do to keep yourself progressing in your bike skills?

Jim C: My progress has definitely slowed lately.  It's more geared towards relearning tricks I've lost or narrowly focused on certain ideas.  Guys are just progressing so fast and working so much has really dampened my progress.  The ideas are still there though, so I just pass them off on the Sunday team.  haha!

OGWR: As the owner of Sunday Bikes, what are you currently working on that your excited about?

Jim C: I really enjoy working on the complete bikes.  You reach a whole other market and it gives you more opportunities to do something creative.  

OGWR: What is the best part about owning a bike company?

Jim C: There are too many things that are good about running Sunday.  From getting to see new ideas come to life and hanging out with the team to traveling all over the place and meeting new people, there's isn't much better than that.

OGWR: What is the worst part about owning a bike company?

Jim C: There isn't really a worst part except maybe not being able to ride enough.  It's good otherwise.  

OGWR: Anything else you would like to tell us?

Jim C: First off thanks for the interview.  I remember a funny point in my life when I was 16.  I was out skating with my friends and we were talking about the future.  I remember saying that my skating and riding days were numbered because I was starting college the next year.  There was a lot of pressure from my parents about giving up skating and riding.  College was going to be taking up all the time.  Wow, were they wrong on that one.  Here I'm still riding 22 years later.  Couldn't imagine a life without it!

For more on Jim's riding these days, check out his part in Up, Up & Away Love this guys style and creativity!

Thanks Jim for your time! 

- Jon Faure / jon@oldguyswhoride.com