West Country Freeracer James Whitby has joined the Starling Cycles family, riding a Twist.
To celebrate his arrival we teamed up with pans-n-zooms supremo Slowshred to create a show-off shredit worthy of the new-guy’s skills. Enjoy!
Hey James, who are you? Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m James Whitby, I’m 29 years old. I’m an all-round fun-haver and I’m trying to live life to the fullest. Alongside bikes, I have a huge passion for cars too, but bikes take full priority!
What made you fall in love with riding bikes?
What made me fall in love with biking? Well it has to be the moments when you’re pinned down a track you’ve never ridden before, riding it blind and not fully knowing what’s coming next. That’s the bit I love.
What’s your mountain bike origin story?
When I was 3 my dad bought me a 50cc motocross bike for Christmas and that sparked my love for 2 wheels, riding MX for many years as a kid with my parents kept the passion alive.
I ended up watching an Earthed film and BAM! I turned around to my dad and said “I want to try downhill”. My dad’s reaction was comical and he just said “it’ll be a fad and it won’t last”.
18 years down the line and 2x British champ in 4x, southwest champ and countless podiums in MTB, it’s safe to say my dad ate his words!
And what do you love about riding a bike?
I’m a bit of a freeracer these days. It mixes the love for big sends and tricks with the love for racing and being between the tape.
I love everything about riding bikes, sending huge jumps, doing stupid tricks and the places biking takes you and the people you meet along the way.
What’s the plan for 2024?
My plans for 2024.
I think my biggest plan for 2024 has to be starting my own YouTube channel up and get some videos out there of places I’m going, and taking everyone along with me.
I will be putting myself between the tape at some of the British 4X races, Malvern classics (whip off is calling my name) and some mini downhills.
How’d the Starling thing come about?
I ws previously sponsored by a bike company that went under and I was left without a ride. I messaged Jamie and was chatting about Starling, it made me think how awesome it would be to ride for a local, steel bike brand. Man I haven’t looked back, best bike I’ve ever ridden!
Tell us about your Starling for 2024 – what are you riding, how’s it set up?
I have a stunning Medium Starling Twist mullet, full loaded with some beautiful Ohlins suspension, Magura brakes, Funn stem and Bars, Middleburn Cranks, Dtswiss rims laced on some Chrome Hope Pro4 hubs all wrapped in some lovely sticky Michelin tyres.
Tell us about shooting the vid for this launch.
Lee at SlowShred is one of my close mates, and having filmed with Lee many of times I thought “who better to film the video?”.
We filmed at three locations close to my heart, I felt these would be the perfect places to express my riding and Lee has captured this brilliantly.
Off the bike – what are you into?
Off the bikes I absolutely love spending time with my family, my fiancée and the kids. They’rere some of my biggest supporters and I absolutely love going camping, heading to the coast and taking a dip in the sea. I also have a strong passion for cars so if I’m not biking, with my family or at the coast then you’ll find me under my car.
Hit shuffle on your Spotify/Apple music/iphone/generic mp3 player’s favourite playlist. What 5 songs come up?
I have such a wide range of music!
